How to control length of backgound music in menu?

[robgold]

I have been experiencing an annoying problem I hope someone can help me with. When I create a menu and add my own background music, I find that the length of the audio clip is limited by the length of the video clips in the menu buttons. For example, if I limit the motion clips in the menu buttons to 5 seconds, my background music is automatically limited to 5 seconds as well. I suppose I could make the motion clips longer to accomodate the music but I would prefer not to do that. Does anyone know if there is some setting I am missing to independently control the length of the audio clip? Thanks!

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

I do not know of any settings that control both options.

If you disable the motion menu then your music file will play to the end, otherwise it will restart with the motion menu. Which is limited to 30 seconds I think.
It is a bit annoying, and sorry I can’t be of more help.
Maybe a report to tech support is in order.

Trevor

[sjj1805]

I don't think contacting Tech support will do any good.
VideoStudio is essentially a video EDITOR but includes the ability to AUTHOR a DVD.

To go above and beyond the Authoring abilities of VideoStudio then you need a program intended for Authoring a DVD such as DVD Workshop 2.
http://www.ulead.co.uk/dws/runme.htm

[Trevor Andrew]

I don't think contacting Tech support will do any good.
VideoStudio is essentially a video EDITOR but includes the ability to AUTHOR a DVD.

To go above and beyond the Authoring abilities of VideoStudio then you need a program intended for Authoring a DVD such as DVD Workshop 2.
http://www.ulead.co.uk/dws/runme.htm

All well and good Steve

But Video Studio 10 quotes:-

DVD Authoring

Create fully-interactive DVD motion menus and submenus, including 16:9 widescreen. Customize menus by resizing and positioning buttons. Apply menu transitions that segue smoothly between menus and DVD content, and menu filters which allow you to create movement even on static menus, for professional-looking DVDs.

I realise that VS is limited in its menu structure, but the ability to allow the background music to play throughout should not be a big deal for ulead.

I see no reason why the ‘Motion Menu’ should interrupt the background music as it does.

Basically if you want to play a full length audio you cannot use motion menus.

Trevor

[Ken Berry]

FWIW, like many others, I have been coping with the audio/motion menu limitations in VS9 and 10, and in successive versions of Movie Factory. The latter has somewhat more flexibility with menus, including, for at least the past couple of versions, to play motion menus from any point you choose in the video -- something still not available in VS10.

But the limitation of a maximum 30 seconds of audio to match the motion menu still applies. And of course, normally the audio sounds pretty awful, breaking off roughly and starting at the beginning again. At first, my inclination was to select a piece of music on which I could use an audio editor to apply a fade-out after, say, 25 seconds, so the ending did not sound so rough. Now I use a SmartSound track, which I tailor to fit the 30 seconds. It is still repetitive, but doesn't sound like Amateur Hour. And I figure that it is relatively unusual that I would let the overall menu remain on screen for much more than 30 seconds anyway -- at least not often. (I am also lucky that I have purchased an extra set of SmartSound discs -- though they are not cheap, even at a sale price! But at least it gives me much more variety of choice than the 20-something tracks that come with the program.)

Doesn't address the basic issue of the needless link between the motion menu and length of audio, I know, but at least it ameliorates it somewhat.