Couple Questions regarding creating of DVD

[Maxtor]

Hi everyone, I'm pretty new here but have done a ton of reading and believe I have gotten most of it by what I have learned here. But, I have a couple questions before I complete everything just to make sure I'm on the right track.
Using DVDXpress DX2
I did the entire procedure of setting up a "User" profile using the "how to guide" here and added a 60Gig HDD to use entirely for this purpose. I captured video from a cam corder onto my hard drive in DVD MPEG2 Format, in fact, it was two separate video pieces. I split it into clips and edited it as needed, added background music, then created the new video file and saved it to this 60 Gig drive.

My questions are this. When I captured the video off the camera, it shows up in Ulead as "DVD NTSC 720*480 Stereo". Is that what it should be? After I did all my editing, I resaved it in the same settings "DVD NTSC 720*480 Stereo". Did I do THAT right?
How would I fade out the ending? (Using Ulead 10)
Now, I have BOTH video clips edited as I want and resaved (or rendered). Now, I want to take both of these and put them together so that I can burn it to DVD as one entire film. I don't want it to be two seperate ones. How would I do this? Would I bring up part 1 in Ulead, Inset it to Video track, then open Part 2 and send it to Video track also?? Then, I pressume I'd have to resave it all over again which would make it into one right? Or, could I just go to CREATE DISK and add the two video files there? Should I save it in a different setting other than NTSC 720*480 before burning it to DVD?

Sorry if this is long but wanted to make sure I got it all in one shot in order to keep my post numbers down on one topic.

Some great reading here and a lot can be learned by reading it first....

Thanks for any replies and answers!

[Ken Berry]

...it shows up in Ulead as "DVD NTSC 720*480 Stereo". Is that what it should be?

Since we don't have any information about you, even where in the world you live, no one can answer this. If you live in a country which uses the NTSC system, then yes, it would be correct. And ditto for the properties of your output new files.

How would I fade out the ending? (Using Ulead 10)

Add a black colour clip at the end of the video and use either the fade to black or cross fade transition between the end of the video and the black clip. The colour clips are in the same drop-down menu as the transitions etc.

Now, I want to take both of these and put them together so that I can burn it to DVD as one entire film.

You do it the first way you outline. Put both files in the VS timeline. You might also want to add a transition between the two. Then go to Share > Create Video File > NTSC DVD. This will produce a single DVD-compliant mpeg-2. But yes, it will have been re-rendered with possible loss of quality unless you use SmartRender. Just be aware that some people have trouble when they do use SmartRender, the usual problem being out of sync video and audio. If you have this problem, then simply re-render without SmartRender. If your original video is high bitrate, then any quality loss will be minimal and probably not detectable to the naked eye.

Once you have the new mpeg-2, close the project, and with an empty timeline, go to Share > Create Disc to open the burning module. Insert the new mpeg-2. Check in the Options cogwheel icon in the bottom left to make sure that 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files' is ticked. Build your menu, insert chapters if you want, and burn.

If you use your second method and insert both files into the burning module timeline, then they will appear on the disc as two separate files, with separate menu buttons on the front menu page.

[Maxtor]

Sorry about the "location" thing there Ken, I did a quick registration when I got here and got tied up in reading, forgetting all about updating my profile. Made sure I changed it now though

Thank you for your reply. Your posts have been VERY helpful, and informative and are a big part in why I found this easy to learn just from reading all the info here.

You'll have to forgive me for this next question. I'm with you on everything except for this one part.

Add a black colour clip at the end of the video and use either the fade to black or cross fade transition between the end of the video and the black clip. The colour clips are in the same drop-down menu as the transitions etc.

I can't seem to locate the area that you're referring to about this "clip"? This would be with the video loaded in the Video Track correct? Where is it I need to click to find these "black colour clips" and the "fade to black or cross fade transition"? Is this "clip" also placed in the Video Track?

Again, thanks for your replies and help, it's greatly appreciated!!

[Ken Berry]

There seems to be some difficulty in accessing your profile or system details. So I don't know which version of VS you are using.

But if it is VS10 (and I am sure the other versions are much the same), then the top right corner of the default Edit screen will be filled with icons of stock video clips plus any clips you might have added. Directly above the first three, should be a little window with a drop-down arrow to its right. The window by default will say 'Video'.

Click on the arrow and the drop-down menu which appears will list Image, Audio, and further down Color and Transitions.

Simply drag and drop the desired colour into the timeline after your video, then insert the transition in between. You can do the same, inserting the colour before the video, and the crossfade transition in between, for a fade in at the start of your video too. That is particularly useful (and at the end too) if you want to insert titles/credits before or after the video.

You can adjust the length of time the colour plays simply by clicking on the colour in the timeline, then dragging the yellow bar at the right, further right till you reach the time you want. Or, with the colour highlighted, adjust the clock that appears in the vertical middle right of screen to the desired duration.

[Maxtor]

Just wanted to touch back on this. Ken, your help was great and very much appreciated. I completed everything and the DVD turned out perfect!! I was able to do this entire project, my FIRST project, by reading all the answers that you have supplied to others questions, and your answers to my few questions here. This whole thing was an awesome learning experience and a lot of fun to do.

People like you usually don't get thanked enough for all your help and time, so this here is a HUGE THANKS from all those that you've helped out!!!

[Ken Berry]

Thanks for letting us know you sorted things out -- not to mention your kind words to me!