Stuck on Chapters and Menus

[Cliffmg]

I've battled for days trying to turn my completed VS project into an interactive DVD but am failing badly. I've read the very few scant pages in the VS manual but it really only describes what each button does, not the effect or why you would want to use this feature. I've also read the Tutorials but I think my problem is far too basic. I must be getting something fundamentally wrong. Mainly through lack of understanding on my part I'm sure. This is what I do:-

Complete creating the VS project.
Add Chapter Points.
Create Video File.

Seletct 'Share' tab
Add Media (should I use first or second of the four icons to add?)
Open file (should I use the .mpeg or .usd or the VS project file?)
Tick 'create menu'
Click 'add chapters'


(why does it not find my previously marked Chapter Points?)
So, re-select the chapter scenes (into area at foot of screen)
Click OK

Now back on previous screen.
Click Next.

Now on Gallery screen.
Select required style from Gallery.
(but it is only showing the first chapter ie position 00.00.00.00
Click the remote control icon to preview.

What I get is the selected Gallery, with a single thumbnail/frame in which my entire project is running (or at least for 20 secs when it then loops back).
If I select the Start arrow on this first screen, it kicks off the whole movie (at least I can see that all the fades, zooms, music etc.. all look OK, but this is not how an interactive DVD should look and behave).

At least one or more of the above steps must be wrong, but I have tried every order I can find - with no luck.

Can anyone help me please?

CLIFF

[sjj1805]

See if you have more luck following my tutorial
authoring a DVD

Regarding the chapter points you have created in the first stage being carried over into the authoring stage. This depends upon the version of VideoStudio you have and the service packs installed.

If you create chapter points in the edit stage and then use the VideStudio project file in the authoring stage it will recognise those chapter points.

If you have instead created an MPEG2 file in the editing stage and then used that MPEG2 file in the authring stage, then theoretically VideoStudio recognises the chapter points. However many of our users have had mixed success with that and so if you follow the Suggested workflow by SJJ1805 for Video Creation
you may find it easier to do the creation of your chapter points in the authoring stage rather than the editing stage.

You might also be interested in viewing a short demo video
VideoStudio Demo & Training Videos

[Cliffmg]

Success!!

I finally got there. There were two boxes which I needed to untick. First was the 'Motion' box (this stopped the whole project running in thumbnail and now gives a static picture). The other was the Advanced Settings, then untick the main menu option. I'm still not sure I understand quite why this works... but it does.

I now have a fully functioning first screen with 7 chapter thumbnails which all work as required.

One last point on the previous disc burning problem. My only success has been with +RW discs. But VS often says 'failed to burn' but if I put the disc in my Panasonic DVD player.... it's all there.

Many thanks to everyone that has helped me, especially Steve and Ron.

CLIFF

[tommytucker]

Won't putting chapter points or altering the MPEGII file in anyway cause a rerender and loss of quality?

[Cliffmg]

Sorry Tommy.... but I'm very new to all this and I'm afraid I do not understand your question.

CLIFF

[sjj1805]

Won't putting chapter points or altering the MPEGII file in anyway cause a rerender and loss of quality?

If you follow my recommended workflow you will have created a DVD compliant MPEG2 file in the edit stage and then progressed to authoring.

Providing you got everything right in the edit stage and your video plus all the menus you are now going to create will fit on the disc, then the video file itself will not be rendered again and so things move pretty fast.

When you create chapter points you are now telling video studio to create x number of menu pages. This obviously varies according to the type(s) of menu you are creating. Let us for example assume that you have chosen a motion menu with 6 thumbnails. Let us also assume you have created 24 chapter points. This will require 4 menu pages (4 x 6 = 24)

The way a DVD Menu works is that each page is in fact a short video.
That video looks like a DVD Menu. Superimposed upon that video are hotspots - these are where you have placed your buttons.
When you press the up/down/left/right keys on your DVD remote control you are moving from one hotspot to another. When you press the select button it activates that hotspot which could be play this video, or go to this chapter or to this other menu page.

Obviously it takes time to construct these short videos and hotspots. The more pages you have the longer it takes because it has more pages to construct. Also if you hav a motion menu as opposed to one with just text or still images, that will also take time.

Hope this clarified matters.