Recording a complete DVD project

[Berzelius]

How do I go about recording a complete DVD project including the list of media used, the menu, background music etc so that, if necessary, I can burn another DVD, perhaps after doing a bit of editing?

I realise that I could copy the final DVD or save an ISO file but these methods would not allow easy editing. And, also, having to save an ISO file seems a waste of HD space.

I have VideoStudio 11 running under Windows XP/SP2.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Your project is actually a complete list of the media used. It contains all the virtual clips used, the files being somewhere on your hard drive, I find it best if they are all be in the same location, your working folder. Provided the main files are not removed, renamed or deleted, you can edit your project at any time.

Following this by Share--Create Video File, using the new file to burn your dvd.

The ISO option allows you to create a single file of the completed disc, this is very useful if you wish to burn many copies.

[Berzelius]

Thanks for the reply. However, I think I may not have made my problem clear. I realise that if you save the project from the Edit stage then all the media used are saved as well. However, what I wish to know is how do you save all the work that you have put into the menu as well? This can involve quite a bit of work that you may wish to save - in fact, if you are only using a single video clip then you may have put much more work into the menu. A reason for doing this may be as follows - you've produced the DVD and a week later someone points out a spelling mistake in the title. So, assuming that you've left all the media files in place how do you call up the project, including the menu, so that you can edit it?

[sjj1805]

Firstly
You may wish to save all of your videos, images sounds etc in one convenient directory so that you can preserve that directory for future editing. To do so you use a new option in VideoStudio 11 - File | Smart Package.

You are however still working with your original project and so close it and open the one we just created using smart package. |This is important otherwise the changes you now make in the authoring stage will not be carried over to the smart packaged project.

Now open the authoring stage - Share Create Disc and prepare your DVD Menus. Upon exiting this stage you will see VideoStudio say that it is saving your project. Ignore that message - no one here as yet worked out what it is saving - if you close the project those menus you created will be lost.
Instead you must now manually save the project.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Berzelius

If you have done Share Create Disc from an empty timeline as recommended
Then Add Video Files.
You create your menu
On closing VS shows that it is saving the project (as Steve¡¦s comments)
I believe this to be transferring the burner module info back to the empty project.

Now save the project as for example My Wedding burn.vsp

Returning to this project at a later date will show an empty timeline.
Share Create Disc will show all your menu structure.

If you have re-edited the Mpegs used you may corrupt the menu structure, especially if you have used chapter points. You may also receive a Re-Link.

[Berzelius]

Thanks for the replies.

a) I obviously need to look into this Smart Package.

b) I'd noticed this "saving project" message but as it didn't seem to lead anywhere I've simply ignored it. I shall give the method a try. However, it does seem to be a rather odd way of doing things. You might even call it an undocumented feature.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
As mentioned earlier, not may of us understand the purpose of the ¡¥Saving project¡¦.
I just assume it is returning to the project with the menu details. Saving the project again does work and your menu structure can be retrieved.

And yes you could call it ¡¥undocumented¡¦

Good luck