VS8 Menu Page Options

virg2673 · Post by **virg2673** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:58 pm

Have captured, edited, and burned about 25 years worth of home movies to DVD's using VS8. I could not have accomplished that without the help of this forum and the coaching from people like Ken Berry and others. Have another 15 years worth of home movies to go and I'm looking forward to it.

However, I just learned that Video Studio provides the capability to have the initial chapter scenes displayed on the Chapter Menu screen, to automaticaly play in a short loop when the Chapter Menu of a completed DVD is selected. This would obviously assist a viewer of the completed DVD in selecting which Chapter they wanted to view.
I have just seen a DVD produced by someone who had used this VS option and I liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to ask that author how he accomplished it.

I'm guessing that I would need to select this option while I'm in the Share/Create Video File portion of my workflow, but after searching, I can't find it. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated and thanks again for all the help that you have provided in the past.

Virgil Mueller

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:52 am

Hi Virgil, The feature you are referring to is called a "motion menu." I am not 100% certain but I don't believe that was part of the VS8 feature set. Possibly version 9 or 10 was when it was introduced.
To be sure take look in the menu creation section of the DVD burning module, The controls for adding and editing menus are there and that is where it will be if it is there.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:23 am

Without removing one of my hard drives and inserting another containing VS8 I cannot recall what menu creation options existed in that version.
You can compare your version to what is now available in this link which was written initially with VideoStudio 9 but has had a few bits bolted on since.

Authoring a DVD

Post by **Ron P.** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:50 am

Since I've reinstalled all VS versions I have, I checked and Motion Menus was introduced with VS9. However it was enhanced further in VS10 with the Menu-In/Menu-Out. This is just where the menus can have effects applied to them such as fading in/out.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:28 am

Hi Verg

It looks like an up grade if you require this option. Unless you can use another software that supports motion menu to ¡¥author¡¦ your movies.

By the way, it may be best to remove your e-mail address from the post, insert it via your profile (first box).

virg2673 · Post by **virg2673** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:05 pm

Sorry for the delay in responding. I have had a problem getting my post accepted after I select "Submit." I'm told that it may be an AOL problem so I'm trying it now using MS Internet Explorer.
Based on your answers to my questions about Motion Menus, I now understand that I must upgrade from VS8 inorder to use it, which generates several questions.
1. To which version should I upgrade to get Motion Menus capability, and have the least impact on my documented Workflows? Keep in mind that I'm a novis. I remember all too well how much trouble and heartburn I encountered last year when I was going through the learning curve. Couldn't have done it without the help and coaching provided by this forum, and that's an understatement.
2. Can I purchase the upgrade to go from VS8 to whatever you suggest, and do it online? If so, approximately how much does it cost?
Thanks again for your patience.

Post by **Ron P.** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:40 pm

Upgrades are only available on-line, and only to the most current version. VS8Se does qualify for upgrade prices..

http://www.ulead.com/store/vs/upgrade.htm

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:29 pm

Hi Virgil

It may be best to give the trial version a go. This will give you the opportunity to try the motion menu¡¦s.
Also check your VS 8 version re:- Ron¡¦s comment above.

The trial version does not include all menus, just one or two of each type but will give you a good idea of what¡¦s included.
You give the impression that you use a few thumbnail/titles per disc.
VS 8 allowed up to 12 per menu page. This has been reduced in the later versions.

In addition to the thumbnail type there are two more, Text and Smartscene Menus
Using these styles and the numbers are reduced further.

I do not use VS 11 and cannot tell you the numbers per menu page.

virg2673 · Post by **virg2673** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:12 pm

Thank you for your answers and advice. I plan to try a trial version of VS11+ or VS11. It sounds like that would be my best way to find out just how much my current VS8 documented workflow will be effected.
1. Considering that I am still a novis, and the main reason for upgrading is to be able to use Motion Menus, which of the two versions would you recommend, VS11 or VS11 plus, in order to have the least impact on my existing VS8 workflow?
2. After reading multiple posts on this forum about "unexplained software crashes" and version stability or lack thereof, which of the two versions provides the most bug free and stable system, VS11 or VS11plus?
3. Will I need to completely deinstall my current VS8 before trying to download and install the potential replacement version?
Thanks again for your help. I do appreciate it a bunch.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:49 pm

11 and 11+ are exactly the same, except that 11+ has 5 addtional overlay tracks. I would go for the + version.

virg2673 · Post by **virg2673** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:10 pm

Thanks guys. I'll give it a try and I'm sure that will generate more questions. Thanks again.

virg2673 · Post by **virg2673** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:42 am

Have downloaded and installed the VS11plus trial version and have completed several test runs through my workflow, resulting in two questions.

1. After completing my editing phase and selecting Effect, and then drag and drop "Barn Door" in between my selected chapter segments, there appears to to be a vertical opening of the transition doors as opposed to the horizontal opening provided in my old VS8 version. I see what appears to be a transition adjustment (several sets of multiple arrows) available to the lower right of the transition options, but can't get it to cause the "Barn Doors" to open from the center. Any suggestions?

2. Where can I locate and select the option to insert Motion Menus? I'm looking in the Share portion but not finding it. Am I searching in the right area?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:51 am

virg2673 · Post by **virg2673** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:33 pm

Thanks for your reply. The Effect screen that you pasted in your reply is precisely the one that I was trying to describe, but when I attempt to select one of the direction arrows, that are over to the right side, it has no impact on changing how my selected Barn Door transition opens. Could this just be a function of my testing with the trial version VS11+ or am I failing to do something correctly.

Thanks to your other paste, I also found the screen to selct Motion Menus, which I did. However, that screen only shows the opening scene of my Project and the tiltles for 4 of my 6 chapters. It does not show the opening scenes for any of my 6 chapters. When I select preview, the opening scene of my project has motion for the selected 10 seconds. How do I get Motion Menu effect for the opening scenes of my 6 chapters?