VS11plus Chapter break selection workflow

[virg2673]

During my Edit workflow, I open a captured home movie, drag & drop the associated icon into the left side of the film strip, and then select >Multi-trim Video. I then select six logical "start" and "end" frames for my six Chapters, insert transition effects in between these chapters, add a title for my opening frame and then >Save, >Share, >Create Video File, >Same as Project Settings, and >Save, to create my DVD-compliant mpeg-2 video file.
When rendering is complete, I select >File, >New Project, >Share, >Create Disc, >Do not convert compliant mpeg files, >Add Video files, to add the saved edited video file, >Add/Edit Chapters, >Auto Add Chapters, >Insert Scenes as Chapters, and >OK to begin preparing my Chapter Menu for my six Chapters.
Unfortunately, this workflow methodology only permits six breaks and doesn't permit me to edit out any additional bad sections other than those in between my six Chapters.
I would like to change or modify my workflow to be able edit out short bad spots without it causing me to have more than six Chapters on my Chapter Menu page.
I suspect that my selection of >Auto Add Chapters before >Insert Scenes as Chapters, is where I'm stubbing my toe, and expect that I should be manually selecting where I want to have my six chapter breaks.
1. Is my logic correct?
2. If so, where do I change or adjust my workflow?

[Ken Berry]

I tend always to make my chapters in the burning module, regardless of the ability, since VS10, to insert chapter markers during the editing stage. So for me, I do all my editing etc, adding transitions, background music, voiceovers etc in the editing phase. In that sense, you can forget about making cuts at your logical chapter points. Just cut out the bits you don't want.

Then when you have created your new mpeg-2, opened the burning module and inserted that mpeg-2 in the burning timeline, you click on the Add/Edit Chapters button. A new screen will appear with its own preview screen and a jog bar below it. The only option normally active at this stage is Auto Add Chapters. Ignore that. Instead drag the jog bar beneath the preview screen to the right to the point where you want a chapter to start (it will in fact be chapter 2 as the beginning of the video is treated as Chapter 1).

Now you will see that the Add Chapter button has become active. Click it. Then drag the jog bar further to the right to the next place you want a chapter. And so on. That way you will end up with your six chapters showing separately in the chapter page timline. Then OK out of that and you will be taken back to the first page of the burning module. Click Next to go on with the process of choosing a template for your menus.

[virg2673]

Thank you Ken for your thorough explanation. I will try your suggestion of selecting my chapter breaks after I have completed my editing and have created my compliant mpeg-2 video file.
Hate to admit this Ken, but after reading your reply, I can faintly recall that you may have suggested this concept one time last year when I was getting started.
My only excuse is that at that time, I was so totally lost and frustrated with learning the absolute basics, that I missed some of the finer points that are made on this Forum.
Thanks again Ken.

[sjj1805]

Another way to have a set number of chapters is to use the Add chapters at fixed intervals.


If you have a 1 hour video and want 6 chapters then 60 minutes / 6 chapters = 10 minutes.

If you wanted 12 chapters then 60 minutes / 12 = 5 minutes

Hint
Use a spreadsheet or calculator.

[Ken Berry]

I had of course based my advice on the fact that Virg had said he had six specific places he wanted to put chapters...

[sjj1805]

Nothing wrong with either method, just providing another alternative.
The Best way is to select the chapter points manually looking for specific scene changes. The lazy way is to use the fixed intervals method.

[virg2673]

Thanks for the thought Steve, but Ken did understand my objectives correctly, in that I'm dividing my edited hour long videos into 6 chapters based on scene or content changes. These are almost 50 years worth of family home movies so you can appreciate that even our own family members will find some of the events as being boring at best.
Therefore, I'm trying to give them the option to skip to the events that might be of interest to them.
I've tried Ken's suggestion of inserting my chapter markers in the burning module, after I have completed my editing out of blurred or blank sections, added transitions, etc. during my Edit workflow. I'm assuming that you meant that the chapter marker should be inserted at the very point or frame that the selected transition (in my case that's 3D, Barn Door) has finished. It's a seems a little tricky and takes me a little more time, but on the first end product DVD that I've completed, it seems to have worked.
Is my assumption of your recommended location of the placement of the chapter marker correct?

[Black Lab]

The chapter marker would go at which point you want the chapter to begin. Whether it is before, after, or during the transition is entirely up to you.