DVD Menu titling - extremely clumsy, am I missing something?

[aaronlawrence]

Hello all, converting VHS tapes to DVD in VS X2 ...
Entering the DVD menu titles seems extremely clumsy.
1. Although you can enter chapters in the main editing screen, the names entered there are not carried through the DVD menu.
2. You can add/edit chapters in the DVD authoring screen, but you can't name them there.
3. The only place you CAN add the actual DVD menu names is in the DVD menu page, and that page has no way to view the video!

So is there somewhere that you can both a) view the video and b) enter the DVD menu names at the same time?

Thanks

[2Dogs]

Hi Aaron,

I think the authoring features are a bit clunky.

Not sure exactly what you mean, but you can edit the chapter names when you preview. This applies to 11.5, so there's a fair chance X2 is similar.

Underneath the preview screen, you should see "Currently displayed menu:". Click on the box to the right of that and select the next option. If you are using the "suggested workflow", the default name for the selection will be the video file name, otherwise, if you have clips on the timeline, it will, helpfully, be "untitled"!

In either case, you can then double-click on the chapter names, which will be in the form "Chapter001" etc, and rename them as you please, It's a bit clunky, since you have to first position the cursor with the arrow keys and then delete the default name before typing in your chapter name. It could be better!

[aaronlawrence]

Hi ZDogs,

Thanks for your suggestions. Yes, I know how to edit the names.

But on the menu editing screen, you can't actually play the video at all. So unless you can figure it out from the thumbnails there's nothing to tell you what the chapters are.

[2Dogs]

Hi Aaron

Yes, I know how to edit the names.

Sorry, I didn't mean to be patronising. I just wanted to clarify how you were creating the chapters.

But on the menu editing screen, you can't actually play the video at all. So unless you can figure it out from the thumbnails there's nothing to tell you what the chapters are.

Again, all my comments relate to VS11.5, but I'm sure that if there are any changes in X2, some wiser heads will correct me!

You do have to go into preview mode to play each chapter, at which time you can't rename them, or back to the "Add/edit chapter" screen where you can play them but not see the names you have given them. It is clunky and I don't think you've missed anything.

It would be nice to be able to name the chapters in the Add/edit screen, perhaps having the ability to toggle between chapter names and timecode.

Perhaps you should add the suggestion to allow chapter naming in the Add/edit chapter screen in the "sticky" towards the top of the forum.

There seems to be precious little chapter editing allowed in the Add/edit screen anyway. As far as I can tell, all you can do is add or remove a chapter - you can't adjust the chapter points once you've added the chapter, and if you delete a chapter you will obviously lose the name you assigned to it in the next screen.

If you are using a thumbnail menu, however, you can right-click on each chapter thumbnail and select "Change this scene thumbnail". You can then "play" the first 3 and a half seconds of the chapter by dragging the slider, and that may work for you. You can only play the first page of thumbnails, however, after which you have to go into either the preview screen or back to the add/edit chapters screen.

Pragmatically, and if you wish to use a text menu, perhaps you just need to use a notepad and write down the chapter names when you create the chapters, and then input those names in the main authoring screen, the one with the "Choose Template" option.

It really would be more helpful if each screen had a unique name!

[Black Lab]

Remember, VS is an editor that has some authoring capabilities. You may want to take a look at DVD Movie Factory, which is an authoring app that has some editing capabilities.

[extremekicks]

Does anyone use Movie Factory? If so does it have more to offer then VS? OR x2?

I love VS 11+ for editting but yeah the DVD Menu Authoring is extremely clunky.

Also another reason for me to get Vegas.

[Black Lab]

YES! MovieFactory is primarily an authoring application. Why not download the trial and have a look for yourself.

[aaronlawrence]

Yes, it does sound like I bought the wrong tool ... D'oh! More money wasted (on the original crappy capture card with VS6 and now VS X2...).

Thanks for the thoughts...