Selecting an Introduction clip when creating a DVD.

[billg13]

I have Video Studio Pro X2. When creating a DVD, I would like to select an Introduction Video other then the first video clip. This is the video that runs on the DVD template when you first insert the DVD and have the menu on the screen. I video taped a wedding and I would like the Intro video to be of the bride and groom which is not the first video clip on the DVD. I'm thinking this is simple and I'm just missing it. Any thoughts?

[Ron P.]

The clip must be first on the timeline AND the box above the timeline stating Use first clip as introductory video must be checked. Then it will play that clip first before any menus or other clips.

[billg13]

Wow, are you saying there is no other way to get the clip you want as the introduction video unless it is the first clip and also is the first to play as the first chapter? If I put this video first, is there a way to not play it when you start the DVD. Another way of saying that is, can you have the first chapter on the DVD be something other then the first video clip in the timeline.

[Black Lab]

The first play video will be its own separate clip. It will not be part of your main video at all. So to use an introductory clip you must make two separate videos: the first play video and your main video.

Then, on the burning timeline you will have the first play clip (making sure to check the Use first clip as introductory video box), then your main video.

[BrianCee]

might be a little confusion here - the timeline we are using billg13 is the timeline in the 'Create Disc' module - not the main editing timeline, if you do as already suggested and make a small seperate video which you want to use as the introduction and then insert that first into the 'Create Disc' timeline then click "use first clip as introductory video" then that short video will play before the menu appears but will NOT appear in your disc menu as a chapter - it will not appear in any disc user interface. quick and easy to do and not difficult.

If on the other hand you want a video to be playing behind the menu of your disc then that is acheived in a different way - once again go to your 'Create Disc' option and insert only the one main video into the timeline - now click 'next' - in the new window which opens you will see two tabs up towards the top left corner - one labelled 'Gallery' and the other is 'Edit' - click on the 'edit' one - now about 1/3 down under the tab you will see the option to select either a background image or video into your menu page - if you choose video and browse to and select the small video of the bride and groom only then that video will play behind the chapter selection buttons on the menu.

Experiment a little and you will find it all amazingly easy to do.

[billg13]

First i would like want to thank everyone for their help. BrainCee, I was able to do both of the scenarios you mentioned above and they both worked. However, then it occurred to me that I'm not asking the question correctly. While creating the DVD I'm using one of the SmartScene templates from the Gallery menu. This doesn't really matter but the name is 05vs_OneS05_W. Its has a picture of a bridge and groom with gold trim around it. Anyway, when you create the DVD it puts your first clip in the background with the gold trim still around it on the menu screen. This is selected from the Edit window where you check the "motion menu". You can also select the duration up to 30 seconds and then it keeps replaying until you select play. I want to do the same thing with another short clip vs. the first clip in the video. But I'm not trying to play a video prior to menu screen, and I'm not trying to play a video as the background for the "entire" menu screen. I just want to play the short video on the Menu page with the original template still there. I hope this was not too confusing. Is there anyway to to that.

[BrianCee]

OK - I think I can see what your trying to do now and I don't know of a way to do exactly what you want - sorry

[sjj1805]

VideoStudio / Movie factory allow you to:
1. Play a video before you see the menu.
2. Play a video in the background of the menu (up to 30 seconds)
3. Play your main movie - select it from the menu.

What I think you want to achieve is at item 2 above you want a video to play in the background of the menu once, and then for a different video to play in that same menu background. If that is the case then you cannot do so with VideoStudio or MovieFactory. Instead you would need a more expensive DVD Authoring Program such as the now discontinued DVD Workshop 2.

[billg13]

Pretty close. I only want to do number 2. Play a video in the background of the menu (up to 30 seconds). However, I am only looking to play 30 seconds of a chapter that appears later in the DVD and NOT the first video. It only seems like you can play the first video in the background of the menu. Basically I want to be able to select which video plays in the background of the menu. I have tried some many options, but I guess it is not possible.

[mitchell65]

I think if you make a seperate clip of the section you want in the menu then follow the steps in that other thread, this part infact: If on the other hand you want a video to be playing behind the menu of your disc then that is acheived in a different way - once again go to your 'Create Disc' option and insert only the one main video into the timeline - now click 'next' - in the new window which opens you will see two tabs up towards the top left corner - one labelled 'Gallery' and the other is 'Edit' - click on the 'edit' one - now about 1/3 down under the tab you will see the option to select either a background image or video into your menu page - if you choose video and browse to and select the small video of the bride and groom only then that video will play behind the chapter selection buttons on the menu.
Would this not do what you want?

[billg13]

Mitchell65, I'm not looking to play the small video of the bride and groom as the background for the entire menu screen. I'm only looking to play it on the background of the template I selected, and keep the basic design of the template. In my case, the template has a gold trim design around most of it. Normally the DVD takes the first video clip in the timeline and plays that in the background on the menu template. I just want to play it with a different shot clip of the bride and groom in the background of the menu screen, but when I start the DVD I want it to begin with first clip in the video as it normally would. The short clip I want to play is actually played later in the entire video as well. I just thought it would look nice to have the Bride and Groom in the background when the DVD started up. But I want it in the background of the template I selected. I could fix this by just putting the 30 second clip as the first video in the timeline, but then the entire video will start with that 30 second clip, which I don't want.

[sjj1805]

Forget the phrase "First Video" it is obvious you are getting confused by that term.
Instead think of it like this....
You've created a video called "Space Invaders" with various chapters.
You've created a short video called "galaxians"

You want to create a DVD that sort of goes like this....
you put the disc in your DVD player and it automatically starts playing the short clip "Galaxians"
when it is finished it displays your DVD Menu and you have in the background of that DVD menu a 20 second video which is in fact chapter 7 of your main movie "Space Invaders".

So how do you do this. Simple!
1. Create a third movie which is a 20 second clip of chapter 7. lets call this video "background"
2. OPTIONAL - if you want a video to play before the DVD Menu then you place "Galaxians" on the time line first and tick the box to play first clip before Menu.
3. When you get to the DVD authoring screen you customize it and add the background video "Background".

[Ken Berry]

The problem with that, Steve, is that I think he has made it clear -- well sort of! -- that that is NOT what he is after. What he is after is a way for the menu to play, but not use as its video background a clip from the main video, but the 'galaxians' video. However, the Galaxians clip would not otherwise form any part of the DVD. In other words, he wants to be able to set a separate menu background video, rather than have a separate video play *before* the menu...

[sjj1805]

..... The short clip I want to play is actually played later in the entire video as well. .....

[Ken Berry]

OK... but he also says:

Normally the DVD takes the first video clip in the timeline and plays that in the background on the menu template. I just want to play it with a different shot clip of the bride and groom in the background of the menu screen