DVD Factory Pro 2010 - Alternate image / clip for top menu?

[TonyBrown]

Hi,
1st post, and sorry if this has already been covered (though did not spot it)...

Is is possible to substitute the clip that is played on the DVD main menu to 1) an alternate still image, 2) an alternate video clip sequence, or 3) a segment from within the video clip rather that the very start???

I have a large video file that slowly fades in from back - rather than just a black box appearing in the menu, I'd like to nominate a more representative clip or image, suitable for the main menu. I can't seem to locate any options to allow me to select these, other than as entirely separate clips in their own right.

I'm sure this must be a common requirement? Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Tony

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

DVD Factory 2010 does not allow for changing the thumbnail image. DVD MovieFactory 7 Pro does. DVD Factory 2010 is very basic, and your stuck with what it presents. Not really much customizing can be done.

Have you already purchased it, or just trying it out? I hope it's the latter. You won't find many people here on the forums using it. With VS X3, this was the "DVD authoring" program provided, until Corel provided DVD MovieFactory 7SE as a replacement. DVD Factory 2010 is a joke for a program. How about having a look at VideoStudio X4, which has an integrated DVD Authoring module, that is many times better than what you're using now.

[strawdogrob]

Hi there

This is my first post so I apologise if my question has been answered elsewhere.

I bought Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 mainly because I was looking for a complete program that incorporated reliable AVCHD authoring software. I tried the trial version and then paid nearly £70.00 for the full version as it seemed to work ok. I have been very disappointed with the DVD Factory Pro 2010 which continually crashes and doesn't seem to work at all now. I have also tried the DVD MovieFactory 7SE but for one reason and another I'm not happy with that either.

Can anyone recommend a reliable AVCHD DVD authoring program that will work with the HD movies that I have made using
Corel VideoStudio Pro X3? I have used my raw .mts files and then added titles and music (muting the sound on my video files) and then used the 'same as first clip' option to render the files which are saved as HD .mpg files.

Which authoring program does the VideoStudio X4 use?

So to sum up I'm looking for a reliable authoring program to make AVCHD DVD discs. Can anyone help?

Thanks

Rob

[Ken Berry]

The X4 authoring/burning module is not hugely different from Movie Factory, and similar to the burning modules in X2 and previous versions.

I see you mention AVCHD DVD discs or "hybrid" discs as they are also known. I used X2 and now X4 highly successfully to produce such discs. In fact, when X2 came out, it was almost the only one which could actually burn such a disc with a menu. I don't know about the other consumer level software packages, but I imagine they too can now burn menus with hybrid discs. Certainly Nero 10 can, so you could try that.

Perhaps if you could explain the "one reason or another" that makes you dissatisfied with MF 7 SE, we might be able to make more sensible suggestions. But personally, I have never had any trouble with the VS modules in X2 and X4 for burning such discs, and find the templates to be very flexible in their setup.

[strawdogrob]

Hi Ken

Thanks for the reply. The reason that I am dissatisfied with Movie Factory 7 SE is that when I play a disc burned using this program there is a pause and 'freeze' while my dvd player aligns itself to play the next clip. This happens on all the dvd players that I try the discs with and spoils the smooth running of dvd movies that I am trying to make. On the rare occasions when the DVD factory Pro 2010 worked properly I didn't have this problem and the movies would play through seamlessly.

I make amateur films of local bands which my friend and I film and then I match the best shots to a separate sound source. I have had some fantastic results using Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 but the problems arise when I click on the 'Create Disc' option as the DVD Factory Pro crashes nearly every time i try to use it and I have the 2 second 'freeze' at the end of every clip when I use the Movie factory 7 SE. Another problem, (which may be something I am doing wrong), is that with Movie Factory 7 SE I can't seem to create a chapter point mid clip, which is often something that I need to do.

I did try downloading a trial version of Nero 10 to try their AVCHD disc authoring program but it wasn't part of the working trial options so I wasn't prepared to pay for it without knowing if it would work for me. Has anyone had any experience using Nero 10?

Thanks once again for your help

Rob

[Ron P.]

the problems arise when I click on the 'Create Disc' option as the DVD Factory Pro crashes nearly every time

Then don't do that. Instead create a video file in VS X3. You can still launch DVD Factory 2010, and insert the video file, and proceed on building and burning your disc.

To launch DVD Factory 2010 you can clear your timeline, then go to Tools>DVD Factory Pro 2010, or Share Create Disc>DVD Factory Pro 2010 (with a clean timeline), you can also create a shortcut on your desktop to directly open it. Just navigate to the VS X3 folder under Program Files, and locate the file BurningApp.exe, right-ciick on it and select Send to Desktop, Create Shortcut.

[strawdogrob]

the problems arise when I click on the 'Create Disc' option as the DVD Factory Pro crashes nearly every time

Then don't do that. Instead create a video file in VS X3. You can still launch DVD Factory 2010, and insert the video file, and proceed on building and burning your disc.

To launch DVD Factory 2010 you can clear your timeline, then go to Tools>DVD Factory Pro 2010, or Share Create Disc>DVD Factory Pro 2010 (with a clean timeline), you can also create a shortcut on your desktop to directly open it. Just navigate to the VS X3 folder under Program Files, and locate the file BurningApp.exe, right-ciick on it and select Send to Desktop, Create Shortcut.

Hi Ron

Thanks for the suggestion but it still didn't work. I got as far as creating my menu and within 3 minutes of pressing the burn button the program had stopped working. I was getting the standard 'DVD Factory Pro has stopped working' etc. Are the same authoring programs used in VS Pro X4?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Rob

[Ken Berry]

There is only one burning/authoring module in VS X4, and it does not resemble DVD Factory 2010 at all. As I have already indicated, it is quite similar to Movie Factory 7 and versions of VS from X2 backwards.

[strawdogrob]

Hi Ken

Thanks for the info. I'll do a bit of research and see if i can find a reliable stand alone product that suits my needs a bit better.

Thanks once again

Rob

[Ken Berry]

Well good luck! But needless to say, I have to add that more than a few of us here find X4 and X2 and earlier burning modules, not to mention various iterations of MF, quite reliable as burning engines!