Flashbacks from high school

[sliver]

My teacher used to say that the only stupid questions are the unasked ones. I wish he could read this post... ;-)

I want to take two Yoga video files and create a DVD out of them. Don't want anything fancy; I desire simple and utilitarian.

So I start VideoStudio 9 and click "movie wizard".

I click "insert video" and navigate to the first movie, which is a 400MB mpg video. Double click. It's on the time line. Groovy. Click on "insert video" a second time to add a second 400MB mpg file. There are now two videos on my timeline.

The first thing that causes me concern is that there's no indicator to tell me whether these two videos will "fit" on a layer 1 home burned DVD. Shouldn't there be an indicator? It appears that I could add videos like this all day without some kind of warning like "hey, this probably won't fit!". But I'm not overly concerned; 800 MB plus some MB for a menu would certainly fit on a DVD. Or will it? Stay tuned.

So I press "next" and I'm at the template choice section. I don't want to view yoga through a circle above the words "In the Mood for Love", so I click "no template". I also don't want music, so I uncheck "background music" and press "next".

I'm at a point where I can click the "create video file" icon, "create DVD" icon, or "edit in VideoStudio editor" icon. Since I want to burn a DVD, I press "create DVD".

Now here is where I have a big problem. There does appear to be an indicator of how much space my project will take. It's in the red and says 4.70 (4.38) GB. I assume that 4.38GB is the storage size of a DVD and 4.80 is the size of my project once it's burned to DVD. Trouble. But how the heck did 800MB turn into 4.80GB??!!

Also, the timeline shows a *single* item, eponymously entitled "untitled". I say "eponymously" because I have no idea what it is. I was expecting two items with names like "Yoga for life" or some such thing like that. Why am I seeing just one item on the timeline and why is it untitled?

Also, a minor issue. on this screen there's "add video", "add DVD content" and "add VideoStudio project". Why are those items here? I would think that at THIS stage of DVD creation, all the content I want on the DVD should already be on the timeline. Why am I given another chance to add content this late in the game?

At this point, I'm so confused that I can't continue, but out of morbid curiosity, I click "next".

The next screen appears to be a DVD preview movie. VideoStudio created a menu automagically and it's pretty clear how to change the background image and text. However, I'm not seeing two items on the menu: I see only one item entitled "untitled".

This is probably long enough.

Will some kind and gentle soul please tell me where I'm going wrong?

Much thanks!

[jchunter]

Sliver,
If you follow the procedure recommended in the top sticky post, you will be a much happier camper.
John

[sliver]

Sliver,
If you follow the procedure recommended in the top sticky post, you will be a much happier camper.
John

Hi John,

Thanks for the tip, but it almost seems like I'm using a completely different program altogether.

For example:

* I don't see a "share tab" anywhere.
* The instructions say to select “Same as Project Settings” while you save
the video file. Where exactly is this setting?

And I'm still curious why two 400MB mpeg files turn into over 4GB worth of DVD video. Don't DVDs use mpeg natively?

Is the sticky post for an old version of VideoStudio?

Thanks,
Sliver

[BrianCee]

If you have two video files and add them into the editing timeline of UVS then you have ONE project - what you have done is no different than putting a number of clips in the timeline or putting one large video and splitting it into maybe 100 different clips - you still have one project - which by the way you have described it as "Untitled" suggests that at no time have you saved a project file - a bit dangerous if you want to return to your project at some time in the future. You are right that there is no indication anywhere in the editing section as to whether it will fit on a DVD - because at that stage you may be doing anything - like preparing a windows media file for a webpage or burning a VCD or just outputting a DV tape or indeed maybe a DVD - which is why that information is not displayed until you enter the burning module and tell the programme what you want to create.

So when you enter the burning module you have one project which is why you have one thumbnail for the whole programme - if you want seperate thumbnails for the two videos do NOT enter them in the editing section - do not put ANY videos in the editing section timeline then open the "Create Disc" Module - now use the "import Video" function there to import both videos ( thats why their there !! ) - you will now have two videos producing two thumbnails each selectable when you burn your DVD.

You also have to check all the properties in the disc creation module by using the two icons at the bottom of the "Create disc" dialogue box - it is not the physical size of your files which is the final factor in deciding whether your video will fit on a DVD or not - you need to also check the bitrate and maybe select a lower value to fit it all on.

[BrianCee]

Right I see you posted while I was typing - I think the major problem we're (you) are having Silver is that you are using the wizard - please use the full editor and everything that John (and his sticky) and my post says will make sense.

[sliver]

Right I see you posted while I was typing - I think the major problem we're (you) are having Silver is that you are using the wizard - please use the full editor and everything that John (and his sticky) and my post says will make sense.

Totally understood. These two replies *deserve* to be sticky!

Thanks for taking the time to explain this, Brian!

Sliver