Create movie from projects or rendered video?

[jparnold]

Hi Trevor
Yes I did download it from the link you gave - thanks again for that.
I have not yet installed it though.
I sort of guessed that the work flow etc would be much the same but forgot that there could be more menus (smart menus?).
I must move on/update from the menu I have been using for the past few years.

One last question (yes I know that I could try it out to see what happens) but is there a way of creating menus that have motion for more than 30 seconds (ie thumbnails which have motion). I saw that there is a box in the create disk which is something about limiting motion top 30 seconds and wondered why and could it be that some dvd players might throw in the towel if the motion is longer than 30 seconds so wasn't quite sure what the implications are.
Thanks again.
John

[Black Lab]

Maybe I expect too much from VS as I really do 'push the limits' I think and often have clips in EVERY track available (main, overlay, title, voice and music - I have been using the overlay track as another audio track minimising the video and placing it into a corner so it won't show in the final 'movie'. Also with various transitions and multiple video filters and adjusted volume all together at the same time.

Just to reiterate what I have said in another post, I just finished a project that had a 30 second intro that used all 7 video tracks, with the PiP filter applied to all the clips, a title track, and an audio track. In X4 the project played smoothly. In X3 this would have been so choppy it would have been nearly impossible to sync the music.

John, I am not trying to sell you X4, but I think it would be well worth your while (and sanity) to give it a try.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi John

The motion Menu duration is limited to 30 seconds this is the same for all Video Studio versions including X4.

The templates provided by DVD MF7SE seem to be the same as the templates provided by X4.
You can either install DVD MF7SE or VSX4 trial.
Both will give you an idea of what you get using the Create Disc option

Jeff seems to indicate that X4 is an improvement to X3, I would try the trial version as he suggests.

[jparnold]

Thanks everyone
Maybe I should have stretched the budget and purchased X4 but it would have cost an extra $100. Maybe I will bite the bullet and buy it anyway.
Problem was that it wasn't until after I purchased X3 that I found out the 'short comings' of X3 and it was too late then - I had thought that X4 was just a version of X3 with more 'bells and whistles'. I guess I could try and sell it second hand on Ebay and get something back for it.
Thanks again
PS (added after original reply)
In fact I have just placed an order for X4 with an internet shop who I have purchased from before (a little by accident as I didn't think I was actually entering an order and paying for it until after I clicked on a button). Hope it's as good as you all suggest.
I now will have to try and sell X3 second hand. I haven't actually used it yet apart from starting it and just looking at the display as I am currently using VS9 to finish a movie of a trip I did last year.

[Black Lab]

In fact I have just placed an order for X4 with an internet shop who I have purchased from before (a little by accident as I didn't think I was actually entering an order and paying for it until after I clicked on a button). Hope it's as good as you all suggest.

Well, we did tell you to try the trial first.

[jparnold]

Yes I know you did but in retrospect I have not read any adverse posts about X4 (but have for X3) and in fact have read praises. Normally I would have purchased X4 as it is the latest but I could not find that it could offer me better features than X3 (I only work with SD video) and therefore could not justify the extra $100+.
Also the latest version should (I repeat should) be a better product than previous versions (I say that with tongue in cheek because look at Windows ME, Windows Vista and some VS versions which have been criticized as not being any better than the previous).