VS9 newbie help please.....

[rjj]

Hi guys,

I am a brand new VS9 user, hoping that VS9 is a significant improvement over the buggy Pinnacle Studio 8, which I have struggled with in the past.

I am trying to correlate the steps in editing a movie in VS9, with what I have done in the past with Studio 8. I assumed that these were similar products, and had the same basic functionality, but I am having trouble finding where I would perform the following operations:

1. Joining two or more scenes on the storyboard.
2. Inserting chapter marks.

I assume that these should be somewhere in the Edit mode, but I can't seem to find them, and the help file and tutorials don't seem to cover this.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Roy

[Ken Berry]

Not precisely sure what you mean by joing two (or more) scenes on the storyboard. You simply insert the video clip of one scene in the storyboard from the library pane, and then drop another clip/scene on the storyboard after it, and so on. To 'join' them in the sense of producing one new video containing both scenes, you go Share > Create Video File and the program encodes the two scenes into one video.

As for creating Chapter points, that is done towards the end, once you are in the burning module. You will see in the first screen of that a check box for creating menu and chapters.

[rjj]

First off, thanks for the reply.....I understand that I need to defer the chapter marks until later.

But maybe I'm a bit confused (won't be the last time) about the scenes. After I used the scene detect on my captured video, it generated 31 scenes which are on the story board. These 31 scenes really represent what I will eventually want to be 14 chapters. I would prefer to combine the scenes at this point so that I get the 14 scenes that will eventually become the 14 chapters. But I don't see how to readily do that. Am I better off not doing the scene detect, and just making splits at the appropriate spots?

Thanks.

Roy

[LGO]

rjj wrote:

I would prefer to combine the scenes at this point so that I get the 14 scenes that will eventually become the 14 chapters. But I don't see how to readily do that.

If I understand your question correctly, then what you're asking about isn't really necessary. If you have the 31 clips your scene detection made, and they are exactly how you want them, then just burn the vid onto a DVD. You'll make the 14 chapter points in that burning process as you already know.

Am I better off not doing the scene detect, and just making splits at the appropriate spots?

It's purely personal preference.

I still use an analog video cam and everything I do has to be edited some how. Therefore I will take several short captures, crop the overscan, apply effects, etc. as I wish, and render them into a longer new video. I will take all the longer new videos and render them into the final single video. That sounds like what you're asking, but as I said is no longer necessary. It's a process I got into with Video Studio 3 when I started out several years ago. It's no longer necessary with all the improvements to Video Studio over the last seven years.

When you have several clips in your story board don't forget that you can drag and drop transitions between two clips. But that's a two edged sword - you don't want too many and you don't want the transistions to distract from the video.

Good luck,

LGO

[kebrinton]

There are actually two ways to do the "scenes" thing. And as I'm sure you know, clips are not scenes. When it's time to create scenes, there won't be any way to distinguish where clips begin and end. Okay.

(1) You can create a bunch of small, separate videos, get each into finished, MPEG2 format, and then at the final authoring stage put each one into your DVD project (using "Insert Video"). What you end up with using this method is a DVD which starts with a menu containing whatever number of separate videos you have. You can navigate to any of them using the remote.

However, my work has been recording musical performances and when I split up an opera into this kind of individual videos, there was a tiny jerk or jog when I played straight through the DVD, at each scene change. I didn't like that. So I now prefer method 2.

(2) Create your video as one piece. Doesn't matter how many clips it's composed of -- when you "Create New Video" these will all get melded into one. If you follow correct procedure (and you must), you'll end up with one big MPEG2 file. Then, as you work through the DVD-authoring process, you'll have a chance to click a box allowing you to create menus and chapters.

You will then determine where you want the chapter divisions to fall. By dragging a slider, you'll be able to choose individual frames that mark the points.

The difference between (2) and (1) is that your first view when you play the DVD will be one single thumbnail, the "main menu" which is useless. When you click on that, all your many thumbnail chapter-markers will appear. Some people have reported to the forum that they don't like HAVING to go through that first layer of menu. But I find this method is better for a smooth-playing musical performance.

Good luck.

[rjj]

OK, let's say that I have my scenes edited, and that I want to designate my chapters and add titles to them. You guys have indicated that this is done in the share tab.....but when I go there, it shows that there is one title, and there is no option to add/edit chapters (greyed out). What am I doing wrong?

Thanks.

Roy

P.S. When I do add the chapters, what tab would allow me to add scrolling titles at the start of the chapters?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
I have just read your posting and I am a little confused to the various problems you are having.
Adding titles is usually done in the edit stage within the timelines.
I realise you can customise the text within the menu / chapters, but you cannot scroll this text as far as I know.

It is time to view the tutorials supplied by ulead, download from:-

http://www.ulead.com/learning/vs.htm

There are 9 in all covering the processes from capture to burning a dvd.
I think you will find the time viewing these tutorials well worth the effort.
Once you have viewed the tutorials look at the top posting for the recommended procedure.

http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=27

Hope this Helps

[rjj]

Well, I took a few days off, in the hope that all would become clear. Unfortunately, it didn't work. I went through some of the tutorials, including the one specifically related to sharing. I think I have followed the steps shown, yet when I go to the sharing tab, it shows by 61 minute edited video as one title, but the Add/Edit chapter button is greyed out. What do I need to do so that I can add my chapter points?

TIA

Roy

[Trevor Andrew]

it shows by 61 minute edited video as one title, but the Add/Edit chapter button is greyed out. What do I need to do so that I can add my chapter points?

TIA

Roy

The Add Chapters should be available.

I can only assume that VS is not installed correctly, or the file you are using is faulty.

try this:-

Start a new project.
Drag the smiling women with the green background ( V15 ) to the timeline.

Share / create disc

Do you see the Add / Edit chapters as available?????????
And does it work, can you make chapters?

If this works
What are the properties of your video that you are trying to burn???