Two separate films in one Project

[Burner049]

I am using VideoStudio X7 Ultimate with Windows 7 Professional 64bit. Is it possible to have two (or more) entirely separate films (titles) in one project for burning to DVD? Together with only one menu, having links to the playing of any title and automatic return to the menu when that title has finished playing . Creation of chapters for titles not necessary, but keeping titles as separate entities essential, with no automatic run-on to the next film. If this is not possible, can a disc be left open for second and subsequent titles to be added later in a different project?

[Ken Berry]

Is it possible to have two (or more) entirely separate films (titles) in one project for burning to DVD?

Yes, of course -- that's a basic authoring function which VS has always had. Mind you, the number of separate titles you want to burn will depend on how long each one is, given the size of file a single layer DVD can take (4.3 GB). But you can fit titles totalling 60 - 70 minutes on one at the highest quality using an 8000 kbps bitrate; 90 - 100 minutes using a good quality bitrate of 6000 kbps; and 2 hours or a little more using 4000 kbps, but the quality will be no better than VHS.

Together with only one menu, having links to the playing of any title and automatic return to the menu when that title has finished playing

Yes. Read the manual. But essentially, when you open the burning module and insert your separate video titles in the burning timeline, click on the second icon (with the cogwheel on it) in the bottom left of the burning screen. This brings up a dialogue box titled 'Project Settings'. At the very bottom of the box, 'Auto repeat when disc playback ends' is ticked by default. Untick it and then when you click the downward pointing arrow to its right, you can choose between Continue to play the next clip and Return to menu.

You can even add chapters to the menu for each title should you want. That is done on the first page of the burning module.

... can a disc be left open for second and subsequent titles to be added later in a different project?

As far as I am aware, no -- not in VS.

[Burner049]

Thank you very much indeed for the info you have supplied and for the swift response to my post. For two titles (both under 90 mins) I always use a double layer DVD, which has always produced a satisfactory, if slightly reduced quality for each title. What I was clearly doing wrong was adding the second film at the initial stage of the project and so getting a menu accommodating only one title (1/1). I didn't realise that any subsequent title had to be added at the second stage (Add Media), which gives me a menu to accommodate two titles of course. Presumably at each stage I need only to add the basic MP4 file?

[Ken Berry]

Presumably at each stage I need only to add the basic MP4 file?

I'm not sure which stages you are referring to. But certainly you just add your separate titles to the burning timeline if you want separate entries for them in the main menu. If you added two separate clips together in the *editing* timeline, then opened the burning module, VS sees only one title. You would then need to create two "chapters" in the menu if you wanted to distinguish between the two original clips.

But while you are clearly maing DVDs out of mp4 video, as I am sure you will be aware, the DVD format is mpeg-2. Some of us here, me included, are a bit old fashioned, and we first edit our original video, in whatever format, in the editing module and output a new video file in the mpeg-2 DVD format before we ever open the burning module. Then when all our new mpeg-2 clips are ready, we go to the burning module and use 'Insert Video Files' to insert our mpeg-2 files, and proceed from there. Since the clips are already in DVD-compatible mpeg-2 format, no conversion occurs in the burning process, thus simplifying it somewhat.

Mind you, you can certainly insert video in other formats in the burning module, but if they need to be converted to DVD compatible mpeg-2, some people have found that this extra burden in the already complex burning process sometimes causes their computers to die. So it is good if this ever happens to you just to remember us 'old timers' and our more step-by-step process!

[Burner049]

Thank you again for all the useful and invaluable info you have given me. Since my last post I have found out that I have to make a project file out of each of the MP4 files first and then I can add the second title at the "Add Media" stage. Incidentally while searching around the software I also found a link which WILL apparently allow me to leave the disc open (in the Ultimate version I have anyway), so what I wanted to do could be done in two sessions, adding the second or any subsequent films to the same disc. From one old-timer to another (I guess I'm older than you!) very many thanks for everything. You have made my day.

[Ken Berry]

Incidentally while searching around the software I also found a link which WILL apparently allow me to leave the disc open (in the Ultimate version I have anyway), so what I wanted to do could be done in two sessions, adding the second or any subsequent films to the same disc.

Can you please tell us what and where that link is?

Since my last post I have found out that I have to make a project file out of each of the MP4 files first and then I can add the second title at the "Add Media" stage.

I am not necessarily saying this is the wrong way, but -- again from my 'old timer' perspective -- it is not necessarily the best way...

There are at least a couple of ways of going about these things, and I personally prefer *not* to go the project file route, if I am understanding what you are saying correctly. In the editing module, you have inserted a clip or clips, probably all mp4, which you want as one title. If you go to File > Save, that creates a project file. Now a project file (.vsp -- Video Studio Project) is not a video file, but a small text file which tells the program what video clips are included in the project, where they are located on your computer and what editing has been done to them.

Once you have finished editing that project, you can save it again, to make sure the .vsp file is fully up to date with all your edits. And you can then clear the timeline and all another clip or clips and save that as a second project file, after editing, the same way as you did the first.

If you then go to the Share button where you can select to burn a DVD as your output, then when the burning module opens, it will probably have the second project file already in the burning timeline. And if I am understanding you correctly, you will then insert your first project file manually so that in effect you will have two separate titles to burn to DVD. But I would appreciate it if you could confirm that I am understanding you correctly.

However, what I was trying to say in my previous post here, is that the old timer workflow is a bit different, and from our point of view, slow and steady wins the race. You still create and save your project files as you edit them. That just makes sense. You may have to go out or are otherwise distracted while editing, so you naturally save your work so it is not lost. You can close down VS and your computer, and restart from where you left off by opening the saved project file.

But the main difference in what seems to be your workflow and mine is that after I finish editing one title, and save the project file, I then go to Share, but do not go straight down to the disc option, but choose the first one to appear by default, which is to 'Create a video which you can play on your computer'. You then choose MPEG-2 as this is the format required under the international standard to burn a DVD -- see the image below and where I put a couple of red arrows.

Let the program do its thing and it will produce a new video clip in DVD format. Note where it is stored and remember the name you gave to it. Then go to File > New Project, the timeline will empty and you insert your second mp4 or set of mp4's for your second project and do the same thing -- after editing, save the project file then go to Share > and do the same as above to produce your second title.

Now this is the important part: go back to File > New Project. Don't worry about a name. The objective is just to clear the timeline of your second project clips. The you go to Share again, and move down to the 'Save Project to Disc' option and click on DVD. The burning module will open and it should have a totally empty timeline. If there is anything there right click it and delete it. Then either right click in the empty burning timeline or else click the first button up in the top left of the burning screen which is Add Video Files. Navigate to where your two new mpeg-2 files are located and add them to the timeline. Then build your menu and burn.

Some people say that this prolongs the whole process, but if your think about it, it doesn't. You are starting off with mp4 files, which are not DVD compliant under the international standard. So they have to be converted at some stage, and that conversion process will take the same time whether it is done in the editing process, as in my preferred workflow, or in the burning process which is how you are doing it. Now from my point of view, the burning process is already complicated enough without throwing in an extra complex process (conversion) to be done on the fly as part of the burning process. As I said above, I am not at all saying that this is the wrong way of doing things. Most of the time it will work. But just remember that if it doesn't work for some reason, our step-by-step preferred workflow is always there as a fallback.

[Burner049]

Thank you for your further very comprehensive post, which I shall of course print out and retain. Invaluable information! Regarding the link for the non-closure of the disc option proceed as follows: first, make sure that there is a blank DVD in the burning drive. Then from the window headed 1. Add Media 2. Menu & Preview. 3. Output, keep clicking on Next until 3. Output is highlighted. Then at the bottom left of the main screen click on the icon that is a disc with a lower case i in front of it (to the right) and a Burning Options window will open. On the right you are given the option to check a box marked "Do not close Disc". Please note that this is shown only if there is a blank disc already in the burning drive.

[lata]

Hi

If it helps I also work using the same processes as Ken describes.
To burn a standard disc we have to create a Mpeg2 compliant video file, using that file to burn a disc.

1 / edit the project,
2 / Share Create Video File (X7 'Create a video which you can play on your computer') Mpeg2 This renders the project to a new Mpeg2 video file
3 / Repeat the process for other projects.
To burn a disc
4 / Start a new project—nothing in the timeline –Share Disc –DVD – opens the burner module
5 / Add Media – Add Video files –adding the Mpeg2 files created above.
6 / For each clip added a link or thumbnail is created within the menu.
7/ When we press Burn Button the process should start with Convert Menu, there will be no Convert Title, that was done by us in “2” above.

The only criteria is the total size in Gb of your video files, a disc holds 4.3 Gb, a dual layer 8.7Gb

[Burner049]

Hi Trevor! Many thanks for your added input. All (I think) is now clear.

[BrianCee]

just a couple of images as this is something I do very often for my local school - three separate mpeg-2 videos (one from each class) put into the create disc module and burnt to disc - we use thumbnail menus because our parents like them better but you can do the same with text menus.