Video Studio 7- DVD Share-Newbie Question

[danielboone]

Probably a super basic question for you guys. Installed VideoStudio 7 last night and am trying to find my way around it. Have used other video editing software in the past, but not VideoStudio. Only using for simple home video needs. I have compilation of small cell phone videos and such. I have added them to the timeline and would like to burn to DVD for a trial run. I created the project vsp file and have added this single frame object within the share menu. The "2 Menu & Preview" and "3 Output" tabs are grayed out/unavailable. What obvious step am I am failing to do and or understand?

[Ken Berry]

I created the project vsp file and have added this single frame object within the share menu.

This is a little confusing... What is "this single frame object"? Or do you mean it is the vsp file?

Have you selected and edited a menu template (assuming you want a menu)?

If you have indeed inserted the vsp file into the burning module timeline, another way of doing it would be first, in the editing module, to create a DVD-compatible mpeg-2 (Share and in the default screen which appears, select MPEG-2 and the default properties it offers. Give the file a name and note where it will be created (normally your designated working folder in Preferences > General). Then press Start.

When the rendering is complete, start a new project (File > New Project). Don't worry about a name for it -- the objective is just to clear the timeline. Then go to Share > DVD to open the burning module. It's timeline should be empty. Then click on the top left icon ("Add Video Files") and add your new mpeg-2. Then build your menu and burn.

[lata]

Hi

Just to add---once you are in the burner module there are three tabs at the top of the panel. These are just indications and not linked tabs, so clicking them does not open the tab.

However at the bottom right is the Next button, this progresses to the next screen, notice the tabs indicate which screen you are on.

I have to agree -- a little strange and can be confusing for the new user, I guess we just become used to the layout.

Using the Create Disc Module

There are three approaches.

1 / Directly from the timeline, with the project open, Share Create Disc – DVD will open the burner module containing a VSP project file.

2 / From a new project – No timeline content – Share Create Disc – DVD will open the burner module, no content – top left Add Media Files -- Add Video.
Here we add the compliant video file created earlier, for a DVD Disc that would be an Mpeg2 video file.
This process is recommended as proves to be a reliable working process, mentioned by Ken in his reply.

3 / The third option is same as 2 above but adding the project file (VSP) rather than the Mpeg2 video file. Or indeed a mixture of both types.