Can a project be added to a timeline

[jparnold]

I am creating separate projects (.vsp) for each 3 days of a recent overseas trip as I wanted to keep each project to a manageable size.
I seem to recollect some time ago that I read that projects can be added to a timeline which is what I want to do (create a new project made up of each 'small' project I have already created) but I cannot determine how to do it. Each time I try VS seems to freeze (I am using X6).
The reason I am doing this is that I now create MP4 files, copy them to usb memory stick and 'play' them via my blueray player (to preserve 1920x1024 format video).

Lastly can a 'movie' containing chapters selectable from a menu be created and written to a usb memory stick and it 'behave' as a DVD with a menu and chapters does.

Thanks

John

[asik1]

X7 will and X8 will do so even better as the VSP can be loaded flatted to a track.
Why not try in on your X6?
I never used "export with menus" but X7 and X8 will allow you to export to SD card.

[lata]

Hi john

There is a process called nesting although not documented as such by Corel, till the latest version.

You should be able to add your three VSP’s to the timeline they will show as a single clips, so you won’t be able to do much additional editing.

Take care in using nesting as it can cause some problems. I would make copies of your projects just in case you corrupt the VSP’s.

Instant Projects
A better way would be to create an Instant Project of each project.
How..
Open Project One go to File – Export as Template, follow the instructions, when complete a new template will show in the Custom Library.
Repeat for the other two projects.

Start a new project and add each Custom Template to the timeline
For the first Right click the template and Add at beginning
Then right click second to add at end.

The projects should open as editable.
Now save the project giving it a new name.

CVSX8 now has the option to add multiple VSP’s to the timeline as editable projects, that would make your process a little easier.

Your other option is to render each project to a video file, then add to a new project to create a composite, render again to create the final movie.

[canuck]

Using VS X7, I just created a simple and short (60 sec) project 92 videos with a 2 item menu and "burned" it to a Video_TS folder. I then copied that folder to a USB stick.
The I tried to play it on my Samsung HD TV which has a USB port. The TV recognizes the USB and I am able to play the "movie" but the menu navigation does not work, ie I cannot select which Title to play, only the "play" button works. Chapters propably will not work but I did not try that
I then put the USB stick into my WD Streaming Media Player and here everything worked just as if it were a DVD. I would think the BD player should handle it the same way.
I will have to try to burn a BD project to a USB stick and see if that works.

I have not tried to "burn" directly to the USB stick from VS.

[jparnold]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies.

Trevor I had considered rendering each project to separate video files and then drag each rendered video file to a new project but I remember reading many times over the years that each time you render you lose a little quality. I have no idea how much quality is lost but I hate loosing quality if I don't have to.

OR is VS smart enough to 'smart render' and not loose quality (when rendering to the same format as the input video file(s) )?

Seems that trying to create a video file with a menu which will play from a usb stick isn't worth the trouble.
I am happy enough to select a video to play via the Blue Ray players inbuilt 'menu' (when playing from a usb stick) - it just doesn't look as fancy as a DVD menu.

Lastly I had no idea that VSX8 was available. Must look out for that.

[Ken Berry]

OR is VS smart enough to 'smart render' and not loose quality (when rendering to the same format as the input video file(s) )?

Yes -- that is the very purpose of Smart Render... and since it is not re=rendering those parts of a project which are already in the output format, rendering times are greatly reduced. The only things rendered are things like added titles and transitions...

As for menus, I only bother with them these days if I am producing discs destined for others. For me, when playing my videos for visiting friends or family, the basic menu shown by my Blu-Ray player is more than enough.

[jparnold]

Thanks Ken for confirming that with me. That now seems to be the way to go (create small projects, render each to MP4 then create new project containing all rendered MP4 video files and render to larger MP4 video file.
Nice to hear/read from you.


Added text
Where do I find 'smart render' in preferences? I can only find 'smart proxy'

[Ken Berry]

It's usually on the Share page. See my attached image...

[jparnold]

Thanks Ken.

I have found that it is selectable (seems to default to ON) after selecting SHARE, video file format and then OPTIONS.

Strangely the user guide makes NO mention of smart render.

John

[lata]

Hi John

Many moons ago I remember someone doing tests on rendering files to view the quality, it took a few renders 3 or 4 before any discernible quality reduction was seen, so rendering twice is probably not noticeable.

Nesting
You can try nesting, providing you know you are adding VSP’s to the timeline there is no problem, its when VSP’s are added instead of video files that can cause problems.
Start a new project
Right click timelines and Insert Video, choose your VSP’s

They will each show on the timeline as a single clip, render the project to your output file.

Try as a test.

[jparnold]

Thanks Trevor.

I did try to add a project to a library and then select it to add to a new project but VSX6 seemed to gets it's "head" in a knot and went a bit 'ballistic'.

I will try what you suggested and see what happens - WHEN I get all my 'small' projects complete.

And my output video will be - our 4 week trip in England last September (2000+ miles). Stopping 3 days in most of the following Oxford, Peak District, Yorkshire Moors (Whitby), Yorkshire Dales, Ludlow, Bourton On The Water, Fowey, Bournemouth. Thought you might be interested.

Thanks again

John

[lata]

You should be able to add the VSP's to the timeline, simply right click the timeline and "insert Video" ---choose a VSP file.

Hope you had a good trip, did you visit York, the cathedral there is worth a visit.
We live approx. 25 miles west of York.

[jparnold]

Yes we did visit York. This was out 3rd visit there but this time for only 2 hours. Lots of other places. It was our 5th trip to the UK.