Audio Setup Menu -- an alternate method?

bStro wrote on 5/18/2007, 6:59 AM
So, the usual method for adding an Audio Setup menu is thus:

1. Make sure your project has at least one movie with two or more audio tracks.
2. Create a submenu with the Audio Selection buttons or add Audio Selection buttons to one of your exisiting buttons.
3. Link each Audio Selection button to that same menu or to another menu, and set the button's Set Audio Track option to the audio track of your choice.

This is the method described in the online help and generally seems to work. But I've just read of a very different method. One that does not involved the Set Audio Track option and one that also seems to work in theory.

1. Make sure your project has at least one movie with two or more audio tracks.
2. Go to the menu that has the button for that movie; copy and paste that button so you have one button for each audio track.
3. Navigate into each one and activate the appropriate audio stream (click the speaker on its timeline track).

That' it. Now, this works in preview mode. But does it work on a burned disc (haven't got access to my DVD burner at the moment). I seem to recall that the Activate Audio track is only relevant to preview; it doen't actually flip the necessary switch to change streams on the burned disc, am I right?

And if it does flip the necessary switch or at least flip a switch, is this something that will be recognized by most / all DVD players just as well as the usual method? I suspect that it's not.

Hm.

Rob

Comments

MPM wrote on 5/18/2007, 6:24 PM
DVDA adds a bunch of *boilerplate* scripting the player goes through before reaching the actual video to play. When you change audio tracks with a button link, or any other event where the option's available, DVDA changes a value in the scripting, toggles whatever GPRM, so that before the player reaches the video it will change tracks & play the correct one. Anyway, no reason why your menu wouldn't work as planned.

Adding a 2nd menu (or more) only makes it prettier, allowing you to put in some sort of indication of which track is currently chosen. A simple setup might use identical menus for each audio track, with some sort of graphic or bullet to show which track's selected. Buttons for the alternate tracks link to the menu showing that particular track active, and at the same time switch audio tracks, There's usually a button linking to the main menu, & perhaps one for Play. If everything else is set to leave the track unchanged, just select your default with the intro vid or script. If you wanted to add a bit of maybe overkill, you can do a bit of scripting to make sure resume works properly: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/dvd_setup_and_resume.html

The tutorial isn''t for DVDA, but the basic scripting is what you're after.
GeorgeW wrote on 5/19/2007, 6:09 AM
This is the method described in the online help and generally seems to work. But I've just read of a very different method. One that does not involved the Set Audio Track option and one that also seems to work in theory.



Does that work in PREVIEW-DISC mode -- CTL+F9?

Out of curiosity, what value is in the "Set audio track" for the Menu Button (when you take this approach)?
ScottW wrote on 5/19/2007, 9:39 AM
PGCedit claims the SPRM for selecting the audio track doesn't change with your alternate method, therefore the second audio track will never be accessible.

I also confirmed this with WinDVD - the same track plays regardless of which menu entry is chosen.

Sorry.

The easy fix is to simply select the button (rather than navigate into the movie), and specify which audio track is selected via the action panel.

--Scott
GeorgeW wrote on 5/19/2007, 1:30 PM
Hi Scott,

That's why asked if it worked in Preview Disc mode -- I suspect only Preview Current was tested...
MPM wrote on 5/19/2007, 3:48 PM
Apologies -- guess I got dyslexic or whatever...

I originally read the alternate method as putting 2 links down on the menu page, having each one select a different audio track -- that should work. Selecting which track to play in time-line view, as George & Scott posted will only effect the preview -- same with activating subs & if I remember correctly, angles.

Again, Sorry
bStro wrote on 5/20/2007, 10:51 AM
PGCedit claims the SPRM for selecting the audio track doesn't change with your alternate method, therefore the second audio track will never be accessible.

I figured as much. Thanks.

Sorry.

*shrug* Doesn't bother me any. I like the "normal" method.

Rob
bStro wrote on 5/20/2007, 11:04 AM
Does that work in PREVIEW-DISC mode -- CTL+F9?

Now that you mention it, no, it doesn't. Preview Disc uses the default audio track for both choices. But then, DVDA's preview can sometimes behave differently than "real" DVD players.

Out of curiosity, what value is in the "Set audio track" for the Menu Button (when you take this approach)?

No change.

Rob