Basic DVD creation steps

scbdpm wrote on 11/4/2006, 6:05 AM
I am very new to DVD Architect having tried several other dvd authoring apps.
However, I am struggling in creating my first DVD movie. While architect is more flexible than others, I'm not finding it as intuitive.
My goal is to create a movie from home video whereby when the dvd starts up, you have a main menu and choices of 'chapters' to choose from. Also, there is a themed music playing in the background until one of the chapters is chosen.
I've managed to add movie and music clips but it just isn't flowing. For instance, the music clip seems to be an 'object' that only plays when you click on it. When it does play, the preview is a black screen as though it is also trying to show video that doesn't exitst.

any assistance in these basic steps would be very much appreciated!

Comments

MrTieDye wrote on 11/4/2006, 6:33 AM
Hi, I'm kind of new to this also, but I think I can help some. I've posted a picture to my website of the screen shot. http://www.phatdyes.com/example.gif
To add video and music to the background, these will start up when you put the disk in, click on a blank area of the menu, so that nothing is highlighted. Then on the right you will see "background media" tab. Under this tab you will find you can add a picture and music. If you want them to loop, click the "end action" tab in the upper right corner next to "background media". Then you will see the work "command" below. Click the dropdown and select loop.
Hope this helps!
bStro wrote on 11/4/2006, 7:16 AM
Are you "chapters" all in one video file, or are they separate files? If separate files, just select them in the explorer window and drag them all onto the menu you're designing.

If they're all in a single file:

1. Go to File -> New, and choose Single Movie.
2. In the Open Media dialog box, located your movie and hit OK.
3. Check the timeline window to see if you already have chapter markers added.
3a. If not, add the ones you want by hitting the "M" where you want chapters.
3b. If desired, give each chapter marker a name
4. In the Project Overview window, right-click your video, choose Insert Scene Selection Menu, and select the number of buttons youw ant on each menu page when prompted.

Rob
TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/4/2006, 8:57 AM
if you check the help file it explains this pretty easily. Sadly, not all the menu's let you add chapters, only some (which makes no sence)
scbdpm wrote on 11/4/2006, 11:01 AM
MrTieDye; bStro,

Thanks a ton! THis is exactly the start I was looking for!

One last question- is it possible to add a movie 'clip' to a menu and have it loop?
TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/4/2006, 12:36 PM
as a background or button? Yes. On the right there's a "media" or "background" option somewhere (under one of the tabs) . That changes the media you use & you can pick an image or a movie.
bStro wrote on 11/4/2006, 1:35 PM
Sadly, not all the menu's let you add chapters, only some (which makes no sence)

How do you mean? I'll probably remember when you explain, but it's not ringing a bell.

Rob
TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/4/2006, 3:55 PM
no problem.

to add a scene selection menu you can:
a) drop/drag your media on to the preview window, then (while it's selected) insert -> scene selection menu. This adds another button to the preview window.
b) drop/drag your media on to the preview window, then right click & select insert scene selection menu. Again, adds a button to the window.
c) drop/drag media to the project tree, then right click & select insert scene selection menu. This adds a new menu to the tree but doesn't put anything on the window.

a & b only work if there's media on the preview window. If there's no media selected, the insert menu has the option grayed out & if you don't right click on an object, it doesn't appear.

SO you can't add blank chapter menu's, so all the menu's in the program don't let you add chapter menu's. Annoying really. At least let me add blank ones (most of the time I want a place holder initially, don't plan on worrying about the actual chapter buttons).

that always gets me. you can right click/insert menu everything all the time except that. (should of made a feature request after i found that out!)