Thank you for your suggestion, videoITguy

I have downloaded the manual of Photodex Proshow Gold.
There is a publish option that enables Blu-ray recording. I shall read the complete manual before buying it.
It seems it can prepare and publish only one show - what I need is as many as 200 shows on the same disc with a nice menu to choose the one I want.

I already have a database for all my pictures. It does not make it a standalone "encyplopaedia like" blueray. A database does not play on a TV today.

Before buying Dvd A Pro with Vegas pro12, I checked I could do that kind of project.
999 menus/ 999 submenus ? it crashes much before - and I do not think I have a computer problem.

videoITguy, your suggestion will not solve my problem for my next 3D documentary.
So,
I am installing right now an 32bits Xp virtualbox machine under Linux, to try my project. I shall post later on to tell if this method works or not.

Didier.

DvdA Pro 6 cannot be installed on Xp SP3 : VIsta Sp2 minimum.
I've got a fresh Xp 32b virtualbox machine... maybe for a future use ?

I also have a vista 32 bits official Cd ? dvd? somewherre. Have to do a new Vb machine.
I shall install it and try if my project crashes or not...

Didier.

Problem solved.
It was difficult to understand why it was crashing.

First, DvdA under a 32bits Os is 33% less performant compared to a 64 bits oS:
I can add 33% less tracks to crash it.

I did a video, rendered it with vegas pro 12, copied it 50 times under Windows.
I did a project , adding those files 2 by 2. I could add :
- 42 files under Windows 64 bits before it crashes.
- 30 files under Windows 32 bits before it crashes.
I did it 3 times to be sure...
Of course, under same conditions, just DvdA running....

This did not help me finding the memory problem crashing DvdA.
So, having a look at the manual, it is written we can use the Sony Avc encoder OR the Mainconcept mpeg 2 encoder under Vegas pro.

I always rendered my files with the Sony encoder.

So, with the same project, I rendered my project with the Mainconcept encoder.
Under Windows, I made 50 copies of this file.

Under DvdA pro, I could add those 50 files, keeping memory at a low level.
I made 50 more copies, added them to DvDA pro : no problem. memory (task manager) always at a low level.
That project contained 13 pages with 100 files. Only 42 with the Sony encoder before getting a crash.

Conclusion : Using multiple tracks with Dvda is possible without crashing if you do not use the Sony encoder.

Could you please do the test yourself with a 5' video, rendered with Vegas 12, both with the Sony and Mainstream encoder, duplicate those files, do 2 projects, one with only mpeg2 files, the other with only Avc what happens with the task manager.

All people here saying dvdA 6 does not work should try this trick and let me know if it's also working for them.

Kind regards.

Didier.

1) You have not exposed yourself to issues of DVDAPro 6 version that has bugs with audio - hence no test was made in your circumstances regarding that issue.
2) I HAVE ALWAYS stated that using the Sony AVC encoder is a problematic situation in workflow and recently the SCS quality control employed programmers have agreed. Using Mpeg encoding is less problematic and usually the best choice. You will see this kind of comment in all of my related posts. However, there are other forum members who will take a different tact on this argument. Sony AVC encoding is indeed so problematic that many have chosen to implement very specialized kinds of workflows to produce their works. I would say don't bother with it for now.
3) Having used the Mpeg encoder - you should realize that there were bugs in this element of early versions of VegasPro 12 that suffered color purity and integrity loss big time in going to DVDAPro6.
The latest version of VegasPro12 should have fixed that.

4) I am not going to perform any testing with Sony AVC encoder comparisons because I am not interested. Some others may choose to look at the issue you have raised.

videoITguy , again, thank you for your comments.
I am a newbie compared to you - I started using Vegas in august 2013.

I am doing a remark to people managing this Sony site : there are not enough "sticky" messages on this forum.

When you start using a program and face a problem, you first read the manual.
As it was recommended to use the Sony Avc encoder, I used it.

Searching this Sony site has a 6 months default limit. You might think there is no answer to your problem.

Is it possible to do a kind of user addendum service manual ?
It could help all the beginners. We cannot read all the messages posted on this forum : it would take months !!!
But a summary, or sticky messages...

I am not happy when something does not work and have to loose time because of hidden informations we should know.

I never had audio bugs, because my wife does this job for me, and Vegas + DvdA work correctly with her files.
I rarely use audio. Silence can be good. We live in a loud audio surrounded world, but this is another subject.

Didier.

>>>Searching this Sony site has a 6 months default limit.<<<
Didier,
does the version in your language not have the "down arrows" that you can click to see the other Search options?
And how about using Support >Knowledgebase to "Find Answers"?
Of course they don't have all the answers there. That's where these peer support areas often/sometimes help.

"If you want a combination of best in show, ( which is the way I would go) then use Photodex Proshow Gold to assemble a video montage for processing in VegasPro followed by write to Blu-ray"

Interesting. When you say "processing in VegasPro" How exactly do you mean? can Vegas open a Photodex file?

You can use Photodex products as your animation stand and rostrum camera system for photos. It has a superb animation tweening engine - one of the best in its price range. And it comes with a superb interface to manipulate keyframes that would literally take you hours to do in NLE products like VegasPro.

So here is the synergy that you can really use to advantage- develop and export your complex photo animations in Photodex ProShow. Export to either a high quality .mov container with suitable codec or use the highest quality HD Mpeg2 codec engine built-in. Then import that file into VegasPro for an underlying track. Do all of your titling, and other compositing layers with effects and your final edit assembly in VegasPro.

So, videoITguy, if I first use Photodex instead of Vegas, then Vegas, I shall get a very long film with thousands of pictures.
This will be boring to all family members, because they are only interrested with few years/subjects.



This is why I'm using DvdA pro, to have many menus, short films.
As I do not use any effect (just cropping and tone correction), no sound and no crossfade between each picture, I carry on with Vegas + DvdA.

Right now, I am reencoding all files with Vegas pro using the Mainstream mpeg encoder.
Once done, I shall end my project inside DvdA.
I've made a permanent theme, and doing it from scratch will not be so long.

Photodesk is perfect for perfect animated slideshows, I might need this software sooner or later.

Didier.

vkmast,
yes, I do have a "down arrow" to see other search options,
and no, I could not find information stating we must use the mainstream mpeg encoder instead of the Sony Avc encoder for complex projects,
in the Assistance ->Base de connaissances menu.
This Support >Knowledgebase menu is for all Sony software, there is no product filter. This is why I think an addemdum per sotfware, written by members could be very useful for all beginners (and probably also as a reminder for Guru users)

Didier.

Didier,
pardon my French, but my English language version has (among others) the option of Any Date in Search by Date.
The SCS Knowledgebase (English) also has the option to Select a Product in Advanced Search.
I am not saying that all the answers are here or there.

vkmast, I also have the option of Any Date in Search by Date.
That was the meaning of "yes, I do have a "down arrow" to see other search options,
And no I cannot find the option to Select a Product in Advanced Search in the SCS Knowledgebase (French)
I know you never said all answers were here or there, this is why I am doing a suggestion with the addendum - or something equivalent - there are so many messages in the forum. It would be very interresting to get the "best of" all tricks !!!

Didier.

How about "Recherche avancée" in "Base de connaissances"? See "Limiter par produit".

vkmast, you are right, "Recherche avancée", at the top of the page is a button. I thought it was the title of the Window. Thank you for this information.
Didier.

" or use the highest quality HD Mpeg2 codec engine built-in"

Downloaded a trial, and have to say it's improved soooooo much since the last time I tried it (quite a few years ago). Don't see that option above though? Only have DVD quality under MPEG-2. Quite a few of the full HD templates need a paid for plug-in which is a bit low life. Once you've imported into Vegas, what format are you outputting to for full HD?

Over time Photodex ProShow has evolved. And each version change has offered a little different parameters on the encoding codecs. What you can pull is going to vary to some degree on what your base OS and version of Quicktime are functioning. Make sure that your version of VegasPro and the Quicktime version you are using in the same partition are working and compatible, before you investigate Photodex prospects. They could become antagonizing if done correctly.
As for the HD Mpeg encoding option - it should be in a dropdown tha feeds among other things -highest quality option- and direction as well to direct Blu-ray disc production. If you have the latest version this will be there.
I usually prefer to import Quicktime .mov container with animation codec for photo manipulation. Some forum members complain that this is doubtful workflow - I be to differ. Make your quality slider at 96%. A 30 second animation could be 8gig in size, so make sure you have room to do the rostrum camera system to great advantage for short bursts.
I use exclusively digital intermediates of Cineform filmscan quality codec or high data rate MXF container with Mpeg2 codec (Sony) for video processing and compositing.
Final render to Blu-ray HDV or HD video streams for importing into DVD Architect Pro. Don't forget PCM audio or DolbyPro AC-3 for the audio streams to accompany the video.