As a professional DVD author I am always looking for replacements for Sonic Solutions software. As it is, the professional arena is unfortunately dominated by Sonic and their monopolistic attitudes. DVD Studio Pro would have been an alternative, but the acquisition by Apple has relegated this software to the Mac platform, which, no matter how you feel about Macs, is relegated to less than 10% (some would argue less than 5%) of the PC marketplace.
DVDA is an excellent fist step, much like DVD Workshop was for Ulead. IMHO, SF has done a much better job than anyone in the integration of NLE, Audio editing, and DVD authoring tools, to create a nearly seamless environment for the video/DVD publisher. So, what's missing?
Many of you who are new to DVD-Video will quickly discover the limitations of DVDA. The inability to specify VTS, and more importantly pre and post commands to PGC's and cells is extremely restricting. DVD-Video players are capable of limited programming and it is the access to these command sets that determine what can really be accomplished with the technology.
For example, there is a thread here regarding the playing of a brief video clip between menus and selected content. Why is this important? Because the DVD player needs time to load the selected content into its buffer before it presents it to the screen. (Actually there is more going on at this point but let's keep it simple :)) To ensure that the content the author intends to be displayed does so accurately on any player a viewer might use it's necessary to give the buffer enough time to load. The transition piece isn't really that important to the viewer so if there's a delay and the transition piece doesn't start perfectly, that's okay. What is important is that the content starts when and where it's supposed to.
In addition, wouldn't it be nice in a multi-scene menu to return the viewer to the selection menu after they've viewed the scene they've selected instead of the entire content continuing to play? This can be accomplished, but not without access to pre and post commands and the ability to create "dummy" PGC's.
These are just a few of the limitations of programs like DVDA and why Scenarist dominates the professional market. My personal hope (and prayer) is that some other company will step up to the plate and take the middle market away from Sonic. There is a tremendous opportunity between motion picture users and consumer users that is chomping at the bit for any company that steps forward and offers a workable product in a reasonably priced package. The closest you can get from Sonic is $8K for a much stripped down version of Scenarist. SF would be surprised perhaps at how many authors would be willing to pay 3 times what they charge for Vegas and DVDA combined if we could just have the ability to use the functionality built into the DVD-Video specifications.
I hope someone from SF monitors this board. The pity for Sonic users is that no one from their product management or marketing even cares about the users on theirs.
DVDA is an excellent fist step, much like DVD Workshop was for Ulead. IMHO, SF has done a much better job than anyone in the integration of NLE, Audio editing, and DVD authoring tools, to create a nearly seamless environment for the video/DVD publisher. So, what's missing?
Many of you who are new to DVD-Video will quickly discover the limitations of DVDA. The inability to specify VTS, and more importantly pre and post commands to PGC's and cells is extremely restricting. DVD-Video players are capable of limited programming and it is the access to these command sets that determine what can really be accomplished with the technology.
For example, there is a thread here regarding the playing of a brief video clip between menus and selected content. Why is this important? Because the DVD player needs time to load the selected content into its buffer before it presents it to the screen. (Actually there is more going on at this point but let's keep it simple :)) To ensure that the content the author intends to be displayed does so accurately on any player a viewer might use it's necessary to give the buffer enough time to load. The transition piece isn't really that important to the viewer so if there's a delay and the transition piece doesn't start perfectly, that's okay. What is important is that the content starts when and where it's supposed to.
In addition, wouldn't it be nice in a multi-scene menu to return the viewer to the selection menu after they've viewed the scene they've selected instead of the entire content continuing to play? This can be accomplished, but not without access to pre and post commands and the ability to create "dummy" PGC's.
These are just a few of the limitations of programs like DVDA and why Scenarist dominates the professional market. My personal hope (and prayer) is that some other company will step up to the plate and take the middle market away from Sonic. There is a tremendous opportunity between motion picture users and consumer users that is chomping at the bit for any company that steps forward and offers a workable product in a reasonably priced package. The closest you can get from Sonic is $8K for a much stripped down version of Scenarist. SF would be surprised perhaps at how many authors would be willing to pay 3 times what they charge for Vegas and DVDA combined if we could just have the ability to use the functionality built into the DVD-Video specifications.
I hope someone from SF monitors this board. The pity for Sonic users is that no one from their product management or marketing even cares about the users on theirs.