Making a DVD/Blu Ray

JayLJohnston wrote on 10/12/2010, 1:17 PM

Hi Everyone,
I'm using VMS10 and creating a video of a vacation that I took. I have separate files in VMS for each day and plan to render them and then create a DVD with each one being a chapter. How should I go about this? Should I render each individually, then create a new file with all of them together, then make the DVD via DVDA? I'm not quite sure how to go about this. Thanks!

Comments

Kimberly wrote on 10/12/2010, 7:59 PM

Hello Jay:

As you indicated, one way to accomplish your goal would be to render each day separately and then put them into DVD-A as separate movies. I make most of my videos this way, and I like this approach for a couple of reasons:

I mute the sound and insert background music. It's easy to keep my music in sync with my edits.

If you are having "creative block" with one segment, it doesn't hold up the rest of your production. You can easily eliminate or work around areas that give you problems.

If one segment crashes or becomes corrupt (it happens), its doesn't affect the rest of your segments!

The above approach is easy for me as long as I have no more than 8-10 segments. More than that and it's gets tedious.

The other users should have some good ideas on making one long segment with chapter markers. Ultimately you will want to choose an approach that is easy for you, reliable, and gives the finished result you are seeking.

Good luck!

Kim

JayLJohnston wrote on 10/13/2010, 12:38 PM

Thanks Kim! Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm planning on doing. I have most of my segments (around 12-15 probably though) complete or near complete. I'll then render each one and try putting them all together.

Kimberly wrote on 10/14/2010, 10:24 PM

Jay:

You probably already know this . . . remember to render your video and audio separately from SVMS. This will create 2 files -- one with the video and the other with the audio. When you add the video to DVD-A, the software "magically" grabs the audio too.

Also there is some discussion on the DVD-A forum discussing how to put a "Play All" button versus a "Play Single" button on your DVD menu. Not sure if you care about this, but you might want to have a look when you are setting up your menus in DVD-A:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=731520&Replies=3

Well good luck with your movie. As I said before, I like this approach as long as I don't get too many segments.

Kim

JayLJohnston wrote on 10/28/2010, 6:39 AM

Hi Kim,
Thanks, it's been a few days since I've been here. Why am I wanting to render video and audio separately? I have been rendering to HDV1080 I think. Should I be rendering differently? If I pick the 1080 setting for "BluRay" I get no audio. Is that what I want to be doing, then render it again for audio only? Thanks!

Kimberly wrote on 10/28/2010, 9:36 PM

Hey Jay:

If you render using "Save As MPEG-2 Main Concept" and an appropriate template (I have an HDV cam so I use HDV 1080-60i), then you will get a file you can use in DVD-A. However it will have no audio.

So you need to do a second render using "Save As Dolby Digital AC-3 Studio *.AC3." Be sure to name this file the same as the first file.

For example, you will end up with two files:

XYZVideo.mpg
XYZVideo.ac3

Then when you add the AC3 file to DVD-A, it will "magically" add the MPG file too.

I cannot explain the technical reasons why Vegas thinks this is the best way to do things; I'm sure one of the Gurus would know. But that's how it works.

I'm not sure I've ever renderend the AC3 file using anything other than the "Default" template. Hmmmm, I should probably experiment with that. Thanks for giving me the idea!

There is a good discussion on the DVD-A forum about the merits of creating one big render and putting chapter markers in it versus several small renders as I described in the earlier post. It gave me some insight as to why someone might want to do a one big render:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=730769&Replies=10

One other thought. Are you going to burn to a real BluRay disk on a real BluRay burner? Or making a hi-def format file on a DVD? If it's the latter, don't forget to read the looooonnnnnggggg post on DVD-A about doing that.

Kim

JayLJohnston wrote on 10/29/2010, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the quick reply once again! I am planning on burning 1080i to BluRay disk, as well as AVHCD to DVD (to play on BluRay), as well as standard def on DVD for those who don't have BluRay players. I basically right now need to finish my chapters (almost there) then learn how to create the actual movie, and finish it all up before Christmas. :)

Kimberly wrote on 10/29/2010, 6:18 PM

Jay:

I have heard that DVD-A 5.5 will make a genuine BluRay just fine and it plays on most (all?) BluRay players. I still have a tube TV and DVD player at home so have no firsthand experence here. By the word "genuine" I mean a real BluRay disk, not a BD format on DVD, a real BD burner, and of course a real BD player.

On your AVCHD disk on DVD, you may encounter some complexities. Be sure to read the posts carefully on the DVD-A forum. You will learn a lot and may be able to figure out how to made an AVCHD on DVD that will play in various players.

My pleasure on a fast reply. I have learned so much from others on this forum. I don't have the knowledge to contribute as much as they do, but I try to help others when I can!