Marker help

newsfox wrote on 11/11/2009, 1:15 PM
Hello, I have mainly used DVD Architect to burn "single movie" type DVDs. In Vegas Pro I render as mpeg-2, checking the box to save the project markers in media file. When I add the files to DVDA, the markers always appear in the timeline.

Today I'm attempting to burn a menu-based project. I want the markers to indicate chapters or scenes that are labeled as such on the menu.

So I started a new project that is "menu based" and brought the video and audio onto the timeline. In this case the project markers are not there. And all but two of the buttons on the toolbar that is right above the timeline are greyed out. The only that appear functional are "enable timeline snapping" and "quantize to frames."

I've been through the help pages, that just says to click on the timeline and enter "M" to add markers. Nothing happens when I do that. I went thru the help files like a total noob, walking through all the steps in "Creating a Scene Selection Menu" which discusses inserting chapter markers.

Anybody have ideas? I'm sure this is something really dumb. Thank you in advance.

Comments

newsfox wrote on 11/11/2009, 1:17 PM
One other note. Just to make sure my render went OK, I closed out the menu-based project and started a single movie project. When i pull the same mpeg stream onto the timeline, the markers are there. Can't figure out why they wouldn't appear in a menu based project.
musicvid10 wrote on 11/11/2009, 1:31 PM
If you import mpeg-2 video with embedded markers into a menu-driven project in DVDA, the markers will appear on the media timeline and also be available as chapter points. I've done this hundreds of times.

Are you sure you are looking at the media (not menu) timeline?
Did you insert your media under the main menu?
newsfox wrote on 11/11/2009, 1:52 PM
Yeah I think this should work too, seems like a total no brainer.

Yes I'm looking at the media timeline.

I clicked on the .mpg file in the explorer window and dragged it over to the timeline. If I do it this same way in a single movie project, I get the markers.

BUT in re-reading the help files, I see that I was supposed to drag this file into the "Menu" window. So when I tried that, voila, I have the markers!!! Details, details. :-)

So thanks for answering my question, or at least sending me to the answer.
MPM wrote on 11/12/2009, 9:13 AM
>"I clicked on the .mpg file in the explorer window and dragged it over to the
>timeline."

Remember that everything you See on a DVD is mpg2, & that includes your menus. If you drag your video onto the timeline for the menu, it'll work because DVDA thinks you want that as your menu background video. Menus can't have chapters. Dragging the vid to a menu puts that video somewhere else -- watch the tree on the left of the window. You can BTW also bring your video into your project using that tree.

Next step when you decide to get fancier is to drag about a minute worth of video on that timeline as before, only for your menu background. ;-)
newsfox wrote on 11/14/2009, 12:25 PM
Thank you MPM, that makes a lot of sense.