Multiple files, buttons and playlists

Kit wrote on 5/7/2011, 4:08 AM

Hello, we've just started using DVD Architect 5.2 and I have some questions about menus. We have 12 separate movie files, each created in Vegas. We brought each one into Architect and have 12 buttons on 2 pages. My main question is about the easiest way to link the files together so that they play in a sequential order. The only way we found was to double click each button to enter the movie, select end action, destination and choose the next movie to be played. This seems laborious and prone to error. We looked at the playlist tab and made a playlist but could find no way to make it work with the buttons. My questions:

1. How can we use a playlist?
2. What is a good work flow when working with multiple source files?
3. Is there a better work flow perhaps using Vegas and, for example, markers?

Hoping someone can help out. Thanks,

Kit

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/7/2011, 7:18 AM

You're on the right track, Kit. All you need to do is create a Playlist -- which you can do by right-clicking on any menu page and selecting the option.

When you start a Playlist, you'll be shown a list of all of the video clips in your disc project. You can then decide which you want and in which order you'd like them to appear.

Your viewer will then have the option of either viewing the individual clip or, by clicking on the Playlist button, see your entire sequence.

If you'd like step by step instructions, with illustrations, you can find my book on DVD Arch Studio 5 on Amazon.com. It works the same way as the pro version.

Kit wrote on 5/8/2011, 2:44 AM

Thanks for the reply. We don't really want a separate playlist button, rather a quick, error proof way of linking the buttons together. Other software we have used does automatically what Vegas seems to force us to do manually - linking the buttons together. Is there a way of using a playlist in the background?

Kit

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/8/2011, 6:08 AM

Isn't that exactly what the Playist button does?

It gives your viewer the option of either viewing the clips individually or launching them all with a single button.

Isn't that what you're trying to do, Kit?

Kit wrote on 5/8/2011, 8:28 AM

We have one button for each movie-clip, 12 buttons in all. We want the DVD to play to the end once any of the buttons is pressed. So pressing button 1 will play clip 1-12, pressing button 6 will play 6-12 etc. We found out how to do this but not automatically/quickly. Think of it as a whole mvoie made up of 12 chapters but the source for each chapter being a separate clip. We don't want to have a separate 13th button to play the entire movie. I hope I've managed to explain it. Thanks,

Kit

john_dennis wrote on 5/8/2011, 9:31 AM

"Think of it as a whole movie made up of 12 chapters but the source for each chapter being a separate clip."

The scenario you describe is exactly what would happen if you rendered all your clips in Vegas as one file with chapter markers between each clip. You could drag the one file to a menu for each clip you wish to access. A button is created each time with a Button Properties / Action / Destination Chapter set to 1: Scene /Chapter. For each button, set the destination to the chapter you wish to access, successively. Don't worry about disk space. DVD Architect will only save one copy of the video. Doing it this way will give you better control of transitions between clips since you'll be less succeptable to hardware seek characteristics of different disk players.

TOG62 wrote on 5/8/2011, 9:51 AM

In that case instead of creating a playlist you should create an Music/video compilation. In that case each clip will be treated as though it was a chapter and play will continue from where it started to the end of the whole compilation.

Once you have done this, create a button on the main menu for each clip and set both the media and the action to point to the relevant clip.

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/8/2011, 12:16 PM

You can also create a Playlist button for each video you want to use as your starting point and including only the videos you want to play when that button is clicked.

This is the most efficient way to do this, since it will add nothing to the space your DVD uses on your disc.

But, as you can see, there are a number of ways to accomplish the same thing -- any one of which is easier than manually linking the videos together with End Actions.

Kit wrote on 5/9/2011, 4:37 PM

Thanks, John, we may try this method though it sounds like a little extra work is involved in Vegas - assembling all the clips. Also, it still involves setting the buttons manually which is prone to error.

Kit

Kit wrote on 5/9/2011, 4:45 PM

Thanks. I looked at making a new compilation but came to the conclusion I will need to spend a lot of time with the manual to achieve anything with this method. I couldn't figure this out at all.

Kit

Kit wrote on 5/9/2011, 4:49 PM

Hi Steve, I guess DVD Architect is much more powerful and flexible than what we have used in the past but that means it requires more work from the user and is more error prone.

Kit

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/10/2011, 5:42 AM

No. Actually, it's very simple, Kit, and very intuitive.

I could custom-create the buttons you're trying to create in about 5 minutes.

But oh well. As with most software, there are many roads that lead to the same destination.

All that ultimately matters is that you find some solution that works. Take care.

Kit wrote on 5/10/2011, 8:13 AM

And how long did it take working with DVD Architect to reach that level of skill? I've used all kinds of software for many years and I find DVD Architect less intuitive than it appears.

Regards,

Kit

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/10/2011, 10:24 AM

Not long at all. Maybe a week or two. Though I also researched it pretty heavily to write my book.

Kit wrote on 5/10/2011, 5:04 PM

Thanks Steve, I guess we will stick with DVD Architect but I do think our definitions of intuitive are different.

Kit

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/11/2011, 5:35 AM

Or you can order a copy of my book. It will tell you everything you need to know! ;)

BlackMax wrote on 5/11/2011, 5:48 AM

Steve you keep peddling your book, but AFAICT it is focussed on low-end Studio and not the Vegas Pro/DVDAP version from Sony?

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/11/2011, 9:26 AM

Yes, that is true Max.

Also, my apologies if I sound like I'm pushing the book. I'm really just trying to help out and answer questions. And I only suggest the books when I think they will help.

diverG wrote on 5/11/2011, 1:04 PM

If you are new to DVDA it might be worth looking at this SCS tutorial.

[Link=http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegaspro10webinar02 ]

Geoff

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/11/2011, 1:23 PM

There are also several free Basic Training tutorials on http://Muvipix.com

Just type "DVD Architect" in the product search box.

BlackMax wrote on 5/11/2011, 3:48 PM

>my apologies if I sound like I'm pushing the book

I really have no problems with that Steve--you get my every respect for being a published author, and for being a valued contributor here in the forum.

I'm perhaps overly sensitive about the chasm that exists between the Vegas Pro/DVDAP software ($-wise anyway) and the various consumer Studio offerings, and the difficulties we have here in communicating given the many differences between the two. SCS hasn't helped this at all IMO by failing to publish anything like an in-depth product comparison chart, or even a simple explanatory paragraph about it.

Steve Grisetti wrote on 5/12/2011, 8:44 AM

Good point, Max! Although, to their credit, Sony's pro and consumer software is more alike than most. (Adobe's Premiere Pro isn't even remotely like it's Elements software.) So it's a much easier transition to go from Vegas Movie Studio or DVD Architect Studio to Pro.

But, true, there is definitely a dearth of book support for Sony's Pro software!

Here's the only good comparison I've found between the Studio and Pro software:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiope/compare

Steve Mann wrote on 5/12/2011, 4:45 PM

I am kind of late to the party, but it does sound like Kit is making more work than is necessary.

With DVDA, as in Vegas, there are frequently two or more ways to do anything.

But, I would assemble the clips into one MPEG file in Vegas with markers for the chapter points. Drag the MPEG into DVDA and you're almost finished. Setting up the button properties is really easy.

Personally, I don't use DVDA to make menus. I build mine in Photoshop then import the PSD file into DVDA. It's a bit more work, but I can make my menus more like those you see on a Hollywood DVD.

Steve Mann