OT: Multimedia/autorun composing software

WildBlue wrote on 12/3/2002, 7:57 PM

Hi. I recently bought Multimedia Builder to create interactive autorun CD-ROMs that play audio and video. Problem is, Multimedia Builder has a bug that causes it to crash frequently when playing MP3s using Windows XP (earlier versions of Windows work fine). Has anyone had any good experiences with other Multimedia composing software that is relatively inexpensive and easy to use (that is, not Flash or Director), that I could use instead of Multimedia Builder? Thank you! Rob

Comments

Erk wrote on 12/4/2002, 6:09 AM

I highly recommend Clickteam's Multimedia Fusion, available for about $100 at www.clickteam.com I'm sure there's cheaper, simpler tools just to make auto-runs, but nothing that does this much for the $$.

This is a little-known authoring app that can make everything from your auto-run CDs to screensavers to 2d games to business presentations. Its got an event-driven interface, and is (generally) much quicker to learn than Flash or Director.

The distribution/marketing of Fusion has bounced around from Clickteam (basically a couple of French coders), to Corel, to IMSI (which went bankrupt), and back to Clickteam. It's really one of the great unknowns. You might still be able to find it on the shelf of a Best Buy/Compusa for very cheap. Search the web.

The big problem with Fusion, biz wise, is its always been marketed as a toy to kids making ripoffs of platform games. Too bad. Could give Director some competition if some real marketing muscle got behind it.

Vegas/video tie-in: you can easily create applications that feature video, audio, text, still image slideshows. You can also import .avi as an animation, and make the backround invisible (like chromakey). For example, I create .avis in Vegas or Poser with a solid backbround, and import those into Fusion.

I'd be curious if anyone reading this post has even heard of this thing. Previous versions were known Klick 'n Play, The Games Factory, and Click 'n Create (the stupid names don't help).

OK, that's my product evangelism for today....

G

kkolbo wrote on 12/4/2002, 9:39 AM

I have done a few projects with MultiMedia Builder. Overall a good value, but you are right it does have a problem with memory management and it pops up in a couple of ways. You have just found one. I have found that I get around these by doing the following:

Create a player project that has just an intro or the first screen. Then all other content comes from other projects that are called from the first one. Once I started doing that, the problems started to go away.

As for another application, I have been transistioning over to Illuminatus OPUS Pro from Digital Workshop. I am profecient in Director and I was looking for alternatives when I found OPUS. They have competeive upgrade pricing from Multimedia Builder and a fully functional demo available. It is not as simple as MMB to learn or use, but it seems to be a good product.

I have found that there is no application that is perfect for all projects. OPUS is really focused at educational presentations. It is light years ahead of Director in that area. The animation is not as smooth as Director. The scriting language is very C++ like and therefore very comfortable for me. One difference is that unlike Director, you don't have to script things to make a powerful application. It has drag and drop actions, properties and such that fill just about every need.

It is just something to take a look at. The upgrade price from www.illuminatusforum.com is $179. MMB is good for a fast installer front end. OPUS or Director are for major works. There or of course many more apps out there. These have just been my apps of choice.

Smiles

WildBlue wrote on 12/4/2002, 3:36 PM

Thank you both for your responses. I'm going to look into both options. Rob

watson wrote on 12/4/2002, 4:24 PM

Totally agree! MMB suggestion about using a chain of MMB projects as apposed to one mmb with the kitchen sink.
I have had no problems with MMB since separating MMB projects and to the user it is seamless.
W