VV3 + DVD Authoring in Widescreen 16:9

PAW wrote on 8/31/2002, 6:27 AM

Hello,

Can anyone help. I have just started with NLE and DVD authoring for home stuff.

I have a couple of years of footage recorded in 16:9 the problem I have is getting it onto DVD at a reasonable cost.

I have Studio7 and Videostudio 6 but neither support 16:9, also the limitation on video/audio tracks became apparent in a short time. I have looked at media studio but the widescreen support is minimal.

I have looked at VV3 and the ability to have mutiple video/audio and the widescreen support are excellent

The problem I have is DVD authoring at a reasonable cost in widescreen, DVDit PE is $500/600

Am I missing something, can any help with suggestions of how can get a good solution to my widescreen woes.

Regards, Paul

Comments

seeker wrote on 8/31/2002, 2:03 PM

Paul,

Ulead's DVD Workshop supports other frames sizes besides 720x480 for NTSC and 720x576 for PAL DVD. I suggest you download the demo of DVD Workshop and the associated three PDF documents and give it a try for your 16x9s. For more info, click on:

http://www.ulead.com/dws/features.htm

SonyDennis wrote on 8/31/2002, 10:59 PM

seeker:

I haven't used DVD Workshop, but "Widescreen" on DVD is *still* 720x480 (or 720 576) pixels. The pixels are wider and fill a 16:9 screen instead of 4:3. DVD doesn't support more than 720 pixels horizontally.

///d@

PAW wrote on 9/2/2002, 1:23 PM

Thanks for the help.

I have downloaded the DVD Workshop trial, I'll see how it goes.

The other alternative is to use Studio 8 (the DVD authoring features are OK) and then use ifoedit to change to output file to 16:9 before burning.

In general though I would say the DVD software is relatively expensive for whats delivered.

Thanks, Paul

seeker wrote on 9/3/2002, 5:47 AM

SonicDennis,

> DVD doesn't support more than 720 pixels horizontally. <

Ahh. I had a misconception about that. Thanks for setting me straight.

dsanders wrote on 9/3/2002, 3:55 PM

Another suggestion would be to try Sonic Solutions ReelDVD (www.sonic.com). It supports 16x9. They have a 30 day, almost fully functional, demo available (the demo does not include the Dolby Digital encoder). Unfortunatly it is even more expensive that DVDit PE (in the $1000-$1500) range. Right now, the DVD authoring apps that are available are pretty crappy and the prices are VERY high. A good reference to check out is www.dvdrhelp.com. It explains a lot about the technology and where things are right now. You may also want to check out www.dvddemystified.com

PAW wrote on 9/4/2002, 3:06 AM

Thanks for the web sites. I did not realise the DVD authoring market was so immature.

The Sonic stuff is out of my price range, I am trying DVD Workshop, it is OK it even allows you to mix 4:3 and 16:9 in the same DVD. The user interface is not too hot.

Heaven would be for Vegas to have the DVD stuff built in. Imagine being able to add tracks as DVD menus/chapters and referencing your video tracks for menus, audio tracks for menu background music/voice etc and then burn to DVD. To my mind the video editing and DVD editing are part of the same creative process.

Nothing would be able to touch it.

Regards, Paul

wcoxe1 wrote on 9/4/2002, 1:30 PM

Looks like the coming thing here at the University is DVD authoring. Many teachers are already handing out canned lessons or tutorials on DVD. Some are already providing true interactive lessons, where the student chooses the route rather than just playing from start straight to finish. That is REALLY nice. All of it involves video, of course, and audio on the side (mostly). Few seem to think audio counts for much, but I try to make them change their mind on that point. I think they just don't have the tools, yet.

The local private school down the street from my home started over a year ago, and any time a teacher is absent, the sub only has to put in a DVD to cover that day's lesson. You should see the ones in the science courses, complete with lab demonstrations. Some of those people are really creative. That is where I first saw VV2, and realized, in spite of its horrible name, that it was a serious product.