YouTube-Themed DVD Project (source included!)

Jonathan Neal wrote on 8/26/2006, 8:06 PM

Using Adobe Photoshop, Sony Vegas, & Sony DVD Architect I created a YouTube themed DVD. A friend of mine needed a simple DVD package that was professional, but not overly fancy. Inspired by the new menus that appear at the end of YouTube videos, I set to work.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/73ae06/ *updated*
Click "Download for free with FileFactory Basic"

I wanted to share what I made, including the source, with everybody here. I included the footage, the DVD Architect menu (*.dar), the Vegas project (*.veg, for transitions), the Photoshop file (and required fonts), and the pre-rendered Master (for those who want to see the final product. It fits all into a 7.63 MB 7z file. If you don't know how to open 7z (7-Zip) files, I recommend using 7-Zip, it's small, it's free, and the download is right on the main page.

http://www.7-zip.org/

You can open the Master project whatever media player you prefer, I personally tested it in Window Media Player, Media Player Classic, and VLC. If you don't know what to do, you want to open VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO

Comments

grh wrote on 8/27/2006, 7:15 AM

Windows XP natively supports .zip files; I don't need yet another free tool (YAFT). A few % decrease in file size doesn't necessarily justify changing to a non-standard file format, one which requires I bother with the download and installation of YAFT. Suggest using the ubiquitous and familiar zip format.

Would love to see your work, but will not bother. Your choice of download site and file format is an impediment to sharing. Thanks for the offer, though.

Tom Pauncz wrote on 8/27/2006, 7:24 AM

Unfortunately I have to agree with grh. We already risk nasty things getting into our systems without having to download more just to see your work.

Too bad - I, too, would be interested in seeing your work.
Tom

Jonathan Neal wrote on 8/27/2006, 11:20 AM

I hate to throw out the sarcasm and then preaching out, but... MP3 Player for my computer - MP3's are only for hackers. Why upgrade, 95 works. I'll never need more than 512K.

In truth, 7-Zip is a VERY popular media format, and yes, it's newer, but perhaps you should check it out. It's used in almost all of the RVM windows upgrade packs, nLite, PeerGuardian, or any installer that looks like the Mozilla Firefox/Thunderbird/etc installers (they're unpacking SFX 7-Zip files). Seriously, countless Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix, and BSD applications. The difference between compression is astounding - it is the most powerful free compression tool (and including the zip format pay tools, rar, tar, etc.). Plus, it's speedier, safer, and more secure in all ways than the ancient ZIP format. Oh, and it's completely free. Besides, who needs more shareware on their computer?

The 7-Zip program can also read other compression formats, including ZIP, TAR, gzip, bzip2, 7z, RAR, LHA, and ARJ. I have never needed to use another compression software since, and it's the smallest of them all :)

Finally, I forgot to add this, a ZIP file at maximum compression of the exact same files was 21,857 KB. The 7zip file was 7,818 KB. That's more than a few bytes, I'm afraid.

Tom Pauncz wrote on 8/27/2006, 11:31 AM

Jonathan,
My issue is with s/w needed to download your files, unless I am misreading the site. I am reasonably sure I could unzip the file once downloaded.
Tom

RexA wrote on 8/27/2006, 11:56 AM

I thought the download site needed software too, but I went to the site and tried it. I got the download ok without any new sw, so I guess that isn't an issue. Hard to tell, though. Seems to imply something will be needed.

However, the file that got downloaded had no extension in its name, so I had to manually select it from 7-zip. (I already had 7-zip for its rar abilities.) If Jonathan hadn't mentioned 7-zip I would have had no idea what it was.

The veg file wouldn't open. I only have Vegas 5 on this PC. That's probably why.

Seems it was a lot of effort for not much.

johnmeyer wrote on 8/27/2006, 1:50 PM

I had the same reaction as others to needing to download the 7z program, but I went ahead and did it. I then used Winzip at maximum compression to zip all the files. 7z was 7,827, but Winzip is 22,317, a ratio of 2.85:1 !!

The files are definitely worth downloading, and I learned a lot by looking at them (I've never quite figured out how to do this by just looking at the help files).

Thank you Jonathan.

Finally, for those of you who don't mind downloading 22.3 MBytes, here's a link to the same files, compressed using WinZip so you can open them in XP with no extra work:

DVD Project (Winzip'd)

Tom Pauncz wrote on 8/27/2006, 2:26 PM

John,
That link is asking me to send something..... am I missing something?
Tom

grh wrote on 8/27/2006, 2:30 PM

> I hate to throw out the sarcasm and then preaching out, but... MP3 Player for my
> computer - MP3's are only for hackers. Why upgrade, 95 works. I'll never need
> more than 512K.

*snort* I have no problem keeping up with the times. The issue is pervasiveness and utility.

> In truth, 7-Zip is a VERY popular media format, ...

Its use in utilities is not in same category as its use by end users. I'm not sure I can agree that its a _very_ popular format.

My reference to percent differences was quoted directly from the 7-zip website. Compressing audio files is clearly handled more efficiently by other tools such as winrar, etc (when compared to zip files); the same is likely true for video. No argument there.

<$0.02>
I now deal with gigabytes of data on a regular basis. A 20 MB download is insignificant IMHO, compared to 7 MB. My point is this: if you care to make something available for others to use, make it available in a format that is most accessible by your customers. I think quicktime bites, but I can still create a .mov file. DivX? I don't think so, because it is far too difficult/time consuming/annoying for the average user to go find the codec and tool, download it, install it, and use it. All that work for a marginal increase in quality isn't worth it. Same for 7 MB vs. 22 MB. A zip file is perfectly adequate, especially since you're relying on a third party site to distribute the file.
</$0.02>

But above all, the offer and your effort is definitely appreciated. And I don't mean to start an argument. But I _would_ appreciate your understanding the perspective of a potential member of your audience, and why it's not at all clear how a non-standard distribution format has any real value, given _all_ the parameters of the situation.

John: not sure about YouSendIt, but your link doesn't appear to be what you intend. I just get a page allowing me to upload and send a file to others.

Jonathan Neal wrote on 8/27/2006, 2:56 PM

hey grh, point taken, and well put.

I prefer 7-zip because the application is free, they are easy to open, smaller to download, and smaller to upload. I debated over creating a self-extraction (SFX) exe version, it wouldn't be much larger, however, I figured people would have issues downloading an EXE over, say, the 7-zip file.

Of course, I'm still hoping to hear some feedback on the actual project. I made an update recently to it, so I've changed the download URL on my initial post too.

MH_Stevens wrote on 8/30/2006, 10:07 AM

Is that a young Elvis playing the Canadian Anthem?

Julius_ wrote on 8/30/2006, 12:01 PM

I can't get the Winzip files...that page seems to be an "upload a file page"/

Jim H wrote on 8/30/2006, 7:54 PM

ditto what Julius said. still no file. :(

jkerry wrote on 8/30/2006, 10:12 PM

Just to let everyone know. WinRAR willl open the file from 7Zip

grh wrote on 8/31/2006, 5:21 AM

As will Zipper for the Yahoo Widget Engine, it turns out.

craftech wrote on 8/31/2006, 5:32 AM

After trying a few compression utilities over the past few years including 7-Zip and finding something I didn't like about virtually all of them I ended up sticking with Zip Genius 6. It seems to work for all compression types, nothing seems hoakey about it, and it is also free.

John