kirrz 0 #1 July 4, 2007 I'm working on a DVD project and I need to create a menu. I've never done one before so I'm looking for a program that makes them really easy. Basically one of my options has to lead to a video, another to a slideshow with music and another to some text about the DVD. I'm working on a Macbook Pro, all my video editing is done on Final Cut Pro. A friend showed me a program called MyDVD which looks really simple to use but only runs on Windows. I can get access to a Windows machine but would prefer to learn to do it on my Mac. Any tips? Also.. any easy way to do the slideshow? I was actually going to edit it in Final Cut (putting together the photos and music) but there's gotta be a smarter, simpler way... Cheers guys! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #2 July 4, 2007 If you have Final Cut, don't you have DVD Studio Pro? It comes with some very impressive DVD templates. Otherwise, PixelPops are nice, or you can roll your own using FCP, a little compositing, and some desaturation so text holds tight over top of the graphics/video. Adobe Encore also runs on Apple now, but compared to DVD Studio Pro, Encore blows. Smarter, simpler way to build slideshows? Nothing really "simple" in FCP to do this, it's slow going if you want motion/animated slides. If you have Sony Vegas, it's ridiculously fast, 10,000 slides with animation in about 10 seconds, matched to music beats, etc. Otherwise, Canopus offers great tools for this, or DVD Studio Pro allows for easy non-animated slide shows. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflydrew 0 #3 July 4, 2007 how about iDVD? it's free and already on your mac. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirrz 0 #4 July 5, 2007 thanks for the replies! i've got both dvd studio pro and iDVD but have never used either. didn't even know they could be used to make menus. guess i will teach myself using the help/ online tutorials.. but i don't seem to have any themes or templates for either.. is there somewhere i can download them for free? i've been trying and trying to drag a photo i want as background from the media section to the background in iDVD and it just doesn't do anything!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #5 July 5, 2007 Quote Encore blows. I use Encore and seem to get decent results with fully interactive animated menus and it shipped with a shit load of canned menus, but I make all my own. D knows a helluva lot more about software than I do though, Encore is the only DVD authoring tool I have ever used except for Sonic, which I thought was very limited in comparison. I have been using Adobe products for well over a decade, so I pretty much stick with what I know... In my limited experience, it is not the software as much as the jockey that gets the results...Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat… Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #6 July 5, 2007 You do have the templates in DVD Studio Pro, I don't believe you can not install them, although you can uninstall them after installation. Youcan reinstall them from your FCS package. If you need help with them, PM me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #7 July 5, 2007 Everything your talking about is on and can be done in iDVD. It would be a good idea for you to get a book such as "The Mac iLIfe'06" by Jim Heid. It covers all the iLife media and has been very helpful to have around and read up on more advanced tricks in the programs. While FCP is way cooler and all that, iDVD and iMovie are very easy and fast to learn. I can figuare it out without a book to do the simple stuff anyone can! Sounds like you just haven't taken the time to explore or play around, you'll be surprised at all you can do in iDVD and how nice it looks when done.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 July 5, 2007 Here's my rule of thumb; If the DVD is going to be 6 non-linking items or less, I use iDVD, else DVD Studio Pro. The reason is iDVD is REALLY simple and fast and DVD Studio Pro is a pain in the ass. Both allow you to create custom menus, but admittedly DVD Studio Pro allows much greater flexibility. That said, if you create a template in iDVD, it's just drag and drop, then burn . . . WAY easier. If it's your first project and you need to get it done NOW, then iDVD is really your only option too since the learning curve of DVD Studio Pro is kinda steep.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirrz 0 #9 July 8, 2007 Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! iDVD is such a breeze to use!! I didn't have any of the themes which is why I couldn't figure it out but I re-installed it and voila.. so simple! I can't believe how much time I've spent trying to figure out menus when it is so easy! Yay for Apple! Is it possible to use the given themes but say add another picture or remove a picture's spot from the template given? Or make the picture's area bigger? I couldn't figure that out... Thank you so much guys!! :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #10 July 8, 2007 QuoteIs it possible to use the given themes but say add another picture or remove a picture's spot from the template given? Or make the picture's area bigger? I couldn't figure that out... If I understand you, YES you can do that. GO get the book by Jim Reid. It will help you with the more advanced stuff. I have been using iMovie & iDVD for almost two years now, but only doing the simple stuff for fast tandem videos. But now I'm reading up on doing more of a "movie" and finding out there is some really cool shit you can do and it is more then I can type for you to learn. Good luck and enjoy you new found freedom, and YES APPLE RULES!you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirrz 0 #11 July 8, 2007 QuoteQuoteIs it possible to use the given themes but say add another picture or remove a picture's spot from the template given? Or make the picture's area bigger? I couldn't figure that out... If I understand you, YES you can do that. GO get the book by Jim Reid. It will help you with the more advanced stuff. I have been using iMovie & iDVD for almost two years now, but only doing the simple stuff for fast tandem videos. But now I'm reading up on doing more of a "movie" and finding out there is some really cool shit you can do and it is more then I can type for you to learn. Good luck and enjoy you new found freedom, and YES APPLE RULES! Will definitely get the book when I get back to Sydney... am in Thailand right now & it's a bit harder to find here.. Thanks for that! :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
