[mplutodh1]

So just bought a new burner and want to get to archiving all of the mtb videos I have downloaded over the years, in addition to a huge selection of photos also.

What software is out there that easily allows me to create main menus that will have thumbnails and titles of all of the videos? Basically I just want a main menu (or several pages of menus) that will have thumbnails of the 100s of videos I have (as many as I can get on each DVD) so that you can click on them, view them and return to the menu or continue on to the next video.

Is there a program that would allow me to make a menu with folders of photos that could then be slide shows? or a view all option to just view all of the photos in a slide show? This would be awesome for archiving photos not to mention viewing for presentations for our team or what have you.

What do you use to create DVDs? I don't want to make fancy movies really, just simple archiving DVD's with easy quick creation and navigation.

 

[MtnBikerNJ]

i'd use iphoto/imovie/idvd, but that's cause I'm on a mac. one thing though, if your movies aren't 732x500 (or whatever the tvsize is) the software will probably want to res up if they are smaller. plus on a dvd menu, I think the SPEC limits you to 6 or 8 menu items...
so you would have to set it up like scenes (movies 1-8, movies 9-16, etc)

 

[anarchyUK]

i'd use iphoto/imovie/idvd, but that's cause I'm on a mac. one thing though, if your movies aren't 732x500 (or whatever the tvsize is) the software will probably want to res up if they are smaller. plus on a dvd menu, I think the SPEC limits you to 6 or 8 menu items...
so you would have to set it up like scenes (movies 1-8, movies 9-16, etc)

2nd that

 

[SebringMGB]

pm ggrub....

 

[ibismojo]

perhaps the dvd creation software has gotten simpler and more template based since i last checked, but what your asking to do would take many different software, at least for me and my previous experiences with making DVD's.

1. You need to encode the videos to MPEG2, I use TMPG.
2. You need to edit the videos to make those thumbnails (assuming you want motion menu buttons instead of static images, in which case, you'll need no. 3), I use Premiere.
3. To create the menu background, or buttons, and overall layout of the DVD on the screen, I use Photoshop.
4. To edit the video clips you want to use for motion menu buttons, I use After Effects.
5. To create the actual DVD content into meaningful information for the DVD player and to setup the navigation as well as chapters, I use Reel DVD.
6. To burn the authored material onto the DVD, I use Nero.

Creating a DVD will never be easy as burning an audio CD. Even if it is so simple, you'll be limited to what you can do.

If this is something you want to learn and spend time on, check out doom9.org or vcdhelp.com

 

[mplutodh1]

wow i know there is an easier way then using all of those programs, I really don't want it to be flashy, just easy to navigate, I have seen some software packages taht do similar things to what I want, guess I will just have to play around. And mac software wont help me.

 

[Mike B.]

Ulead DVD Factory or something along those lines is easy to use and sounds like it will do what you want. There is a standard version and a deluxe edition that are like 50 and 100 bucks respectively. Try the website, should have a trial version for download.

Good luck