How to Edit DVD Menus incl overlay pictures over video Sony Vegas DvdRemake

[c627627]

I'm posting my notes here so I can access them from anywhere and if they help anyone else - then good for them.


• To replace a still menu picture: Right click on the picture inside DvdRemake Pro > Export frame... > Saved 32-Bit frame can then be viewed/edited in graphics programs capable of viewing/editing 32-Bit .bmp files [Not all graphics programs can display 32-Bit .bmp files.]

After editing the 32-Bit frame, save it as a 24-Bit OS/2 File Format. Then use freeware MuxMan http://www.mpucoder.com/Muxman/versions.shtml to select the newly created frame (next to where it says 'Video') then set Destination folder and Start.

Now use Replace with still... in DvdRemake Pro's window right click menu (under the blocks) to browse to the MuxMan Destination folder. This method can also be used to easily replace a moving menu with an edited still frame.

[** For still menu pictures, remember to use Replace with still... not Replace block... because Replace with still... keeps the subpictures which contain menu highlighting whereas Replace block... will also replace pre-existing (invisible in DvdRemake Pro) subpictures. **]
[Replace block... is in the block right click menu.]
[Replace with still... is in the window right click menu (under the blocks).]


• To edit a moving menu, you need to extract and edit menu audio/video. Use PgcDemux http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/dvdtools.htm

Input IFO should be the Video Title Set or VTS*.IFO file where the menu audio file you wish to edit is. DvdRemake Pro displays which Video Title Set (VTS) contains the menu.
Inside DvdRemake Pro, go to Menu PGC containing the cell whose audio you wish to edit
Look at the running time of the cell.

Then in PgcDemux, after selecting Input IFO & Output folder, select Single Cell and Menus, then find the cell with same running time.

CHECK everything except One file per VID > Process! > OK


PgcDemux has now extracted the audio file (usually an *.ac3 file) and VideoFile.m2v which can now be edited. If your video editing program cannot edit .m2v files, PgcDemux also extracted the .VOB file which can be edited then later saved as a .m2v file.


When finished editing, use Muxman to select the newly created Video and Audio (and Subpics), set Destination folder and Start.
If doing multiple files, keep renaming the VIDEO_TS folder inside the destination folder as new VIDEO_TS folders are being exported in Muxman.

Inside DvdRemake Pro, go to the original block and before replacing it, export color schemes and original buttons.
Right click on the menu picture below the block > Edit color schemes... > Export color schemes.
and
Right click on the menu picture > Export buttons...


Now you can Replace block... > Load > browse to VIDEO_TS created by Muxman...

(DvdRemake Pro warning will pop up.)

Import saved color schemes and saved buttons.

[Play the block to see if anything is missing. Remember to expand button area if necessary to cover the new menu pictures and be sure to check keyboard/remote links from button to the other.]


• Notes on Editing Video:

To overlay a still picture over video, the picture's canvas size should be 720x480 pixels for NTSC video. It should have no background. [In Photoshop, this is accomplished by cut-pasting the frame then unchecking the 'eye' next to the Background Layer. Then deleting the parts of the frame not to be used in the still picture overlay.]

Use Sony Vegas > Import > Media... > [(you may need to select Files of type: All Files (*.*)] and import the picture and the video. In Sony Vegas, place the picture on top and *.vob video below it. (Sony Vegas cannot import .m2v video but it can save (Render As) .m2v).

Click on the right border of the picture and extend it to the right to match the video's length. Click on the Event Pan/Crop (square) icon on the picture to move the picture over any part of the video.

Now File > Render As... > Save as type > MainConcept MPEG-2 (*.mpg;*.m2v;*.m2t;*.mpa) > Custom > Video TAB >
CHECK: Include video stream
Output type: DVD
Width: 720 Frame rate: 29.970
Height: 480 Aspect ratio: 4:3 Display

Field order: Upper field first

Variable bit rate
Maximum (bps): 8,100,000
Average (bps): 5,500,000
Minimum (bps): 2,000,000


Audio TAB > UNCHECK: Include audio stream

Save the video as a *.m2v file.


Use Muxman freeware to select the newly created Video and the previously extracted Audio (and Subpics) above, set Destination folder and Start.
Inside DvdRemake Pro, go to the original block and before replacing it, export color schemes and original buttons.
Right click on the menu picture below the block > Edit color schemes... > Export color schemes.
and
Right click on the menu picture > Export buttons...


Now you can Replace block... > Load > browse to VIDEO_TS created by Muxman...

(DvdRemake Pro warning will pop up.)

Import saved color schemes and saved buttons.

[Play the block to see if anything is missing. Remember to expand button area if necessary to cover the new menu pictures and be sure to check keyboard/remote links from button to the other.]


• Notes on subpics:

Subpics which highlight the buttons will have to be recreated if original menu button placement was changed.
Use DVDSubEdit freeware http://download.videohelp.com/DVDSubEdit/


[When creating new buttons in DvdRemake Pro, set the coloring scheme equal to the coloring scheme of other buttons in the menu and do not check auto or the command will launch as soon as you get to it even if you don't press Select.]


1. Use DVDSubEdit to open .vob file containing menu
2. CHECK: Ignore transparency [middle right] then move frames until you see the subpic.
3. Instead of "Use IFO Clut" in the middle right of the screen, select "Use Automatic Clut" and UNCHECK: Show Video Frame.
4. File > Save current subpic as a bitmap.
5. Edit the saved .bmp and save it as a 24-Bit Windows .bmp file.
6. DVDSubEdit > File > Replace current subpic with .BMP file then File > Save all modifications (but remember to backup the original .vob file first in case anything goes wrong.)

[In case of problems, check the Color Schemes inside DvdRemake Pro. Right click on the menu picture > Edit color schemes... > You can export/import color schemes here which may sometimes resolve subpicture problems due to the incorrect color schemes being set on the edited replacement blocks.]


DvdRemake Pro > Edit color schemes... > Pattern number corresponds to the color listed above the CLUT TAB in the upper right corner of DvdRemake Pro.
You can set up three different schemes there, then select which one to use by double clicking on the menu button and setting the color scheme for the button there.


• Notes on Editing Audio:

Not all software can edit/play these extracted .ac3 files but they can be edited/played using Nero WaveEditor, which is bundled with Nero Burning ROM. See Nero WaveEditor > Options > Audio Format Settings... > Set Decoders/Encoders TAB > Dolby Digital (AC3) > Configure... > if audio is 5.1, click on 5.1 > OK > Close
(Look into settings to prevent volume of edited .ac3 files from being reduced each time you save the edited .ac3 file.)

Sony software can open extracted .vob files which contain the ac3 sound to be edited. Sony software can then Save As... *.ac3 file. To view the original bitrate of the ac3 file, use http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ freeware.

AC3 files can only be opened for editing again with Sony software if they are muxed together with video.
For standalone *.ac3 files, (any) video without sound is required:
Open freeware MuxMan http://www.mpucoder.com/Muxman/versions.shtml
1. Click on ... [to the right under Video] to browse to a video mpg file.
2. Click on ... [to the right under Audio] to browse to the .ac3 file.
3. Click on ... [to the right under Destination] to set destination directory.
Start

The resulting VTS_01_1.vob file can now be opened in Sony software and ac3 audio file can then be edited and Saved As... The saved ac3 file cannot be opened in Sony software until it is muxed with video again.

[tinker]

That is a good guide. Only one think is not mentioned.
When you use "Replace block" in Remake you should export buttons and Color Scheme from the original menu first, because after you import back the buttons you will see that all colors are set at zero.
To get a color scheme, left click on original menu> Click on Edit color schemes in drop down menu> Export.

[c627627]

Thanks for reading it.

You are correct, it needed to be more clear on that, since I made that mistake just today, the colors were all set to zero because I didn't export the color scheme before hand.



Inside DvdRemake Pro, go to the original block and before replacing it, export color schemes and original buttons.
Right click on the menu picture below the block > Edit color schemes... > Export color schemes.
and
Right click on the menu picture > Export buttons...


Now you can Replace block... > Load > browse to VIDEO_TS created by Muxman...

(DvdRemake Pro warning will pop up.)

Import saved color schemes and saved buttons.

[Play the block to see if anything is missing. Remember to expand button area if necessary to cover the new menu pictures and be sure to check keyboard/remote links from button to the other.]