SVCD menus, titles - do they work on DVD Players?

[SearchQuality]

Ladies and Gentlemen. Sorry if I am repeating an allready known question. I have created my first line of SVCD clips using software that allows me to put titles on customised backgrounds with music and a menu structure. Since the software gives me all the possibilities to do this authoring work, I assume that this SVCD clip burned on a CDROM should work on a DVD player with the top level and second level menus and titles. But helas the answer is no. The CDROM with its SVCD clip on it plays on the DVD player, but no menus, no titles, no chapters, no background music, you name it. This is happening with all the three different well-known packages that I use for authoring. My DVD player is a brand new SONY DVP-NS305 and the PBC is enabled. Is this normal? Am I doing something obviously wrong? Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[Vejita-sama]

x(S)VCDs do not support 'true menus' like DVDs. You can not have naviagtion keys or buttons. You can however use the numeric keypad on your remote, the << >> buttons, and the standard play/stop/pause buttons.

Normally for a x(S)VCD menu you give each menu options a number, and then hit that number on your remote. No highlights/navigation, but the keypad. You can set next action, stop action, loops, etc. to give a 'DVD like experience.'

So the question is do your menus not work (as correct SVCD menus) or do you mean that they do not work like DVD menus (which they won't).

[SearchQuality]

Based upon the points that you mentioned I tested all the SVCDs again. The result is that the menus are not recognized at all. Neither with keypad nor with <<>> keys, it is not possible to go to a chapter. In fact I do not see any chapter at all. It is just straightforward video clip without any structure. In any case thanks for your suggestions.

[j1d10t]

What programs are you using for authoring?

[SearchQuality]

I have done most of the work with WinProducer3 DVD from Intervideo and Ulead DVD Movie Factory. I have also made use of VCDEasy. As burner I use NERO and I use the Codecs of TMPGenc sometimes.

[Vejita-sama]

Hmm? Think of it this way, if your standalone supports SVCDs then it also accepts SVCD menus. Why? Because SVCD menus are really nothing more then addition MPEGs (stills or video) where you assign (via PBC) actions to the keypads and <<, >>, or stop keys.

I would try authoring with VCDEasy. I know it works and there are several guides on how to use it to the left. I once made a xSVCD of Duality (the StarWars fan clip) that had a leadin/intro clip, 'my studio's' production clip, the THX clip, a main menu (play/chapters/exrta), etc. The chapters submenu had a motion menu (like the matrix) with sound (I made it TSVC and authored the project with TSVC which like VCDeasy uses VCDImager).

So it can be done.

[j1d10t]

I've used Movie Factory to make menus for my SVCDs, as well as XSVCDs, and they work great. Which version of DVD Movie Factory are you using?

[SearchQuality]

I am using version 2 trial. It is fully functional for 30 days.

[SearchQuality]

Adding a few points to this discussion: As far as I can see the version 1.1.5. of VCDEasy is freeware. However I am getting an error message "This test version expired please get a new version". When I reload v1.1.5. it gives the same error message. On the other hand although the sites claim that they are offering v1.1.6. in reality they have v1.1.5. to download. I was just preparing to have another go at this menu problem by using VCDEasy, now I have seen this error. Does anyone know something about this version problem of VCDEasy? Thanks in advance.