Best software for cool menus

[lordhutt]

What would be the best authoring software for making really cool menus.
With options like instead of just having a pic of each chapter I would like to have a small part of video playing in each one with maybe 6-8 on screen at once.
I would also like to put background music on the menu.

I also want to be able to put in still photos on the DVD as well.

Thank You,
Andy

[guns1inger]

There are quite a few that fit that description. Some are easier to use than others, while some will take more work on your part, but give you better results in the end. Some to consider include

DVD Architect (bundled with Vegas Video) from Sony
DVD Lab from mediachance (also available in a pro version - still beta)
TMPGEnc DVD Author from Pegasys

All are in thew tools section (link to your left)

If you really want to get the best looking menu, you also need a good NLE (non-linear editor) such as Vegas or Premiere, a compositing package, such as after effects or combustion, and a good paint package like photoshop. With these you can aviod the samey looks that come from using template based tools.

[videofun]

You can also consider Dvd Workshop ver.2 from Ulead, it can do all the things you asked for and its quite easy to use (and learn).

[burnman99]

A Really good FREE program is DVDAuthorGUI. It allows for multiple audio tracks, and motion menus & subtitles i think. Good Program!
Hope this helps.

Have fun stormin' the castle!

Rog

[Sallad420]

I use DVD Workshop2, I find it was easy to learn and create some nice menus.

Seems to be built for beginners, but has lots of nice features.

[lordhutt]

Thanks all,
Guns1inger, I don't see any way to do these with TMPGenc DVD Author....are you sure it can be done?

-Andy

[steveloveday]

Hi
I think Dvdlab is probably the best option for you it lets you do real smart menu's aswell as motion menu's for the Chapter selection Menu,and you can also add audio aswell as still pictures
Here's a very good guide that i found i thhink it explains stuff quite well
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=220092
Good Luck

[DVD_Ripper]

I use DVD Workshop2, I find it was easy to learn and create some nice menus.

Seems to be built for beginners, but has lots of nice features.

I second DVD Workshop as well as DVD Movie Factory, both from Ulead

[lordhutt]

Well, I just got Workshop2 so we'll see how it goes.

Thanks everyone.

-Andy

[p_l]

Here are a couple of guides for getting even more out of Ulead DVD Workshop's menu making abilities.

[lordhutt]

Well, I just made my first DVD with DVD Workshop.
It seems to have went pretty well....it was just a short one to test things out. I will make a full one today.
I got the motion menu and background music.

One question I have for the moment.
I used a song for my background that is about 2:30.
I am still new to this program so I may figure it out myself but since I used a song that long all my motion chapters has to play that long as well before looping.
Is there a way to have a 2:30 background song and have my motion chapters loop every 10-20 seconds?

Thanks!

[Dimmer]

Is there a way to have a 2:30 background song and have my motion chapters loop every 10-20 seconds?

No, you will have to duplicate those 10-20 second loops as many times as required to fill the 2:30 audio track. That will consume some extra space of course.

[lordhutt]

Thanks Dimmer.

Umm....one thing this program could use is an undo button....is there anyway to automatically undo a step?

[p_l]

Ummm...

[lordhutt]

DOH!!!

Oh well....like I said I am just learning to use this particular software!

Fortunately I just printed out the 140 page pdf file that is with it so hopefully I won't ask any more 'stupid' questions!!

Thanks!

[sdsumike619]

Well I've just produced 9 music instruction DVDs for robertconti.com

I've been very happy with the ease of use of DVDWS2, with a few complaints..

1) Does the program run like sh*t for everyone else? e.g. the video preview window quality is absolute crapola, it doesn't even look like the audio and video are in sync. Also, just the general speed of the program, when you switch frome "edit" to "menu" or open a different area of the options,, everything just seems slow and i'm not on a slow computer or anything like that,,,,anyone else notice this??

2) The "play all titles" function - I like the fact that you can have a button that will play all the titles. However, i've noticed that on the finished product, if you are in the "play all" mode, if you happen to skip to the next chapter, it will return you to the menu at the end of that particular chapter - is there a way around this?

3) After you burn a DVD or an image file, if you go back to work on that project again, make your chagnes and go to burn a the revised project, the program will crash. You have to "save as" in a diff directory to get around this...

I'm not sure, but to me, the overall project has an amateur flare to it...I'm looking around for new programs,,, is DVDLab as good as DVDWS2? What about sony's new dvd architect 2.0 ?

Look forward to some good input,,,

MiKe

[Dpick]

I'm all new to DVD authoring, but so far I've been pretty happy with dvdauthor GUI.

So far, its been the best program to author the menues you want.

Again dvdauthor GUI is definitely worth a try.

[sdsumike619]

umm who makes that??