menu creation Question

[Welzman]

Hello Peoples
thanks for reading

Now I must appologise - I'm not 100% familiar with the technical terms associated with DVD editing and authoring so this question might be answered elsewhere but I ddn't know where to look.

Here goes:

I'm looking for a program that will do the following

I need to create a DVD that has an intro movie which goes to a Menu
(lets call thiese options Menu A, B, C and D)

when they click on one of the menu items- another video plays and at the end of that video (about 3 minutes worth)- it goes to the Sub Menu

I need the movie & sound to be the one unit if that makes sense

Alternatively is it possible to create 4 separate DVD's and then place them on one DVD with an intro movie and menu that allows you to click through to the different menu items

phew , I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense-
Background info on why I need it.
I am a magician by trade and I have 4 different shows and the DVD is my promotional pack that I send to clients the sub menus are the different shows and the sub menu intro videos are is me taling into the camera explaining some sales points about the show.


so I need to know what programs to use- I don't have $20,000 to spend
I have around $700 Aust which is about 400 American but I will go higher if I have to.

I don't need a program to edit the photos- just create the menu system I mentioned above.


Thank you all

David Welzman

[psx_pirate]

TMPGenc Dvd Author should do the trick ... simple menus .. but simple to use too and only $68 usd

[Welzman]

that was quick

[psx_pirate]

we aim to help ... as quickly as possible lol

There are other tools that will do the job too ... search the tools section for dvd authoring

[redwudz]

TDA has a trial version, so you can test it out and see if it does what you want. For more advanced authoring, DVD-lab PRO is popular.

[Welzman]

Thank you people
I have downloaded a trial (30 day) of TMPGenc Dvd Author

However I have found the help file to be unhelpful with vague explanations of what to do.
and there is no preview button so when learning the product you have to create a folder or rather finished product to see what you have done

are there online dummy guides for this program???

thank you

(the stop watch is running)


Dave

[Welzman]

oops

I think I found ot on the site

stop watch off

[redwudz]

If you didn't see this one, it fits your request. https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?guideid=740#740

And as you may have noticed, on the 'Tools' page for the particular program, there is usually a list of guides near the bottom.

[Welzman]

I have found DVD Lab PRO to be a better program for my needs

Are there any books (not PDF's or online manuals) but physical books on how to use it better

[lordsmurf]

I would suggest you look into Ulead DVD Workshop 2. It works better than DVD-Lab, but is equally as easy as TDA.

I've done this a number of times in DVDWS2. You can have a DVD firstplay, which jumps into a main menu. Then you can insert a video clip or image between the main menu and submenu, or even between any menu and the clip that is about to play.

It makes for excellent effects. Should be quite handy for what you want to do. The process is painless.

DVDWS2 has a trial at Ulead.com. I suggest you try it. If you have any troubles, make a new post asking "how to make menu transitions in DVDWS2" and somebody will surely answer (maybe me, maybe coalman, maybe somebody else).

It is within your budget. Maybe even more of one if you have access to academic discounts, or buy a used copy off eBay (just be sure to get a legit one).