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[Leo56]

Hi guys,

I'm an absolute newcomer to all of this (so be gentle!!) I'm using this life-saving programme to transfer old VHS family films onto DVD, using Pinnacle Studio 8 to capture from VHS. The Pinnacle software gives me some great 'front-end' menu pages and allows me to insert my own chapter points. As far as I can tell SVCD2DVD does not recognise the chapter points or menu page when I convert to DVD. Is there anything I'm missing! or is their any way that I can insert chapter markers beyond the ' timed ' way on the drop down boxes? Failing that how do I get some snazzy backgrounds as an alternative(s) to the Director's Chair ?

[Jikchung]

Without knowing you workflow, I can't give you detailed help - here is what I can offer:

1- Chapter points in S2D are only available in the timed format (or with each new asset under the same VTS).

2- To replace the Director's Chair menu choose the "Background" button on the left in the menu screen and replace with the background of your choice. You can use a photo editing program to make your own custom backgrounds or go here: http://software.badgerit.com/Backgrounds.html to download some others.

3- Doesn't Studio 8 author a 'ready to burn' DVD? I am confused why you are adding S2D to your process (I can think of some reasons, but none fit your brief description). When you add S2D you are essentially reauthoring from scratch - that's why you are losing your chapter points an menus.

[Leo56]

Thanks for the advice on the backgrounds. The problem I'm having with the Pinnacle Studio 8 programme is that when I try to burn the ' made film' to dvd, random sections of the film are missing and after about 5 mins or so the original soundtrack slips out of sync. The end result before trying to copy it to dvd is excellent, and it's v frustrating not to be able to replicate it on dvd. By copying the film into MPEG and then using SVCD nothing is missing and there is no slippage in the soundtrack, but also no menu and no chapter points!!

[Jikchung]

I see. If you want more control over the authoring, you might try this:
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=dvdauthor
along with this:
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=GUI_for_dvdauthor.
Both are freeware and look like they will do what you need.

If I might give one more bit of advice - if possible, capture the video as .AVI and run it through S2D in batch mode (just make S2D.mpg files). This will give better results than the Studio 8 rendered .mpg files. Then run that output through DVDAuthor.

[Leo56]

Really appreciate your help! Thanks a lot.