Best Menuing App? - (Aug 2006 update)

[jsmithepa]

OK guys, it's time to update this thread.

Assuming I have all my videos ready to go, now all I have to do is the tie them all up with the snazziest of menus only limited by my imagination. Money is no object, BUT I'd like the App, if I'm going to pay big$, to hide the complexity of what it builds the menu behind the scene, and only "open up the hood" for me to tinker ONLY when necessary.

I am looking for the best user interface builder, powerful, yet user friendly, 'cuz time, as usual, is of the essence.

[guns1inger]

There is no 'Best', just what is best for you. I dare say the field hasn't changed much since this time last years. You want to find out what works for you, download demos and play. My opinion on what's 'best' is as good as anybody's - which means diddly. If you want to find out what works for you in a manner that suits your style, then download demos and play. A starting list of possible contenders can be found here -> https://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=2#2

Read the comments, seek out independent or industry reviews, and play with the demos.

[mattso]

If time is of the essence, TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 is the simplest to use. Also DVDAuthorGUI is very linear & straightforward (& free).

There really is no "best" - it depends exactly what you wanna do, how much you willing to spend etc.

Prepare your assets carefully, and even the simplest authoring tool will produce snazzy menus.

[BJ_M]

as mentioned , the answer has not changed in years ,,,,

DVD Studio Pro or Scenarist + photoshop + NLE + Talent = BEST

[AlanHK]

You don't say what you want to do. What's a "snazzy" menu?

Anyway, I found GuiForDVDAuthor (which is not the same as DVDAuthorGui) to have a particularly easy menu setup. Choose video files, drop in the "menu" screen. Default text is from the filename. You can put an image behind it, or an MPG, or leave it a plain colour. That was all I needed, making compilations with up to 10 items. All the button functions had sensible defaults and I never had to change them. I did however change the default font (to Verdana), and colours too, but that's just me. You want complexity, the XML is editable.

I personally get rather impatient with "snazzy" menus that make me wait 5 seconds while showing an animation before I can choose the next item. "Special Edition" DVDs can be particularly annoying.

[lordsmurf]

as mentioned , the answer has not changed in years ,,,,

DVD Studio Pro or Scenarist + photoshop + NLE + Talent = BEST

Sweet. I use DVDSP + Photoshop + FCP + talent = I can do "best".

That's the best answer I've ever seen to this question BJ_M

For "second best" I'd suggest
Ulead DVDWS2 + Photoshop + NLE (Premiere is my choice) + talent = BEST

[videopoo]

Don't forget to add a compositing app to that list.

After Effects or Combustion

[BJ_M]

Don't forget to add a compositing app to that list.

After Effects or Combustion

or digital fusion or shake , both are higher end though -- but fusion and shake are awesome programs


but would be optional for menus -- as most menus can be done in photoshop (or even paint shop pro (which is very good)) and a good NLE like premiere or vegas

[jsmithepa]

OK, I realize once I said BEST, it sounded like a generic request, but it was not.

My resource bin is already full of stuff I need and done with, so no need to recommed photoshop of any stills composing applications.

Now what I need is to take those resources and make them dance on DVD menus.

I don't like over complicated menus either, so don't worry, but that's up to the designer isn't it. BUT having the power under my fingertips when the need arise would be nice.

The last thing I was trying to do with menus is applying a blink-blink-blink effect once a button is activated. This would be quite EZ done on a webpage. I know-Iknow, DVD is not a webpage. BUT the solution provided (thanks guns1linger) is too complicated. I am unwillling to do this much work for little reward. So... what I am asking is, is there a menuing App what will do this, and something like it, in the background, without me having to create multiple menus <gasp> for each button?

I suppose what I am looking is, a DVD menu building App with the power of a Webpage builder without a high steep learning curve for a seasoned web author.

[BJ_M]

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=Ulead_DVD_Workshop

prob. your best bet then , DVDA (sony) is pretty good also ... all the higher end authoring apps require a lot more work - though you can do anything if you know how ...

[lordsmurf]

I suppose what I am looking is, a DVD menu building App with the power of a Webpage builder without a high steep learning curve for a seasoned web author.

Ulead DVDWS2

It has a trial, so go try it.

[guns1inger]

or digital fusion or shake , both are higher end though -- but fusion and shake are awesome programs

I love eveything about fusion - except the price.

[sdsumike619]

jsmithepa, I agree with DVD Workshop 2 as being the easiest right out of the box. A year or so ago, I had to learn video editing and dvd authoring FAST. I'm by no means a pro, probably not even intermediate, but I have been turning out DVDs that are being sold around the world. DVD Workshop 2 was the ONLY program that I was able to open up and start working quickly. Avoid programs like DVD Lab and (I'll probably catch crap for saying this) DVD Architect. I use Sony Vegas for editing and I'm sure Architect is a great program, but as far as out of the box usability, Ulead DVDWS2, hands down... It has a very recreational/amateur feel when you open it up (compared to other programs) but its ability to get the product out quickly makes it a valuable tool for people who don't have time to "learn" a piece of software... Same thing goes for Vegas - I downloaded demos of all the big NLE's and Vegas was the ONLY one I was able to start comfortably working in right away. Just my two cents.

[Jeff_NJ]

I agree sdsumike619. I also found Vegas just "made sense" to me. I use DVD Architect, but I admit, its not the most straight forward app out there. I'll have to give DVD Workshop 2 a chance as you suggest.

Jeff

[sdsumike619]

Hey Jeff, I'd like to use DVD Architect since I use Vegas and the two go hand in hand.. Did you buy any books or anything for it or how did you learn? The way I learned DVD Workshop was just a simple tutorial I found by that Jerry Jones guy (I think that was his name) Everything after his short tutorial just kinda came naturally.

[lordsmurf]

Hey Jeff, I'd like to use DVD Architect since I use Vegas and the two go hand in hand..

I don't know that "hand in hand" really matters all that much.

I like Premiere, I hate Encore.
I like DVDSP, I really don't much care for FCP.
Big fan of Ulead DVDWS2, not so big on the Ulead NLEs.
Canopus and MainConcept have great encoders, not so big on the NLE or authoring.
Don't really care for either Vegas or Architect.

In my eyes, it's better to pick whichever software does what you want, in the easiest way. And then you make them work together on your own.

[sdsumike619]

Well by hand in hand I meant stuff like automatically importing chapter points from the NLE (Vegas) to the authoring app, (DVDA) or Premiere to Encore, that kind of stuff.. There's probably more but I don't know.. My combo is Vegas and DVD Workshop 2... I read and heard good things about Encore and even watched some tutorial video on it, then found out my CPU wouldn't run it so that went out the window.

[Jeff_NJ]

sdsumike619,

I pretty much played around with it and can get it to do what I want, but I find it's not the most user friendly piece of software... to me at least. thats why I was thinking of Ulead for doing the menus. Id give it a try if I were you... see what you think. It might click for you.

Lordsmurf is right.. just go with what works for you.

Jeff

[sdsumike619]

Yeah that's how I felt too about DVDA. I thought it'd be as userfriendly as Vegas but I guess not... one of these days when I actually HAVE time to tinker with it I will..

[Jeff_NJ]

Yep, thats the thing with me... I'm trying to find templates that are pre made that I can use.. I just dont have the time or desire to spend all that time on a menu. Do you like Ulead DVD ws2?