ULEAD DVD WORKSHOP trimming query

[Ozzie7]

Using a trial download of Ulead DVD Workshop for the obvious reason that if it costs 300 bucks, I want to know all about it first.

The program SEEMS to have all the elements I need, but the documentation is sparse to say the least. Can anyone give me a blow by blow on how to trim a captured video? I get all the "mark in" "mark out" stuff.... but there's something I'm missing when I just want to delete a scene.

I thought I was pretty savvy with new software, but this one's driving me nuts.

Any help appreciated.

[Specialist]

Ulead DVD Workshop is an *authoring* application.

It is not intended to be a full-blown *editing* application.

As such, Ulead DVD Workshop features trimming tools that will allow for simple editing tasks such as removing video from the beginning or end of a given video clip.

The trimming tools also allow for splitting a clip at a specific point to create two clips.

But if you are attempting more complex edit decisions such as deleting a series of specific segments - i.e. COMMERCIALS - and then creating a single clip from the remaining segments - then I would recommend a video *editor* such as...

1. Ulead VideoStudio (consumer-level);

http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm

2. Ulead MediaStudio Pro (pro-level):

http://www.ulead.com/msp/runme.htm

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Craig Tucker]

Or virtualdub, excellent video capture and editing software, and FREE

[Ozzie7]

Thanks for the info. With an extra editing program, this whole package might be beyond my reach. Unfortunately.

I have a load of archive material I wish to commit to DVD, mostly from VHS, some from Laser.

Workshop would seem to have the 3 elements I need most: basic trimming, chapter placement, and custom file re-sizing. The only cheapie that comes close is Pinnacle Studio 8, but it's a very touchy program and crashes in menu construction. Fine if I want to burn a couple of hours without chapters, otherwise no workaround will do it for me.

Sonic MyDVD 5 has everything going for it but the file re-sizing... so a two hour project has to be split into two discs.

I'm somewhat astonished that a program as complex and expensive as Workshop has such minimal documentation. The program is not self-explanatory.

Anyone out there can suggest a program that allows trimming, chapter inclusion and custom encoding, I'd be glad of the advice.

[Ozzie7]

Just caught your note re virtualdub. Thanks. I'll give it a try.

[Specialist]

If you need help with Ulead DVD Workshop's operation, then you might consider some training materials that are available.

1. FREE Web tutorials:

http://www.ulead.com/learning/dws.htm

2. How To Use Ulead DVD Workshop (book):

http://www.ulead.com/partner/learntool/dwsbook/runme.htm

3. DVD Workshop training manual

http://www.ulead.com/store/special/courseware_dws/runme.htm

Also, based on the needs you've described, you may wish to consider the $99 Ulead VideoStudio 7.01:

http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm

VideoStudio 7.01 includes:

1. More extensive *editing* power;

2. A DVD authoring module with simple step-by-step functionality;

3. Custom encoding.

Hope this helps,

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Specialist]

By the way, it's probably worth mentioning that there is an editing feature in Ulead DVD Workshop that many overlook.

Unfortunately, it works only with DV .avi files and not MPEG files.

But to make a long story short, one can right-click on a clip in the library and then when the small pop-up menu appears, one can click on SPLIT BY SCENE.

A "SCENES" pop-up menu will appear.

This pop-up menu allows for scene detection and the splitting and joining of DV .avi clips.

The JOIN AND SPLIT options are described on page 34 of the PDF manual:

http://www.ulead.com/dws/documents.htm

I suspect this feature may be improved to include MPEG in the next product release, although I didn't see any confirmation in the PDF document that describes version 2.0 of DVD Workshop:

http://www.ulead.com/dws/dws2/DVD_Workshop_FB.pdf

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Ozzie7]

Thanks for the helpful info. I'll take a look at Video Studio

[donpedro]

I like PInnacle Studio version 8 and Ulead Video Studio 7 is nice tool too. Some time ago I wrote post with comparation between those two.