2nd Audio Track for iDVD Video?

[Absinthe]

I have completed a home movie reel in iDVD 4.01.

Is it possible to add a second audio track for the duration of the 45 minute video? Specifically, I'd like the option to a) listen to the actual recorded sound of our home movies AND b) switch over to an instrumental music track on demand and not listen to the original sound. This way it will play more like a silent movie with accompannying music...

So, the question is:

Can I do this with my existing iDVD file?

Can I go back to the original iMovie files and do it there?

Or, Is there third party software, that will allow me to do this (again, ideally using my already 'produced' video.) I've heard of Sizzle, but I'm not clear how to use it with my existing video...

Thx in advance,
Jeff (a newbie dvd home video maker)

[macwal]

There is a 'how-to' article in the current issue of MacAddict that provides info on how to add a second audio track or 'directors commentary track' to your iMovie project.

Not sure what you can do if you only have the iDVD file (but then wouldn't you need to have the iMovie project still intact???).

I don't have the magazine in front of me, but I can post the solution later if that wouldn't be breaking any forum rules. Or you can just go buy the latest issue of MacAddict.

[terryj]

here is essentially the same as the MacAddict Article:
http://www.macworld.com/2001/03/bc/05howtoimovie_l4/

And yes, you still have to have the iMovie assets until
you get to stage 4 of iDVD's build option,
otherwise, there'll be nothing to multiplex
and set up in the Video TS folders....

[Manny C]

terryj:

The info at that link has nothing to do with the question he's asking. He wants to know how to create a DVD with 2 different audio tracks that the viewer can choose from (kind of how you can choose different language tracks on a movie).

Personally, I too would love to know how do this.

[Absinthe]

I took a look at MacAddict's website, but don't see the article referred to by macwal listed... http://www.macaddict.com/magazine/
unless it's perhaps included in the "33 Things You Didn't Know Your Mac Could Do" feature. I'd go buy the magazine if I thought it would explain how to do what I want to do!

And yes, I do still have the iMovie project still intact. I suspect I'll have to do a little more editing if/when I add a secondary audio track.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this topic so far!

J

[Manny C]

I'm gonna stop at Barnes & Noble later tonight and check out the magazine (I stopped subscribing when MacAddict went from a real magazine, to a brochure)

[OmegaSupreme]

iDVD does not support multiple audio tracks. DVD Studio Pro can author multiple soundtracks, if you wish to upgrade. If your movie is short, you could include two versions on the DVD with different soundtracks as a work around.

[terryj]

Manny,
since I didn't have the magazine in front of me, I stand corrected.
Here is the play by play then:

1. Import your iMovie project into iDVD4.
To do so, go to File-->Share in iMovie,
and select iDVD.
Then in the Finder, make a copy of your iMovie Project,
and open the duplicate in iMovie.

2. With your built in microphone set to record audio,
( go to system Preferences--> Sound-->Input)
Click iMovie's Audio button, and a built in mic recorder appears.
Make sure you mac is receiving input by noticing if the audio bar
is moving.

3. Place iMovie's playhead at whatever point in your movie you
want to start your commentary. Click the record button, iMovie will
record your audio commentary to a second track.The video may
have a stutter frame rate, but the audio is recording smoothly.

4. Click iMovie's record button to stop recording when done.
You can edit the audio in the second track as you wish,
cutting out bad parts, moving parts around, etc. If you are satisfied
with it, then go File-->Share, click the Quicktime button, and choose
Full Quality DV.

5. Open the iDVD project, and import your commentary by selecting
File-->import Video.
You now have two versions of your project, one with
commentary, one without. so in iDVD, you would have a menu button
assigned to video track 1 with no commentary, and video track 2
with commentary.

Save yourself some dough.
The rest of the mag isn't worth it IMHO.

[Manny C]

Ok, no offense but what you're suggesting is basically just a "smoke and mirrors" approach to creating a DVD with two different versions of the movie. That's not quite the same as creating ONE movie with a choice of two different sound tracks. Using the method you described would require iDVD to render (multiplex) two different movies, rather than one. This would mean that the movie (each version of it) would be limited to one hour in length, since iDVD has a limit of two hours.

Rather than put two different copies (with different soundtracks) of a one hour movie on a DVD, I would prefer to have a single 90 minute movie with two different soundtracks to choose from, with those soundtracks being selectable from the language button on the DVD player's remote (just like a commercial DVD).

Just to give you some insight as to what I am working on...

I have about 2 hours of party footage from a nightclub. I'm trying to put it all together in sort of a "music video" style. I am going to set the entire project to a dj-mixed music track (not using any of the original audio from the clips). I want to have two different music tracks for the project so the viewer can choose which music style he prefers to accompany the video.

I guess I'm going to need more than iMovie and iDVD to accomplish that.

[deadsierra]

iMovie and DVDSP should be able to accomplish that. Don't think theres another way to get exactly what you want. Your idea is good though, if you can get the second track to line up nicely with the people.

[cbkilner]

With DVD SP3 just released, you might be able to get a copy of DVD SP2 for cheap. Also, students can get DVD SP3 for $250.

[live4ever]

The new version of ffmpegX (0.0.9f) supports 2 audio tracks, but I haven't tried it out yet.

[terryj]

Manny,
sheesh! I just posted the contents of the Magazine article!
I personally would rather do the builds in FCP and DVDSP2.
Its much cleaner, and yes, would only mux one stream instead of two.

yeesh!
:P

[Manny C]

I have access to Final Cut Express 2 and DVD Studio Pro 2, but I have never used either one. Can anyone provide some detailed information on how to accomplish what we're talking about here, using these two tools?

Thanks in advance