Maestro or Scenarist?

[ackovski]

Id like to hear the opinion of the people that have tried both, Maestro and Scenarist... what do you think is better?
I need it for menus and subtitles.
I tried Maestro, works perfect... i just got Scenarist and it seems a lil bit complicated for the things i want to do...

[SaSi]

If maestro works for you, stick to it. Scenarist is a good program with lousy user interface and an impossible manual.

[damnim]

Maestro is easier to use and doesn't have the steep learning curve that Scenarist has.

However with the creation of DVD Menu Studio http://www.mediachance.com/ Scenarist's steep learning curve associated with menus becomes as easy as using a graphics program.

I've tried their evaluation and believe that Mediachance has created the best approach for menu building since the dawn of the DVD age. You create the menu and export the creation to your authoring program. I tried it with Scenarist and was really impressed. I also tried it with Maestro and was impressed. Anyone wanting to build menu's for DVD this really is the way to go. Saves hours, and is more flexible and creative.

So with this in mind, Scenarist is better if you want to do a high end DVD, for simplicity and ease of use Maestro.

[BJ_M]

DVD Menu Studio is a great program and i bought it ...

recomended 100%

[stk]

BJ_M

do you know how can i import multiple menus to Scenarist?

'cause in the help file i found two way...
Scenarist Script and Still Menu and Subpicture BMP's

but with Scenarist Script i can only import one menu...
Scenarist parse the script and create the scenario...

i dont know how to add another menu... (for scene selection for example)

any ideas?

thanks!

[adam]

So as not to highjack the thread I will say that Scenarist really is extremely simple and intuitive for basic authoring needs. It looks daunting but the scenario editor is just perfect in its simplicity. It reminds me of Video Pack 4, just learn the heirarchy (title, pgc, program etc..) and the rules governing the levels and you can do just about anything in a matter of a few minutes. In fact, ignore the rules cause if you do something illegal Scenarist will just tell you. Now for more complex things then yes Scenarist is extremely complex but it really has to be. There's just no way to do multiple bitwise compares without punching some numbers. For the average user though, you really don't need any commands which can't be set through drag and drop on the scenario editor.

Now to do some highjacking. I want to know more about DVD Menu Studio. What is so great about it? Is it basically a stripped down Photoshop which integrates directly with the dvd authorer? What can I do in it that I can't do in Photoshop, or is it just a matter of simplifying the process? Of course I'll do some researching but I'd like to hear from some of the people who use it. BJ_M?

stk: If you read the whole manual, (I know its not the best but it does cover the basics well) then you should have no problem figuring out how to at least import assets. You simply drag and drop them into the data folder and then into the track folder. (or to be faster just drop directly to track folder.) Then you build the tracks by adding audio, subs, and chapters. Finally drag and drop them where they need to go on the scenario editor. Importing scripts is for importing a a preauthored project.

[stk]

adam


first of all
well i dont know if i should say thanks or what...
mmm thanks...

but..


In Scenarist i know how to import assets and everything..
in my previous post i was refering to dvd menu studio help file...

i was trying dvd menu studio because its more simple than doing all that in photoshop, then in Scenarist setting the color mapping and everything...

and my question was how to add another menu (previously made in dvd menu studio) by importing only the script (not importing the bmps, and then do the auto-routing and color mapping in Scenarist)

i know now that it cant be done...

I write to the support team of dvd menu studio and they tell me this:


---
From: Oscar <oscar@mediachance.com>
Subject: Re: dvd menu studio help


Hi, unfortunately all other menus has to be imported manually in scenarist by importing the background bitmap and subpicture.
I will try to find better solution.
R.V.
---

and regarding what you ask, yes basically its for simplifying the process of dvd menus...

i you have photoshop, a good authoring program, and know everything about menus, sublayers, color mapping then you dont need it..



cheers

-StK

[videsiboy]

Is there any good guide for DVD Menu Studio?
I went through help files, but not so good.

[stk]

i find the help file very aceptable...
but you can try in the mediachance forum

http://www.mediachance.com/forum.htm

[adam]

Well stk you said Scenarist 4 times and didn't mention DVD Menu Studio at all, and as I suspected and you just confirmed DVD Menu Studio is for creating assets not authoring them, so I just assumed you were talking about Scenarist. Anyway, same answer. Just drag and drop.

[stk]