DVD Burning Audio Problems w/ Slideshow Programs

[Mtnsummit]

I am still searching for a slideshow program that will give me everything I want - namely crisp pictures and multiple audio files attached that can blend together and end with the slideshow, and burn to DVD (The reason I recently purchased a Sony DRU-510A DVD burner). It seems like not to much to ask.

My question -

I have purchased 5 programs (I know, a glutten for punishment). Ulead Pictureshow 2.0, Magix Picture to CD/DVD, Sonic MyDVD, NeroVision 2.0, and Pinnacle Instant CD/DVD/Expression.

I cannot get the ULEAD Pictureshow 2.0 or the Magix Picture to CD/DVD to play the audio portion of my slideshow on my DVD Player (Toshiba 4800). I note my audio receiver (Harman/Kardon AVR 525) shows the audio as "MPEG" on its display when playing DVD's created by these 2 programs.

Yet, the other 3 programs (NeroVision, MyDVD, and Instant CD/DVD) can play audio tracks without problem when I create slideshows on those programs. I also note my receiver does not display the "MPEG" on the screen when playing these DVD's.

Can anyone give my clues as to why I cannot get the sound for those first 2 programs to work? Something to do with how the software processes MPEG?

For those of you interested in my search, I note the following problems with all the programs -

ULEAD Pictureshow 2.0 - No audio

Magix Picture to CD/DVD - No audio

NeroVision 2.0 - Great audio, but terrible flicker problem with pictures. Pictures are worst of bunch.

Instant CD/DVD - Problem with 2nd audio tracks played - the second track is very hard to hear - others have posted this problem on this software.

Sonic MyDVD - Audio is fine, but pictures have a sort of pop of the pixels when the picture is first displayed (about the first 1-2 seconds while picture is displayed), then picture is fine. These seems to be the best of the bunch so far for what I am after, but again, anoying. Their suppoert says my problems happens in about 2% of there cases, but does not solve my problem.

Little did I know getting a decent program to work on all cylinders would be so hard. Any help or comments appreciated.

[jdizzy40]

I can't give any suggestions to your sound issue with the programs you used. However, hands down "MemoriesOnTV" is one of the best programs I have ever bought or used for slides/video/music in one program. I learned it in less than 15 minutes. It has panning and zoom options as well a a ton of transition plug-ins. It accept AVI and MPEG videos files so and has a built in trim function. I think the trail which is fully functional is worth checking out (It does leave a watermark) the MPEG-2 Decoder is also available for trial download as well. Look to the left under new program/updates. This program after many others finally filled the bill! Good luck.

[Mtnsummit]

Thanks - I will give the Memories program a try and see what luck I have with that. Will post results here.

I assume the audio problems I have spoken about must relate to how the software encodes the audio to the DVD. I do not really want to go out and get another DVD player, as I spent what I feel is a good amount on the Toshiba 4800 I have. I have looked through all of the settings on the DVD player to see if I have something that may keep the audio from playing, but I cannot find anything.

[ZenZen]

Go Here http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/slideshowswpc/index.htm

That should put a smile on your face

[Lukebbb]

I have actually worked with all the slideshow softwares out there and it comes down to two really good ones. Momento and Proshow Gold. You can find Momento at www.momentodvd.com and the other at www.photodex.com If price is the deciding factor Momento is $49.99 and the other is $69.99. I like the final DVD output quality better of Momento than Proshow. Just my 2 cents.
Luke

[kisrum]

If by multiple audio files you mean more than one audio stream, I'm not sure Memories on TV can do that. I think it only has one audio track.

Otherwise, I've been impressed with Memories on TV, as long as you get the mpeg2 encoder. Whole package is probably $53.00. Menu choices are very limited and not very good, unless there's a trick I haven't learned. I usually take the resulting .vob file and send it to TDA for authoring, although I'd hate to see you buy that too. One of your other purchases would probably author it.

Proshow is pretty similar from what I remember but I had problems with Ken Burns effect. It has a free trial that leaves a watermark. Haven't tried Momento.

[clairew]

There is also PhotoDVD by VSO software, allows for mulitiple audio tracks as well as multiple tracks for subtitles (where you can enter in comments for each picture), simple soft with nice turn out.