Menu Programming, the "Professional" way?

[PC_Michael]

This question may seem a bit silly, but how do the "professionals" make DVD menus? I assume the program / script the menus instead of relying on software to create the menus?

I don't usually like the menu creation software I find, so I'd like to be able to make my own from scratch. I do a lot of programming so I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty with a little bit of code. Can anyone point me in the right direction to get started with this?

Thank you very much.

[g_shocker182]

I've heard some camera crews (news) use Vegas. Maybe DVD Maestro or Sonic Scene Scnerist.

Look here:

https://www.videohelp.com/tools#DVDAuthor

[andkiich]

They also use Photoshop a lot to make the background images.

[FOO]

DVD Menu Studio has possibilities. Same people that did DVDLab

[DivXExpert]

Most use a combination of Photoshop, Premeire, After Effects, and scenes from the film to make menus. And a good eye.

[Vejita-sama]

People keep asking this question but fail to understand how the DVD file structure works. First, DVDs use a file structure NOT a file format. The menus are nothing more than regular m2v video (+ audio) with a subpicture to define the buttons.

So to make a 'professional menu' you just do what you would do to produce any professional video clip. Adobe premiere and photoshop are the best tools for this IMHO.

The next step is authoring the DVD. A good authoring program DOES NOT make a menu for you. It's just imports the pre-made pieces (m2v, ac3, subpicture) and you define the actions for the subpicture/menu buttons.

Personally I like DVD Maestro, but it appears that Adobe Encore can do everything Maestro can do (but only accpets full D1 video?). At anyrate this is where you set the easter eggs, hidden features, cool transitions, etc.

What I do is make a make 3 MPEG files. A, B and C.

A is the main menu
C is a sub menu
B is a transition clip that has part of A and transitions to C.

You see the main menu, and select the sub-menu. But what really happens is you selected the transition clip B, which then plays sub-menu C.

You get the basic idea. Go to DVD Menu Studios main site (same as DVD Lab) and read their online help guide. The first few pages cover this stuff in pretty good detail.

[maa]

IfoEdit DVDLab

Hi PC_Michael,
If I've understood you correctly you are interested in the actual programming of the DVD menus and not the artistic creation?
The top of the authoring tools is probably still Scenarist but thats around $20000.-

I fell in love with DVDLab because it allows really cool menu creation.
The commands however are writen in to the program so if you want to change the behaviour you need to edit afterwards with IfoEdit.
Steep learning curve as there is no documentation around. You could look over my guides to see if you realy want to learn the programming.
Making a multiple VTS with IfoEdit for a Menu produced with DVDLab
Guide to a Multiple Audio Menu with DVDLab and IfoEdit
Play All Guide for DVDLab
Guide to adding a shortened "Shrunk" film back into the original DVD structure.

[PC_Michael]

Ah, thanks for the replies.

You all have helped me a great deal. Does anyone know where I can download DVD Maestro since it isn't sold anymore? Lately I've been using Pinnacle Studio 8 to make the DVD menus but it's very, eh, unstable. And not very full-featured.

[housepig]

Does anyone know where I can download DVD Maestro since it isn't sold anymore?

keep an eye on eBay, you can find copies there from time to time. be prepared to spend between $3,000-6,000.

[BJ_M]

IfoEdit DVDLab

Steep learning curve as there is no documentation around. (re: scenarist)

it comes with pretty good documentation and even training if you wish .. what do you mean no documentation ?

[maa]

Please read my post again, especially

so if you want to change the behaviour you need to edit afterwards with IfoEdit.
Steep learning curve as there is no documentation around.

[Sosai X]

I make my menus as simple as possible. How much time do you really spend looking at them anywayz?

[rallynavvie]

I dunno, I just got finished making some simple motion menus in AfterEffects and they look pretty nice. All I did was import some stills I shot and use the basic effects (position, zoom, rotation, opacity) and blur to fit them all together. It's for my test DVDs that I give out to customers to try on their home DVD players to make sure different authoring/burning methods work but I also wanted them to see what spending the extra cash for advanced menus looks like. My new favorite program though: AfterEffects. Man does that make motion menus a breeze

[PC_Michael]

Does anyone know where I can download DVD Maestro since it isn't sold anymore?

keep an eye on eBay, you can find copies there from time to time. be prepared to spend between $3,000-6,000.

Oy. Really? Isn't there some kind of... "free-ish" way? Since it's not sold anymore, it wouldn't be illegal to post it on the internet, would it? Has anyone done that yet?

[adam]

Yes it would be illegal. Just because they stopped manufacturing and selling it doesn't mean they have lost their copyright.

[BJ_M]

apple owns the copyright --

[PC_Michael]

Oooh. What about Scenarist? Do they still sell that?

[BJ_M]

Oooh. What about Scenarist? Do they still sell that?

yes for sure ..

http://www.sonic.com/products/scenarist/default.asp

[PC_Michael]

Thank you very much everyone for helping a DVD newbie. All I need is lots of money for Scenarist and I'll be all set!

[rallynavvie]

You can get the whole Adobe video collection for $800 now and that comes with Encore for DVD authoring (which I'm giving mixed reviews of). The collection comes with Encore, Premiere Pro, AfterEffects standard, and Audition (Adobe-reworked CoolEdit Pro). I did some pretty gorgeous menus with AE and Encore so that's certainly a cheaper way to do it that purchasing Scenarist. Remember, the authoring application only applies the menu to the DVD structure, it doesn't help you make a cool-looking menu. Photoshop is also VERY helpful when creating still menus and buttons.

[maa]

Things always get cheaper:

• Paint Shop Pro
  VideoDeLuxe (Movie Edit Pro) www.magix.com
  DVD Lab

all for under $250