I'm a newbie to authoring, so is this possible...

[alirio]

I'm new to authoring a complex svcd with a menu and all, so this is basically my first try at it. So here's my issue I got 2 seperate svcd files about 20 mins each and what I want to do is basically burn both files with 2 animated clips one for each file in a simple menu.

Now this is where I'm stuck, I been searching thru the "How to Guides" here on this site and I can't seem to find one that would help me. Here are my questions...

1. Is there a program as easy as just droping both svcd files, both animated clips, and selecting the background image and just hit "Start" to do all the work?

2. Do I have to join both mpg files first to even consider the menu system?

3. And I'm assuming I would need to burn the final file as a bin/cue file right?


I'm not wanting any chapters or anything like that, I just want a simple menu with 2 clips so I can select what video file I want to play. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time...

[Grimey]

1. You can use VCDeasy to make menues for svcds. however i'm not sure if you can do animated clips, but you might.
2. you don't have to join the clips.
3. you can output the file as an image if you like, or you can also burn straight to the disc.

[xinjingqiao]

I think the new version of Ulead will do this also. It is not a bad choice for a beginning but is limited as to what you can fix..but it may give you more confidence the first few times around.

[alirio]

thanks for the replies, I'll definitely look into that...

[Supreme2k]

I don't think that the SVCD spec allows animated menus of any kind.

You can use Nero for making menus and burning SVCDs. No bin/cue combo needed.

[alirio]

you know I was just talking to someone else in regards to this and they mentioned the same thing about SVCDs not allowing any animated menus. So what you saying is that I can use Nero (which I have installed) load up both mpg files and still creat a generic menu thru Nero? I've never done that, so I want to make sure I understand...I can't seem to find a walk-thru page here at vcdhelp and was wondering if you knew where I can find such info...thanks in advance!

[Supreme2k]

Use the wizard in Nero, choose SVCD, click on the Menu tab and enable menus, drop your files into the window, go to File-->Compilation Properties, choose the Menu tab again and set up your menu.

It's almost a non-guide issue, it's so simple. I was amazed the first time someone clued me in to this feature.

[alirio]

ok thanks for the tips Supreme, will try it out when I get home tonight. Will let ya know my results, thanks again dude.

[adam]

VCDs and SVDs both allow still and animated menus, including menu's with audio. I wrote a guide on the process but it uses a DVD as a source. If you are using your own assets just skip to the editing of the menus and the authoring using VCDEasy.

https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?guideid=282&howtoselect=6;32#282

Like I've always said, almost anything that can be done on a DVD can at least be simulated on a VCD or SVCD. That includes buttons that work like real hotspot overlay graphics. You've just got to be creative.

[alirio]

sweet link Adam, thanks man...I'm bookmarking your link as we speak. I appreciate your info...I have one last question and maybe you can answer it for me. I'm already thinking the answer is gonna be a "No", but here goes...

I have my main mpeg2 vid files and I have an mpeg1 intro video file (13secs), I can't mix both right? And if I convert the mpeg1 to mpeg2 I'm gonna lose quality...any suggestions?

[adam]

Sorry, the answer is no you can't use mpeg1 in a SVCD and yes you will lose quality by converting to mpeg2.

You could turn off compliancy in VCDEasy and I believe it may still author the disk, and it may still play on any given dvd player that supports SVCDs...but no guarantees.