How to update/modify windvd creator

[dazza555]

I've been a user of Intervideo Windvd creator for some time now but recently I've wanted to be a bit more creative with my dvd menus.

Windvd creator comes with many menu buttons for you to use but I'm not to keen on any of them. So I was wondering if there is a way for me to be able to make some new buttons using another program and insert them into Windvd or if I could use another program to create the menu altogether (I'd like to stick to freeware, but I have got Macromedia flashMX 2004 if that helps). I'm also not to keen on the frames for the chapter thumbnails so I'd like to be able to make my own ones of them too.

Also I've read that when outputting the final file from windvd creator you can choose settings such as VCD, SVCD, DVD on CD, DVD on CD HQ, VR, DVD (2hours) and DVD (1 hour). However I can only choose DVD 1 and 2 hours. Is this because I have a dodge version that came bundled with my computer or is it because I need an update or something?

I also found this pic

Anywho, my major concern is with the menus so any help or if you can point me in the right dirrection to find help I'll be very greatful to you. Also my version of Windvd creator is: Version 2.0B014.308C33

[mats.hogberg]

No. Get a better authoring app, like DVD-Lab.
Don't know why you can't choose anything but DVD (1 & 2 hrs mode) but maybe you have a blank DVD inserted? Also, why would you like to do anything besides DVD if you can? VCD and SVCD are just lower quality predecessors of the DVD format.

/Mats

[dazza555]

OK I've decided to get some new software. Could anyone give me some suggestions? I'd like it to be able to do all or most of these:

-It must be able to do your basic snipping of clips
-Be able to support a variety of formats
-Must support menus
-Have customisable buttons or let you create your own
-Allow you to have a special features menu
-Allow you to have a scene selections menu
(Basically allow you to build a menu similar to one you would find on a big name dvd movie.)

PS:I've tried dvd lab and it's ok, but I'm looking for something that doesn't require me to have my clips in mpeg format and I'd like to have similar style of control as windvd creator has over the trimming of clips, adding transition effects, audio in menus and audio in movie.

Another thing, I'm not to concerned about cost anything under $1000 is fine, if it's over I'll still have a look at it and consider it.

[mats.hogberg]

Why an allinone, when you'll be better off with specialized apps?
Ah, well, take a look at the Ulead lineup - seems like Ulead Media Studio would fit your bill...
/Mats

[slacker]

Intervideo quite possibly will abandon WinDVD Creator. They are a majority shareholder of Ulead so we will probably see a program merger, shake out, and re-integration at some point.

No offense, but the Ulead lineup is trash. I own the new Media Studio Pro v8 and I'll take Vegas 6.0 any day over that baby. You want it? I'll mail it to you if you will pay shipping. Never been registered.

I pushed my first video button with WinDVD Creator several years ago. At that level, IMO Sony Movie Studio Platinum and Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 are your best bets for learning curve, speed, performance, features, etc. Extremely affordable @ $100+/-.

Why pay $1000 if you don't have to? But if you must, Sony Vegas+DVD Architect retails for around $700+/- and is right up there with Final Cut Pro Studio (MAC). Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 is too non-intuitive for me personally, and you really need to buy the entire studio for it to be productive for you which retails for $1700.

[dazza555]

Well I've had a look at a few other tools, it's hard to make a decsion without trying the tool but most of the trials are 100mb+. It seems best to just settle for DVD-lab at this point, since it's only missing a few things, rather than spend a fortune on something with a whole bunch of useless extras. I seem to find a few softwares that look like they'll do the job but the makers leave out the info on the product I want and it can be hard to track down.

Is there a way to make DVD-lab less selective about the types of audio and video used? It kinda bugs me everytime I go to import some video and nothing happens or it says the audio is 44.1KHz. It does transcode the audio to 48KHz, but I had two pieces of video that kept making the thing crash, it was the audio part that did it. Is there some kind of plugin that will let me just drop the video into the library and let the program encode it to the right settings?

I've tried the suggested TMPGEnc DVD source creator but this too is a bit selective, it wont do .mov files. I also wanted to know if there was a way for me to make the movie without having the size of the video changed. DVD source creator always makes it to a certain aspect ratio and I can't seem to find a custom setting or I might have gone blind when I had a look. It seems there just isn't an all-in-one tool out there to do what I want .