[roxionewbe]

I am considering purchasing this software. Before I do, I want a few questions answered. Is it possible to upload both video and photos to the same slide show? I want to do a montage of video and photos for my sister in law's wedding gift. I have been considering paying someone to do it (which will be 300+) or buying this software. Any suggestions or insight?

[Larry]

roxionewbe, on Oct 6 2006, 04:40 PM, said:

I am considering purchasing this software. Before I do, I want a few questions answered. Is it possible to upload both video and photos to the same slide show? I want to do a montage of video and photos for my sister in law's wedding gift. I have been considering paying someone to do it (which will be 300+) or buying this software. Any suggestions or insight?

Yes you can use both videos and photos when creating productions for a dvd.

[nellw]

Larry, on Oct 6 2006, 02:46 PM, said:

Yes you can use both videos and photos when creating productions for a dvd.

I had the same question with a few others.

*Can you make a photo/video VCD to be played on DVD player? (I don't have a DVD burner and cannot afford one right now - and will have to spend on upgrade of RAM and possibly a new video card)
*Does the program allow for narration?
*I would also like to put in a blank title screen in between photos and videos of presentation. Is this possible?

Or should I be asking about MyDVD 8 Premier?

I'd also like to test drive the software but I guess this isn't an option.

Thank you.

AMD Athlon™ XP 2400+ Speed: 1987 MHz
512 MB RAM
S3 Graphics ProSavageDDR 32 MB

[sknis]

nellw, on Oct 10 2006, 11:13 PM, said:

I had the same question with a few others.
*Can you make a photo/video VCD to be played on DVD player? (I don't have a DVD burner and cannot afford one right now - and will have to spend on upgrade of RAM and possibly a new video card)
*Does the program allow for narration?
*I would also like to put in a blank title screen in between photos and videos of presentation. Is this possible?
Or should I be asking about MyDVD 8 Premier?
I'd also like to test drive the software but I guess this isn't an option.
Thank you.
AMD Athlon™ XP 2400+ Speed: 1987 MHz
512 MB RAM
S3 Graphics ProSavageDDR 32 MB

Yes a VCD will play on SOME players but not all. Check the owners manual. Yes, the program allows for narration in VideoWave. Yes, you can add titles on color panels placed anywhere on your production. You should not consider the stand alone MyDVD.

Based on your computer specs, especially your graphics adapter, I would suggest that you look around for a copy of Roxio EMC 7 or 7.5. You should be able to buy it cheap. Google for it but buy it from a reputable person/dealer. It will do everything you asked about. Do not expect V8 or V9 to work with that card without problems. This is my humble opinion only.

[d_deweywright]

sknis, on Oct 11 2006, 12:28 AM, said:

Yes a VCD will play on SOME players but not all. Check the owners manual.

The reason is that many newer DVD players no longer support VCDs. So, you can't depend on the VCD format to be playable in all drives. If you need to create a disc playable in a DVD player, you'll really need to get a DVD burner.

[malatekid]

PS: Some countries, like in Asia, are still on VCD (majority of them), and DVD is only a small fraction (and more expensive). Hence the choice of VCD when burning videos.

[nellw]

Thanks for the replies and advice.

I've seen the reviews for the EMC 7 and 7.5 and they weren't that good, but thanks for the option.

I knew I would have to upgrade the video card at the very least....but I guess I would have to buy the DVD burner too.

It makes me want to chuck my 2 year old computer and save up my duckets for an Apple iMac with iLife and be done with it!

[sknis]

nellw, on Oct 11 2006, 03:06 AM, said:

Thanks for the replies and advice.

I've seen the reviews for the EMC 7 and 7.5 and they weren't that good, but thanks for the option.

I knew I would have to upgrade the video card at the very least....but I guess I would have to buy the DVD burner too.

It makes me want to chuck my 2 year old computer and save up my duckets for an Apple iMac with iLife and be done with it!

Then you could by "Toast"

Two years old - laptop? If not, video Card $60 plus 15 minutes of work; internal burner under $50 and 15 minutes of work. External burner $100 no work (plug into USB port.) A lot cheaper than a new computer.

[d_deweywright]

malatekid, on Oct 11 2006, 01:41 AM, said:

PS: Some countries, like in Asia, are still on VCD (majority of them), and DVD is only a small fraction (and more expensive). Hence the choice of VCD when burning videos.

I'll grant that point. But we don't know where the poster is from, or planning to use the VCDs. In the U.S., (North America?) fewer and fewer DVD players support the VCD format.

[nellw]

d_deweywright, on Oct 11 2006, 02:54 AM, said:

I'll grant that point. But we don't know where the poster is from, or planning to use the VCDs. In the U.S., (North America?) fewer and fewer DVD players support the VCD format.

I'm from the U.S.

I have several cheap old folks in the family who have old computers with no DVD and no stand alone DVD players.

[nellw]

sknis, on Oct 11 2006, 02:08 AM, said:

Then you could by "Toast"

Two years old - laptop? If not, video Card $60 plus 15 minutes of work; internal burner under $50 and 15 minutes of work. External burner $100 no work (plug into USB port.) A lot cheaper than a new computer.

$60 for card? Really? I was told I couldn't get away with no less than $150 for a decent one with good memory - 512MB for a desktop.

I figured with all the upgrades it would cost me about $400. More memory, card, burner, and software. Still cheaper than a new computer yes..

Ah well, such is computer life.

Thanks again for all the advice.

[d_deweywright]

nellw, on Oct 10 2006, 09:40 PM, said:

I'm from the U.S.

I have several cheap old folks in the family who have old computers with no DVD and no stand alone DVD players.

Okay... I can offer one more option too then. You could output the entire project to a .MPG or .WMV file. Then they can use Windows Media Player to watch the production on their computer. It doesn't have to be an actual VCD at that point.

Just another option.

[nellw]

d_deweywright, on Oct 10 2006, 08:06 PM, said:

Okay... I can offer one more option too then. You could output the entire project to a .MPG or .WMV file. Then they can use Windows Media Player to watch the production on their computer. It doesn't have to be an actual VCD at that point.

Just another option.

Thanks d_deweywright, this is for a reunion and I'm going to be selling cd's to raise funds. This might be a good option for another project I was considering working on. Thanks.

[sknis]

nellw, on Oct 10 2006, 09:05 PM, said:

$60 for card? Really? I was told I couldn't get away with no less than $150 for a decent one with good memory - 512MB for a desktop.
I figured with all the upgrades it would cost me about $400. More memory, card, burner, and software. Still cheaper than a new computer yes..

Unless you are doing something special, you don't need a 512 Mb card. 256 is enough. Here is one example. Pretty close to $60 including shipping.

Whole bunch of Internal DVD burners for less than $50.

512 Ram is enough but you could add more. What you need depends on your system but another 512 stick is around $50-60.

Software? Can't add that cost into the price of upgrading your computer.

I saved you about $230 off that $400. You can spend some of that to get a reasonable sound card. and perhaps some better speakers (you are on your own for that).

If your computer is only two years old, you already have XP.

Good luck; let us know what you decide. BTW, I just referenced this online store for convenience; there are many others and local stores often have loss leader sales where you can get things on sale.

[nellw]

sknis, on Oct 11 2006, 03:12 PM, said:

Unless you are doing something special, you don't need a 512 Mb card. 256 is enough. Here is one example. Pretty close to $60 including shipping.

Whole bunch of Internal DVD burners for less than $50.

512 Ram is enough but you could add more. What you need depends on your system but another 512 stick is around $50-60.

Software? Can't add that cost into the price of upgrading your computer.

I saved you about $230 off that $400. You can spend some of that to get a reasonable sound card. and perhaps some better speakers (you are on your own for that).

If your computer is only two years old, you already have XP.

Good luck; let us know what you decide. BTW, I just referenced this online store for convenience; there are many others and local stores often have loss leader sales where you can get things on sale.

Thanks sknis,

I just want to make sure I don't have to upgrade again in another 2 years should I decide to really go further into video editing.

Another question and a little off topic. Why is there still no standard for DVDRW or DVDR + or -? I know there are drives that handle both, but it makes it so confusing to the average consumer!

[d_deweywright]

nellw, on Oct 12 2006, 11:32 AM, said:

Thanks sknis,

I just want to make sure I don't have to upgrade again in another 2 years should I decide to really go further into video editing.

Another question and a little off topic. Why is there still no standard for DVDRW or DVDR + or -? I know there are drives that handle both, but it makes it so confusing to the average consumer!

In another two years, even if you bought a new machine now, you still may be considering upgrading if you're going to go further into video editing. Just one of those maxims... Programs increase in complexity and required CPU power to exceed what's currently available.

This post has been edited by d_deweywright: 12 October 2006 - 10:41 AM