Transitioning to DVD Architect

[Bobby]

OK - next question, and this one is quite a bit more elaborate.

I do mostly the same kind of project. Perhaps in the future I may branch out, but I am still not done yet DVDing all the old family tapes.

Some of my tapes are fullscreen, some are widescreen.

I generally develop each chapter (scene) as a separate PRE project and keep the screen size as-is.

I then have an Assembly project that puts it all together. In the Assembly I usually put the chapters on Track 2 and put a widescreen background on Track 1 if there is any fullscreen content - the Assembly is always widescreen.

I then create titles, etc. on the timeline, set up the scene markers, and finally do the menu.

Would it be better to do the assembly in PRE, output it as a temporary AVI and then bring that into Architect and setup the markers manually, or do it in Architect? Should I create the titles for each chapter in the chapter project or do it in Architect? Should I put the widesceen output in each chapter rather than all at once at the end? Etc. Etc.

Any advice on the "best" way to accomplish my task would be appreciated!

[Bill Hunt]

I do not know if this will help, as I use Premiere Pro and Encore for my Projects, but here is how I approach almost every Project:

I edit in separate Sequences (think of these as individual PE Projects), for each "chapter." This is how I think. I Export each Sequence as an elemental stream, i.e. DV-AVI (Video only) and AC3 (Dolby Digital 5.1 SS Audio only). These are then Imported into Encore, with the Video as a Timeline, and the Audio as an Asset, which is combined with the respective Video, already on its Timeline. I then create my Menus and Link my "scene selection" Buttons to my respective Timelines. If I need a "play all," I create a Playlist. If I need alternate versions, I create separate Playlists to accomplish what I need. I never use Chapter Playlists, or even Chapter Markers.

If I also do a DTS Audio Track (selectable from a Menu), I add these to the Timelines as Audio Track 2.

I do not know how this would translate to DVD Architect, but thought I'd share it, in case it does. Since Encore is no longer available as a stand-alone program, I will be monitoring your thread closely, so I can learn about DVD Architect, to recommend it to others.

Good luck,

Hunt

[Bobby]

Thanks Hunt. My core questions really are where/how to put in the widescreen background when necessary and where/when to add titles.

I did a test Architect project and it is really coming along pretty well. Also important to me is that the font problems I was having with PRE menus don't seem to be a problem at all with Architect - solving one of my major problems.

[Bill Hunt]

Bobby,

I wish that I could help with the mixed aspect ratio Assets in DVDA, but I do not mix 4:3 & 16:9, and also do not know DVDA. I'm reading your posts primarily to learn, as this seems to be a great program, if one did not have Encore.

Hey, at least your Menus are looking great now! I still puzzle over that one, but a solution is a solution, eh?

Good luck, and keep the posts coming. Interesting questions and answers.

Hunt

[Chuck Engels]

Bobby, If DVD Architect is anything like Encore then you will have to add your titles and backgrounds in Premiere Elements.
Encore does not do titles or backgrounds, it does not add to the video content in that manner. My guess is that you will need to finish your project in Premiere Elements including all required elements, backgrounds and titles included, and then export your finished project to be authored in DVD Architect. That's just a guess but I would think Steve would know for sure.

[Steve Grisetti]

I definitely agree that you should finish your video in Premiere Elements before you take it into DVD Architect.

DVDA has very limited editing facilities. If you add a title, that title remains on screen for the entirety of a slide or video clip. Which is probably not what you want.