I've got a set of "Basic Training" tutorials on http://Muvipix.com that may help you get started. (I've also got a book on DVD Architect Studio on sale on Amazon.com.)

Just go to Muvipix.com and type "DVD Architect" in the product search box.

In case you haven't picked this up yet, you should render the audio and video into separate files with the same filename stem and of course different extensions, into the same folder, If you import say the video into DVDA, the audio will follow automatically. The DVDA manual lists what coding types are compliant such that that they will not be re-encoded.

I am having trouble following the tutorial in the package and believe I may have to break the project down into the separate chapters before exporting from Vegas, and then treat them as individual sections for the menu in Architect.

Quite the opposite, actually. You're best off rendering a video as one complete file (rather, as the others say, one video file and one audio file) rather than as individual files for each chapter. If you render the chapters individuallly, you'll just have to stitch them back together in DVD Architect (there are a few ways to do this, but I won't go into that since it's not the preferred way to go).

Render your video as the others have stated and then add chapter markers to its timeline in DVD Architect. Alternatively, add markers in Vegas before you render and be sure that the option to include markers is checked when you render.

Where did you read that you should render chapters separately?

Rob

B Stro....Thats a bad way of making a DVD. The preferred way is to stich it together. If you have problems with a section or your client wants changes all you have to do is reedit and render that part out. If you create a 2 hour HD video. We all knows this may take up to 8 -11 hours render. Thats if you add 3 D animation,color correction and blur effects. We render out separately so as setup chapters..

One file with chapter markers or individual files for each chapter?

Both work and both have their advantages. And both are correct.

In ten years I've never had a client who wanted one chapter changed, so I always go with one file with chapter markers.

The preferred way is to stich it together.

Prefered by whom? It may make changes easier for you, but stitching separate videos together in DVD Archtitect will almost always result in the DVD player pausing slightly between "chapters" because it has to move the laser from one VOB to another. Jarring to the viewer unless all of your chapter markers are at still images or blank screens.

In addition, using separate files to simulate real chapters will result in the chapter skip buttons behaving unreliably, as demonstrated by dozens of posts on this forum. Many DVD players will jump around between random VOBs, while some others will exit the movie and return to the parent menu. Or worse, quit playback entirely.

Personally, I "prefer" to deliver a smoothly playing product rather than save myself some time in those rare instance that, as Steve mentions, requested changes obey any chapter "boundaries." If your clients often ask for changes after you've produced a disc, it may be a good idea for you to start printing out an SD version as a proof first. When you're confident there won't be any more editing changes, then produce an HD version. In fact, if they're still asking for editing changes, why are you even producing an authored DVD yet? Get the video complete, then move on to the authoring stage.

If you have to stitch together separate videos, I would recommend doing so outside of DVD Architect so that you have a complete file for it. There are excellent programs out there, Womble MPEG Video Wizard and Video ReDo for example, that will join MPEGs together very quickly without re-rendering anything that has not changed. In fact, given the right parameters, Vegas since version 8 will do this.

The second best method is to drop them into a Music / Video Compilation in DVD Architect.

I've been on this forum for over six years -- you're the very first person who I've seen "prefer" stitching separate files together as opposed to creating a complete video and inserting chapter markers.


Rob

For those who responded to my original query - many thanks. I have enough information to help and with the manual prepared by Steve Grisetti I can hopefully move forward.

John

John,

I've been making some DVDs recently - backing up episodes of old TV programs from my PVR.

Rather than render each episode, I stuck them all on the Vegas timeline, added chapter marks at the start of each episode, then rendered one larger file (well, two files - one audio, one video).

These were imported into DVDA. And then I hit a problem - I wanted to have a play all menu, and a 'select episode' button for each episode. This had be stumped for a while, but was actually really easy to resolve. This may be of use to you (and others).

1. If I had five episodes in one render, I would drag that render FIVE TIMES into DVDA.
2. Double click each instance, and set the start and end markers on the DVDA timeline.
3. Rename each instance to reflect the chapter I am referencing

Although the render appears 5 times in the DVDA structure, only one instance is burned on the disc. Using this method you can still make Playlists and set end actions, etc.

It's not the most elegant method, but it saved me having to render my edits again, and the final DVD worked perfectly.

Hope that makes sense.

It's not the most elegant method

Oh, I think it's a fantastic method; one of my favorites. ;-)

And though I haven't done it much, I really like the idea of combining multiple videos (individual episodes, in this case) into one large file. Forum regular jetdv recently pointed out another advantage of this, that this will make for smoother and more reliable playback between movies. Especially when the viewer hits the Next Chapter remote button near the end of a video.

I'm seriously considering authoring my projects using only one video file -- complete with all movies, menu backgrounds, and any intro media. I'll try it out and see if there are any side effects.

Rob

Hi TFL,
I have been reading this thread about DVD Architect software. I wanted to clarify something you wrote. I am using Vegas Pro8, a promo copy, DVD Architect was trial only and that has run out before I got a chance to explore it, so basically don't have it now.
You said that you have been putting together old TV programs, rendering them in Vegas, then again in DVD architect. If I wanted to put together 5 or 6 of my short films would I really have to, having rendered them once individually when I made them, render them again collectively before moving them over to DVD Architect and to render them again over there?

Sorry if it seems an obvious question. I have only been using Vegas Pro8 and trying to make DVDs using my DVD burner on the computer.

If I really need DVD Architect how can I get it. The Sony web site just directs me to buy the latest version of Vegas 10, the whole package!

Many thanks for your time
Andrew

You can buy the Studio version of DVD Architect on its own (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/buy/dvdastudio?disp=1, but not the Pro version. The Studio version would probably do all you want.

If you render to a DVD-compatible mpeg 2 video file and AC3 audio file DVDA won't need to re-render.