Hi,

Please tell me I am doing something stupid and how to fix it.  I am trying to make a simple DVD in Avid DVD (version 6.0) and running into a problem.  I have 2 video files (part 1 and part 2) that I am trying to put into one title.  I get the part 1 dropped into the timeline but it won't let me drop in the 2nd video file after the 1st one (on the timeline).

I broke my movie into 2 parts since sometimes with an 90 minute project everything works better with 2 smaller files vs 1 large one.

Can anyone help?  Is this operator error is does avid dvd not do this?  I know I can do it in DVD studio pro.. it's just much quicker to do it in Avid dvd if possible.

thanks,

-Peter B

To the best of my knowledge, you can't do that in Avid DVD.  You can in other applications, like Encore, but as soon as you want to place a second piece of media on the timeline, it will replace the first.

The only way is to create a second title and link to it from the end action of the first.  Not very satisfactory, I know.

I have a followup if you will be so kind.... I hate to complaign every day but I feel like I'm being nickel and dimed to death!

So you can't put more than one piece of media on the timeline.  ok that sucks but fine.  So now I am trying to make a few edits... you know.. 'add edit' and trim out some sections of the video clip.  Some real basic editing.  I can't find how to add edit.  I can trim from the front and the back but I can't see to find the add edit command so I can shorten the video clip from the middle.

I can do this in Pinnacle's $50 studio app... please tell me I'm wrong.  I'm getting ready to throw Avid DVD out the window!  Do I really have to copy all my media over to my mac (dvd studio pro) to make this very simple dvd? 

argh!

-Peter B

If you are asking for an "add edit" in DVD, you won't find it.  You would need to go back to Xpress and add edit there.

Why are you not happy to put two titles in your DVD?

I really wish I could make simple edits in Avid DVD.  The problem is that the files are not native avid files (they are .avi DV files, and some are MPEG2 files).  To have to import the files (long import time) is extra work and time and it just shows how avid dvd is not very powerful at all (even pinnacle's basic software can do this).

I have a number of edits to make to the video so I would have many titles for this one video clip.  And isn't there a delay when it goes from title to title?  or is it a seamless transition?

thanks,

-Peter

Peter I feel your pain!!  The problem (I think) is more that Xpress (albeit on PC) is not keen on AVI.  Avid was initially a Mac package and therefore was QT based.  When it was ported to PC, Avid opted to keep to QT.

The result being that AVIs are not great to work with in Avid.

DVD is not a bad product for making really basic DVDs and the integration between Xpress and DVD works well.  The metatrack option is really great for placing chapters on your timeline and having them show up in DVD.  But I have to admit that I very quickly found that DVD is not the way to go with a complex structure.

The issue that you are having as I see it, is that your problems begin with your source footage not being 'Xpress-friendly' to start with.  You are trying to skip the Xpress stage and go straight to AvidDVD, whereas AvidDVD was designed to be used in conjunction with Xpress.

Maybe you are looking at the wrong tools for the job you are trying to do?  Sorry I can't be of more help.

Thanks for commisarating Clive.  I've been trying to find a way to do this simple task...

transfer some VHS tapes to DVD.  I know it's a consumer task and this is a 'professional' product.  So I can't get avid to capture the analog material through my DV deck (bug in the software... or software limitation.. either way it doesn't work).  So then I've been trying to find a piece of software that will let me capture the material and make relativly simple dvd's (just cutting out some small sections and simple menus). 

I thought I found my solution in Pinnacle's Studio 10.  But for some reason my version doesn't let you do multiple menus or buttons that don't link to consecutive chapters in the timeline.  Either way that's not really working.

If you have any ideas (without having to buy a whole brand new video editing package).. I'm all ears.  Worst case I can transfer all the media over to my mac and use dvd studio pro.. but what a pain when you have 100's of GB of media.

woe is me.

-Peter