DVD slideshow with pictures, music AND video clips? [Archive]

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JJacula

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 01:04

I had a question from my first bride if I could, or knew anyone who could, put together a DVD with photos, music AND video clips dispersed throughout. The video part is way over my head, but I thought I'd put it out to those with exponentially more knowledge than me - does anyone do this, or know anyone who can do it? It's not something I've heard of before, but then, I'm new at this game.

Waiting to hear from the wise and wonderful wedding togs ...

FlyingPhotog

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 01:53

Even the simplest video editing software (like Premiere or Final Cut) will allow you to import stills and allow you to edit them in with the video.

I'm just an amateur photographer, but I earn my living in television*. I can tell you that while photography and video editing can peacefully coexsist, both have their own land mines that can blow up without warning and it makes the workload exponentially harder.

Some Video-Related Questions To Ask:
- Where's the video material coming from? A Pro or just from Friends and Family?
- What format or formats? DV? HD-DV? MPEG? VHS? Betamax? Cell Phone Cameras?
- Will it be digitized for you or will YOU be expected to aquire it all?
- Will there be some form of "Script" involved? Or will you be expected to just wing it?
- Finished Length?
- Allowance for re-edits? (Uncle Ralph got some cute video from the reception)
- Duplication (because of course, the entire family will want copies...)
- Disposition of all the material upon completion?
- Dispostion of the finished file (How long you wanna let people get copies?)

Ok, this is just my opinion (it's worth what you paid...zip), but if this is your first wedding shoot (and I know you are trying to be as accomidating as possible) I'd suggest that you inform this nice young lady that that is a service you aren't prepared to provide at this time but that you'd be perfectly happy to (for a small additional fee) provide your images digitally so that she can take them somewhere to use in a video. Personally, it's more than I'd want to bite off on my first gig.

Good Luck and report back on which way you decided to go.

*See my Scenes From The Road galleries over at PBase for a glimpse into my work world. I'll give you a hint: Go Fast - Turn Left - Repeat 400-500 times.

tim

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 01:59

I suspect proshow can import simple videos into a slide show. Sounds like a bunch of work given what flyingphotog said

JJacula

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 02:11

Yeah, I didn't think it was something I'd particularly wanting to tackle at this point, but now with what flyingphotog has said, I really don't want to. I saw the guy who was doing the videoing and he couldn't even figure out how to make the camera zoom in, I don't even want to imagine what the footage looks like!

I have enough work to last me through August without adding a DVD slideshow to the mix. So it is possible ... maybe something to mess around with in the winter, when I have more time on my hands.

Thanks guys! (Love the new avatar, Tim ...)

csm328

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 07:46

Easiest program to use for both pics and vid is Muvee. Do a google search, download the trial and give it a go. Very simple. 3 steps: import vid, import pictures, add music and the program does the mix depending on what 'style' you choose.

liza

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 08:01

Windows Moviemaker is really pretty easy to use for things like this. I'm not sure about the professional version of Proshow, but it probably has this capability as well. Funny you should bring this up. I'm considering doing this with my older son as videographer and just looked at a JVC video camera with a 30GB hard drive yesterday. I think it's a great idea that would sell very well. :)

picturecrazy

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 11:04

wow, video huh? I'd say no. We're not a one-stop walmart shop!

Mike_Canon5D

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 11:12

Pinnacle Studio may be another choice.

spxxxx

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 12:16

kona77

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 18:15

I do all types of multimedia and I can tell you that unless you already have working knowledge of an editing program you will end up pulling your hair out. I am not saying that you can not do it, what I am saying is that you will lose time and money just trying to do this video task.

I would find a local videographer and ask him how much to do the job then mark it up for the client. If you can subtract the video element then I do not think you would have any problem.

I would also be very careful as to the music that is put on the disc. Have them provide you with the music then you can insert it on the dvd as long as it is for their own personal use.
I don't mean to sound paronoid but it is better to be safe than sorry.

morlia

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 18:20

Zepher

31st of July 2007 (Tue), 21:48

The trouble you get is the out[ut resolution - if it looks good on TV it will look rubbish full screen on a PC/MAC - trust me I have tried many packages.............

I opted for either fotomagico (MAC) or proshow gold (PC) for TV output - but create a separate disk for computer viewing as a PDF slideshow (CS3) or quicktime 7 movie high res (fotomagico)

Good luck - the profit isn't worth it :)

I hate to disagree with you, but I just have to. I've been doing video production work professionally for about 17 years now (tape to tape and now all digital).

the problems you may have encountered were compression artifacts and lower than standard resolution.

I just glanced at some of my racing footage (native DV) I have sitting on my PC and it's just as sharp and clean on the PC in full screen as it is on the TV.
Have you ever watched a DVD movie on your PC? did it look good at full screen?

My editing tools consist of Premiere CS3, After Effects CS3, Photoshop CS3, and Encore CS3.

And about the main topic, a 15-25 minute video with mixed stills and video would start at $395 with titles and graphics and no special effects to any of the images. After Effects can produce some very nice 3D type effects to images to make them come to life, but it's time consuming.

FlyingPhotog

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 00:28

I hate to disagree with you, but I just have to. I've been doing video production work professionally for about 17 years now (tape to tape and now all digital).

the problems you may have encountered were compression artifacts and lower than standard resolution.

I think the other problem he may have encountered is the interlaced/non-interlaced/progressive scan thing.

Video looks horrible on a PC becuse a PC monitor isn't scanned like a TV. There are no odd/even fields inolved so you're only seeing half the resolution of the image (unless you de-interlace) the video.

JJacula

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 00:35

Thanks everyone ... I've told her it's not something I want to tackle at this point. Maybe when my work gets good enough to command thousands of dollars, it's something I'll add to my packages. Certainly an intriquing idea, anyway!

Zepher

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 03:44

I think the other problem he may have encountered is the interlaced/non-interlaced/progressive scan thing.

Video looks horrible on a PC becuse a PC monitor isn't scanned like a TV. There are no odd/even fields inolved so you're only seeing half the resolution of the image (unless you de-interlace) the video.

Actually, on a PC screen you are seeing all the fields at one time since it is basically a progressively scanned image.
and the new TV's are moving towards Progressive scanning, like the 720P and 1080P HDTV sets.

I watch a lot of movies and TV programs on my PC and they look great.

http://www.transamws6.com/pics/pc/desk-sg1.jpg

kona77

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 09:55

Zepher

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 17:05

Zepher,
Good points. Just wondering how you like Premiere CS3. Any problems upgrading or any frozen screens? I have the CS2 Suite.

JJacula,
I think you made a good choice. Now you can take your time and learn the video portion so the next time you can get $$$$$'s for your work.:)

I am still getting used to CS3 since I haven't used Premiere Pro at all. We had Pro 1.0 and 1.5 for a long time but we stuck with Premiere 6.5 since we were so used to the layout.

I haven't had any problems with frozen frames or anything on my home machine with CS3.
I do like Photoshop CS3 over CS2 since it opens up faster and the new Camera Raw is much nicer.

We use the Matrox RTX.100 editing cards at the studio since they do realtime effects and realtime Mpeg2 encoding and at home I just use a firewire card for importing video and just render everything,

kona77

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 17:08

Thanks Zepher. I use the Matrox RTX100 also. In the beginning it was full of glitches, much better now though.
Thanks

Zepher

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 17:25

Thanks Zepher. I use the Matrox RTX100 also. In the beginning it was full of glitches, much better now though.
Thanks

Ya, I remember those days. Had to install the software in a certain order otherwise it wouldn't work. Both of ours are working great nowadays.

I actually have a Matrox RT2000 sitting in a drawer next to my desk, I guess I should see if someone wants to buy it. :)

kona77

1st of August 2007 (Wed), 17:28

My partner has one also. We are going to install it on an old machine for live video capture to an external hard drive. We have to keep windows 2000 on it since there are no new drivers for XP or Vista. Don't you just love buying something only to have support stopped in it's tracks.

Ya, I remember those days. Had to install the software in a certain order otherwise it wouldn't work. Both of ours are working great nowadays.

I actually have a Matrox RT2000 sitting in a drawer next to my desk, I guess I should see if someone wants to buy it. :)