[Jeff Bellune]

1. Encore is not an editing program. You can trim the ends of the video/audio, but you cannot move it nor can you add other clips to the same timeline. (BTW, adding multiple clips to a single timeline is feature that was added to Adobe Encore DVD 2.0)

2. You cannot make such a DVD in Encore. But, there are other ways to accomplish what you want.

Here’s one idea:

– Import each of your animations into a separate timeline (if you haven’t done that already)
– Create an “index” menu that has a button for each timeline (maximum 36 buttons per menu for 4:3, 18 buttons for widescreen)
– Set the end action of each timeline to return to the index menu, next button in sequence. For example, Timeline 1’s end action would point to the index menu, button 2. Button 2 would activate timeline 2, etc.
– Since the next timeline’s button on the menu would be selected already as a result of the previous timeline’s end action, all you would have to do is press “Enter” on the DVD player remote to start the next clip.

HTH,
-Jeff

The Focal Easy Guide to Adobe Encore DVD 2.0

[Jeff Bellune]

As for when HD-DVD and/or BR will be available, Adobe never comments on future releases.

Encore 2.0 and earlier is not supported on Windows Vista. If you search the ‘net you may be able to find one or more Registry hacks that will let Encore recognize your burner under Vista.

-Jeff

[Jeff Bellune]

You’re welcome. Let us know if you need any clarification on the details.

-Jeff

[Jeff Bellune]

First, you’ll have to export from Flash as something other than .flv. Avi, .m2v, .mpg, .wmv and .mov are acceptable for import into Encore.

But if Flash won’t let you export in rectangular pixels, then that won’t matter. You will need to import your Flash video into another program like After Effects so that you can export 720×480 0.9 PAR.

With 720×540, you will have to scale the video in AE to 89.9%. If you use a 648×480 square pixel Flash project, then when you drop it into your 720×480 0.9 PAR AE comp, it will be scaled automatically and correctly. Then export to .avi or mpeg from AE for use in Encore.

-Jeff

[Jeff Bellune]

The basic step is to make the intro video part of the menu background video. Then set the Loop point timecode to where the intro video stops and the menu begins.

Click here for a more in-depth discussion of a similar issue (intro video to static menu).

-Jeff

[Jeff Bellune]

You can change the logic Encore uses to automatically route buttons in Edit>Preferences.

-Jeff

[Jeff Bellune]

[dax702] “”You’d have to work hard in your NLE to get a better transcode”
That’s not necessarily true. I can use a bitrate calculator to achieve the same thing. The nice thing about Encore is that it tells you how much space the menus and stuff take up so you can take that into account for the bitrate calculator.”

Compare these 2 workflows:

Workflow #1:
1. Export an .avi from your NLE.
2. Import it into Encore. Make a timeline and add chapters.
3. Plan and make your menus.
4. Change some menus by adding background video.
5. Add 2 more menus that you overlooked the first time.
6. Build the DVD.

Workflow #2:
1. Finish editing in your NLE, but don’t export just yet.
2. Plan your menus and estimate how much space they’ll take up: graphic file size, video content, audio content.
3. Armed with your estimate, obtain a bit rate calculator and calculate the bit rate for your video.
4. Export transcoded video from your NLE.
5. Import it into Encore. Make a timeline and add chapters. Oops – a lot of the chapters can’t go exactly where you want them because they can only go on an existing I-frame. When Encore transcodes an .avi file, it creates a new I-frame at each chapter marker. Exactly where you want them, down to the frame.
6. Make your menus.
7. Change some menus by adding background video. Oops – gotta go back to the bit rate calculator and re-figure the menu space.
8. Return to your NLE and re-transcode the entire program all over again. The whole 2 hours.
9. Add 2 more menus that you overlooked the first time.
10. Repeat step 8 after re-figuring.
11. Finally – build the DVD.

I don’t know about you, but workflow #2 is what I consider hard work, even if Encore’s automatic transcoding didn’t exist. 🙂 With automatic transcoding available, workflow #2 represents a ridiculous amount of work.

However, I will add one caveat about automatic transcoding. If you are working with 2 hours of program content on a DVD-5, then automatic transcoding might be able to be bested by manual transcoding. Here’s how. You pick low-motion, low-detail scenes and give them a low bitrate. Pick higher-motion, higher-detail scenes and give them the higher bit rate they need. Export each type of scene out as separate transcoded files. Stitch them together in a single Encore timeline to get your finished program. Theoretically, the high-motion, high-detail scenes will come out looking better than if Encore had transcoded the whole program automatically.

[dax702] “so you’re saying that in a timeline, the default end action for each chapter is to go to the next chapter? Hence, I just ignore all the chapters and set the end action for the timeline. Is that correct?”

Yes.

-Jeff

The Focal Easy Guide to Adobe Encore DVD 2.0

[Jeff Bellune]

Bring your .avi into Encore so that you can take advantage of Encore’s automatic transcoding. Encore will maximize the bit rate (and therefore the quality) for the video based on the total disc content. You’d have to work hard in your NLE to get a better transcode.

Add chapter markers as you have planned. Don’t give them individual end actions. Instead, give the whole timeline an end action by linking it to the menu you want the audience to see when the timeline is finished playing.

Add a button (or link an existing button) on a menu that links to the timeline. All chapters will play seamlessly in sequence and then the program will return to your chosen menu (the target of the timeline’s end action link).

-Jeff

The Focal Easy Guide to Adobe Encore DVD 2.0

[Jeff Bellune]

I think what gman is seeing is the switch from transcoded I-frame to transcoded video during the transition.

If you don’t have any motion (zoom/pan) applied to a still image, then Encore transcodes that as an I-frame with duration to save disc space. The transition between the stills has to be transcoded video. You can expect a small “bump” when the switch is made between still and video.

I suspect that Nero is transcoding the whole thing as video. Examine Nero’s output carefully – you will probably see the same quality as Encore’s transition and not the same quality as Encore’s I-frames.

-Jeff

The Focal Easy Guide to Adobe Encore DVD 2.0

[Jeff Bellune]

Try using the “Resume” link if you have Encore 2. I don’t remember if Encore 1.x has the Resume link.

-Jeff

The Focal Easy Guide to Adobe Encore DVD 2.0