help with audio in slide show

[moneu]

I finished making my slide show, viewed it...everything wokred perfectly. But when I burn it, there is no audio. I saved it as a wmv file still didnt work. When i view finished slide show on windows media player there is also no audio. Please help

[ATR]

If I understand your problem correctly, you have no audio after you burn your Elements slideshows (as wmv) to disc (CD or DVD?). Playback is just Windows Media Player?

Would prefer more information, such VCD, CD, DVD, Elements version, etc.... TV/DVD player if that somehow is involved. But, few of those players play wmv files.

So, this is not an answer, but just a possible first step troubleshooting idea.

In Elements, you will probably find subfolder named Sample Music in folder called My Music in Documents. Take one of these music files (wma) and burn it to disc with the software that came with your CD/DVD burner. Play the resulting disc in Windows Media Player. Is there audio?

It is not completely clear which burning software you were using during your problems. If you have Elements 3.0, there are CD and DVD burning options, each using Elements burning software, not the software that came with your CD/DVD writer. If you just have Elements 4.0 without Premiere Elements 2.0 installed on your computer, the burning software in Elements 4.0 only has a CD burning option...need something else for DVD burning.

Have you burned anything with audio to disc (other than Elements slideshows) and got them to playback anywhere?

Will watch for your progress.

ATR

[noodle]

I am distressed at reading the second post. I just bought PSE 4 to create a slide show with music that I can burn to DVD. I have been struggling with trying to figure out how to add music from my ITunes folder to the slide show. Do I understand that I need Premiere Elements to do this and then burn it to DVD? Please advise!

Stressed out newbie

[ATR]

Noddle

With Elements 4.0, you can create your Custom Slideshow with music, transitions, pan and zoom, etc. BUT, then there is the matter of playback.

Playback on TV/DVD Player
If only Elements 4.0 is installed in your computer, you can select the VCD option. This option uses Elements’ burning software and, as the name implies, a CD. The VCD will play on your TV/DVD player IF it supports VCD. This VCD can also be played on a computer either of two ways: (1) using another program on your computer, such as Power DVD (2) using the .DAT folder in the MPEGAV folder of the VCD, with playback on Windows Media Player (pre-selected as the OPEN WITH for the .DAT folder).

If only Elements 4.0 installed in your computer, there is no DVD burning option in the Elements burning software. If both Elements 4.0 and Premiere Elements 2.0 are installed on your computer, then you can export the Elements’ slideshow to Premiere Elements 2.0 for the DVD authoring/burning (conversion of the wmv slideshow of Elements to a DVD-Video (MPEG2) formatted slideshow on the DVD that will play on the TV/DVD player.

Although the Elements 3.0 version (when only it is installed) does have a DVD burning option in its burning software, the resulting DVD will not play on almost all TV/DVD players. The reason being is that all you have done was burned a wmv file to a DVD. For playback on TV/DVD you are looking for conversion of the wmv file to the DVD-Video (MPEG2) format. Bottom line: that requires another program, such as Premiere Elements 2.0. Many Forum Users prefer to use other software. The Forums are full of Threads on this topic (check out via Search).

Keep in mind, the format (+ or - R/RW) of the DVD disc as well as that of the slideshow on it (DVD-Video) must be supported by your TV/DVD player in order to get playback.

ATR

[noodle]

thank you for the explanation. I'll try and figure out if we have any other DVD burning capacity on the computer - otherwise I'll have to buy Premiere Elements too. I wish I'd known that or I would have bought them as a package.

My other question is about putting audio on my slide show. I can figure out how to put the stock audio on it that comes with the program easily but I'm trying to add songs I've downloaded and not having any luck. I go to add media, I find the song in my ITunes folder and click OK but nothing happens. Do I need to save the songs somewhere else first? Do I need to change their format first?

Thanks again

[ATR]

I have not done any downloaded music yet. It is my understanding that Elements 4.0 Slideshow can handle the audio file as wma or mp3.

But, I did come across these Threads in the Forums here and thought that maybe you would like to check them out:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3074&highlight=Slideshow+Music

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11077&highlight=Slideshow+Music

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6455&highlight=Slideshow+Music

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3619&highlight=Slideshow+Music

If I come up with anything else I will post again. Please post if any further questions.

Good luck.

ATR

[noodle]

ATR:

Thank you so much for providing the links to the previous questions. I've now figured out why it won't work - getting it to work is a whole other story.

After much analysis I have found the perfect solution. I will play a CD on a CD player while I play the slideshow on the tv. Totally low tech and yet guaranteed to work which is what I need for when I play it at our event this weekend. Later, at leisure, I will investigate the ins and outs of copywrited music, and formats etc.

I was pretty proud of my self for just learning how to download Itunes. This is a steep learning curve! Now I just have to figure out how to burn my slideshow so it will play ....

Thanks again for trying!

[ATR]

Noddle,

This all sounds like it is progressing. Keep up the good work.

Before you go out and buy any additional software, check out all the software that came with your DVD/CD Writer/Burner. A lot of times there are bundled softwares. One may do the job of converting your wmv to DVD-Video format.

If not, check out the Threads in the Forums here for pros and cons on the matter.

I decided to go the Elements 3.0/Premiere Elements 2.0 route and am quite satisfied with the decision. Many go other ways.

Good luck, and I will watch for any additional questions.

ATR