Video before menu

[SteveColclough]

Hi All,

I have been using PE for a short while now and have made a few DVD's. I've been trying to create a DVD that will play a video prior to showing the main menu. How is this done?:confused:

I am using version 4.0.

Thank you.:)

[ATR]

Since you posted, I have been researching for an answer to your question. I have found PGCEdit documentation for removing material before the DVD main menu but adding .....

So far, I have not come up with the answer. I can tell you how to add bonus video at the end, but video before is another matter.

I am almost sure that it cannot be done with Premiere Elements alone. The
freeware PGCEdit has been used for advanced work with DVD-VIDEO and menus.

The ideas that I have been playing with successfully were the following:

Create your DVD-VIDEO with menu (this is without this video that you want to put before the main menu)
Play with the created Open DVD Folder, that is, Open DVD folder and VIDEO_TS folder files from the DVD. That is when it gets to "what is next". Maybe PGCEdit?

Another what if...you took an existing DVD main menu and forced it into a multipage DVD main menu, then edited page one using Properties Background, making the Background your video via the Browse option???????

I will continue to look for THE answer. It has to be out there since it is done so routinely. I am not sure how long it will take me, but I will find it. If you are on a strict must have schedule, then...

Have you posted your question at Premiere Elements User to User Forum at Adobe http://www.adobe.com? That is the place to go when I hit a major block.

ATR

[SteveColclough]

I left a simular post on another site and they said it can't be done using PE. They mentioned other software but I'm not interested in buying yet another program.
I'll leave a post on the adobe.com forum as you suggest. (Good idea).
Thanks for your time and effort. I'll let you know how I make out. :)

[ATR]

Thanks for the feedback.

In reviewing this thread and the responses, I noticed a goof which I am sure you caught....there was a successfully in there that should have been unsuccessfully.

I "suspect" that you may be able to use components from Premiere Elements, but that is it.

But, I will keep searching and watch for your replies.

ATR

[ATR]

Since I posted last, I went searching further and came to your post over at another web site. The people who developed that site were and still are core people at the Premiere Elements User to User Forum which is serviced by users and not the Adobe Management. So, you will run into them over there also.
I noticed that you did get referred to a how to by one of my heros, R.J. Johnson. If he suggests a way to do the a task, that is the best way. He is always there at the Adobe Premiere Elements User to User Forum for the tough jobs to give good reliable answers.

Below I am going to post the link to his how to for anyone else looking in. I will not post a link to your Thread at the other forum unless you want to do so yourself.

http://muvipix.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=683&p=4679&hilit=pgcedit#p4679

That PgcEdit software is freeware.

ATR

[SteveColclough]

Thanks ATR. I checked the link you supplied and found it interesting. I think I'll give PgcEdit a try.

[ThylacinusCynocephalus]

After completing the DVD on Premiere Elements, Share>Disc>Folder (choose whatever amount of space is available on the DVD) it will say 4 GB or 8 GB. Choose the name for the folder. The folder name should be the same as the volume name (when the DVD is placed in a computer. Make sure that this is spelled exactly right. Click Burn.
After the burn to folder is complete, burn the introductory video to folder.
Open PGCEdit.
Import the completed dvd folder. Go - to Title>Import First-play startup clip. Because you are importing a video, click "Don't pause, it's an animated clip". Import the introductory video burned to folder. Then, save the DVD.
Use ImgBurn to write the folder to disc. Check again that the folder name is right. Then burn.

[ATR]

ThylacinusCynocephalus

Thank you for reporting the results of your work.

But, I do not know if you realized that you posted at the end of an old 2007 thread which included a link to R.J. Johnston's 2007 procedure for adding a video before the DVD menus in DVD-VIDEO (Premiere Elements burn to folder/Pgcedit software technique).
http://muvipix.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=683&p=4679&hilit=pgcedit#p4679
http://download.videohelp.com/r0lz/pgcedit/

Since 2007 there have been subsequent threads posted where users have reported that this workaround was important to their projects when they wanted to add a video before the DVD Menus.

That Pgcedit software has been an important tool for other workarounds, just one example, looping DVD-VIDEO, which you may already know from your visits to the Pgcedit web site.

Thanks again for sharing your results.

ATR