replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Hello,
Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
so I am not interested.
I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
---------------------------------------
Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
menue(s) into TDA?
And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Massimo <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote:
>Hello,
>
>Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
>tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
>But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
>ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
>
>I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
>your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
>so I am not interested.
>
>I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
>simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
>---------------------------------------
>
>Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
>having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
>menue(s) into TDA?
>
>And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
>me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Massimo
I'm a keen user of TDA 1.6. And after a lot of generous coaching from
Ken Maltby here, I'm pretty comfortable with using its menus. My
requirements are not particularly ambitious, but do include enough
customisation to suit me at present.
I've shown a few examples below. Play button contents are movie clips
except for plain 'PLAY' types.
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
"Massimo" <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote in message
news:2jjvr3dcduerq0hv7fa725vqmk9it0dt2h@4ax.com...
> Hello,
>
> Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
> tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
> But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
> ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
>
> I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
> your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
> so I am not interested.
>
> I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
> simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
> having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
> menue(s) into TDA?
>
> And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
> me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Massimo
The appearance of the menus that you can make in TDA
is only limited by your imagination. There are limits to
the menu structures and playback commands that you can
implement, directly within the program, but that is true of
any authoring program.
It can implement "motion menus" quickly and simply, and
allows you to use "Text only" (no thumbnails) selection layouts.
I assume that you have found at least one of the several ways
you can get to the "New Theme" creation section of the "Create
menu" area? There are Main and Track menu layout selections,
which are limited to some extent (there are layouts [with and
without thumbnails] for menu pages of from 1 to as many as
24 selection items per page). You can also select the default
"Button image", "Thumbnail frame", and "Background image";
for the menu theme you are creating. BUT remember you can
easily replace any image/graphic in a menu, made using one of
your menu themes. You can replace the background with an
image or mpeg video clip of your own making. Just click on
the background and select "Open file...". The same is true for
the other menu graphic items.
Why not post here what kind of menu you would like to
create and some of us can walk you through the steps to
make it.
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Hello Terry,
On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:16:43 +0000, Terry Pinnell
<terrypinDELETE@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote:
>Massimo <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote:
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
>>tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
>>But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
>>ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
>>
>>I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
>>your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
>>so I am not interested.
>>
>>I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
>>simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
>>---------------------------------------
>>
>>Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
>>having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
>>menue(s) into TDA?
>>
>>And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
>>me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Massimo
>
>I'm a keen user of TDA 1.6. And after a lot of generous coaching from
>Ken Maltby here, I'm pretty comfortable with using its menus. My
>requirements are not particularly ambitious, but do include enough
>customisation to suit me at present.
>
>I've shown a few examples below. Play button contents are movie clips
>except for plain 'PLAY' types.
>
>http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7...a973tdait6.jpg
>http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?i...2007tdams6.jpg
>http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5...0031tdako5.jpg
>http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/4...gton102gp2.jpg
>http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9...ies3tdage4.jpg
>http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6...ne42tdasb5.jpg
>http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2...4951tdaba0.jpg
>http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5...womusicqp3.jpg
I am a little bit confused... These pictures, they seem to have
nothing to do with TDA-menues!?
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Hello Ken,
On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:44:10 -0600, "Ken Maltby"
<kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>"Massimo" <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote in message
>news:2jjvr3dcduerq0hv7fa725vqmk9it0dt2h@4ax.com.. .
>> Hello,
>>
>> Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
>> tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
>> But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
>> ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
>>
>> I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
>> your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
>> so I am not interested.
>>
>> I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
>> simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
>> ---------------------------------------
>>
>> Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
>> having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
>> menue(s) into TDA?
>>
>> And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
>> me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Massimo
>
> The appearance of the menus that you can make in TDA
>is only limited by your imagination.
I've read that before... seems that I don't have much of that...
imagination.
>There are limits to
>the menu structures and playback commands that you can
>implement, directly within the program, but that is true of
>any authoring program.
>
O.k.
> It can implement "motion menus" quickly and simply, and
>allows you to use "Text only" (no thumbnails) selection layouts.
>
Motion menues are not interesting for me but text only, yes.
> I assume that you have found at least one of the several ways
>you can get to the "New Theme" creation section of the "Create
>menu" area?
Well, I remember that long time ago when I used the first 1.6 version
(1.6.26.73) one could choose a certain theme that was there especially
for making your own changes to the menue(s). Now I have updated to
version 1.6.34.89 and I do not find it. But I suppose I'll have to do
a little bit of reseach in order to find it again?
>There are Main and Track menu layout selections,
>which are limited to some extent (there are layouts [with and
>without thumbnails] for menu pages of from 1 to as many as
>24 selection items per page). You can also select the default
>"Button image", "Thumbnail frame", and "Background image";
>for the menu theme you are creating. BUT remember you can
>easily replace any image/graphic in a menu, made using one of
>your menu themes. You can replace the background with an
>image or mpeg video clip of your own making. Just click on
>the background and select "Open file...". The same is true for
>the other menu graphic items.
>
Some of the possibilities you name I found, others not.
>
> Why not post here what kind of menu you would like to
>create and some of us can walk you through the steps to
>make it.
>
Well. That is a generous offer. :-)
Although I have had more or less enough of TDA's menues I'll give it
another look and will ask more precise questions.
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Massimo <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote:
>Hello Terry,
>
>On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:16:43 +0000, Terry Pinnell
><terrypinDELETE@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote:
>
>>Massimo <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote:
>>
>>>Hello,
>>>
>>>Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
>>>tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
>>>But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
>>>ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
>>>
>>>I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
>>>your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
>>>so I am not interested.
>>>
>>>I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
>>>simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
>>>---------------------------------------
>>>
>>>Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
>>>having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
>>>menue(s) into TDA?
>>>
>>>And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
>>>me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Massimo
>>
>>I'm a keen user of TDA 1.6. And after a lot of generous coaching from
>>Ken Maltby here, I'm pretty comfortable with using its menus. My
>>requirements are not particularly ambitious, but do include enough
>>customisation to suit me at present.
>>
>>I've shown a few examples below. Play button contents are movie clips
>>except for plain 'PLAY' types.
>>
>>http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7...a973tdait6.jpg
>>http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?i...2007tdams6.jpg
>>http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5...0031tdako5.jpg
>>http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/4...gton102gp2.jpg
>>http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9...ies3tdage4.jpg
>>http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6...ne42tdasb5.jpg
>>http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2...4951tdaba0.jpg
>>http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5...womusicqp3.jpg
>
>I am a little bit confused... These pictures, they seem to have
>nothing to do with TDA-menues!?
>
>Massimo
Eh? As I said, they are all examples of TDA menus (note the spelling
BTW). Don't yours look roughly similar?
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
"Massimo" <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote in message
news:srj0s3583fi33a4vlh03bveggcjh7p3r3d@4ax.com...
> Hello Ken,
>
> On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:44:10 -0600, "Ken Maltby"
> <kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Massimo" <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote in message
>>news:2jjvr3dcduerq0hv7fa725vqmk9it0dt2h@4ax.com. ..
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
>>> tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
>>> But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
>>> ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
>>>
>>> I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
>>> your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
>>> so I am not interested.
>>>
>>> I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
>>> simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
>>> ---------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
>>> having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
>>> menue(s) into TDA?
>>>
>>> And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
>>> me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Massimo
>>
>> The appearance of the menus that you can make in TDA
>>is only limited by your imagination.
>
> I've read that before... seems that I don't have much of that...
> imagination.
>
>>There are limits to
>>the menu structures and playback commands that you can
>>implement, directly within the program, but that is true of
>>any authoring program.
>>
> O.k.
>
>> It can implement "motion menus" quickly and simply, and
>>allows you to use "Text only" (no thumbnails) selection layouts.
>>
> Motion menues are not interesting for me but text only, yes.
>
Even if you want to use a still image for your menu background;
you can use the easy process of making a "Motion Menu"
background clip, so that you can have "Background Music" (BGM)
while your menu is displayed.
>> I assume that you have found at least one of the several ways
>>you can get to the "New Theme" creation section of the "Create
>>menu" area?
>
> Well, I remember that long time ago when I used the first 1.6 version
> (1.6.26.73) one could choose a certain theme that was there especially
> for making your own changes to the menue(s). Now I have updated to
> version 1.6.34.89 and I do not find it. But I suppose I'll have to do
> a little bit of reseach in order to find it again?
>
At the bottom of the listing of available Menu Themes
there is the text "New theme...", just click on that text.
Once you specify, name and save a theme, the theme
will be available in the list, above the "New theme..."
text.
You may have noticed that if you try and use the
"Edit menu theme" button when you have one of the
supplied themes loaded, you will get an error message
that says: "You cannot edit this menu theme. Do you
want to create and edit another menu theme?".
If you then click on the "Yes" button, the "Create
new theme" window pops up.
>>There are Main and Track menu layout selections,
>>which are limited to some extent (there are layouts [with and
>>without thumbnails] for menu pages of from 1 to as many as
>>24 selection items per page). You can also select the default
>>"Button image", "Thumbnail frame", and "Background image";
>>for the menu theme you are creating. BUT remember you can
>>easily replace any image/graphic in a menu, made using one of
>>your menu themes. You can replace the background with an
>>image or mpeg video clip of your own making. Just click on
>>the background and select "Open file...". The same is true for
>>the other menu graphic items.
>>
> Some of the possibilities you name I found, others not.
If you are using the supplied menu themes, then you can
only replace the objects in the menu. You can't edit the
theme by rearranging, resizing, or any other detail changes.
Still, you can replace any object, in even the supplied
menus, that is displayed within a dashed line box.
(Notice that there is no such outline around the supplied
Buttons, so you can't replace them, when using the
supplied menus - you can change them in your own
themes, though.)
>>
>> Why not post here what kind of menu you would like to
>>create and some of us can walk you through the steps to
>>make it.
>>
> Well. That is a generous offer. :-)
> Although I have had more or less enough of TDA's menues I'll give it
> another look and will ask more precise questions.
>
> Thanks so far!
>>Luck;
>> Ken
>>
> Massimo
>
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Here is a simple example of a TDA motion menu from
one of my old DVDs. It uses the opening credits of the
TV show along with the show's theme music for the
background clip. It uses the first Text only layout
(6 #3) and a simple font. It is very simple, there is a
lot more you can do, if you wanted to.
Clicking on the episode title text (or selecting it with
your remote) would play that episode, if it was still
in a DVD, and not converted to a .mpg file for
downloading. I reencoded it at about half the bitrate
to get it under 30megs, but it still looks good to me,
at any rate it should give you the idea.
Most TV shows have opening credits that make
great menu backgrounds for episode collection DVDs.
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Hello Ken,
On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:41:36 -0600, "Ken Maltby"
<kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>"Massimo" <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote in message
>news:srj0s3583fi33a4vlh03bveggcjh7p3r3d@4ax.com.. .
>> Hello Ken,
>>
>> On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:44:10 -0600, "Ken Maltby"
>> <kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Massimo" <och@'tisnietwaar.nl> wrote in message
>>>news:2jjvr3dcduerq0hv7fa725vqmk9it0dt2h@4ax.com ...
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Until now I have used TDA v.1.6 for making dvd's from the
>>>> tv-broadcasts I saved on dvd-ram.
>>>> But I loathe not being able to make my own menues and the choice in
>>>> ready-made menues offered by this program is not great.
>>>>
>>>> I know that people say that TDA offers secret possibilities to make
>>>> your own menue but they are so secret that I have not found them and
>>>> so I am not interested.
>>>>
>>>> I should like to continue using TDA because I love it for its
>>>> simplicity and lack of unnecessary options, but those menues...
>>>> ---------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Is it possible to use another program just for making good menues\
>>>> having an extended choice in ready-made menues and then importing the
>>>> menue(s) into TDA?
>>>>
>>>> And if that is not possible what simple program could you folks advise
>>>> me instead of TDA that will do a better menuing job?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Massimo
>>>
>>> The appearance of the menus that you can make in TDA
>>>is only limited by your imagination.
>>
>> I've read that before... seems that I don't have much of that...
>> imagination.
>>
>>>There are limits to
>>>the menu structures and playback commands that you can
>>>implement, directly within the program, but that is true of
>>>any authoring program.
>>>
>> O.k.
>>
>>> It can implement "motion menus" quickly and simply, and
>>>allows you to use "Text only" (no thumbnails) selection layouts.
>>>
>> Motion menues are not interesting for me but text only, yes.
>>
>
> Even if you want to use a still image for your menu background;
>you can use the easy process of making a "Motion Menu"
>background clip, so that you can have "Background Music" (BGM)
>while your menu is displayed.
>
That's a good point. Thank you.
>>> I assume that you have found at least one of the several ways
>>>you can get to the "New Theme" creation section of the "Create
>>>menu" area?
>>
>> Well, I remember that long time ago when I used the first 1.6 version
>> (1.6.26.73) one could choose a certain theme that was there especially
>> for making your own changes to the menue(s). Now I have updated to
>> version 1.6.34.89 and I do not find it. But I suppose I'll have to do
>> a little bit of reseach in order to find it again?
>>
>
> At the bottom of the listing of available Menu Themes
>there is the text "New theme...", just click on that text.
>Once you specify, name and save a theme, the theme
>will be available in the list, above the "New theme..."
>text.
>
> You may have noticed that if you try and use the
>"Edit menu theme" button when you have one of the
>supplied themes loaded, you will get an error message
>that says: "You cannot edit this menu theme. Do you
>want to create and edit another menu theme?".
>If you then click on the "Yes" button, the "Create
>new theme" window pops up.
>
Thank you again for this extended explication.
>
>>>There are Main and Track menu layout selections,
>>>which are limited to some extent (there are layouts [with and
>>>without thumbnails] for menu pages of from 1 to as many as
>>>24 selection items per page). You can also select the default
>>>"Button image", "Thumbnail frame", and "Background image";
>>>for the menu theme you are creating. BUT remember you can
>>>easily replace any image/graphic in a menu, made using one of
>>>your menu themes. You can replace the background with an
>>>image or mpeg video clip of your own making. Just click on
>>>the background and select "Open file...". The same is true for
>>>the other menu graphic items.
>>>
>> Some of the possibilities you name I found, others not.
>
>
> If you are using the supplied menu themes, then you can
>only replace the objects in the menu. You can't edit the
>theme by rearranging, resizing, or any other detail changes.
>Still, you can replace any object, in even the supplied
>menus, that is displayed within a dashed line box.
>(Notice that there is no such outline around the supplied
>Buttons, so you can't replace them, when using the
>supplied menus - you can change them in your own
>themes, though.)
>
Right. Thanks.
>
>
>>>
>>> Why not post here what kind of menu you would like to
>>>create and some of us can walk you through the steps to
>>>make it.
>>>
>> Well. That is a generous offer. :-)
>> Although I have had more or less enough of TDA's menues I'll give it
>> another look and will ask more precise questions.
>>
>> Thanks so far!
>>>Luck;
>>> Ken
>>>
>> Massimo
>>
>
Thank you very much Ken. I'll be trying again as soon as I've time...
Re: replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please?
Hi Ken,
On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:22:25 -0600, "Ken Maltby"
<kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>
> Here is a simple example of a TDA motion menu from
>one of my old DVDs. It uses the opening credits of the
>TV show along with the show's theme music for the
>background clip. It uses the first Text only layout
>(6 #3) and a simple font. It is very simple, there is a
>lot more you can do, if you wanted to.
>
> Clicking on the episode title text (or selecting it with
>your remote) would play that episode, if it was still
>in a DVD, and not converted to a .mpg file for
>downloading. I reencoded it at about half the bitrate
>to get it under 30megs, but it still looks good to me,
>at any rate it should give you the idea.
>
> Most TV shows have opening credits that make
>great menu backgrounds for episode collection DVDs.
>
>
>http://www.speedyshare.com/534311129.html
>
>Luck;
> Ken
>
I'm sorry, my Quicktime player does not initialize, gives error. I'll
take a look at it later.
replacement for bad menuing function in TDA 1.6 please? 
Linear Mode
