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Hi,

I'm looking to create some slideshows (with music) that I want to be prestented as a DVD movie. Could anyone give me some advice on software out there in the market (not too expensive or free) that is pretty easy to use and can create a professional looking presentation?

I've searched the web and found all sorts of things but I'm wondering if anyone is using something they could recommend.

Cheers,

Edit: I'm a PC user

I don't think you can go past ProShow Gold

It costs US$69.95 so neither free nor cheap, but is worth every cent. Create slide shows with zooming and panning ("Ken Burns" effect), synchronise to music, transitions between slides. Output from the app to CD, DVD or even create a windows screensaver of your images. The site has a free demo.

My uncle uses something called Vegas something...

Does an awesome job..
He used if for my wedding and my sisters wedding, combined video he took with pics (for my sisters wedding) that I took and set it to music... very prof...

Something like Vegas studio or Vegas suite...

He is in Darwin on work at the moment but I will email him and ask

I have heard of one called Sony Vegas Movie Studio - that might be it

MHD
I think you're referreing to Sony Vegas Video which is way expensive (US$750.00), but nice. It's focus is on NLE (ie digital video editing) and the DVD Architect proggie bundled with it does dvd slide shows, but not as well as ProShow Gold (see above). I have both, I use ProShow Gold (oh and I get nothing from the plug other than helping a fellow d70er!)

Edit: Sony Vegas Movie Studio + DVD - the baby brother to above - costs US$99.95

I think Picasa may allow you to do that - And it's free... Have a look...

http://www.picasa.com

the latest iLife should do it if you have a Mac

bp

Thanks Leek - been checking it out but it only seems to support writing to CD

Nero Burning ROM. I've findout more and more it's not just a CD/DVD burning software. It rips DVDs, encodes in various formats, and lets you custom author your own DVD including slideshow and soundtrack options.

stubbsy wrote:I don't think you can go past ProShow Gold

It costs US$69.95 so neither free nor cheap, but is worth every cent. Create slide shows with zooming and panning ("Ken Burns" effect), synchronise to music, transitions between slides. Output from the app to CD, DVD or even create a windows screensaver of your images. The site has a free demo.

That looks great Peter - I will investigate further - thanks

I 2nd Proshow Gold

I have just used Nero. Nero has grown from just a cd burning proggie to a full suite of things. One program in the suite called "nero vison express" allows you to do a photo slide show with a selection of transitions. The most important thing is that it allows you do encode it to mpeg2, ie DVD. It also alllows you to add music (mp3) to the slideshow.

The download version costs US$ 59.99.

HTH

ozczecho

JordanP wrote:Thanks Leek - been checking it out but it only seems to support writing to CD

I think it allows you to turn your photos into a movie as well...

Craig, buy a notebook from Birddy, mine came with free Nero (oem suite ver 6.3.1.25), Power director DE and Medi@ show SE which says "create multi dimensional slide shows - publish on desktops and the internet"

Haven't used any of this but pm if you want to discuss

That is what I did plus using for other things, bought an ibook for the ilife software to produce great DVD slideshows.

What is the ibook? and ilife?

Ahh.. yes... arrrg me hearties!
(puts eyepatch on and goes searching for a parrot)

Sony Vegas rocks (as well as DVD Architect)... and I'd consider myself a pretty good user with it (them)... but there's a steep learning curve attached to the software if you've never done either NLE or used a Sonic Foundry audio program before.

Birddog,

Birddog114 wrote:What is the ibook? and ilife?

They're confudes. They really need to get the iGetALife!.

I've been using ProShow Gold for a couple of years. It has really improved over this time, to the point where I think it is outstanding. Rendering time is really quick, output options and audio capabilities are excellent too. You can get a demo version here.

Photoshop Elements 3 says it can produce slide-shows, but I haven't used it, similarly ACDSee 7.

I used nero , seemed pretty straight forward. Select pictures, place in oreder, apply random transitions . Made up a stating and ending pic in Photoshop added some mp3 roughly the length. Nero adjusted slideshow times to suit.

Stuck in a blank hit go came back 20 mins later and I had a 5 minute DVD slide show with music.
Easy As.


MATT

I believe Microsoft have a free download program that will do this very well...though I have not used it. Check out their download site...try it...and post your opinion on the forum.

I will check it out Mattk, thanks.

I have been using the trial version of Proshow Gold and am quite impressed at this stage. But plan on giving Nero and the Microsoft option a look before final decision.

Again forum members - thanks for the great advice and tips.

This forum rocks!

Matt. K wrote:I believe Microsoft have a free download program that will do this very well...though I have not used it. Check out their download site...try it...and post your opinion on the forum.

I tried the microsoft one before and didn't quite like it...

I can't remeber exactly what I didn't like about it but thought it was a little limited in what you could do.

God, I can't even remeber what it was called anymore

W00DY

Jordan,

You may find these helpful.

http://www.wnsoft.com

http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php

http://www.beechbrook.com

I use PTExe.

Rodger.

Jordan

When you make a decision it might be worhwhile coming back here, saying what you chose and why.

I'll be happy to. It's fun playing with different software to get the desired effects.

Proshow Gold is winning the race so far....... stay tuned