Need some software advice

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Need some software advice

Postby JordanP on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:14 pm

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
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Postby stubbsy on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:29 pm

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.
Last edited by stubbsy on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby MHD on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:30 pm

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
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Postby JordanP on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:31 pm

I have heard of one called Sony Vegas Movie Studio - that might be it
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Postby stubbsy on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:34 pm

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
Last edited by stubbsy on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby leek on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:34 pm

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

http://www.picasa.com
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Postby big pix on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:37 pm

the latest iLife should do it if you have a Mac

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Postby JordanP on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:38 pm

Thanks Leek - been checking it out but it only seems to support writing to CD
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Postby Onyx on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:39 pm

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.
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Postby JordanP on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:40 pm

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
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Postby shutterbug on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:45 pm

I 2nd Proshow Gold :wink:
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Postby ozczecho on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:47 pm

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

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Postby leek on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:48 pm

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...
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Postby Glen on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:56 pm

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
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Postby shutterbug on Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:02 pm

That is what I did plus using for other things, bought an ibook for the ilife software to produce great DVD slideshows.
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Postby birddog114 on Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:27 pm

What is the ibook? and ilife? :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Postby MHD on Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:30 pm

Ahh.. yes... arrrg me hearties!
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Postby Nnnnsic on Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:41 pm

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.
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Postby gstark on Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:45 pm

Birddog,

Birddog114 wrote:What is the ibook? and ilife? :lol: :lol: :lol:


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

:)
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Postby the foto fanatic on Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:48 pm

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.
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Postby MATT on Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:37 pm

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.
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Postby Matt. K on Tue Apr 05, 2005 9:14 pm

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.
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Postby JordanP on Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:21 am

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!

:)
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Postby W00DY on Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:25 am

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 :oops:

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Pictures to EXE

Postby Regdor on Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:40 am

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Postby stubbsy on Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:30 pm

Jordan

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Postby JordanP on Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:33 pm

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 :shock:
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