iDVD - any way to put a movie BEFORE the first menu?

[johnnyjibbs]

Hi

I like iDVD because of its simplicity and it does just about everything I want of it.

However, is there any way of putting a movie before the first menu screen (i.e. that plays when you first put the disc in the player)? I would like to put my logo/disclaimer message before the main menu screen.

Likewise (although less important) can you put a movie inbetween a menu and one of its daughter submenus? From my investigations, it doesn't look like you can.

I'm only an beginner filmaker doing small family and non-commercial projects and the like. I have no wallet or need for DVD studio pro.

Any way you can do these things on iDVD?

 

[SilentPanda]

No you can't.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Ok cheers. I've submitted a feature request to Apple. Suppose I'll have to make do without and hope that one day they add it!

 

[WinterMute]

Apple developed DVD studio pro to do the things you are requesting, so I doubt they will implement these features in iDVD.

iDVD is a free app that is really designed to allow domestic users to put home videos etc. on DVD, the fact that it actually is pretty useful for quick corporate-type stuff is a bonus, I use it to send audio post pre mixes around, with a little Photoshopping you can make it look really nice.

The iMovie/iDVD integration is well done, but I don't see Apple taking it to a point where it will serioulsy hurt the DVDSP market. I'd love AC3 and DTS audio support for surround in iDVD, but it's never going to happen.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

I see your point but I don't think iDVD is in danger of hurting DVD Studio Pro sales. For example, pros would need DVDSP for things like region encoding and anything more than the simplest menus (eg more than 6 buttons on a menu).

I just think the way the submenus is handled in iDVD is weak - it needs some sort of hierarchicle (sp!) folder structure. On the other hand I suppose it's nice to be able to do submenus at all. And Windows doesn't really have an equivalent!

 

[SilentPanda]

First off it can't hurt to ask for features... at worst they'll discard it, at best they'll use it.

Secondly, while iDVD is a "free app" it really isn't. While you can download the latest version of iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto, iDVD is the one app that you have to purchase the iLife suite to get upgraded. Therefore I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for such features although I agree that you probably won't see them.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Maybe we'll see "DVD Studio Express" at MWSF - I'd be up for getting that. I have FCE and I like it a lot. Having said that iDVD is still a superb package.

I guess iDVD was free for me because it came with my PowerBook (superdrive-enabled)

(Edited for spelling)

 

[WinterMute]

Originally posted by SilentPanda
First off it can't hurt to ask for features... at worst they'll discard it, at best they'll use it.

Secondly, while iDVD is a "free app" it really isn't. While you can download the latest version of iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto, iDVD is the one app that you have to purchase the iLife suite to get upgraded. Therefore I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for such features although I agree that you probably won't see them.

I got iDVD3 free with my PowerBook, as did anyone who bought a Superdrive equipped Mac in the last 6 months.

I wasn't suggesting it's wrong to ask, I'm suggesting it's wrong to expect Apple to damage an existing pro-app's market by making a freebie too powerful.