Your Impressions on Pinnacle Impression Pro at DVinfo.net

Peter Jefferson · September 5th, 2003, 05:18 AM

okies, just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this app.
Apparently it supports AC3 5.1 files, as well as multiple audio streams (ie commentary)

I was wondeirng what else it has on offer?
As im seriously considering a switch over from DVD Architect

Can i set an animation after a button is pressed? like some commercially available DVD's? Or does it just jump to the point where i want to go?

What about multiple files??
Can i only import 1 mp2 and 1 ac3, or can i have a series of mpg2's and ac3s and string them together?

Any thoughts or impressions (pardon the pun) would be greatly appreciated

Ed Smith · September 5th, 2003, 02:59 PM

Peter,

It might also be worth looking at the sonic range of authoring software.

Reel DVD - Motion menus, multiple audio and sub titles, MPG and AC-3 etc etc etc.

Producer - All the above with even more added features including animated buttons.

I use Reel DVD LE and it is a very nice product, and does most things I want to do.

www.sonic.com

All the best,

Ed

PS it might be good i a moderator moves this to the DVD/ Web forum.

Peter Jefferson · September 6th, 2003, 12:51 AM

thanx for the feedback, i tried reel dvd once.. but didnt have the patience for it im afraid...

as i do ALOT of dvd projects, i need somethign that i can easily pick up and do a full menu within half an hour.

Ill look into it again

reading thru the specs, it says it can convert to dolby, however i do not want to do this, as all i need to do is import a 5.1 Dolby Digital AC3 file, but i can see if this app supports it....

Any ideas?

thanx again!

Ed Smith · September 6th, 2003, 06:50 AM

It only mentions dolby digital stereo and other stereo formats on their website - However looking in the help file of Reel DVD LE it says it supports Dolby digital AC-3, 48KHz, stereo and 5.1 ch.

You are right that you need patiences, but I sat down with the demo to begin with for half a day and I managed to pick it up pretty quick.

What I like about it is that you can see where each menu, video or title are linked. Also becuase it has the same feel as Scenarist a very high level authoring tool, it will make it easier if I ever wish to upgrade that far.

Cheers,

Ed

Peter Byram · September 10th, 2003, 02:21 AM

Have a look at the shareware offering on www.mediachance.com called DVDLAB. I've found it straightforward to use with plenty of features. Unfortunately there is a bug that spoils it for PAL use at the moment.

Rob Lohman · September 10th, 2003, 03:28 AM

Keep in mind that not all program support everything. A lot of
programs support multiple audio & subtitle tracks. To my knowledge
only three support angles:

1. Impression-Pro (max 2 angles I believe)

2. SpruceUp DVD Meastro (no longer available)

3. Sonic Scenarist (high end expensive product)

Only scenarist comes with an AC3 encoder I believe. But if you've
got Vegas+DVD you already have an AC3 encoding availability
there.

Julian Luttrell · September 10th, 2003, 09:55 AM

I bought and TRIED to use Impression. Honestly, I tried and I tried! But it's shot through with bugs.

Oh, it's Pinnacle again isn't it? ;^)

Regards,

Julian

Jami Jokinen · September 10th, 2003, 11:33 PM

After trying to find a reasonably priced authoring program with multiple audio streams and subtitles I got Impression DVD pro.

Making menus and subtitles is not easy and requires external programs (e.g. Photoshop for menus). But the basic authoring, navigation etc. is quite easy and I haven't found any notorious bugs yet.

And I found a way to make the subtitle creation a lot easier. A few freeware programs helped with this.

If I would have had the money, I would have gone for Reel DVD. But I didn't. Impression works, but makes you work also.

September 5th, 2003, 05:18 AM	#1
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	Your Impressions on Pinnacle Impression Pro okies, just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this app. Apparently it supports AC3 5.1 files, as well as multiple audio streams (ie commentary) I was wondeirng what else it has on offer? As im seriously considering a switch over from DVD Architect Can i set an animation after a button is pressed? like some commercially available DVD's? Or does it just jump to the point where i want to go? What about multiple files?? Can i only import 1 mp2 and 1 ac3, or can i have a series of mpg2's and ac3s and string them together? Any thoughts or impressions (pardon the pun) would be greatly appreciated

September 5th, 2003, 02:59 PM	#2
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	Peter, It might also be worth looking at the sonic range of authoring software. Reel DVD - Motion menus, multiple audio and sub titles, MPG and AC-3 etc etc etc. Producer - All the above with even more added features including animated buttons. I use Reel DVD LE and it is a very nice product, and does most things I want to do. www.sonic.com All the best, Ed PS it might be good i a moderator moves this to the DVD/ Web forum. __________________ Ed Smith Hampshire, UK Good things come to those who wait My Skiing web www.Frostytour.co.uk For quick answers Search dvinfo.net \| The best in the business: dvinfo.net Sponsors

September 6th, 2003, 06:50 AM	#4
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	It only mentions dolby digital stereo and other stereo formats on their website - However looking in the help file of Reel DVD LE it says it supports Dolby digital AC-3, 48KHz, stereo and 5.1 ch. You are right that you need patiences, but I sat down with the demo to begin with for half a day and I managed to pick it up pretty quick. What I like about it is that you can see where each menu, video or title are linked. Also becuase it has the same feel as Scenarist a very high level authoring tool, it will make it easier if I ever wish to upgrade that far. Cheers, Ed __________________ Ed Smith Hampshire, UK Good things come to those who wait My Skiing web www.Frostytour.co.uk For quick answers Search dvinfo.net \| The best in the business: dvinfo.net Sponsors

September 10th, 2003, 03:28 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Keep in mind that not all program support everything. A lot of programs support multiple audio & subtitle tracks. To my knowledge only three support angles: 1. Impression-Pro (max 2 angles I believe) 2. SpruceUp DVD Meastro (no longer available) 3. Sonic Scenarist (high end expensive product) Only scenarist comes with an AC3 encoder I believe. But if you've got Vegas+DVD you already have an AC3 encoding availability there. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 10th, 2003, 09:55 AM	#7
Julian Luttrell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 164	Impression - beware! I bought and TRIED to use Impression. Honestly, I tried and I tried! But it's shot through with bugs. Oh, it's Pinnacle again isn't it? ;^) Regards, Julian

September 6th, 2003, 12:51 AM	#3
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	thanx for the feedback, i tried reel dvd once.. but didnt have the patience for it im afraid... as i do ALOT of dvd projects, i need somethign that i can easily pick up and do a full menu within half an hour. Ill look into it again reading thru the specs, it says it can convert to dolby, however i do not want to do this, as all i need to do is import a 5.1 Dolby Digital AC3 file, but i can see if this app supports it.... Any ideas? thanx again!

September 10th, 2003, 02:21 AM	#5
Peter Byram Tourist Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London, UK Posts: 1	Have a look at the shareware offering on www.mediachance.com called DVDLAB. I've found it straightforward to use with plenty of features. Unfortunately there is a bug that spoils it for PAL use at the moment.

September 10th, 2003, 11:33 PM	#8
Jami Jokinen Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 103	After trying to find a reasonably priced authoring program with multiple audio streams and subtitles I got Impression DVD pro. Making menus and subtitles is not easy and requires external programs (e.g. Photoshop for menus). But the basic authoring, navigation etc. is quite easy and I haven't found any notorious bugs yet. And I found a way to make the subtitle creation a lot easier. A few freeware programs helped with this. If I would have had the money, I would have gone for Reel DVD. But I didn't. Impression works, but makes you work also.