Scenartist, Maestro, ReelDVD ....

[Ekin]

Ok guys..I know there're threads about this already so can somebody answere me this or point me to the right thread. Ok...I've heard in this forum that.. Scenartist is number ONE...Maestro is TWO and ReelDVD is THREE in rank. My question is..What's in Scenartist that Maestro and ReelDVD don't have...I have all 3 programs and I know how to use Maestro and ReelDVD...I don't know how to use Scenartist. And I want to know that what special thing do Scenartist do that Maestro and ReelDVD can't do..???? Well from experience, I know that ReelDVD can take in separate files as an assets..and Maestro can't...in Maestro I have to put all my .m2v into 1 timeline to be able to have a smooth playing DVD. ReelDVD just takes in all of my 5 min. clips and it's audio and i have like 20 clips. Maestro can't do that...Both Maestro and ReelDVD support multi-audio and motion menu/chapters. So what do Scenartist have that Maestro don't have ????

[auenf]

basically scen contains a couple of extra features (mainly quirks) for creating DVDs, mainly to do with PGC's, but apart from that, they can basically do exactly the same.

ReelDVD is a cut down version of scen maybe (been meaning to look at reeldvd)

Enf...

[Ekin]

eunef: so what "extra features (mainly quirks)" what does that do ?? what is it ?? Oh I have a couple of question to ask you about Scen. because I haven't take my time to learn and tryout Scen yet. I want to compare the difference between Scen. Reel. and Maestro. Ok...Does DVD that was created in Scen. plays smoothly between each .m2v files ? What I mean is say I have 25 .m2v and it's audio and load them into Scen and I want each to be a chapter. I know taht ReelDVD when compile merges all the .m2v together but when playing it's not smooth between m2v files. So does Scen have the same progblem ? I know Maestro don't have that problem b/c they require you to put all m2v on one timeline and then insert chapters....

[e_z out]

I believe that Scenarist can handle up to 7 different Subtitles and 7 different languages wheras ReelDVD can only do 3 of each. Scenarist supports multiangle stuff too. I believe most people start their project in Reel DVD then open the same project in Scenarist to add the trick bits. This is because Reel has a simpler cut down interface.

I think there is also the possibility to use script files in Scenarist.

[Ekin]

Yes you're right...that Reel doesn't support angles..but Maestro does...I saw the option but haven't have time to play with it...and yes most people create in Reel and save as Scen. script. but my question is still not answered. Does DVD authored by Scen. plays smoothly from one file to another.?? and Why would people spend the time to learn Scenartist which is very very hard. And at the same time Maestro is equal amount of function and easier ... ???

[Dvd@Best]

In my opinion Maestro has the very powerful tools handling the chapters.Lets say u are creating the SONGS Album,in which u may require to create as many tittle set,lets suppose one song in one tittle set, or may be two or three, if u will use scen u will be lost.U will require more time and more work.But Maestro is very good in that business.
When it comes to Complex authoring the Scen is best.And most of movies are complex authored.So world ranked Scen as # 1.
But Meastro has it own rank, in my opinion.It is smooth,and the chances of mistakes/bad authoring/bad video-audio are less.Coz it only accept the right dvd complaint Assest.Also the interface are also very easy to learn.

DVD@BEST

[auenf]

Originally posted by Ekin
eunef: so what "extra features (mainly quirks)" what does that do ?? what is it ?? Oh I have a couple of question to ask you about Scen. because I haven't take my time to learn and tryout Scen yet. I want to compare the difference between Scen. Reel. and Maestro. Ok...Does DVD that was created in Scen. plays smoothly between each .m2v files ? What I mean is say I have 25 .m2v and it's audio and load them into Scen and I want each to be a chapter. I know taht ReelDVD when compile merges all the .m2v together but when playing it's not smooth between m2v files. So does Scen have the same progblem ? I know Maestro don't have that problem b/c they require you to put all m2v on one timeline and then insert chapters....

like i said, the differences between the two are to do with PGC's (maestro has forced full VTS as first PGC in the VTS, scen can overcome this, i hope maestro can overcome it somehow) and possibly more advanced scripting, but i havent got into scne too much, mainly cause of time.

Enf...

[Ekin]

Ok...I am back guys, and I have more question. I spent the last month learning Maestro and ReelDVD. I guess I am pretty good at Maestro and ReelDVD. I know most of it's function/options. Only a couples of features i don't know how to use. But anyways my next goal is to learn Scenarist. I started w/ that following the guide here and I am stuck at the part where I dragged over my menu into Scen. and according the the guide Scen. suppose to ask me if "its a Menu w/ sup-pics or not" or Motion, or Still Menu". I dont' know why it didn't do that..

Questtion #2: Does Scen. allow me to put audio into a still menu? ReelDVD don't. Maestro does.

#3: Do Scen. have timeout function in their still or motion menus? ReelDVD don't. But Maestro does. Maestro lets you timeout and jump to anywhere in the project.

#4: Does Scen. have a function to me to sett that allows me to go back to the Root Menu of the DVD? For example. I have 3 Menus and lets say that I am playing the last chapter of the movie and i press RootMenu on my remote and it would bring me back to the 3rd menu, instead of first menu or the Title menu. Reeldvd can't do that..It will only let you go back to the first Root Menu. Maestro HAVE IT. It will bring u to anywhere on the dvd when you press the RootMenu.

So can somebody please answere these questions for me...Because it will determine if I would spend my time on learning Scenarist. If those things that I've asked and Scen. can't do it..then forget it...I'll stick w/ Maestro and ReelDVD... Thank you....3



P.S: Auenf: can explain clearly "like i said, the differences between the two are to do with PGC's (maestro has forced full VTS as first PGC in the VTS, scen can overcome this, i hope maestro can overcome it somehow) and possibly more advanced scripting, but i havent got into scne too much, mainly cause of time" I don't understand what u mean by Full VTS and PGC...ect... Sorry I am really bad at terminologies..:D

[scryber]

I've used ReelDVD for a while and having just tried out Maestro, I think I can provide a few of the main differences.

Here are things ReelDVD can't do that Maestro can.

-- You can't assign "chapter end" commands. Furthermore, the linking in general is a lot more limited, so you basically are stuck with one "MENU" function.

-- The time display on your DVD player won't work unless you have a single non-looping movie, no menus. It will just display CHAPTER 1 the entire time with no time counter.

-- Mixing AC3 bitrates is flaky. For example I had one movie with a bitrate of 192, and another movie at 448, and it wouldn't accept it.

-- I don't believe you can import chapter points as you can with Maestro.

ReelDVD does provide a fairly intuitive drag-and-click authoring environment, although like I said you give up the ability to fine-tune. For one more example, with Maestro you can end a chapter and go back to a specific menu button on any menu, not just the first button of the only menu, like in Reel.

[auenf]

Originally posted by Ekin
P.S: Auenf: can explain clearly "like i said, the differences between the two are to do with PGC's (maestro has forced full VTS as first PGC in the VTS, scen can overcome this, i hope maestro can overcome it somehow) and possibly more advanced scripting, but i havent got into scne too much, mainly cause of time" I don't understand what u mean by Full VTS and PGC...ect... Sorry I am really bad at terminologies..:D

now you're making me think, i cant remember what i did last week, let alone last month...

when creating multiple PGC's in maestro, you use playlists, each playlist is a PGC or 'title'. when you compile, the first PGC per VTS (ie VTS_01_x.VOB) includes every chapter, then the next PGC's are you playlists in the order that they are listed in the tree.

there are other little things that scenarist does that maestro cant, most of them are very advanced things (like having a subtitle length at a minimum of 1 frame, where maestro wants 15 frames or greater).

Enf...

[EiGuscheMa]

scryber, I find myself to be more experienced with scen than with maestro. Btw I am far away from being a pro. IMHO the main difference between scen and rest of the world is that scen will not "do" much for you, but it will allow YOU to do anything that confirms to the DVD-spec and reject what is not allowed. Just like programming in a high level vs. assembly language
Now,trying to answer your 4 questions:
1.) You can change ANYthing to a menu if you add a subpicture in the track editor.
2.) Still menus and still shows are interpreted as pause-commands by the DVD-players firmware, so they cannot have audio. If you are able to add sound to a still in Maestro, it will create a slideshow automatically. You will have to change this by yourself in scen.
3.) There are a number of ways to create a timeout in scen.
4.) Each language domain can have only one root menu and the players firmware will always lead to that menu if the button is pressed. So if maestro allows you to specify a "branch target", it will create a makro using several GPRMs, IFs, GOTOs and so on which is invisible to you. Again you will have to do this manually in scen.

Using templates works great for me. So I don´t have to re-invent the wheel on every new project.
hope this helps