A software program for placing home video footage onto DVD and CD media has been introduced to SA by the storage division of JSE-listed Square One Solutions Group Limited, a major distributor of information technology products, systems and solutions.
Known as DVD MovieFactory, the software was developed by Ulead Systems, a leading developer of video editing, image editing and Web graphics software products.
"The software is a DVD authoring program that gives home and office users an affordable and simple solution for sharing high-quality videos on DVDs and CDs. The package makes use of an intuitive, wizard-style authoring workflow that makes the placement of home movies onto DVD and CD a simple, enjoyable camcorder-to-DVD experience," says Lisa Jackson, Square One's divisional manager: storage.
"With Ulead DVD MovieFactory, video novices and enthusiasts can create interactive, professionally designed scene selection menus with two layers of navigation. There is a wide variety of template themes and users can even design their own personalised backgrounds for maximum impact."
Jackson adds that adding background music to enhance menus is simple using MP3, WAV or MPEG audio files. The DVD MovieFactory software allows multiple movies to be included on a single disc.
"DVD menu organisation is highly flexible with a main menu of all available movies on a disc plus a scene-menu to navigate within each video clip. Users can also add an introductory video to their projects so that a video will play before the chapter menu appears. The conversion of home videos into interactive DVD movies has been made easy - anyone can do it."
The DVD MovieFactory software outputs video to DVD, SVCD and VCD for playback on home DVD players and to CD or DVD drives on personal computers. SVCD and VCD are video formats that can be recorded onto CD media and then be played on home set-top DVD players with navigation menus similar to those found on studio-produced DVD movies. Both SVCD and VCD are a cost-effective way for people to create a DVD experience using a CD-R or CD-RW recording device.
To simplify the recording process, Ulead DVD MovieFactory works directly with the newest DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW recorders as well as most CD-R and CD-RW devices without the need for additional burning software. Users can preview the DVD in real time before recording to ensure that the project plays as expected before committing the file to CD or DVD. Also, a disc image of the DVD project can be saved for future burning.
No additional video-editing program is required to use Ulead DVD MovieFactory software. It contains Ulead Video ToolBox for capturing, trimming and creating DVD-compliant files and integrates seamlessly with Ulead VideoStudio 5.0 or Ulead MediaStudio Pro 6.5 so that exporting completed movie projects from these programs into the DVD authoring program is a one-step process. Other video-editing programs can also be used to further customise home movies.
Ulead DVD MovieFactory software supports capture from both analog and digital sources with a simple way to split DV video into scenes using automatic scene detection or manual slicing. Users can capture MPEG-2 files in real-time, edit MPEG-2 files with frame accuracy and produce the MPEG-2 files necessary for DVD creation.
The software has also been awarded Microsoft Corporation's Designed for Windows logo. The Designed for Windows XP Logo Program promotes quality product development practices that ensure a good user experience on Windows XP.
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Square One provides integrated IT-based solutions to corporate, retail and government clients through a reseller channel that, in turn, integrates such solutions for end-users. The core business of the company encompasses document handling and information sharing solutions; networking; hardware, software and consumable products distribution; Internet, IT security (biometrics) and e-commerce technologies; data storage; variable data product marking and coding solutions; uninterruptible power supplies; and value-added business services.
Ulead Systems develops video, imaging and Web graphics applications that empower users to maximise their creativity. The company has a wide range of award-winning products and also supports the Web graphics community with WebUtilities.com and provides photo-sharing services on the iMira.com family of Websites.
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