digitalFAQ.com Forums [Archives] - What's the best VCD menu-making program out there ?

I have really researched this topic. I have tested several projects and there are some swift menu creation tools in the Ulead packages, Nero Vision (not regular Nero), DVDeo... and sevaral others...

However, those tools control the burning process as well and make it difficult to burn KVCD3 files without wanting to transcode or re-encode the video.

Also, most of those programs make it difficult to add several chapters to a single clip. They are good at making a chapter out of each clip.

If I need a quick and dirty menu I use regular Nero. When I need anything decent I create the menu myself in PowerPoint (or Paintshop Pro if I need complex graphics tools). I use VirtualDub or MPEG VCR to generate screenshots.

It took some trial and error to create a decent JPEG file(s) that would size nicely. Once I had them I just use the same files (like templates) and change the content.

I use VCDEasy to assemble the menu, clips and to control the interactivity.

If you are willing to but the work in you can get what looks like an animated DVD menu. Since you can control each actions interactivity (i.e. what happens for each possible control key... next, forward, #s, return)... you can set up a decision tree that creates an illusion of an animated menu.

It is certainly more work than I want for somethings. In that case I just let Nero generate an automated menu. I do hope Nero 6 has more detailed tweaks for this process.

If a better tool exists I have not found it. I have tried VCDGear but I too used to VCDEasy. They seem very similar. I have just started to play with TSCV but I can't say I have found anything that looks like less work to get nice menus.

Grantman