Nero NERO VISION EXPRESS 2 user Manual

User's Guide

NeroVision Express 2

Bringing the world of video closer to home - Creating

your very own DVD, VCD, SVCD and miniDVD

Ahead Software AG

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REV. 1.1

1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 5

1.1 Welcome to NeroVision Express 2 ..................................................5

2 Installing NeroVision Express 2 ......................................................... 6

2.1 System Requirements.......................................................................6

2.2 Installing from CD .............................................................................7

2.3 Uninstalling NeroVision Express 2.................................................. 7

3 Getting Started..................................................................................... 8

3.1 Opening NeroVision Express 2 for the first time............................8

3.2 Getting to know the user interface ..................................................9

3.2.1 Save Button.......................................................................................12

3.3 Nero Cover Designer....................................................................... 13

4 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video

devices ............................................................................................... 14

4.1 Capturing .........................................................................................14

4.2 Digital video vs. Analog video .......................................................14

4.3 Setting up your hardware ...............................................................15

4.3.1 Digital Video ......................................................................................15

4.3.2 Analog Video .....................................................................................15

4.4 Capturing your first video ..............................................................16

5 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD .................. 20

5.1 Choosing the right format ..............................................................20

5.2 Information regarding the DVD Plug-in ......................................... 21

5.3 Starting a video project ..................................................................22

6 Open Existing Project ....................................................................... 33

6.1 Open Existing Project .....................................................................33

NeroVision Express 2 Contents • 3

7 Editing Your Video............................................................................. 35

7.1 Editing Your Video ..........................................................................35

7.2 Trimming video titles ......................................................................37

7.3 Adding Chapter Marks ....................................................................39

7.3.1 Creating chapter marks manually......................................................39

7.3.2 Adding chapter marks automatically .................................................41

7.3.3 Working with chapters .......................................................................41

8 Create your first slide show.............................................................. 43

8.1 Create your first slide show ...........................................................43

9 Create your first movie...................................................................... 52

9.1 Create your first movie ...................................................................52

9.2 Exporting the movie........................................................................63

10 DVD+VRs ............................................................................................ 67

10.1 DVD+VRs..........................................................................................67

10.2 Making DVD+VRs from videos stored on the hard drive.............67

10.3 Adding videos stored on the hard drive to a DVD+VR disk ........69

10.4 Making a DVD+VR disk directly from a capture source...............71

11 Menu Layout ...................................................................................... 74

11.1 Menu Layout ....................................................................................74

12 Preview Settings................................................................................ 82

12.1 Preview Settings.............................................................................. 82

13 Technical Support ............................................................................. 84

13.1 F.A.Q.’s.............................................................................................84

13.2 Contact Information ........................................................................86

14 Glossary ............................................................................................. 87

15 Index ................................................................................................... 91

NeroVision Express 2 Contents • 4

1 Introduction

1.1 Welcome to NeroVision Express 2

NeroVision Express 2 is the new video capturing, authoring and burning software

with an incredibly user-friendly interface that allows you to “capture” your videos from DV cameras and other external video devices, and record them to DVDVideo, Video CD (VCD), Super Video CD (SVCD) and miniDVD. With the many features offered in this powerful multimedia software, you will have numerous options for creating and collecting your memories. Even for those who are new to the world of video will find that NeroVision Express 2 is fun and easy with no worries!

With NeroVision Express 2 you can …

 Trim your videos in a fast and flexible way

 Create chapters using automatic scene detection and/or set chapter marks

manually

 Create video discs with your own and customize menus using pre-defined

layout templates and button frames

 Add your own background pictures and text design

 Use the preview mode and the handy remote control to view your video project

… and much much more!

Once you have your DV camcorder, 1394 Firewire card, and appropriate hardware, you are on your way to creating your own movies. If you have a DirectShowcompatible Video Card, you can use NeroVision Express 2 to capture video from the Video Capture card directly. If you don´t have any video hardware at all, you will still be able to work with video files that are on your system or that you downloaded from the internet.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the easy-to-use features of NeroVision Express 2!

NeroVision Express 2 Introduction • 5

2 Installing NeroVision Express 2

2.1 System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

With your system should come a pre-installed operating system. Below you will find a list that NeroVision Express 2 supports. Please check to make sure that you have one of the following operating systems:

 Windows 98/SE

 Windows ME

 Windows 2000

 Windows XP

In addition, DirectX 9.0a should be installed. To download the latest version of DirectX please visit www.microsoft.com/directx/default.asp

Minimum Hardware Requirements

 Your PC must have a 500 MHz processor or higher. 800 MHz (for capturing to

hard disk), 1.6 GHz (for capturing to DVD). A faster processor is recommended for best performance.

 You must have at least 128

 Hard disk space: 100 MB for the standard installation and up to 4.7 GB (for DVD

projects, VCD/SVCD projects require up to 800MB) of HD space for temporary files.

 To burn a DVD-Video disc, you need to have a supported DVD recordable drive

connected to your system. To burn VCD/SVCD/miniDVD discs, you need to have a supported CD and/or DVD recordable drive connected to your system. (Please visit www.nero.com you do not have a recorder capable of burning DVD and/or VCD/SVCD/miniDVD discs, you can still burn a disc image on your hard drive and save it for future use. Once you have the appropriate recordable drive connected to your system, you can open disc images using Nero and/or Nero Express at any time, and burn real video discs.

 Graphics card (800x600 display, 16-bit color) with 8 MB or higher

MB RAM memory. Generally, more would be better.

for the list of currently supported drives). Even if

 Sound card

 Firewire (IEEE 1394) and/or USB port (optional)

 DirectShow compatible video capture card (optional)

NeroVision Express 2 Installing NeroVision Express 2 • 6

2.2 Installing from CD

Step 1: Insert the NeroVision Express 2 CD-ROM into your CD/DVD drive on

your PC.

 If you have a feature called “Autorun” activated, this will start your installation

process automatically.

 If you do not have “Autorun” activated, you can go to My Computer > Click on

the drive letter of the CD/DVD drive > click setup.exe

Step 2: Follow prompts until you are finished installing the software.

NOTE: NeroVision Express 2 works with the same serial number as Nero Burning ROM and/or Nero Express. If Nero Burning ROM and/or Nero Express are already installed on your system, you do NOT need to enter a NeroVision Express 2 serial number. If you have no serial number, you can get one at

www.nero.com Some versions of NeroVision Express 2 that are delivered together with the hardware (OEM versions) may have an integrated serial number, in which case you will also not be requested to enter a serial number. Simply enter your name and company to personalize your software. Then click OK.

Step 3: Restart your PC.

2.3 Uninstalling NeroVision Express 2

Step 1: Go to Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.

 In some operating systems, you will find - Start > Settings > Control Panel.

Step 2: Select NeroVision Express 2 in the Add or Remove Programs window and click “Remove”.

Step 3: In some cases, you will find that when removing software, there will be one or two files that the operating system will ask if you want them removed since they may be shared by other programs. If you are unsure, always opt to keep these files.

NeroVision Express 2 Installing NeroVision Express 2 • 7

3 Getting Started

With the many features offered in this powerful multimedia software, you will have numerous options for creating and collecting your memories.

3.1 Opening NeroVision Express 2 for the first time

Now that we are ready to start recording your first disc, let us begin by opening the program NeroVision Express 2.

There are two ways to start the software program:

(1) Go to the Start > All Programs > Nero > NeroVision Express 2 then >

NeroVision Express. For some operating systems, you will find - Start > Programs > Nero > NeroVision Express 2 > NeroVision Express.

(2) You can also create a shortcut for NeroVision Express 2 on your desktop by simply going to My Computer > Local Disk (C) > Program Files > Ahead >

NeroVision Express 2 > NeroVision.exe.

F.Y.I.! The path how to open NeroVision Express 2 described above can

differ in some versions.

Click the right mouse button on this file and select Send To > Select Desktop (create shortcut). An icon for NeroVision Express 2 will now be placed on your desktop!

To start NeroVision Express 2, go to your desktop and click on the newly created icon:

NOTE: If you have a demo version, please click the “Demo” button for your trial period. Please visit www.nero.com are able to register your software copy after the trial period is over.

NeroVision Express 2 Getting Started • 8

to purchase a serial number online so that you

3.2 Getting to know the user interface

NeroVision Express 2 uses a user interface style that you will find very familiar

and easy to use. It basically consists of choosing a task from the START screen, and then completing the task by navigating through various steps (each step consisting of a new screen) using the "Next" button on the navigation bar. You can move back and forth throughout the various steps of the task by clicking on the "Back" and "Next" buttons in the navigation bar. After you have finished a task, you are taken to the FINISH screen, where you are again given a set of tasks to choose from.

Step 1: Choose a task: Choose what you would like to do by moving your mouse over the items in the task selection menu. As you move your mouse pointer over a project entry, an explanatory text will pop up underneath. Once you have made your choice, simply click your left mouse button to start the task.

For each task, you will find a chapter in this manual that explains all the steps involved to complete it.

NeroVision Express 2 Getting Started • 9

Step 2: Complete a task: depending on the task, you will have to go through

various steps until you reach the end. Each step consists of a new screen. To move to the next screen or to go back to the previous screen, simply use the "Next" and "Back" buttons on the navigation bar.

To help you know where you are and what you need to do, each screen comes with a name and a brief description.

NeroVision Express 2 Getting Started • 10

Some screens include a menu. As you move over each entry, an explanatory text will pop up underneath.

This is the navigation bar that lets you move through the various steps of a project.

NOTE: Each screen contains tooltips, detailed information regarding the buttons, icons or menus and what they are for. Simply hold your mouse pointer for a few seconds over such item, to learn more about them.

Step 3: Finish: Once a task has been completed, you will end up at the FINISH screen where you can once more choose what you would like to do next. When the mouse pointer is over an entry, an explanatory text will pop up underneath. Once you have made your choice, simply click your mouse button to start the task.

NeroVision Express 2 Getting Started • 11

3.2.1 Save Button

If you would like to save your DVD-Video, VCD or SVCD project with all the changes and modifications that were made, click the “Save” button and your project will be saved to a file with the extension of .NVC, which is the acronym for NeroVision Express 2 Compilation. This option is also great for times in which you are not able to finish your layout and would like to continue at a later time.

NeroVision Express 2 Getting Started • 12

3.3 Nero Cover Designer

Included with your version of NeroVision Express 2 is Nero Cover Designer. With Nero Cover Designer, you can create professional-looking labels and covers for your CD/DVD discs with the pre-designed templates or create your very own designs. Please see the dedicated Nero Cover Designer manual (included on your NeroVision Express 2 CD-ROM) for more details.

There are two ways to start the software program:

(1) As a stand-alone application: Go to the Start > All Programs NeroVision Express 2> then > Nero Cover Designer. For some operating systems, you will find - Start > Programs > Nero > NeroVision Express 2 > Nero Cover Designer.

F.Y.I.! The path how to open Nero Cover Designer described above can

differ in some versions.

(2) From NeroVision Express 2: When you have completed a task and are on the FINISH screen, just select "Make Covers and Labels" from the menu and click your left mouse button.

> Nero >

NeroVision Express 2 Getting Started • 13

4 Capturing Video from DV cameras and

4.2 Digital video vs. Analog video

There are two types of video sources – analog video and digital video (DV) which have different hardware requirements.

Digital Video (DV): a DV source means that the video signal is delivered by the device to your computer in a digital format. Such devices would typically be DV Camcorders. All you need to transfer video to your PC is a connecting cable and respective sockets on your PC.

Analog Video: video signals from an analog source need to be converted to a digital format for your computer to be able to work with them. Examples of analog video sources include VHS video recorders, TV, VHS-C, 8mm and Hi-8 Camcorders. Unlike DV sources where the device itself delivers digital video signals to your PC, you need to have a video capture card installed in case of analog video signals. The capture card then converts the analog video signals into digital signals.

NeroVision Express 2 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 14

4.3 Setting up your hardware

4.3.1 Digital Video

Step 1: Please make sure that you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions

on installing your Firewire (IEEE 1394) card or USB card unless it is built-in to your computer or laptop.

Step 2: Attach your DV device to the Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable (or USB cable) then connect it to the corresponding socket on your PC. If your camera is not turned on, please do so now.

4.3.2 Analog Video

Step 1: Please make sure that you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions

on installing your video capture card unless it is built-in to your computer or laptop.

Step 2: Connect your analog video device to the video input socket of your capture card using the necessary cables (please check manufacturer´s instructions regarding which cable is required).

Step 3: Turn on your analog video device.

NeroVision Express 2 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 15

4.4 Capturing your first video

Step 1: Start NeroVision Express 2 and select Capture Video to Hard Drive

NOTE: Capturing video by selecting "Capture Video" from the CONTENT screen of

a DVD, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD project works exactly the same way, the only difference being that your captured video is automatically added as a video title in that particular project.

Step 2: Please select your capture device (i.e. the device that delivers the video signals you want to capture such as your DV Camcorder or video capture card) from the menu.

Depending on your capture device, it will either be in "camera" mode, or in "VCR" mode.

NOTE: Camcorders can be set to either "camera" mode or "VCR" mode. Please check the manufacturer’s instructions on how to do this.

"Camera" Mode

In "camera" mode, video signals are constantly being sent by the device to your PC and you can preview the current video signal in the preview window. In case of a DV camera, whatever you are pointing at would be displayed in the preview

NeroVision Express 2 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 16

screen. A TV card would similarly be in camera mode as there is a constant video signal coming in and there is no way of pausing, rewinding/fast forwarding or restarting the video signal.

"VCR" Mode

In "VCR" mode, the video already exists on tape (or another medium). To capture that video you need to insert the tape into your video device and play it back. You can also rewind/fast forward through the whole tape to play back specific video scenes.

Step 3: After the device has been selected, please decide which hard drive and folder where you would like to save your video capture to, and enter a suitable name. If you are happy with the default settings for name and location, you can just leave the entry as it is.

NOTE: Capturing video requires a lot of drive space. Please make sure that you have enough drive space to capture all your video. Capturing video from a capture card requires about 3-30MB of hard disk space per second depending on the resolution and the data format of your video. DV capturing via a Firewire card (IEEE 1394) requires about 3.6 MB of hard disk space per second.

Depending on whether your selected device is in Camera or VCR mode, certain control buttons will be available and others will not.

Play

Stop

Record

Rewind

Fast forward

Full picture

Next channel

Previus channel

If your device is in "Camera" mode, you can preview the current video in the preview monitor.

If your DV device is in "VCR" mode, you can use the buttons to control the tape. In addition, by selecting these buttons, you can move the video to where you would like to start capturing.

NeroVision Express 2 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 17

To start captures from an analog device, you must start the play back from the video source. You will see the current scene in the preview monitor.

Step 4: When you are ready to capture your video, please click on the “Record”

button

and you will see the picture you are recording displayed in NeroVision

Express 2.

Step 5: You can finish capturing video at any time by clicking the “stop” button

Step 6: To capture more video files from the same source, simply click the "Record" button again when you are ready.

NOTE: You are not able to preview your captured videos until you have added them to a DVD, VCD,SVCD or miniDVD project. When you are working on a project, you are able to preview and edit the captured video.

NeroVision Express 2 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 18

Step 7: To exit the "Capture Video" task, click the "Next" button on the navigation

bar. You will be taken to the START screen where you can decide what to do next.

NeroVision Express 2 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 19

5 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD

or miniDVD

This chapter will help assist you in creating your first DVD disc and/or image. The easy-to-follow steps will show you just how easy the procedure is!

5.1 Choosing the right format

NeroVision Express 2 supports four different video formats:

DVD-Video

Using MPEG-2 technology to compress video files, a DVD-Video can hold up to 135 minutes of video on a 4.7GB DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW in a quality far superior to VHS video or VCD (see below). You are able to view your disc on most DVD players which makes it wonderful for storing all your home videos in the highest possible quality! You can also play DVD’s on your PC if you have the appropriate software and DVD-ROM drive.

miniDVD

In principal a miniDVD is the same as a CD-R or CD-RW written in UDF format with a DVD structure. It offers the same technical options and qualities as a DVD, can create chapters or animated menus and support subtitles and multiple audio tracks (including real digital multichannel sound). While compatibility with all DVD players is not guaranteed, miniDVDs can be played by computers without any problem.

Video CD (VCD)

Using MPEG-1 technology to compress video files, a VCD generates a quality roughly similar to VHS video and can hold up to 74/80 minutes on 650MB/700MB CDs respectively of full-motion video along with stereo sound. VCD’s can be played on most DVD players and on your PC if you have the appropriate software and a drive that can read CD-R/CD-RW discs.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 20

Super Video CD (SVCD)

Very similar to a VCD, this format uses MPEG-2 technology to store video files in a quality roughly similar to S-VHS and can hold around 35/40 minutes on 650MB/700MB CDs respectively of higher quality full-motion video along with stereo sound. SVCD’s can be played on a growing number of DVD players and on your PC if you have the appropriate software and a drive that can read CD-R/CDRW discs.

NOTE: To burn a DVD-Video disc, you need to have a supported DVD recordable drive connected to your system. To burn VCD/SVCD/miniDVD discs, you need to have a supported CD and/or DVD recordable drive connected to your system. (Please visit www.nero.com do not have a recorder capable of burning DVD and/or VCD/SVCD/miniDVD discs, you can still burn a disc image on your hard drive and save it for future use. Once you have the appropriate recordable drive connected to your system, you can open disc images using Nero and/or Nero Express at any time, and burn real video discs.

for the list of currently supported drives). Even if you

5.2 Information regarding the DVD Plug-in

In order to create and encode video to DVD-Video and/or Super Video CD (SVCD) and/or miniDVD standard, the source video files need to be encoded into the appropriate MPEG-2 format. SVCD's, miniDVD and DVD-Video discs can then be created on the appropriate hardware for playback on compatible DVD players.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 21

5.3 Starting a video project

Step 1: Select Burn Video to > DVD (or VCD, SVCD, miniDVD) from the main

“Start” screen and click your left mouse button to start a new project.

Step 2: Starting the project takes you to the CONTENT screen. This is the place you add video-titles to your project. You can think of a video title as one video file or one movie.

If you need to capture video for your project, please refer to the chapter 'Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices' of this manual.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 22

If you have already captured your video or have video previously saved on your hard disk and would like to start creating your layout, click Add Video Files in the CONTENT window.

Please select the file(s) you would like to add to the project from your hard disk, external drive or CD/DVD drive and click “Open”.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 23

Step 3: As you add each video file, a small screen shot of the first frame of the

video title will be shown. By selecting a video title in the menu, you can use the arrow keys on the top right to move it more to the beginning or end of the project. You can also rename the video title, or remove the video title from the project.

Next to the “thumbnail” of the first frame, you will also see the length of the video and the number of chapters displayed. Each video title consists of at least one "chapter". A chapter is a certain point in the video title where there is a mark or reference point to it. The more reference points you make in the video, the more chapters you have. The advantage of having a video title with several chapters is that you can access each chapter directly during playback without having to fast forward or rewind through the title.

NOTE: The indicator meter at the bottom will show and measure how much space you have left for your project. The total space available depends on whether you are working on a DVD, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD project.

Step 4: (optional): You can select each title individually and edit the video file by clicking on the Edit Title icon. On the edit screen you can trim video titles (cut out unwanted video segments at the beginning and/or end of the title). To find out more about how to edit video titles, please refer to Chapter 7 'Editing Your Video' in this manual.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 24

Step 5: (optional): You can select each title and add chapter marks to the video.

Chapter marks are positions within a video title that you can access directly without having to fast forward or rewind through the whole video. To find out more about how to edit video titles, please refer to Chapter 7.3.1 'Creating chapter marks manually' in this manual.

Step 6: Clicking “Next” in the CONTENT screen takes you to CREATE MENU. In the “Create Menu” window, you will be able to design the layout of your video such as the color of the background, font, text size, etc by moving your mouse over the respective entry and making your selection. Every video file and chapter will have a button associated with it.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 25

You are able to have up to two hierarchies within your layout. The main menu consists of all the video titles in the project. If a video title consists of more than one chapter, a video title sub-menu is generated. When you make changes, all menu hierarchies can be customized independently of each other.

You can select the menu you would like to customize by selecting from the drop down box in the bottom left corner and clicking on the appropriate entry.

Note: Should the buttons not all fit on one menu screen, you can use the menu navigation buttons to move from screen to screen.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 26

Switches to the first page of the selected menu in the previous window

Switches to the previous page of the selected menu in the previous window

Switches to the next page of the selected menu in the previous window

Switches to the last page of the selected menu in the previous window

Opens a window in which the selected chapter can be renamed and the displayed image modified.

For additional information on the individual menu layout settings, please refer to chapter “Menu Layout”.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 27

Step 7: If you are happy with the current design, click "Next" to enter the PREVIEW

page. Using your mouse pointer or the remote control, you can test what your DVD, VCD or SVCD disc would behave like if played back on a compatible player. For additional information on how to use the remote control, please refer to chapter “Menu Layout”.

Step 8: Once you are satisfied with your project, you can now proceed to the BURN OPTIONS page and burn your DVD, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD by clicking “Next”. You may now make your final settings before burning.

NeroVision Express 2 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 28

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