DVD Architect

PAL DVD to NTSC DVD

Purpose Need to convert a PAL DVD to NTSC DVD.

Steps:

  1. Check the PAL DVD on a Win7 computer and play the DVD in Win-Media Player to find out:
    1. If the DVD is 4:3 or 16:9
    2. How many chapters
    3. And check how each chapter starts so that you can id the chapters later
    4. Open Sony Vegas Pro
    5. Set the project properties to either PAL widescreen or PAL 4:3, whichever applies.
    6. Under File, go to Import and select import from DVD
    7. Copy the DVD VOB’s into the RAW/third party/DVD/etc
    8. Place the VOB’s onto the timeline.
    9. Use Regions to Chapter the VOB’s based on findings in 1c.
    10. Use Ultimate S to render the regions.
      1. Render using NTSC widescreen or standard screen as applicable
      2. Use DVD Architect to author and burn the NTSC DVD’s

Covers:

Scan the covers and print them out on photo paper.  The cover size is typically 273 mm X 183 mm.  I found that ACDSee's print allows you to select the top, bottom, and both side margins and whether the image is in the top left, center, etc.  knowing at 8.5X11 paper is 279X217mm one can do the math and adjust the margins accordingly (i.e. 6mm and 34mm for the margins)

DVD Architect Themes

Overview: General information regarding themes in DVD Architect.

Points:

  • Themes are made up of two parts, a folder containing an xml file and images that are all part of the theme.  The folder name is the theme name.  There is also a zip file of the CONTENTS of the theme folder.   The folders are located in the c:\documents and setting\john\aplication date\sony\dvd architect\5.2\  .... themes and user themes folders.  In the themes folder there is a folder for each theme by theme name.  In the “user themes” folder there is zip file of each user theme.
  • After updating anything in the theme folder you must replace the zip file.  Go to the theme folder and clean out any temp files.  Select the files in the folder and right click.  Select “archive...” and the zip option.  Cut and paste the zip file in the theme folder and move is to the “user themes” folder.  Remove the .zip extension.
  • Open up DVD Arch and the theme should be there.  If it is missing, there was a problem with the theme.

 

Win7

c:\program files(x86)\sony\dvd architect\5.2\

 

Copy of  Themes

A current copy (Sep 2012) is located at:

U:\User Data\LHF\12-09-03 DVD Architect themes

GRID vs POSITIONAL

I found that all of the standard themes are GRID layout and the user created are POSITIONAL.  The problem with non GRID is that when the theme is applied the theme’s button text is copied over the current button text.  This is obviously a problem as the text from the markers that form the info for the buttons gets wiped out!!!  With GRID layout themes, the current text is retained.

User themes are created by selecting the File/Export Menu as Theme.  To create a GRID version:

  1. Click the <advanced> button
  2. Then in the table that gets displayed, click on the “POSITIONAL” option (the default) and you’ll be able to change the Theme Layout to GRID.  Once GRID is selected the table’s options will now be un-greyed so that you can change those too.

Further doc:

There is a Sony document on the xml file and all the options that is stored in the downloads folder under Sony and DVD architect.  The document is dated 2005.

Film Transfer Template for DVD Architect - Installing our custom theme on your workstation

Film Transfer Template for DVD architect

      Installing our custom theme on your workstation

there are two sets of files that you need to include in your computers file directory before you can use our custom theme for file transferring dvd architect projects.

UPDATED: Feb 03, 2015

Copy of  Themes

A current copy (Sep 2012) is located at:

U:\User Data\LHF\12-09-03 DVD Architect themes

Steps:

The steps below cover the standard film themes.  However, if you are dealing with older themes when updating older film projects you may find the themes in:  E:\TMM\Internal Projects\2010\10-03-08 OLD Custom DVD Architect Templates

Step 1

    1. go to E:\TMM\Internal Projects\2009\09-08-18 Custom DVD Architect Templates\Step 1\(you are here!)
    2. For Windows 7 open another window and go to C:\Users\~username~\AppData\Roaming\Sony\DVD Architect Pro\5.0\Themes\
    3. For Windows Xp open another window and go to C:\Documents and Settings\~username~\Application Data\Sony\DVD Architect Pro\5.2\Themes
    4. Copy the Group of folders from the first path to the second

Step 2

    1. go to E:\TMM\Internal Projects\2009\09-08-18 Custom DVD Architect Templates\Step 2\
    2. For Windows 7 open another window and go to C:\Users\~username~\AppData\Roaming\Sony\DVD Architect Pro\5.0\UserThemes\
    3. For Windows Xp open another window and go to C:\Documents and Settings\~username~\Application Data\Sony\DVD Architect Pro\5.0\UserThemes
    4. Copy the .thm files from the first path to the second

Step 3

  1. go to E:\TMM\Internal Projects\2009\09-08-18 Custom DVD Architect Templates\Step 3\
  2. For Windows 7 open another window and go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\DVD Architect Pro 5.2\themes
  3. For Windows Xp open another window and go to C:\Program Files\Sony\DVD Architect Pro 5.2\themes
  4. Copy the .thm file from the first path to the second
  5. Open DVD architect
  6. Click on the themes tab and choose Film transfer V1
  7. and if you see our custom template your done!

Much love from spencer