@Julia-Huddleston

Hi

Taking your questions in order:

1. DVDA 5 is not guaranteed to work on Windows 11. DVDA 7 does, I use it.
   
   The current Movie Studio is an entirely different program, and, if you want to maintain the same work flow and familiarity then @SP. has given you the recommended software to use.
    
2. No DVDA was discontinued several years ago. You may be able to find a sealed box copy of DVDA 7 on the likes of eBay, however do be careful.
    
3. @SP. has mentioned TMPG Authoring works, I would suggest you download the trial and test it.
   
   Personally I find DVDA 7 to be far superior to both DVDFab, not recommended, and Authoring Works. I have it running on Windows 11 23H2 ie the latest version.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

So do I understand correctly that both Movie Studio 2024 or 2025 Platinum available from MAGIX are completely different programs from and would not be an actual upgrade for Movie Studio Platinum 13 which I purchased from MAGIX several years ago and use now? The information on the MAGIX website looks very similar as far as how the layout appears so I'm wondering what the differences are.

@Julia-Huddleston

Hi

. . . . So do I understand correctly that both Movie Studio 2024 or 2025 Platinum available from MAGIX are completely different programs from and would not be an actual upgrade for Movie Studio Platinum 13 . . . .

Correct.

Vegas Movie Studio (VMS) 17 was the last version of the original Sony code based Movie Studio. Further development was stopped by Vegas Creative Software to concentrate on Vegas Pro - see here.

Magix Movie Studio 18 and later versions are not a direct upgrade to the old Vegas Movie Studio, there have been many discussions on this since the dropping of VMS 3 years ago.

. . . . I'm wondering what the differences are. . . . .

See some of the tutorials in this list.

HTH

John EB

Thank you so much for all the help and information on the links! I've obviously been out of the loop on developments with these particular software programs. I've been quite happy with VMS 13 and DVD Architect 5.0 since I bought them several years ago and had not bothered to even look at upgrades. I guess I will try to install them on the new computer and hope that they continue to work with Windows 11. I don't do anything complex with movie studio - simply making slide shows of old family photos along with background music and a few movie file imports - and then burning them to DVDs with menus so I can share them with other family members. If they will continue to work, I guess I will stick with what I have.

If I do wind up having to buy new software, does Vegas Pro look like and function similar to Vegas Movie Studio? Could I import and convert my VMS files into Vegas Pro or would I lose a lot in the conversion? I really don't want to have to learn all the ins and outs of a totally new program. I still work at basically a beginner level as I don't use many of the features that are available. I use the transitions and media generators, etc. but nothing real complex.

I really do appreciate you sharing your knowledge. I may have additional questions in the future, if you don't mind me asking!

@Julia-Huddleston

Hi

. . . . making slide shows of old family photos along with background music and a few movie file imports - and then burning them to DVDs with menus . . . . .

With Magix Movie Studio you can do all this 'in program' without the need for DVDA, the program will burn DVD and BluRay discs and has editable menus, Chapters, and multi movie capabilities. See this article by Magix.

. . . . does Vegas Pro look like and function similar to Vegas Movie Studio . . . .

The workflows and interfaces are similar and, while Vegas Pro has a DVD/BluRay disc burn capability, it is limited - there are no menu capabilities.

If DVDA does not install/run correctly on the new computer, with Vegas you would be looking at other Discs editing/creation software.

John EB

Can I import and convert Vegas Movie Studio 13 files into (1) Vegas Pro and/or (2) Magix Movie Studio?

@Julia-Huddleston

Hi

. . . . I import and convert Vegas Movie Studio 13 files into . . . .

1. Vegas Pro - AFAIK, yes with no restrictions - another member @Gid may know more than me.
    
2. Magix Movie Studio - yes with some restrictions, the files are imported with basic edits, any effects etc applied in VMS are lost, due to significant differences in the underlying way effects and features work.

John EB

Thanks for the info!

@Julia-Huddleston Vegas Pro should simply open your old VMS13 'vf' files. There is no conversion required. The only problem is if you used Third party effects which may no longer work with Vegas Pro.

@Julia-Huddleston This is Vegas Pro, it will prob look & feel very familiar to you, download the trial & see - Vegas Pro Trial. 👍

@Maju.M

EDIT: Hmmm. It seems that Maju.M deleted the message or something. I answered for nothing.

Hi,

In order to burn 4K to a disc, you would need a 4K/UHD Blu-ray burner that can actually do it and a writable 4K/UHD Blu-ray disc. To watch it on your TV, you would also probably need a 4K UHD optical drive as regular Blu-ray drives cannot support this disc type.

Do you have these? Probably not. Do you have any idea what they cost?

This is not a limitation of the program, but a limitation of equipment and material.

I suggest that you do some research on the subject. Here is an article that contains some info.

John CB

I edited the post, but did not delete it.

In short: 4k 50fps films, I assemble in Vegas, previously I burned discs (with menu) in DVD Architect. Currently it is not possible because DVDA does not support 4K

I'm just looking for a program like DVD Architect but it must support 4K.

"you would need a 4K/UHD Blu-ray burner" - this is not a problem, not unusual nowadays. (100$)

"need a 4K UHD optical drive [...] Do you have these? Probably not. Do you have any idea what they cost?" - Easy to buy. I have it - 200$

@Maju.M

4K/UHD Blu-ray burner for 100$, would be a cheap product. You may want to go with something more robust, of better quality.

And the cost of the discs?

Look at the link that I gave you. It has a description of various products. Depending on which burner you get, Cyberlink may be included. I don't know which version can burn 4K iso files.

As for DVDA, the latest version is 7. It is no longer being developed (Vegas team) and is no longer being sold, unfortunately.

John CB

To be precise. I want a program that will create a menu and play the BD disc on the TV. (e.g. Sony UBP-X500 or better). Just recording any format/file onto a disc is not a problem. Any BD drive installed in the computer does this - especially those supporting M-Disc for about $100 (Asus BW-16D1HT or LG BH16NS55). After all, a BD-R is $1, a BD-R M-disc is $5.

Thanks for the info so far. The first program on the list has the ability to create a menu, very simple but it is there. It's time to test what formats it supports and how much it spoils movies with unnecessary re-rendering.

@Maju.M

Hi

. . . . I'm just looking for a program like DVD Architect but it must support 4K. . . . .

If by that you mean to burn a 4K UHD disc format, then this is not possible.

There is no 4K UHD burner available for non commercial use, nor are there any 4K UHD writable discs on the market.

Be aware that there are many burners, and programs which claim 4K UHD Disc burning support , these are not technically correct, they can burn 4K UHD to Blu-Ray disc, but not in the 4K UHD disc format, due to the 4K UHD disk format licencing conditions being restricted to commercial Film Studios and Companies. The licencing fee is very expensive, in the high thousands to tens of thousand dollars.

John EB
Forum Moderator

Of course, recording a 4K movie (3840x2160) is possible. 50 frames per second - no problem.

I've been recording these for 2 years.

My own videos from a camera or drone in 4K quality. Then processing in Vegas for the full film. Vegas gives files in various formats, e.g. UHD 2160p 50 fps. I can now view these finished files on any computer. There are also plenty of such films made by strangers, e.g. on YouTube.

I added a menu in DVD Architect and the disc was played on the TV.

Today I tested the first program from the list given above (Leawo UHD Creator). It creates the menu as I wanted, the quality of the videos looks ok (at first glance). Tests are ongoing...

@johnebaker

Hi John EB,

It's all very confusing. I'm still shopping for a BD burner.

Here is a burner that purports to burn Ultra HD 4K and it comes with an M-Disc.

What is an M-Disc?

Does it really burn to 4K and if I have a 4K disc playing with my 4K TV (I have neither), will my recording play back in 4K?

Thanks,

John CB

@Maju.M

Hi

. . . . Of course, recording a 4K movie (3840x2160) is possible. 50 frames per second - no problem. . . .

I never said it was a problem, please reread my comment, I was referring to burning 4K UHD discs.which your first comment suggested is what you were trying to do in DVDA which can only burn DVD or Blu_Ray FullHD 1920 * 1080 specification discs.

. . . 'I added a menu in DVD Architect and the disc was played on the TV' . . . .

As a standard Blu-Ray 1920 * 1080 disc ?

Also which build version of DVDA do you have?

@browj2

Hi John

If you look at the full specs for the Pioneer BDR, in the Optical write section you will find there is no 4K UHD burn capability, the only 4K UHD feature available is read (playback).

An M-Disc is a archival quality, write once, disc which claims, when properly stored, the recordings will last up to 1000 years.

John EB

Any Blu-Ray recorder installed in your computer will burn a Blu Ray disc with a movie in 4K quality. They just record the file, they don't check what's in those files.

Vegas produces 4K movies, e.g. with MP4 extension.

Such a video can be played on any computer or YouTube.

If we convert this movie to ISO format, we can burn it to a BlyRay disc and then play it on TV (e.g. Sony UBP-X500 or better).

If the TV supports 4K (currently it is a standard), we have 4K movies on our own TV or on a neighbor's TV.

It's nothing extraordinary.

When I write BlueRay disc, I mean a... disc - a BD-R, BD-RE disc, also in the more durable M-disc version.

Any data can be recorded on this medium.

@johnebaker

Hi John EB,

Something is wrong as there seems to be two models with the same model number, each with different specs:

Pioneer BDR-XD08UMB-S Portable 6X Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray Burner External Drive Bundle with Cyberlink Software Download Installation Code, 100GB M-DISC BDXL and USB Cable - Burns CD DVD BD DL BDXL Discs

Pioneer BDR-XD08UMB-S Pinnacle of The XD08 Series with a Matte-Black Body USB 3.2 Gen1 (USB Type-C) / 2.0 Slim Portable BD/DVD/CD Writer Features The Latest high-Grade Rubber Coating

I can't believe that the only difference in price is that the first one at 394$ comes with 1x100GB M-DISC BDXL, the second one at 123$ doesn't. The one you refer to seems to be the second one.

John CB

@Maju.M

Vegas produces 4K movies, e.g. with MP4 extension.

Such a video can be played on any computer or YouTube.

If we convert this movie to ISO format, we can burn it to a BlyRay disc and then play it on TV (e.g. Sony UBP-X500 or better).

But then you are just creating a data disc, not authoring a disc with a startup video with music, menu, chapters, etc. That is the difference. You can do the same thing by putting the MP4 on a USB stick and plugging it into your TV, can you not?

John CB

@Maju.M

But then you are just creating a data disc, not authoring a disc with a startup video with music, menu, chapters, etc. That is the difference. You can do the same thing by putting the MP4 on a USB stick and plugging it into your TV, can you not?

Yes, but this is the first stage.

After all, I wrote from the very beginning that I was looking for a successor to DVDArchitect - it is a program that creates menus and saves discs in a "language understood by TV"

And this is exactly the program I was suggested here - the first one on the list does just that. it is much simpler than DVDA but... it works.

The end result is a BD disc with 4K movies that plays on the TV.

I'm not English-speaking and probably from a different continent than you. But I think we have similar technology on this planet ;)