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User's Guide
NeroVision Express 3
Bringing the world of video closer to home - Creating
your very own DVD, VCD, SVCD and miniDVD
Nero AG
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The NeroVision Express 3 User's Guide and the NeroVision Express 3 Software
are copyrighted and the property of Nero AG, Im Stoeckmaedle 18, 76307
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Copyright © 2001-2005 by Nero AG
REV. 3.1
NeroVision Express 3 Contents • 3
Contents
1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 6
1.1 Welcome to NeroVision Express 3 ..................................................6
2 Installing NeroVision Express 3 ......................................................... 7
2.1 System Requirements.......................................................................7
2.2 Installation / deinstallation ...............................................................8
2.2.1 Installing from CD................................................................................8
2.2.2 Installing from hard disk ......................................................................8
2.2.3 Deinstalling NeroVision Express 3 ......................................................9
3 Getting Started................................................................................... 10
3.1 Opening NeroVision Express 3 for the first time..........................10
3.2 Getting to know the user interface ................................................11
3.3 Buttons.............................................................................................15
3.3.1 'Help' button.......................................................................................15
3.3.2 'Export' button....................................................................................15
3.3.3 'Save' button......................................................................................15
3.3.4 'Undo' button .....................................................................................15
3.3.5 'Restore' button .................................................................................16
3.3.6 'Back' button ......................................................................................16
3.3.7 'Next' button.......................................................................................16
3.3.8 'Burn' button ......................................................................................16
3.4 Extended section.............................................................................16
3.4.1 Normal and sticky mode....................................................................17
3.4.2 Use no black miniature images .........................................................17
3.4.3 Create menu on disc .........................................................................17
3.4.4 Create chapters automatically...........................................................17
3.4.5 Elements on the timeline ...................................................................17
3.4.6 Time stamp of DV files ......................................................................18
3.4.7 Effects in the timeline ........................................................................18
3.4.8 'Configure button' ..............................................................................18
3.4.9 'Default Video Options' button ...........................................................19
3.4.10 'Erase disc' button .............................................................................20
3.4.11 'Disc info' button ................................................................................20
3.4.12 'Make covers and labels' button ........................................................21
NeroVision Express 3 Contents • 4
4 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video
devices ............................................................................................... 22
4.1 Capturing .........................................................................................22
4.2 Digital video vs. Analog video .......................................................22
4.3 Setting up your hardware ...............................................................22
4.3.1 Digital Video ......................................................................................22
4.3.2 Analog Video .....................................................................................23
4.4 Capturing your first video ..............................................................24
5 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD .................. 28
5.1 Choosing the right format ..............................................................28
5.2 Information on the DVD-Video plug-in ..........................................30
5.3 Starting a video project ..................................................................31
6 Open Existing Project ....................................................................... 43
6.1 Open Existing Project .....................................................................43
7 Editing Your Video............................................................................. 45
7.1 Editing Your Video ..........................................................................45
7.2 Trimming video titles ......................................................................47
7.3 Adding Chapter Marks ....................................................................50
7.3.1 Creating chapter marks manually......................................................50
7.3.2 Adding chapter marks automatically .................................................52
7.3.3 Working with chapters .......................................................................52
8 Create your first slide show.............................................................. 54
8.1 Create your first slide show ...........................................................54
9 Create your first movie...................................................................... 64
9.1 Create your first movie ...................................................................64
9.2 Exporting the movie........................................................................75
10 DVD-Video (VR).................................................................................. 79
10.1 DVD-Video (VR) ...............................................................................79
10.2 Making DVD-Video (VR) disc from videos stored on the hard
drive or on disc................................................................................80
10.3 Adding videos stored on the hard drive to a DVD-Video (VR) disk82
10.4 Making a DVD-Video (VR) disk directly from a capture source ..84
NeroVision Express 3 Contents • 5
11 Menu Layout ...................................................................................... 87
11.1 Menu Layout ....................................................................................87
12 Preview Settings................................................................................ 97
12.1 Preview Settings..............................................................................97
13 Technical Support ............................................................................. 99
13.1 F.A.Q.’s.............................................................................................99
13.2 Contact Information ......................................................................101
14 Glossary ........................................................................................... 102
15 Index ................................................................................................. 106
NeroVision Express 3 Introduction • 6
1 Introduction
1.1 Welcome to NeroVision Express 3
NeroVision Express 3 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 DVD-
Video, 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 3 is fun and easy with no
worries!
With NeroVision Express 3 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 DirectShow-
compatible Video Card, you can use NeroVision Express 3 to capture video from
the Video 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 3!
NeroVision Express 3 Installing NeroVision Express 3 • 7
2 Installing NeroVision Express 3
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 3 supports. Please check to make sure that you
have one of the following operating systems:
Windows 98/SE
Windows ME
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows 2003 Server
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
MB RAM memory. Generally, more would be better.
Hard disk space: 100 MB for the standard installation and up to 9 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
or the list of currently supported drives). Even if 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
Sound card
Firewire (IEEE 1394) and/or USB port (optional)
DirectShow compatible video capture card (optional)
NeroVision Express 3 Installing NeroVision Express 3 • 8
2.2 Installation / deinstallation
2.2.1 Installing from CD
Step 1: Insert the NeroVision Express 3 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 3 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 3 serial number. If you have no serial number, you can get one at
www.nero.com
Some versions of NeroVision Express 3 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.
2.2.2 Installing from hard disk
Step 1: Download the NeroVision Express 3 installer from the www.nero.com
Website onto your hard disk and double-click on the 'NVE3xxx.exe' file.
Step 2: Follow prompts until you are finished installing the software.
NOTE: NeroVision Express 3 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 3 serial number. If you have no serial number, you can get one at
www.nero.com
Some versions of NeroVision Express 3 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.
NeroVision Express 3 Installing NeroVision Express 3 • 9
2.2.3 Deinstalling NeroVision Express 3
Step 1: Go to Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.
In some operating systems, you will find - Start > Settings > Control Panel.
Step 2: Highlight the installed program 'NeroVision Express 3' and click on the
'Add/delete' button.
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 3 Getting Started • 10
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 3 for the first time
Now that we are ready to start recording your first disc, let us begin by opening the
program NeroVision Express 3.
There are two ways to start the software program:
(1) Go to the Start > All Programs > Nero > Nero Digital then > NeroVision
Express. For some operating systems, you will find - Start > Programs > Nero >
Nero Digital > NeroVision Express.
(2) You can also create a shortcut for NeroVision Express 3 on your desktop by
simply going to My Computer > Local Disk (C) > Program Files > Ahead >
NeroVision > NeroVision.exe.
F.Y.I.! The path how to open NeroVision Express 3 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 3 will now be placed on your
desktop!
To start NeroVision Express 3, 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
to purchase a serial number online so that you
are able to register your software copy after the trial period is over.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 11
3.2 Getting to know the user interface
NeroVision Express 3 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. On those screens where you can
carry out a number of different actions, you can use the 'Undo' and 'Restore'
buttons. These let you easily cancel out an action or restore the last actions
undone. This lets you try out a large number of the NeroVision Express 3 features
without having to cancel the entire project if you are not satisfied. Be adventurous
and discover all the things that NeroVision Express 3 can do.
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 3 Getting Started • 12
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.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 13
To help you know where you are and what you need to do, each screen comes
with a name and a brief description.
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.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 14
Step 3: Burning. The conclusion of any project is always the burning process –
whether to disc, as an image file or by writing the data in a file on the hard disk.
Specify the burning parameters, insert a disc and click on 'Burn' – it's as simple as
that.
Step 4: Following the burning process. Once burning is finished, you can decide on
what you would like to do next. Launch Nero ShowTime and examine your project
- or use Nero Cover Designer to create a cover and label for the disc. Of course,
you can also save the project or start a new one.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 15
3.3 Buttons
3.3.1 'Help' button
When you open the NeroVision Express 3 help file, or enter a new serial number,
or would like know the version number, then access the Nero homepage
www.nero.com, click on the 'help' button and select the appropriate command.
3.3.2 'Export' button
If you have added at least one video to a project, you can export the contents of
this project. In the window that now opens, you can specify the export settings and
then export the project. More detailed information is contained the 'Exporting the
movie' section.
3.3.3 '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 3 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. See the
'Open Existing Project' section for more on how to open a saved project.
3.3.4 'Undo' button
If you have changed something in a project and find you do not like the changes,
you can cancel them by clicking on the 'Undo' button. With NeroVision Express 3
you can undo many actions so that you can restore the desired condition even
after having made a large number of changes.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 16
3.3.5 'Restore' button
If you have reversed a change that you made to a project but would prefer to keep
it as it had been, then you can restore things to the way they were before by
clicking on 'Restore'. With NeroVision Express 3 you can restore many actions
that have been undone, so that you can get back to the original condition even
after having made a large number of alterations.
3.3.6 'Back' button
You can navigate through a NeroVision Express 3 project by clicking on the
'Back' and 'Next' buttons. If you want to return to a previous page, then click on the
'Back' button. It is possible you will be prompted to save the project, as the
changes you have made will otherwise be lost.
3.3.7 'Next' button
You can navigate through a NeroVision Express 3 project by clicking on the
'Back' and 'Next' buttons. If you have carried out al the actions and made all the
settings that are possible on the current project page, then click on 'Next' to move
on a page.
3.3.8 'Burn' button
After you have compiled the project and specified the settings for burning, start the
burning process by clicking on the 'Burn' button.
3.4 Extended section
The NeroVision Express 3 interface contains only as many buttons and elements
as are needed. As a result, the user interface is simple to use. An additional,
extended section with further options appears when you click on the 'More' button.
Depending upon which window you are currently in, it may be that not all the
options and icons will be shown.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 17
3.4.1 Normal and sticky mode
If the extended section is displayed by clicking on the 'More' button, then it will be
closed again as a default once you change to the next window. In the so-called
'sticky mode', the extended section will be displayed until it is closed once more by
clicking again on the 'more' button.
The pin in the extended section displays the mode in which NeroVision Express 3
is in. Clicking on the pin changes the mode.
The extended section is in normal mode.
The extended section is in sticky mode.
3.4.2 Use no black miniature images
If this checkbox is ticked, no black miniature images will be used in the menus.
Instead, NeroVision Express 3 will search for an image and use it as the
miniature.
3.4.3 Create menu on disc
If this checkbox is ticked, a menu will be created automatically, allowing you to
easily call up the individual videos.
3.4.4 Create chapters automatically
If this checkbox is ticked, chapters will be created automatically, so that you can
later jump easily from one chapter to another.
3.4.5 Elements on the timeline
If you tick this checkbox, the elements in the timeline will be held together as if by a
magnet when you compile a film. This ensures that text, audio and effects, for
instance all start at the same time.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 18
3.4.6 Time stamp of DV files
If this checkbox has been ticked, the automatic scene recognition feature will
distinguish individual scenes in DV files thanks to the time stamps stored in the
file and adopt them.
3.4.7 Effects in the timeline
When inserting effects into the timeline, two options are possible, though these will
only become effective if one effect is inserted before an already existing one. If a
new effect is inserted, this can shift the subsequent one so that it is used at a later
stage, or the new effect will only fill the space available until the next effect starts.
3.4.8 'Configure button'
Clicking on this button opens the general NeroVision Express 3 application
settings.
Here you can specify, among other things:
The directory in which the temporary files created and
Where the saved media files should be stored.
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 19
The format to be used to store the saved files.
That when selecting the image recorder, all supported recorder formats are
displayed and not only those offered by the installed CD/DVD recorder.
Specify the language in which the NeroVision Express 3 program entries
should appear following program restart (on the 'Country settings' tab).
Which remarks will be displayed (on the 'Message' tab)
3.4.9 'Default Video Options' button
Clicking on this button opens the standard options available for creating a video.
As long as you have not selected any kind of disc, the video options for all the
supported formats will be shown. After you have chosen a particular type of disc,
only the 'General' and disc type tabs will be shown.
Color system to be used for recording the video (on the 'General' tab)
The aspect ratio of the video
Quality settings for reproduction
Bitrate used
NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 20
Line resolution
Encoding mode
Audio format (not with SVCD)
3.4.10 'Erase disc' button
Clicking on this button starts a dialog to erase a rewritable disc.
In order to erase, there must be a rewritable disc in the recorder drive. The erasure
procedure will start once you have selected the method of deleting and clicked on
the 'Erase' button.
3.4.11 'Disc info' button
Clicking on this button will display information on the disc that has been inserted,
such as the type of disc, its available capacity and the number of sessions and
tracks.
Insert the disc that you want to know more about and select the drive where it is
located. The information will be displayed automatically.
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