was wondering if anyone knew how to make a dvd slide show with music using pictures? I see lots of differant slide show stuff on myspace ect but i wasn't sure if you could actually make a dvd from the ones off the internet. The music part is pretty improtant too.
Figure that this would be a cheap gift for family members that live far away. If I need to buy a program for this is there any that anyone suggests?

If you're using Windows XP you can download Windows Music Maker which is a free download from Microsoft. It makes movies that that can then be uploaded to DVD.

Check your program list, this may have been preinstalled on your system.

In Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Windows Update. Once all critical updates are loaded, download the Windows Movie Maker.

This Google results page also has additional information about Windows Movie Maker:
Google Search

There are other programs available also, many for free download. Find them by searching on Google and looking for movie making software.

I hope this is of some help!

Dwight

Dwight.. Windows Movie Maker only outputs to Windows Media (WMV) formats, not to DVD. Though, if you go through the process of transcoding to MPEG-2, you can burn it to DVD. What a pain.

(The "recordable cd" option in movie maker simply burns a WMV to CD, or creates a Highmat disc, which is incompatible with just about everything.)

Anywho...

There are some tools out there which will generate a DVD-based slideshow for you. Most are not free (bummer), since the developers have to pay MPEG-2 patent royalties.

A list of various tools:
http://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=28

Roxio Easy Media Creator:
http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/creator/suite/features.html#photo

VCD Easy (Generates VCDs which are compatible with most DVD players. Use if you don't actually have a DVD burner.):
http://vcdeasy.org/modules.php?name=_WhatIsIt

There is another option - just burn the jpeg images to a CD or DVD. Many DVD players (including most of the cheapies) can slideshow whatever still images it finds on the disc.

Picasa can generate good photo cds for use with PCs (A DVD player might be able to pull the jpeg stills, as described above), and is freeware.
http://picasa.google.com/

Hope this was helpful

Thank you JWooden271, I didn't know that but I see that you are correct, as usual.

I appreciate the correction.

Dwight

quote:

Originally posted by Dwight:
Thank you JWooden271, I didn't know that but I see that you are correct, as usual.

I appreciate the correction.

Dwight

* shrugs *

It's a shame that Windows Movie Maker lacks DVD burning, which Apple iMovie (Mac only) makes so easy.

You could also make a slideshow in MS Powerpoint and set it to music and then burn it onto a DVD maintaining the original format. Have done this many times, getting the timing down is a bit tricky but not complicated. Wouald need to save the pictures preferably as .jpeg files and the music can be any type audio file supported by Powerpoint. You can even just play it from CD if you wish.

H P has some software that will do that. the software came with my printer/scanner
memories cd maker or something like that

i was just reading in another post about photojam it sounded like that would work too

I use Adobe Premier, have also tried using ULead with some success...