Lucky bird

Q: How to create audio visuals on a Mac

On Windows I used to be able to make slideshows with photos and music on ProShow Producer or Pictures to exe (PTE) but none of these have Mac versions.

 

How can I do the same thing on Mac?  I have googled a lot and there are longwinded solutions, but I am looking for an elegant solution, a single software programme.

 

Or will ProShow Producer or PTE soon be available in Mac versions?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.0.x), OS X 10.9.5 -

Posted on Jun 3, 2015 6:42 AM

Close

Q: How to create audio visuals on a Mac

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Terence Devlin,Helpful

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jun 3, 2015 7:30 AM in response to Lucky bird
    Level 10 (139,572 points)
    iLife
    Jun 3, 2015 7:30 AM in response to Lucky bird

    Photos or iPhoto, or iMovie is on every Mac sold.

     

    Others, in order of price:

     

    PhotoToMovie  $49.95

    PulpMotion  $129

    FotoMagico $99

    Final Cut Pro X $299


    This is a non-exhaustive list and all are, well, elegant...

     

    It's difficult to compare them more seriously. They have differences in capability - some are driven off templates. some aren't. Some have a wider variety of transitions. Others will have excellent audio controls. It's worth checking them out to see what meets your needs. However, there is no doubt that Final Cut Pro X is the most capable app of them all. You get what you pay for.

     

    Or will ProShow Producer or PTE soon be available in Mac versions?

     

    You'd need to ask the makers...

  • by Lucky bird,Solvedanswer

    Lucky bird Lucky bird Jun 3, 2015 11:06 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2015 11:06 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thank you, Terence.  I will indeed explore Final Cut Pro X.  I looked at iMovie and iDVD, but it seems the emphasis is on video, moreso than on images in both cases.  iDVD is not very positive about handling big projects either...

     

    Have you perhaps worked with any of the mentioned software products in Windows, eg ProShow producer or PTE to tell me how it relates to Final Cut Pro X

  • by Old Toad,Helpful

    Old Toad Old Toad Jun 3, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Lucky bird
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Lucky bird
    I looked at iMovie and iDVD, but it seems the emphasis is on video, moreso than on images in both cases.  iDVD is not very positive about handling big projects either...

    You can easily import multiple still images into iMovie, add transitions and music (if desired) and create a video/movie file of the result.  Or create a slideshow of stills in iPhoto and then access it from iMovie:

     

    iMovie002.jpg

     

    Or you can create the slideshow entirely in iPhoto from stills and export out as a Quicktime movie file.

     

    iDVD will work well with stills except there's a limit of 99 slides per slideshow.  But it is capable of producing very professional looking video DVDs.

    OTsig.png

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jun 3, 2015 12:14 PM in response to Lucky bird
    Level 10 (139,572 points)
    iLife
    Jun 3, 2015 12:14 PM in response to Lucky bird

    No I've not used either of the Windows apps, but you can cut a Hollywood Movie on FCP so I imagine you'll manage a serious slideshow on it.

  • by Lucky bird,

    Lucky bird Lucky bird Jun 3, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Old Toad

    Thanks OT.  The 99 slides per slideshow limit of iDVD is a definite problem for me.

     

    Will iMovie allow me to deviate from the "fit music to images" so that I can manually fit images to music as I please?  I looks like I will have to explore a bit more still.

     

    In the mean time I had a detailed look at Photo to Movie (Terence's recommendation) and it reminds a lot of ProShow Producer. 

     

    You have both been very helpful, thank you.  I was at the stage where I started hating ever buying a Mac!  But I love it and can't go back to Windows!

  • by Lucky bird,

    Lucky bird Lucky bird Jun 3, 2015 12:17 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2015 12:17 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Now you're talking, thanks Terence!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jun 3, 2015 1:39 PM in response to Lucky bird
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2015 1:39 PM in response to Lucky bird
    Will iMovie allow me to deviate from the "fit music to images" so that I can manually fit images to music as I please?  I looks like I will have to explore a bit more still.

    I believe so but you should ask that question in the iMovie for Mac forum.

     

    I have an external HD that has Mavericks installed so I can run iMovie 6 HD.  It's the best version for adding multiple tracks to a slideshow and fitting the music to selected slides.

    iMHD6andaudio.PNG

     

    If you can find an iLife 6 disc and can get a volume to boot into Mavericks or earlier you'll you able to make some very precise movie projects.  After iMovie 6 HD Apple dumbed down iMovie and, in my opinion, ruined it.  I don't sue the new iMovie version but one may be able to add music like you'd like.  Just ask in the iMovie forum.

  • by Lucky bird,

    Lucky bird Lucky bird Jun 3, 2015 11:21 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2015 11:21 PM in response to Old Toad

    Thanks, you've been of great help! 

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jun 4, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Lucky bird
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 4, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Lucky bird
    Thanks OT.  The 99 slides per slideshow limit of iDVD is a definite problem for me.

    Just so we're on the same page an iDVD project can have multiple 99 slide slideshows in it as long as the overall playing time, including menus, is less than 120 minutes for a single layer disk or 240 minutes for a dual layer disk.

  • by Lucky bird,

    Lucky bird Lucky bird Jun 4, 2015 10:37 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2015 10:37 PM in response to Old Toad

    Yes, thanks.  I need to be able to do more than 99 slides per show.