Resolved How to create an MP3-with-album-art DVD that will display on TV?

I want to make a DVD that will play in a DVD player, playing songs and displaying the album art for each song on a TV. As background, I viewed the following thread for an answer: http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=60114&page=2

The thread didn't have a suitable answer to my question, which (restating) is how to create a DVD that simply plays music from MP3s (lots of them, from the 1890s to the 1920s) on a TV while the corresponding album art or photos show on the TV screen.

The music doesn't even have to be selectable (although that would be a desirable extra) -- just as long it plays continuously with the applicable album art or photo displayed, like background music with pictures. The purpose is to give the DVD to an older relative who doesn't have a computer and isn't technically knowledgeable, other than in using a DVD player.

My thought (which I think is doable, but very tedious) is to (1) create a PowerPoint slide show of all the album art and images; (2) link the corresponding MP3 to each slide; (3) use a program like mediAvatar PPT to Video Converter Personal to convert the PP show to a video; (4) and then use a program like WinX DVD Author or mediAvatar Video to DVD Converter to create the DVD.

Can anyone suggest an easier solution (preferably free)?

Thank you!

Frank D

BTW: I'd like to be able to preview the results somehow and not have to burn DVDs to test it out or prove it will or won't work. This is not small order, I know!

 

Tony,

Thank you for those suggestions. I tried Windows Movie Maker (2.6) and when I inserted the first MP3 into the new project, I got this fail message, twice: http://gyazo.com/3c432204b5d3f3efd599dee61a8faf57 . I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, if it doesn't like my operating system (Win7 64-bit) or if the program doesn't like my MP3s. I'll keep trying, with other MP3s and pictures and as admin, to see if I can get it to work.

Frank

Update: By taking ownership and running the installation file as admin I was able to get it running. Seems like it ought to enable me to do what I want to do, although with all its whistles, bells, quirky interface and limitations, it's almost as step-laden as PowerPoint. It touts drag-and-drop of audio and images, but that just doesn't work, forcing me to open its dialog boxes and switch between importing audio files and image files and typing song titles. I tried installing the new version, Windows Live Movie Maker, but after three tries and running the OneCare Cleanup program (as recommended by MS) it won't install. So I will leave that one alone and use the old version 2.6 -- or PowerPoint, whichever is easier in the long run. I'd still appreciate any other recommendations for another program, maybe with fewer features, but easier to use. All I really want is an image (the album art or band/singer photo) on the TV screen while the song plays in the background. I don't need transitions, fades, overlaps, etc.

Update 2: After testing another half-dozen programs, I've settled on one of the simplest and most intuitive to use: Microsoft PhotoStory3. It has a minimum of whistles and bells, but is very effective, and just what I wanted. Thanks for your help, Tony!

Frank D