can't evaluate tmpgenc dvd author

[feh]

I downloaded tmpgenc dvd author to give it a try, and when I run it for the first time, it says my evaluation period has already expired.

What gives?

[overloaded_ide]

That's a good question.
Most likely you may have tried an older version you forgot about, or some other trialware maybe used the same type file for loking a program and it thinks it is thiers??

I have installed 3 versions for testing on various systems and never ran into that myself.

You should e-mail their tech spport on that one!

[feh]

Yup, that's what happened. I had intalled it a few months ago to evaluate it, and I never did.

Crud. I really wanted to give it a try.

[Hardcoreruss]

Where did you download it from ?

[feh]

The primary site, I believe. pegasys-sys.com, or something similar.

[macleod]

Well, all I can offer is, BUY IT!!! It is a GREAT piece of software for what I use it for.

Here are my uses for it:

1. Business to transfer home movies from whatever source to DVD-R. I use the Panny E30 to capture, rip the dvd-r to my HDD, use TMPGENC DVD Author to make menus, chapters, add pictures, etc. and then burn out the DVD-R

2. Take various mpegs and author a DVD (I sometimes also use MovieFactoryII


What are your plans for it? I know I/the forum probably cant give you the same type of evaluation that you'll get from your own touch and feel, but hopefully, we can tell you if it will meet your needs.

[feh]

Actually, I'll be doing very similar things to what you're using it for:

1) convert old VHS home movies to DVD (I also have a Panasonic recorder)
2) archiving of favorite movies
3) eventually: produce my own films (not for resale or anything; just as a creativity outlet)

Interesting that you transfer your vids to DVD-RAM, then to computer for editing/authoring. I've been trying to decide if I should do the same thing, or capture the output from the VCR through my Hauppauge card...

[macleod]

on your #1 & #2 items, if they are commercial, your panny may not allow it since they have some form of protection on them. You can get a sima or some other thing to "fool" it so that you can copy your VHS movies. Course, if they are home movies or stuff not commerically bought then nothing to worry about.

The panny has some compatibility issues with dvd players, so TMPGENC has been a lifesaver for redoing capped video to dvd-r. You can use it to make menus (I think we can agree that the panny menu's blow chunks) and then burn out to a DVDR.

Unfortunately, I dont have a dvdram reader on my computer so I'll make a raw data dvdr with the panny and then do all the nifty stuff on the computer.

I will NEVER seriously do capps using a cap card. I know others are saying that cap cards are great and will give you a great picture, etc., but the panny option blows it away in quality and everything else (in my experience).

I have been checking out peoples' sites that do VHS to DVD and am shocked at the cost. Anywhere from $25 - $60 for just the output from the Panny (1 hour of footage). $15 for chapter settings every 5 minutes, etc. Granted, I have spent about $1k on my overall system so far, but with what is involved for the price is crazy.

I plan on doing the same stuff, but for less I am already getting a backlog of requests (good ole word of mouth).

[overloaded_ide]

Wow.
So what would you consider a decent price

I need to check out some sites doing this work and one person with in about 50 miles I saw an add for.
I am sitting for the first time in my nice new office today. 10 minutes so far, now wondering what I wan to do here
Price was right and I get High speed internet included. Well worth the cost for the ISP service and a place to relax away from home alone, and for a bout $3 a day I should be able to do something to make it pay for itself too

So Back on the subject, Although I do plan to use other programs for the learning experience and more creative options, I think Tmpgenc DVD author is well worth the small price and it's what I plan to use if I do any for hire soon. I used it for all the freebies I made people so far and for my own works. Great program!

On a side note, you say you instaled it several months ago to try but never did then? My sycic senses tell me your not much on system maintance. I bet you have not defraged your hard drive in at least 45 days, probably don't have up to date anti-virus defs, not sure what scandisk means, and are wondering why your system has started running slower recently, not that you ever clean your system registry of useless un-used info, like monthly or several months

For a better runnig system and less chances of errors or crashes you really should do all the above occasionally. Though be cautious of palying with the rigistry and use a program designed for the job. It does help to delete the useless entries that slow your system down.

[macleod]

I am thinking in the $10-$15 dollar range.

Looking at hard dollar costs (my time excluded). I will spend around $2.00 to do a DVD movie. $1 for dvdr for raw footage and then another $1.00 for the output dvdr.

Here is what I have invested ($$$ wise)

1.2g emachine - $400
SVHS VCR - $20 (got it from goodwill of all places)
A05 DVD-R burner - $120
E30 Panny - $295
2" handheld TV to view output so I dont have to hook into a TV - Free with the panny
TMPGENC DVD Author - $60
DVD player(PC) $20

After looking at that cost, I can see where someone may consider charging more, but I would have all of this regardless. With where I am at skillwise, most of this will be simple. Set up Flex recording, push play and record. After finalizing, rip down to computer. Use TMPGENC dvd author to correct files, add chapters, menu, music, pic section, and then burn. I figure my time will be total 2 hours.

I know there have been other posts, but i would be interested in if other people are doing this and what they are charging. I am limiting myself to VHS, VHS-C-camcorder stuff. No projector stuff. Again, from what I have seen on the web for what other people are charging locally and nationally, I am thinking that the consumer would be pretty po'd if they knew how little it takes to convert their home movies. Of course, when I explain how easy it is to do to people, they all glaze over. They are willing to pay a lot to have this done for them.

[overloaded_ide]

I don't want to be hijacking threads, but we are talking the same program still and same basic stuff, I geuss we're ok.

I'm going to give converting for hire a shot, work out my add this weekend and run it next week. Helps that I have friends that own the paper

Anyway I am trying to decide if I want to use the Panny E50 I bought or do it with the ATI AIW and my system I normally work with. Either way I will still author on the PC with Tmpgenc DVD author but not sure if I like the panny or not. I only did one dvd with it so far and was not totally happy. Been a couple weeks I had it and ONE disk, really thinking about returning it for a refund. Did a bunch with the pc durring the same time though
I might give it a shot at the office since I don't plan to take in my main system for awhile.

As for pricing I haven't decided what I thought was a fair price yet. Simple basic disk I thought about $10 per hour of content, maybe $15? But then again it takes almost 30 hours at $15 just to pay for the panny! Not even counting my time, disks, printer, ect... And I will have an extra system with extra parts I would not really need otherwise.
Don't want to price it so high no-one wants it done, but then I been doing alot of freebies and would like some extra money for more toys
I buy what I want, but I still have to live with the wife and I been getting those looks alot last week and this week as the UPS and Fedex trucks come rolling up the drive
I got one more this week yet and one should be here next week too.
I am begining to think it's might be a good thing the office location has a kitchen, and a shower in the bathroom!!

For anything I would normally be doing for other people Tmpgenc DVD author should handle the job with options to spare
I love my motion menu on my disks (the few I have done) but I dought I would do those for others. So far I have not hit a player that would not play a disk burned with the built in burner either, though a DP312 would not play my Nero burned disks. That player I had was junk, don't know if they all were or just that one DP312.

So I plan to burn all disks with Tmpgenc DVD authors burner. Mostly on Ritek printables. One of my incomming trucks, 100 more disks and cases