Best software to author a wedding DVD?

[freedomsbeat]

So I figured that I'd convert my sister's wedding video to dvd as a xmas gift to her and wonder what would be the easiest way to do this... I know how to capture the footage and have all the required hardware - I just need a relatively simple authoring program with templates for weddings and the likes. I'd like to have a few custom menus and to split the video up into chapters - nothing too fancy.. I'd just like it to look very elegant but I don't have a lot of time to create all the menus from scratch. Thanks!

[Tommyknocker]

I know Video Studio is easy to use and has menu templates as well.

[Lynchchrist]

Sonic MyDVD Deluxe would be my recommendation. It is easy to use and creates a very nice end product which can incorporate video, stills or mixed chapters. Each chapter can have a different soundtrack. (which has to be assembled in an audio editor to have more than one song per chapter)(sound forge is what I use) You can burn to a DVD-RW and edit from that disc until you have your final product. If you author a disc with MyDVD into your burner, you can make changes to that project at a later date. Great for works in progress.(especially with RW disc) Very delighted with it.
LynchChrist

[bek]

The absolute EASIEST thing on the market, that I've seen, is definitely MOVIE FACTORY 2. DVD Workshop is pretty much the same thing, although it has a few extra features which can confuse a beginner.

Beware---lots of people don't really know what the word "easy" means. You can't go easier than MF2.

Good luck!

-Brian

[pijetro]

I'm a fan of DVDLab. It has many generic templates (no wedding stuff though), and they're quite pleasing...

[macleod]

MF2 does have a wedding template on it (actually 2 of them).

I also like TMPGENC DVD author as it allows you to do a few more creative things (motion menus, etc.).

[steptoe]

I use both DVD-Lab and TMPGenc DVD Author

Depending what I'm doing depends on which one I use. Mainly TMPGenc DVD Author, due to sheer simplicity for creating simple DVD's


DVD-Lab is better at producing fancier/more professional looking DVD's though, and can do a lot more

[FulciLives]

I vote for TMPGEnc DVD Author mostly because it is very easy to use and a very stable program. I've found DVD-Lab to be unreliable at times.

TMPGEnc DVD Author has very limited MENU designs and backgrounds but you can import any picture as a background. So you can capture images from the video and make them backgrounds or for even better quality scan in some of the wedding photos and make them backgrounds.

Although I have never used it I have heard good things about Sonic MyDVD version 5 deluxe (or studio deluxe which is $99.00)

Both the deluxe and studio deluxe version can do AC-3 audio encoding for you which is pretty neat.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[proxyx99]

If I may cast my vote... I vote for DVDLab.
Transparent, eye pleasing, easy to use, LOGICAL (that's where other programs fail) and powerful enough to make a v.good DVD.
I can't get used to convoluted logic of other programs and after trying many I settled for this one. Discovered just by accident as I was looking for something that can add (or auto-generate) chapters without reengineering the video. Many programs still don't allow that.
Took me 30 min. to make the first DVD and feels like worn-in shoes. No problem adjusting to it. As to glitches, luckily I have yet to see one...
Highly recommended.

[overloaded_ide]

Tmpgenc DVD Author, try the trial version, fully working for 30 days.

Just about everything proxyx99 said about DVDLab I would say also about Tmpgenc DVD Author
I have not yet tried DVDLab myself though so I can't say which would be better.

I know I do like the built in burner in Tmpgenc DVD Author, never so far have I had any problem with a disk I burned with it!

Tmpgenc DVD Author is so easy I think any moron should be able to figure it out easily (though I seem to see alot of questions from people that don't read the built in help and ask the most basic things!), and it does a great job!

Since it's free to try you have nothing to lose.
If you have DVD compliant Mpeg2 files you could knock out a simple DVD in a few minutes or a fancy one in 30-45 once you learn a little about the program.

After capturing VHS to mpeg2 it takes me about 10 minutes to cut parts I don't want, set chapters, add titles etc.. for a simple DVD or maybe a total of 30 minutes for a fancy one including motion menus. About 10 minutes to create the DVD files for simple, or 20-25 minutes with 2 large motion menus. I run it on a 1700xp with 1 gig ram and dedicated hard drives for just video.

With my system (not counting capture time) it takes about 1 hour to create a fancy DVD and burn a full disk at 2x, and of course 30 minutes is burn time

[willy_annand]

Depends what you want as your final product.

All the suggestions given will produce a simple DVD.

Ulead, Sonic and TMPGEnc give you simple functional DVDs, they are all easy, they hold your hand every step of the way. Someimes they hold your hand "too hard". They restrict your creativity.

If you want easy to use, go with them.

If you want a powerful package which allows you to express your creative freedom, go with DVD-Lab (latest version 1.3.1 released last week).

DVD-Lab gives you:

Variable Slideshows,
Motion menus,
Switched menus,
Film strip menus,
Motion thumbnails,

The result is a very professional looking DVD that you can really take pride in. I used to use DVD Workshop, only because it came free with my writer and I did not know there were so much more you could do.

I have also worked with Sonic My DVD, TMPG DVD Author and Movie Factory 2.

My criteria is a quality looking product that does not look "canned". The only product that met my standard was DVD-Lab.

There is a 30 day fully functional trial.
Plus at $100.00 US, it fit my budget.

If this were produced by Adobe, Ulead or Sonic, they would gouge you for $400-500 US.

[overloaded_ide]

Variable Slideshows,
Motion menus,
Switched menus,
Film strip menus,
Motion thumbnails,

Hmm, sounds enteresting

Tmpgenc DVD author also does motion menu's and thumbnails. Though I am sure there are differences in how they are done with DVD-Lab.

What are Switched menus, Film strip menus though?

I been planning to try DVD-LAB, just haven't had time to mess with it yet.
Geuss with a new version out now, I might as well toss out the one I downloaded a few weeks ago and get the new one.

[willy_annand]

What are Switched menus, Film strip menus though?

I been planning to try DVD-LAB, just haven't had time to mess with it yet.
Geuss with a new version out now, I might as well toss out the one I downloaded a few weeks ago and get the new one.

Go for it overloaded...

Once downloaded and installed, there is a short "Quick Start Tutorial" http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/Help/index.htm on the left under "Basics".

Then check out the "Tips and Tricks" http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/tutorial/index.html


Switched Menu: Ok, you probably created already few menus and you are getting familiar with this. Now you can push it even further with a "Switched menus". This is a bit of more work but it sure looks nice.

Here is the deal: We have 3 movies. Now we would like to create a menu which looks simple, but whenever user press the navigation buttons on his remote not only the particular text will be selected but also the image on left will change!

Film Strip: This is a "switched menu" idea brought to the next level. The idea is to have a film-strip with thumbnails and when user move to next thumbnail by clicking the navigation buttons the film will move in opposite direction to center the new selected thumbnail.


Another new one the author just put up........

Keypad Lock: Create a cool keypad-like access to your secret pages. Also works like a small introduction to components. Here is an interesting task (or gimmick if you will) for DVD I mentally created while driving (I often do things this way). Lets create a menu which will allow user to enter a secret number with remote (for example 3 digits) to gain access to a locked part of the DVD. This all will be done by switching menus. That means when user click on any button (or press number on his remote) the menu will link to another menu. And of course we will have to make it work.

Check out the site, very interesting effects can be accomplished.

[overloaded_ide]

Sounds enteresting.

I'm on a terrribly slow dialup at home, but I may go to my new office for awhile tommorow
I'll have to check this out, I have a lan connection to the isp there.

I'll have to take some of my mpeg2 files in with me and try this. But is it simple to learn like for beginers? Someone new wanting to knock out a couple DVDs for Christmas?

Hmm, first time in awhile I'll be burning raw mpeg2 files to DVD -R, geuss it's good I still have some cheapo white top 1x disks around

Ya I have RW too, but the ones I have I have to full erase/format at 1x sometimes a couple times before I can write them again, Easier faster and better to just backup my mpeg2 as Data DVD probably.
I should have mpeg2 disks for demo use anyway, never know when you want to show a person how to do something like make a DVD and need some files to work with

[daamon]

Hi freedomsbeat,

If you're using TMPGEnc to encode your captured footage, this link might prove useful:

http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html

It certainly did for me.

You might want to to check out:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=190482&highlight=

As this may provide some useful info.

Good luck...

[willy_annand]

I'll have to take some of my mpeg2 files in with me and try this. But is it simple to learn like for beginers? Someone new wanting to knock out a couple DVDs for Christmas?

Yes and no...

It depends on how fast you grasp new ideas. If you are looking for a simple Ulead/Sonic style, "here are my files, I will pick DVD "A" this time and click "GO", then no... It requires a read of the "Quick Start Tutorial".

DVD-Lab gives you lots of power and with that power, you have to have understanding or you will definately end up with a coaster.

The first couple of times use a DVD-RW disk.

The tutorials are great though, well organized and thorough.

[andkiich]

I use, now, exclusively, DVD-Lab as it gives me the power I want when I want it, but it can also be very easy to use and take the menial tasks away from you if you so choose.

Before that I used DVDComplete. Very simple, kinda the drag and drop what you want where and click burn type of app. It has various templates, including the wedding video template. It you do not want a lot of customizability, then DVDComplete would fit your bill.

[overloaded_ide]

OK, ya I don't mind taking the time to learn new stuff, I had the original poster in mind though. If he's not familiar with making DVDs to begin with and new on this, Christmas is getting close to be learning alot of new stuff and get the project done. Then add any lost time if he has extra problems, like if the files aren't compliant, burning problems, etc...
About 20 days to get it done, aloughing a couple extra in case he has to mail them or is going away at that time.

Course 20 days should be plenty of time. Long as it's not a hard learning program! Which is why I sugested Tmpgenc DVD author to begin with, great results and fast to figure out.

I seem to have it mastered the way I currantly do everything, so for me it's time to look for a new challange

A better way with more options and choices for fancier disks. If I need to do a project right away, myself I can fall back on my current methodes.
Today or this week I will get the DVD-lab and give that a try.
Now does that program happen to have a built in burner?

[willy_annand]

Today or this week I will get the DVD-lab and give that a try.
Now does that program happen to have a built in burner?

Yes and no.... :P

From the DVD-Lab Help File:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It is common that you are supplied with a DVD recording software that was bundled with your DVD-R/DVD+R burner. This software may be better optimized for your particular drive. The DVD-lab built-in DVD recording module is a general ASPI writing application and should work fine. In an ideal world, either one would work equally well."
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I tried the burn option, but my writer did not like it, so I use Nero.
Start Nero, forget the "Wizard". Select "DVD Video" then drag the VIDEO_TS folder from the right window to the left window. Then click "Burn".

[thete]

Hi

Don;t know if I can be of help, but I just started ediitng medding videos myself this year, and found that the easiest combination is to edit the movie using ULEAD VideoStuidio 7 (Very simple, and loads of transitions, and the ability to grab pictures for slideshow/menus etc). You can must out sound, make titles (I do this with ADOBE Premiere, but this is a much more complex program, but nicer titles, and wedding templates for the titles, then export them into Video Studio). I then save the video as a DV avi file, and use TMPEGENC to convert it to DVD, I do this as Video Studio isn;t very helpful for making the resultant mpeg fiel the same size as a DVD, but tmpegencs wizards do. Then use Ulead DVD Workshop to create the menus, very simple, and you can sue motion menus, have sound of you choice in the background, everythign you could wish for!

I will warn ytou, motion menus can take hours, sometimes even days to render (but only a few minutes to make, the rest is just lettign the computer do it;s job), but they do look nice.

Really, if it says ULEAD, it's usually simple to use, may not have all the features of a more complex package, but has everythign you need to make a wedding video look fantastic!

Hope this helps, and if you want any more help, don;t hesitate to message me!

Alex

[overloaded_ide]

We all like differnet things, I hated Video Studio myself.

As for rendering motion menus for hours or days, I couldn't do that!
Though I am sure it depends much on what type files your using and the system you have. I do motion menu's with Tmpgenc DVD author and it adds maybe 10 minutes or 20 tops to creation time.
2 Nice large menus often.

Course I am starting with DVD compliant mpeg2 to begin with, so I don't have to have a program like Uleads re-encode everything. That's most likely what thakes it so long, also why I never liked the program myself.

Now I think it was Ulead that had Video Wave III, I liked that one for editing in the past, and should re-install it again now and see what I could do for DVDs in that. Been along time, not even sure if it will work on mpeg2 or not.

[thete]

I thinks its because of the file size, if my MPG files are less than 4GB then it doesn;t take as long (although I have about 5 moving images, so that menu still takes about an hour, but the play all button is just the opening scene, so it takes only about 20 mins for that)! Video studio is okay, I know it doesn;t have everything, like it's difficult to synamically change the volume of the muci track, you need to have the same song playing at multiple volumes, on the voice over and mucis track, but most of the time no body needs to change the audio dynamically, just the volume of the whole file, so it;s okay for that. The treansitions are good, and usualy the defualts are okayt, so no need to change them, but if you want to, you can. But I think everyone likes their own program. But I do think this is possible the simplest one out there for it;s power, even simpler than media studio!

[noki]

regarding TMPGEnc DVD Author...problem...
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=191309&highlight=
any help appreciated.