what would you say is the best all rounder re DVD Authoring

[splattergod]

I have tried TMPGEnc and DVD Workshop.

The 2 things I dont like about TMPGEnc is that you cant have background music playing and on the start up screen it gives you the option of play all which is s button (this I like) but for the scene selection you have to have the movie image playing.

The thing I do like about it is the motion menus for the actual scene selection.

With DVD Workshop, this has the background music and you can link the scene selection and play all to either text, buttons, pics etc which makes it look that bit better IMO, BUT I dont seem to be able to have any motion on the scene selection.

Does anyone use different authouring progs that combines all these features in one, and could you give a little bit of info on them, ie features, price.

Thanks

[lechtin]

One favorite here (aside from TMPGEnc DVD Author which you already know) is DVD-Lab. I'll spare you the details as it is always better to see for ourselves. Look for it in the tools section and download the trial version which is fully functional for 30 days.

[phonomas]

Sorry to step in with newbie questions - but what do you mean (splatterg) by "you can't have background music"? Are you saying you can't have an audio track that loops while your menu screen(s) are displayed?? I've been considering buying TMPGenc DVD Author as I've read many good reviews here for it - but that would be a serious drawback in my book.

[CT2]

You can make motion backgrounds and motion scene selection with DVD workshop. All you have to do is select a video file as your button or back ground. Instead of choosing images or buttons, etc. Choose video files and add a frame around it if you like.

[preacher238]

An expensive option is DVD architect. I really like it! However, it is kinda pricy!

[wwaag]

The 2 things I dont like about TMPGEnc is that you cant have background music playing

This is incorrect. You CAN add sound to any background image for example. However, you will need to create an MPG file in another editing application. I use Premiere although I'm sure most any editing application would work. Suppose you want to add background music to a still image. You simply import your jpg image to the timeline, set the duration, add your audio file and then render the timeline to an MPG file. Then within Tmpgenc DVD Author, select your MPG file as the background file and then under motion menu settings, check "additional pictures for background" and set the duration for looping.

Hope this helps.

wwaag

[phonomas]

Cool! I've got Premiere. Thanks wwaag!

[MavDVDR]

You can actually create the "background" .mpg file in TMPGEnc (encoder). Just select any jpg file or movie file for the video and any wave file for the audio and make a short DVD (program stream) mpg - (use 224kb/s for audio).

Just make sure that you make the length (in seconds) of your background.mpg the same as the length you set for the Motion Menus.