DVDit! or DVD-Lab

[jfebus]

Hi All,

I am in need for a DVD authoring proglam. I got the offer for DVDit ($150) and I tried and I like DVD-LAB ($99).

Which one do you recomend?

Best Regards,

[lordsmurf]

I'll take DVDit! 5 over DVD-LAB any day of the week.

You get the rock solid quality of SONIC SOLUTIONS and the easy of DVDit! all at once. Only thing better than DVDit! in this price range is probably ReelDVD.

For me, compliancy is important, so DVD-LAB is not a choice.

I also like the speed of DVDit! 5 over DVD-LAB. Just use a P4 or AMD+ otherwise you'll hate them both.

[mastersmurfie]

I'll take DVDit! 5 over DVD-LAB any day of the week.

For me, compliancy is important, so DVD-LAB is not a choice.

though I've never used DVDit!, I have used SONIC MyDVD (a loooong time ago) and frankly was not even a little bit impressed with it. Turned me off to all SONIC products.

@lordsmurf: What about DVD-Lab wasn't "compliant" for you? I have never had any problems with it...

And actually, you can't beat the price:

DVD-Lab...fully functioning free trial for 30 days...then $100 for the standard version
Sonic DVDit! 5...$249.99...no trial that I can find...



just a thought

mastersmurfie

[ghosty6]

Neither, DVD Architect 2 in my opinion is the 'bees knees'

Pricey but hey..

[non-linear]

Personally I recommend DVD-lab. That's the only authoring program I use. I find it easy to use and it makes great DVDs.

I'll probably upgrade to the PRO version later when it's available, so I can add subtitles and mix and match resolutions.

[Arky]

@lordsmurf: What about DVD-Lab wasn't "compliant" for you? I have never had any problems with it...

First, let me say that, of the two, I would buy DVDLab over DVDit! any day of the week - Sonic support stinks (see here, for just one discussion about this: w*w.creativecow.net/forum/read_thread.php?threadid=592308&forumid=55&postid= 108618752523992 )

With reference to the DVD-spec compliance of DVDLab's output, this relates to the fact that DVDLab projects are currently known to exhibit errors when run through professional verification software (I have witnessed this firsthand). However, although this issue does need to be addressed urgently by the Mediachance team, it does not mean that projects made with DVDLab are unplayable. If you are a commercial DVD author, on a budget, you obviously cannot risk producing disks that do not verify. If you author only for yourself, though, the benefits of DVDLab's featureset far outweigh the negatives. DVDit! is not professional software simply because it verifies well. Those of you looking to author professional level disks, on a tight budget, and who need decent verification levels, would be better served by using Apple DVD Studio Pro 3 on the MAC, or, at a push, Adobe Encore 1.5 or Ulead DVD Workshop 2 on the PC. Still, this thread began as simple discussion between DVDLab and DVDit!, and to me, the choice is a simple one, despite the imperfections in DVDLab's code.


Arky ;o)

[awlchu]

To all,

Please expand on the compliance issues. What exactly is broken?

[Arky]

To all,

Please expand on the compliance issues. What exactly is broken?

Whoa, now hold on - nobody said the program is 'Broken'.

There are literally thousands of possible minor violations of the DVD spec, many of which go unnoticed by the majority of modern DVD players (indeed, plenty of DVD players themselves do not conform 100% to DVD spec). DVDLab simply does not currently create projects which verify as 100% DVD spec-compliant. It's output is still very usable, and I know the programmer behind many of its core components is working hard to rectify the situation. The current status, though, means the program cannot reliably be used for professional authoring, because it costs too much to have glass masters made, and disks replicated thereafter, only to find that a tiny glitch is preventing the finished product from playing on a certain percentage of players, sensitive to that spec discrepancy. If you do not author commercially, then I believe that the program, despite its flaws, is still by far the better choice of the two programs originally mentioned.

DVDLab will become a very successful program, once the wrinkles are ironed out, mark my words.


Arky ;o)

[reboot]

For anyone's basic home dvd authoring needs, DVDLab does it.
There are simpler programs, there are more extravagant.
Some are severly limiting, some are very expensive.
Once you've tired of tmpgenc dvd author, Nerovision express, and Sonic My DVD's playskool interfaces, limited menu choices, etc., get DVDLab.
99% of users will be fully satisfied with the "regular" version, no need to go for the "Pro", and if you really want a PRO authoring app, you should be prepared to spend far more, on something like Scenarist.

[Zetti]

As far as I've noticed DVD-Lab *PRO* has all the functionality of Maestro and Scenarist, indeed it works with Photoshop menus and DTS audio; subtitles, etc, etc; its interface indeed looks like Scenarist

I'd take the PRO version (but I like to make "pro" DVD's); althoug I admitt I haven't looked carefully at Soni'c "new" DVDit;

Zetti

[lordsmurf]

A thing to note about SONIC products is it'll reject imperfect MPEG files. I hit a brick wall last night on a project, but it's because the source was from another person's capturing, not mine. They obviously didn't follow the rules. Sigh. Used something else for that one. Was forced to make a non-compliant DVD because it was not worth fixing.

[andkiich]

As much as I respect Lordsmurf's opinion on almost everything, I have to respectfully disagree on this topic.

For the money, I cannot find anything that has worked better and with less errors than DVD-lab.

[disturbed1]

Sonic does make a good home product that conforms to the specs. They did not code Scenarist, nor Reel DVD, which are the 2 most commonly refered products in the professional and pro-sumer market.

I just can't decide who has better support, Pinnacle or Sonic Their business model reminds me of Microsoft's. If there is a product out there that's just as good/better, we will either buy them out, or force them out of business.

DVD Lab is for home authoring on the non professional level.

DVD-lab is primary developed for most home users who can't afford to pay close to $1k for authoring software but still want to play with the big buck features.

As stated in the thread about DVD Lab Pro producing non compliant, unplayable discs http://www.mmbforums.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4199


DVD players can be as much to blame as the authoring software. Case in point, Reel DVD and my older Toshiba, Philips DVD players. They refuse to play titles that don't have menus in the correct domain (VIDEO_TS.VOB, VTS_01_0.VOB). Though not entirely out of spec this isn't completley with in spec either.

Today, I'd choose DVD It! over DVD Lab, or even TMPG DVD Author teamed with DVD Remake. I have no doubt, with in time, DVD Lab will come around, but 'til then...............


<edit>

[lordsmurf]

or even TMPG DVD Author teamed with DVD Remake.

What does this combination accomplish. Very interested. All ears.

[disturbed1]

To me, TDA's major down fall is the menu authoring and lack of command programing (end actions, button commands). DVD Remake will let you customize the menu(s) and edit, add, remove, copy commands on all levels for all menus, titles, PGCs, and cells.

There's a free demo for DVD Remake, try it out to see if it's usefull for you. I played around with the 1.4.6 version, and like it, now the 2.0 PRO version offers more.

TMPG DVD Author, with the AC3 plugin, and DVD Remake is a powerfull combo, for me at least