DVD Workshop 2 Vs. DVD Architect 2

[sdsumike619]

I'm currently a DVDWS2 user and am thinking about looking into Sony's new version of DVD Architect. What does everyone think? I'm a big fan of Vegas so my assumptions about their DVD authoring component are optimistic, should they be? all input is appreciated!

mike

[joecav]

I've always been a fan of DVD Architect myself but must admit, never used DVDWS2 so I can't compare the two.

As far as making great menus (motion, sound, excellent control over various elements) DVDA2 (and DVDA1) have been great. It's a little fickle about the appropriate "compliant" files it accepts, but other than, it has treated me very well. I would read the reviews in the Tools section to get a better feel for what others think of it. If you decide to use it and have questions, PM me and I'll try to help.

[sdsumike619]

ok thanks, I will do that =) I've been able to turn out some pretty nice looking stuff in DVDWS2 without even using some of its advanced features but I will def lookin into DVDA2

[sdsumike619]

What? No one on their computers today? I must be the only one working here haha--

[lordsmurf]

What does Architect offer beyond DVDWS2? I just bit the bullet and bought DVDWS2AC3 here last week. It looks like it'll do what I want, trial ran great, an upgrade to my DVDit! PE since DVDit! 5 was a dud.

Motion menus, multi VTS, PSDs. I can do high quality pro menus, but with a drag-n-drop interface so workflow is fast and easy. Not cludgy like DVD-Lab or ReelDVD or DVD Studio Pro.

What do you want to do that DVDWSAC3 cannot do?

[sdsumike619]

how does the program itself run on your computer? To me the program LAGS big time in everything it does, e.g. switching to diff parts of the program or adding titles, or assigning audio tracks to titles. It always just has the feeling simliar to when your computer is just about out of memory and things start to slow down and it lags, and I know my system is fine. The video that plays in that big preview window always appears out of sync and looks like it's very low quality. These are things that just annoy me, but a major problem is the "play all titles" function. If you use that for a "play video" button on your menu, I've discovered that it works provided that the user doesn't skip to a new chapter. If he/she does skip, it will return you to the main menu of the DVD after that particular chapter is over. So for instance, if you're producing a movie, and you have a chapter for opening credits, and the user hits the "next" button his remote to go to say, the beginning of the movie, this will disrupt the "play all titles" functionality for some reason. Try it for yourself and see...

[lordsmurf]

I'll only be using it on my primary system.
P4 1.8, Intel motherboard 400FSB, 1GB RDRAM, 600GB space.

The trial ran clean for me. I ran through a project pretty fast.

Your not really going from chapter to chapter, but title to title. This would be an obnoxious bug, and I'll test it myself. However, I rarely have projects that require title jumping like that.

[joecav]

What does Architect offer beyond DVDWS2?

To whom are you referencing here?

[lordsmurf]

What does Architect offer beyond DVDWS2?

To whom are you referencing here?

Anybody.
I don't know too much about the current Architect.

[sdsumike619]

I'm still trying to find out if that error people are reporting is due to duplication or the authoring software and it's driving me nuts!

[sdsumike619]

actually I didn't even describe it in this thread...basically, i've been getting reports that when people push the next or previous chapter button ON their remote to skip manually while the DVD is playing, nothing happens.. It has happened on both tabletop players and computers too. However it's not 100%, i.e. it works fine in both my computer and my dvd player. Is there a way to find out?

[joecav]

I have never has such an error as you describe using DVD-A...

[ghosty6]

I moved from DVDW2 to DVDA2 and have not looked back.

Interface and workflow is much easier.
Motion menus and buttons are a breeze
Subtitles chaptors are easier to create.
Preview is real time and works.
Automatic scene selection menu generation.

I could go on...but take the challenge and try the trial version.