Movie Maker and TMPGenc

[mekl]

I have been reading this forum and it looks like it is not a good idea to edit in Movie Maker 2 if you want to encode with TMPGenc. I have put a lot of hours into editing with MM2 and would like to end up with the highest quality DVD possible. Are there any suggestion on what I should use to encode and then author? Has anyone ever used avi files from MM2 in TPMGenc?

[edDV]

MM2, if capturing and saving video in DV-AVI format, will work fine with any DVD authoring program.

If you encode to WMV, the authoring choices narrow. Stick with DV-AVI and you will be fine.

To author a DVD, you will need the MPeg2 encoder. Get TMPGEnc DVD Author.
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tda.html

[mekl]

I appreciate your reply. You mention that if I save my MM2 file as a DV-avi, I should have no problem when it comes to authoring. Does this also apply to the encoding process with TMPGenc? I have read that TMPGenc does not accept DV-avi type 1 files which is the format MM2 saves files. Thanks for any help!

[edDV]

You are correct and I assumed wrong. From the TMPGEnc DVD Author FAQ.

"Display the selected item.

Category TMPGEnc DVD Author (en) ( TDA ) Language en
Last update 2004-12-01 (Wed) 15:37:33
Title Cannot read AVI files.
Text It is not possible.
TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.5 does not include a function to encode AVI file into mpeg-1/2. It is only a software aimed to author DVD-Video compliant mpeg-1/2 files into DVD-Video format.
In order to prepare an mpeg-1/2 source file, use a video / MPEG encoder to create a standard mpeg file. (Of course, we highly recommend our software encoders)
Item number 1138"

You would need an upstream MPeg2 encoder. I'm surprised by this.
They want you to buy this additional encoder product for another $40
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tds.html

Almost any other DVD authoring program will accept edited DV-AVI files. I will stop recommending this product.

A default alternative would be Nero 6 Ultra.
http://www.nero.com/us/index.html

This program also includes DV capture and limited editing (NeroVision) as well as good entry level DVD authoring.

ULead DVD Moviefactory is another good general program
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

Sorry for the mixup.

[bamdvd]

FWIW, I use TMPGEnc DVD Author (TDA) to edit (simple cutting and appending streams) DVD-Video home movies from DVD disks. To create titles for that, I create whatever still images I want in PowerPoint (either 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio), save as TIF images, import those into Windows Movie Maker, manipulate them however I want, save as a WMV file, then use TMPGEnc Plus to convert the WMV file to an M2V video file and an audio (WAV?) file, then use ffmpeggui to convert the audio file to an AC3 audio file, then use TDA to import and author the M2V and AC3 files.

Process is not too time consuming and final video quality is excellent. But you do have to purchase both TMPGEnc Plus and TDA. This works for me, it may or may not be your best option.

[p_l]

1. In WMM, save as DV-AVI.

2. Convert with DV Type 1 to DV Type 2 Converter or DVConverter (this is quick and lossless).

3. Encode to DVD-compliant MPEG-2 with TMPGEnc Plus or TMPGEnc Xpress or your favorite encoder.

4. Author with your favorite DVD authoring program.


or... combine steps 3 and 4 by using DVD authoring program that has a built-in encoder, such as Ulead DVD Workshop 2 or Ulead DVD MovieFactory, etc.