Definitions:Encoding vs Authoring

[bmmill72]

Just trying to get a handle on this (going from video cam to DVD) and the most important thing is to know what you're talking about. After reading the definitions of encoding and authoring they seem very similiar. What is the difference? It seems to me that authoring is just a specific type of encoding.

[JimJohnD]

Encoding = Preparing audio and video assets to comply with the desired output specification. i.e. DVD, VCD or MPG4 etc.

Authoring = Designing and creating the final output product. DVD with menus to Power Point presentations.

[bugster]

Encoding

Authoring

Briefly, encoding is the taking of video in one format (eg, huffyuv avi) and converting it to another format (eg mpeg) suitable for a specific purpose.

Authoring is taking the previously encoded files (suitable for the relevant target format), and formating in a way that is ready to burn to CD/DVD. This may include adding menu's, chapters etc. An authored (S)VCD or DVD may include one or (many) more previously encoded files.

[mats.hogberg]

Absolutely not. By encoding, you prepare the video and audio for authoring. If we concentrate on AVI to DVD: Often, this involves encoding the video from an AVI file as mpeg video, and audio (whatever format it's in to begin with) to mp2 or ac3 or lpcm audio. These are the accepted formats of audio and video for a DVD. In the process, the video might have to be resized to meet the DVD standard resolution too, and the audio may have to have its sample rate fixed.
Then, when all source material is up to standard, they are ready to be authored. This involves multiplexing the audio with video in a special manner, inserting chapter points, perhaps multiplexing in subtitles, create a menu or two with buttons and such...
If I'm to make an analogy, encoding is typing text someone read to you in Notepad. Authoring is then when you take Pagemaker, load the text you've typed in, add headings, indexes, set type face & cetera. To continue the analogy, burning your authored DVD to disc is like printing out your Pagemaker file.

/Mats

[junkmalle]

Encoding/Authoring/Burning: some applications do all three steps for you -- but generally not as good as can be done by finding specialized apps for each stage.