MPEG 2 DVD...Needing your expert advice/opinions here!

[thejourneyman]

Needing your expert help here kids. I've no problems running DV to DVD (fortunately), however, I've numerous clips/mpegs and such that I'd like to put on DVD (primarily interviews, stuff for my kids etc). I've tried several programs, but after reading to exhaustion, tried both DVD Architect and Vegas 4.0 to convert/encode, then tried using Pinnicle Studio 8.10 AND Nero Ultra 6 (w/updates) to burn.
Either I get empty TS folder for Audio, or a file that cannot be seen by Pinnicle or Nero.
I KNOW that you kids get tired of people asking for help with "See Dick run", but I've read, studied and tried into frustration! Im running XP Pro 2'nd ED on a AMD 64 bit 3200+ @2GHz w/1 gig of RAM...know I've got the firepower. As far as codecs...maybe I've too many?...Only have 1 unregistered, which is for MPEG1, so I figured that was of no relevance here.
ANY help/advice would be 'most appreciated'!!!t~

[lordsmurf]

Well, for starters, we're not kids. Most people here are professionals in one field or another, college educated.

And then second, you're using the wrong software for the wrong purposes.

Read this intro guide:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/basics/dvdintro.htm

With the software you named,
- Vegas will edit and encode your video to MPEG-2 (using MainConcept MPEG Encoder engine),
- DVD Architect will author a disc.
- Nero can burn it.
Those are the three programs to use, in that order.

Codecs has no issue here. Pinnacle Studio entirely unneeded. AUDIO_TS is always empty.

For burning with Nero, follow this guide:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/authorburn/nerodvd/nerodvd.htm

[ZippyP.]

Either I get empty TS folder for Audio, or a file that cannot be seen by Pinnicle or Nero.

An AUDIO_TS that's empty is perfectly normal. It's not used on most standard DVD's. Go ahead and burn the VIDEO_TS (which contains the audio and video footage in VOB's) and the empty AUDIO_TS to a DVD.

As for a file that cannot be seen, you will have to analyze it with Gspot and post a screenshot for us to make a guess what's wrong.

[thejourneyman]

Thanks for the info!!!
Certainly didn't mean to slight anyone with the remark "kids"...just a jolly expression (actually, of all the sites I've visited and forums read, THIS site seemed to have the most intelligent and useful information...which is why I joined!)
I will follow the advice and try yet again.
Info is truly appreciated!