Photoshop, After Effects, Encore - All You Need?

[EViS]

I am in the process of capturing all my home VHS tapes to .mpg with a 15000 bit rate.

Once I'm done capturing everything I would like to author the DVD's in the following way;

1. Add Menu's with photoshop & after effects (never done this before although used photoshop for a number of years).
2. Add titles between scenes (eg. as seen in many action films such as the Bourne Identity/Matrix, I would like to have a black screen with text being typed out spelling out the title of the next scene/location/etc. and maybe a typing sound if possible)

a) Am I able to do both these points using photoshop, after effects, and encore?

b) How can I accomplish point 2?

c) Do I need software such as TMPGENC to re-encode the .mpg to a lower bitrate ready to be burnt to a DVDR and played on a DVD player? Or will Encore take take of this for me once the DVD is authored? Which method is better Re-encode the video first and then use Encore to Author and tell it not to Re-Encode anything (possible?)?

[edDV]

I am in the process of capturing all my home VHS tapes to .mpg with a 15000 bit rate.

Once I'm done capturing everything I would like to author the DVD's in the following way;

1. Add Menu's with photoshop & after effects (never done this before although used photoshop for a number of years).
2. Add titles between scenes (eg. as seen in many action films such as the Bourne Identity/Matrix, I would like to have a black screen with text being typed out spelling out the title of the next scene/location/etc. and maybe a typing sound if possible)

a) Am I able to do both these points using photoshop, after effects, and encore?

b) How can I accomplish point 2?

c) Do I need software such as TMPGENC to re-encode the .mpg to a lower bitrate ready to be burnt to a DVDR and played on a DVD player? Or will Encore take take of this for me once the DVD is authored? Which method is better Re-encode the video first and then use Encore to Author and tell it not to Re-Encode anything (possible?)?

After Effects is overkill. Expect a long learing curve. Consider Premiere instead which also has learning issues but not as bad a AfterEffects. Premiere is better for video editing, titles* and encoding.

a> yes but learning issues. Encore can encode but I'm not sure of AC3 audio. Normal flow would be Premiere/Photoshop with authoring finish in Encore.

b> Premiere can probably do that using edits.

c> Premiere and Encore include DVD MPeg2 encoding tools (Mainconcept based).


* unless you intend advanced title effects that may take years not months to master.

c)
...
Which method is better Re-encode the video first and then use Encore to Author and tell it not to Re-Encode anything (possible?)?

How are you capturing? "Re-encode"?
What is your Project format?

You should avoid recode if possible. Design a work flow that encodes MPeg one time.

[EViS]

Thanks for your input edDV

I'm capturing at 15,000 bitrate .mpg so in future re-encoding to another format will be less lossy than a DVD-compliant .mpg. I can't afford a DV-AVI capture device after purchasing a JVC VCR & TBC.

Project format? Family VHS videos converted to DVD with english subtitles (some foreign languages are heard) & swish looking menus which I will have an unlimited amount of time to learn to create. I will also have to cut and move verious video clips about...

I was advised by members in the 'capturing' forum that capturing at a very high bitrate and re-encoding will yeild me no noticeable (to the human eye) loss...

So, part c) anyone ?

[edDV]

Thanks for your input edDV

I'm capturing at 15,000 bitrate .mpg so in future re-encoding to another format will be less lossy than a DVD-compliant .mpg. I can't afford a DV-AVI capture device after purchasing a JVC VCR & TBC.

Project format? Family VHS videos converted to DVD with english subtitles (some foreign languages are heard) & swish looking menus which I will have an unlimited amount of time to learn to create. I will also have to cut and move verious video clips about...

I was advised by members in the 'capturing' forum that capturing at a very high bitrate and re-encoding will yeild me no noticeable (to the human eye) loss...

So, part c) anyone ?

If MPeg2 capture is a requirement but you have money for the advanced Adobe Suite tools, I just don't get it.

MPeg2 source needs careful care. If on a budget, edit in Womble products (allows for cuts inside the MPeg GOP), then add your title dividers edited in Photoshop and then encode. Author with what you have.

[EViS]

I have a relative who already has the above Adobe products (hence, me only having those options) but has hardly used them thus can't help me much .

[lordsmurf]

Photoshop is what I suggest as a "need" for menu work, yes. You can get by just fine with the $99 Elements version (or $50 on sale, sometimes).

For capturing, use the best recommended method for your device. That can range from WinDV for DV, to VirtualDub for uncompressed AVI, to something like ATI MMC for an ATI card.

For editing, you only need Adobe Premiere or Vegas for advanced work. Simply cuts and effects can be done in other software. You can work with MPEG in Womble MPEG Video Wizard, for example.

Any decent authoring software. If you have some money, get Ulead DVD Workshop 2. If not, then look at SVCD2DVD or TDA for authoring.

Burn with ImgBurn for free. Use BUILD mode from a folder you author.