Which is your favourite VCD/SVCD authoring program?

[vitualis]

Which is your favourite VCD/SVCD Authoring program?

1. By "favourite", I mean the one you use most often.
2. By "authoring", I mean program used to turn your MPEG source files into a VCD -- simple multitrack OR complex menus.

Some S/VCD authoring packages are integrated into a burning suite. This poll is on the VCD authoring component ONLY.
Some S/VCD authoring packages are integrated into a DVD authoring suite as well. This pool is on the VCD and/or SVCD component ONLY.

If you choose "Other", please post a message stating why that is your favourite!

Regards.

[vitualis]

Surely there must be more Nero users out there?

And what about Easy CD Creator and the others?

Regards.

[Sefy]

I tell ya, if you asked what is your General Burning program, i'd vote Nero, but you asked specificly for VCD/SVCD Authoring, so i'd defenetly go with one of VCDImager GUI's, for one, they are free, easy to use and give a hell lot more options even then the best out there commercial software

[vitualis]

Yeah, I'm talking about S/VCD authoring functionality only (so it's a level playing field).

I know that Nero is quite a good general burning proggy but that doesn't really have any particular relevance to the VCD/SVCD component...

Regards.

[tendtend]

NTICDmaker is a great software too, especially if you make menuless VCDs and SVCDs. As far as I know, the SVCDs made by NTICDmaker are problem free.

VideoPack5 is my favorite for both SVCD(with menu) and VCD slide show.

[Sefy]

I don't want to start a debate about which program is better, i'm just giving my general view of things and taking all into perspective, NTI CD Maker / WinOnCD / EZ CD are HUGE installations (12mb /60mb / nearly 100mb and more) Nero is just around 5mb for the basic no menu version (5.048) and the menu version which is newer is about 10mb.

I like the Interface of it, because it gives me alot of information and control over any process I do, and it's the best for what I see, the all-in-one burning program, for the general public.

[2dogs2]

Nero for my $$$

[vitualis]

@ Sefy: not at all! I've have my own opinions on what I think is best, but I'm interested to know what features people like in the other proggies as well.

@ 2dogs2: VCDImager (+/- GUI) and VCD Toolkit don't cost anything though and are much more flexible and powerful!

Regards.

[RFontenot]

vitualis,

I understand your question, but most people don't understand the difference between burning and authoring a VCD.

If you can create a VCD without fully understanding PBC, then you aren't authoring, you're just burning, which for most people is just fine. Even most of my disks are 1.1 VCDs, because I want entertainment, not work.

Authoring a complex VCD/SVCD/DVD with multi-level menus across multiple volumes using PBC, MPEG-1/2, CD-Audio, lo and hi res still pictures and menus is a lot of work.

Most people will never author a VCD, and therefore, will never understand what is involved.

RF

[Sefy]

If we also just consider the money aspect, for those who buy, I think Nero again delivers the best for the least, it is the cheapest of all burning programs currently in the market as far as i've seen (could be wrong, each place might sell for diffrent price).

[vitualis]

I understand your question, but most people don't understand the difference between burning and authoring a VCD.

If you can create a VCD without fully understanding PBC, then you aren't authoring, you're just burning, which for most people is just fine. Even most of my disks are 1.1 VCDs, because I want entertainment, not work.

In my definition, as long as a proggy is converting the source files (MPEG) into a VCD (+/- burning), then I consider it an "authoring proggy". For example, WinOnCD 3.7 (non-PE) can only create simple multitracks but I still consider it an "authoring proggy", just a simple one.

However, (e.g.) CDRWin is not a VCD authoring proggy -- just a burner.

I think it is perfectly OK for a VCD authoring proggy to be simple and easy to use as for many people this is all they want... This is why I framed the question as "favourite" VCD/SVCD authoring program rather than "best"...

Regards.