Encore CS3 & DVD Studio Pro comparison in master quality

[Joybreaker]

Ok, we all probably know there are differences between these two programs in their features and options etc. But, is there a significant quality difference in the output in the way how safe and working the end result will be in terms of quality? This in terms of using these authoring software for authoring DVDs for mass production. Is there a difference in the accountability for example? Is it likely that the end result of the other of these programs will fail to work in a regular (cheap?) dvd player for example? It would be nice to know, please share if you know FACTS based on real experience. Or are these programs about equal to what comes to the quality of their final output if you don't take in to account things like which looks nicer or smoother?

There are quite a lot of commercial DVDs done with DVD Studio Pro at least, but I don't know how many commercial mass production DVDs are authored with Encore? So, please share if you know cases? And is the reason simply that in DVD Studio Pro it is possible, let's say, maybe to create just a bit smoother menus than in Encore or what? Or that the production houses just happen to often use Macs...? Any input based on facts and real life experiences are appreciated...

[Snakebyte1]

Commercial DVDs are pressed, not burned to DVDR which makes a huge difference, of course, in the universal playability of the disc.

When it comes to burning to DVDR the key factor is media rather than the software. DVD players may have problems with certain brands and/or batches of media regardless of how they were authored. I have used Encoure to author home videos. The same project played just fine on all the DVD players I have tried when the media I used was Ridata (which by the way isn't high on many peoples list). However, I have one player that just will not play at all if its on Memorex media.

Based on lengthy discussion on this forum your best bet would be to use Verbatim and/or TY media. However, you must accept that when it comes to recordable media, at some point in the future you will encounter a player that will choke.

[Joybreaker]

Commercial DVDs are pressed, not burned to DVDR which makes a huge difference, of course, in the universal playability of the disc.

When it comes to burning to DVDR the key factor is media rather than the software. DVD players may have problems with certain brands and/or batches of media regardless of how they were authored. I have used Encoure to author home videos. The same project played just fine on all the DVD players I have tried when the media I used was Ridata (which by the way isn't high on many peoples list). However, I have one player that just will not play at all if its on Memorex media.

Based on lengthy discussion on this forum your best bet would be to use Verbatim and/or TY media. However, you must accept that when it comes to recordable media, at some point in the future you will encounter a player that will choke.

Thank you for your response. Yes the commercial DVDs are pressed and with Encore and DVD Studio Pro you are able to create the VIDEO_TS folder and turn that in to a DDP master in separate software, which then can be pressed. Anyhow, based on your comment, I'm glad to hear that at least in your opinion it's not really about the software, and in this case when comparing Encore and DVD Studio Pro they both should produce about same quality result, right? So, it matters more how it's replicated (or duplicated) rather than which software you created the DVD...If there is more to it, people, please keep on sharing.

[Snakebyte1]

Basically thats right, in terns of playability....

Now in terms of video quality, it comes to software and the key is in the encoding. Some encoders do better job at rendering to MPEG2 than others. Personally, I have been very happy with Encore's encoding. I have taken poor source video to begin with and created a quite acceptable DVD using Encore. Now, what one person calls accpetable or great another may call crap. It gets very subjective. It also depends on the equipment you play your DVD on. If you play it on a 50" LCD you will notice more artifacts than a 27" CRT TV, for example. It also depends on the type of video (fast actions vs slower pans) and the quality of the original source video. Trial and error is the best way to determine what is acceptable to you.

[Joybreaker]

Now in terms of video quality, it comes to software and the key is in the encoding. Some encoders do better job at rendering to MPEG2 than others. Personally, I have been very happy with Encore's encoding. I have taken poor source video to begin with and created a quite acceptable DVD using Encore. Now, what one person calls accpetable or great another may call crap. It gets very subjective. It also depends on the equipment you play your DVD on. If you play it on a 50" LCD you will notice more artifacts than a 27" CRT TV, for example. It also depends on the type of video (fast actions vs slower pans) and the quality of the original source video. Trial and error is the best way to determine what is acceptable to you.

Yes, that is true. And maybe there are more suitable, even freeware software meant specifically for encoding (maybe such as HC Enc?) which do differ between different software, likely in EncoreCS3 and in DVD Studio Pro as well. To be more specific, I'm asking if there are differences in the authoring quality of the DVD master in terms if the DVD eventually works or doesn't, between Encore CS3 and DVD Studio Pro.

[lordsmurf]

Don't be misled, however. Authoring software can make a difference, as some of them are less compliant than others. I've not submitted anything for replication using Encore CS3 yet (I mostly use DVDWS2 or Apple DVDSP), so I can't say for sure if there are issue. Look on the adobe.com forums for complaints, if any.