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  1. Member
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    For the longest time all my DVDs were created using WMM. For what I was doing, WMM worked fine. But I'm finally starting to venture out and try other programs.

    Some programs have sweet features that other programs do not have. Vegas will A and B while Adobe
    has C and D and Cyberlink will have A, C, and E.

    Adobe has stop motion and the special effect where you can flip the image on the screen but I haven't been
    able to find those on Cyberlink PowerDirector 6 yet. So far I like Cyberlink better because it seems like it
    is easier to use.

    My question is, how many of you use 1-2 or 2-3 different programs to make or edit your DVD movies?
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  2. Member Nitemare's Avatar
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    I use a different number of programs for different things. I capture footage with WinDV, I edit the footage using either virtualdub or Vegas (depending on the project and my needs), If I'm using effects it's either particle illusion or after effects, TMPEG to convert (or Vegas if I'm already there) and DVDAuthor to build the DVD and I burn it with IMGBurn.

    If I put a menu on the DVD then it's either GIMP or my old Photoshop 4 (don't laugh... it still works) OR Vegas, where I make my motion menus. Sometimes I use Audacity or Goldwave for audio editing... the list can go on and on depending on the project.

    For simple capture, edit, burn (like the kid's talent show or birthday) I just use WinDV, Vegas, and DVD Architect. On anormal project, I use 5 or six programs.
    Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
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  3. My question is, how many of you use 1-2 or 2-3 different programs to make or edit your DVD movies?
    Those are the only choices, 1-2 or 2-3? Every time I back up a DVD I use at a minimum about 10 programs, sometimes more. But then, I don't use any toys like Windows Movie Maker either. If I were creating DVDs from my own recorded footage the list would be longer.
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    It all comes down to the function level required, as in

    Ripping

    A: dvdfab hddecrypter > imgburn, or
    B: dvdfab hd decrypter > dvdshrink > imgburn

    Then things become more involved.

    Capture > final product

    For capture it depends on accessibility for the user, and possibly hardware involved

    I have windows movie maker, vegas, ulead videostudio, nero express, and others which where supplied with assorted hardware, each have good and bad points, or as some would put it, they find functions in other products less complicated, which is why they might use multiple products to complete projects.

    Also allowing that not all hardware will be accessible by all available programs, bit like apple ipod, a proprietary device that only works with certain programs.

    Vegas = camera
    Ulead videostudio = pal to nstc
    The gimp = menu's, avisynth for motion
    Dvdauthorgui = puts it all together
    Pgcedit = nav command edits
    Dvdshrink = incase output needs a little trimming to fit media
    Imgburn = because you can trust it every time

    Dvd achitect which came with vegas I have no time for crippleware that wont allow for compliant mpeg streams unless generated by vegas, when other products will accept them without fault. It also has some stupid ideas about what navigational commands will be used on the output of projects which need editing with pgcedit before even considering a burn to media.

    So, you end with answers from two groups

    A: One, it dose it all ... you might place mac owners using imovies into this group
    B: What ever gets the job done right, which includes some frome group one, but those that use multiple products
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  5. Member
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    In short, here are the basic stages:
    1. Capturing video footage to your PC. (Suggest WinDV which will save in DV-AVI, which allows frame-accurate edits at the next stage.)
    2. Editing the footage. (VirtualDub for simple cuts; Premiere, Vegas, etc. for a variety of additional editing options.)
    3. Conversion of edited video to MPEG-2 format. (Many conversion options. TMPGEnc Plus is one suggestion. There are others.)
    4. Authoring to DVD compliant files. (Placing menus, chapter points, etc.) GUIforDVDauthor is free. There are many other choices.
    5. Burning to disc. ImgBurn is the way to go. It's free, and it's superior to Nero for this purpose.
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  6. Member
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    An addendum to the previous post: You did not specify your source footage. I assumed it was a camcorder that shoots to minidv tape. That is why WinDV was suggested as a capture program. However, if DVD vob files are your source, you will copy the files to your harddrive and convert to a frame-accurate video editing format (like DV-AVI) using VirtualDub or some other appropriate converter. It is possible to directly edit MPEG-2 files, using something like MPG2Cut2, but it is not frame-accurate, nor can it give you a lot of effects. There are many different routes to go, depending on your source video and what you want to do with it. My suggestion in the previous post was directed at someone dealing primarily with dv camcorder footage. Nitemare's suggestions were similar. Bjs suggested some steps for editing DVDs, although you won't need the PAL to NTSC step, since you're in the US. I hope it's not all too confusing.
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  7. Member
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    Originally Posted by manono
    Those are the only choices, 1-2 or 2-3? Every time I back up a DVD I use at a minimum about 10 programs, sometimes more.
    Wow, LOL. I never would have thought anyone would use more than 3 programs to edit and finalize their videos. I couldn't have been more wrong I guess.

    When I capture my video from miniDV, I use WMM. Again, only because that is all I worked with. But now that I want to make better DVDs I want to learn more.

    Jeez, I was really under the impression that most of you only used max 3 different programs.
    Not counting program to capture your video, only editing programs.

    Am I wrong to feel completely overwhelmed by all of this?
    Right now I have Adobe Elements 4 and Cyberlink Power Director and I keep flipping back and forth between the two to see which one is better.
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  8. Member bendixG15's Avatar
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    To put a commercial VHS tape on DVD, no editing or adds, just straight copy, takes me 6 diferent programs. Part of the reason is because I change the audio to AC3 to get more room for the video file.
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  9. Member
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    WinDV to transfer to PC.

    TMPGenc Express to cut edit, join and encode in one step.

    TDA 2 to author DVD with Chapter menu only.

    ImgBurn to Burn DVD.

    No horseshit motion menus, transitions, voice overs, captions, title pages, images, scrolling credits, etc for me.
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  10. Member Nitemare's Avatar
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    I never would have thought anyone would use more than 3 programs to edit and finalize their videos.
    Yeah. I'm sure most of us would love a single program that would do it all perfectly, but it's usually the old jack-of-all-trades/master-of-none scenario with programs that claim to be like that.

    The most frequently asked for thing on these boards is suggestions for a one-click program that does it all. Rarely does anyone actually recommend one of those, but gives back a list instead. Then at the end there's usually a mulligan of: "Of course, if you don't care about quality you can always use Nero!"
    Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
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  11. Member AlanHK's Avatar
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    Starting with an AVI file:

    1) FitCD to make initial AVS script.
    2) Avisynth to run the script
    3) AvsP to edit the script
    4) wavi to extract audio to wave
    5) aften to convert wave to AC3
    6) (sometimes) Audacity to edit, filter, mix, clean up audio.
    7) HCEnc to convert AVS to M2V
    8) Photoshop to edit a captured or downloaded image as menu background (PNG)
    9) GuiforDVDAuthor to take the AC3, M2V, PNG and create a VOB fileset
    10) ImgBurn to burn to DVD

    Also will probably use VLC to preview DVD files, Irfanview to sort and convert images, MediaPlayerClassic to play audio, Ultraedit for other editing of AVS and batch files, VirtualDubMod to preview AVS files.

    Despite the long list, I can throw together a compilation DVD in about 5 minutes (my time, not including a few hours encoding and muxing) as I've got batch files and templates that I can just execute with one command. Crappy old video that needs to be filtered can take much longer, if I feel the perfectionist urge.
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  12. Member ricardouk's Avatar
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    1- Windv to transfet video to pc

    2- virtualdub to edit video, very small editing

    3- Quenc+avisynth to convert the video to mpeg2 since it converts audio/video in one "go"

    4- if menus are needed i use dvdstyler, for more "fancy" menus i use dvdlab pro

    5- record to dvd with imgburn
    I love it when a plan comes together!
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  13. Member
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    Roxio 8 to capture from Canon GL2 to MPEG2 format.

    MPEG Video Wizard DVD to edit & convert to DVD format.

    Copy to DVD to burn.

    The final footage always looks great.

    What I like most is how fast it all works. Of course the capture is in real time, but after the edit, MPEG Video Wizard converts to DVD in about 10 minutes (1 hour program) & Copy to DVD takes about another 10 minutes to burn. I usually have a short deadline so speed is important.
    I record a 2 hour church service, edit it down to 1 hour and have it on the air that evening.
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  14. Member
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    I love all these posts. It shows that there are many ways to accomplish this. For a lot of people who what to keep things fast and simple, dfisher052's solution sounds quite efficient. It just depends on how you want the final output to play. Jedi5, you have a lot of options, and it may seem very daunting from your perspective. But there are a lot of freeware programs that you can play around with. The learning curve may not be as heavy as you expect. Don't get discouraged. Once you make that first great DVD, you'll be hooked!
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    I see many of you mention WinDV to capture your video.
    What's the difference between having WinDV capture your video as apposed to let's say Adobe Premiere Elements capture your video?
    I know it saves in DV-AVI but WMM had the same option.
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  16. Member bendixG15's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Jedi5
    I see many of you mention WinDV to capture your video.
    What's the difference between having WinDV capture your video as apposed to let's say Adobe Premiere Elements capture your video?
    I know it saves in DV-AVI but WMM had the same option.
    WinDV = Free
    Adobe = $$$$$

    Many people on this site make extensive use of the free software that does good work.
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  17. Member ntscuser's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Jedi5
    My question is, how many of you use 1-2 or 2-3 different programs to make or edit your DVD movies?
    I've lost count of the number of programs I use - seriously - and if my hard drive ever crashed and the backup drive didn't work I'd be seriously screwed.

    Most of the programs I use are either freeware or (unlimited period) trial versions of shareware. I often use an extra program to do a routine job simply because the results are better like using DGindex to demux first when I could import a file directly.

    There are times when I need quick results and on those occasions I tend to use the TMPGEnc + TDA combination which is pretty near foolproof. I can't even think of a one-click I would ever trust to do the same job and please don't anyone bother suggesting one to me.
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  18. Member gadgetguy's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Jedi5
    I see many of you mention WinDV to capture your video.
    What's the difference between having WinDV capture your video as apposed to let's say Adobe Premiere Elements capture your video?
    I know it saves in DV-AVI but WMM had the same option.
    WinDV does one job and it does it well (ok, two, but let's just talk about capsfer for now). You can't have the wrong settings causing a capsfer to try to encode on the fly so you always know what you're going to get. It has a small footprint, buffers the data to minimize dropped frames, and doesn't waste system resources. It's just an excellent program.
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  19. Member
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    I'm still... what is the word?? At a loss of how many programs you guys use. Never ever would I have guessed this many programs to make on DVD.

    Reason 101 why I really enjoy this site. You learn something everyday.
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