pro software to create DVD menus

[shagrath]

I wanted to know what softwares some of the companies use to create their professional looking DVDs menus. I am amazed by some of the creative menus I have seen. I would like to be able to create them, motion menus, my own templates etc, not the crap like the ulead moviefactory does. I have tried ulead dvd workshop unitl it reencoded my mpg file already encoded in tmpgenc. Is there a way to turn it of so it will not encode only create the menu and burn the mpg. I know there are softwares much better pro softwares that these companies use, which ones are the most capable to create such amazing menus.

Thanx for any info.

[handycam]

The software used by the Hollywood Studios is called Sonic Scenarist and costs about $20,000. A bit out of my price range.
I like U-Lead's DVD Workshop better than Sonic DVDit!

The way to stop DVD Workshop re-encoding your files is to choose a Higher Bit-Rate in the Make Disc area.

For example, if you already make a DVD-compliant MPEG-2 file at 6000kbps, make sure you select an option above 6000kbps in DVD Workshop. I always choose 8000kbps as my own files are never that high. DVD Workshop only re-encodes if you specify a lower bit rate than what your files already have.

[stormcrow]

Another good choice beside Scenarist (which is the best) would be DVDMaestro (surprise surprise, also by Sonic). This is the program the step under the costly Scenarist, but above DVDit PE and ReelDVD.

[Ekin]

Handycam/Anybody:

Earlier in this thread Handycam has mentioned how to make Ulead DVD Workshop to creat the menu and just burn the MPEG files without converting them. Can you of you show me how ? Like where to go to change the settings ....??

[handycam]

Do you know what bitrate your MPEG files are encoded in? Are they already DVD compliant?

If so then on the Finish tab,
Choose "Make Disc" then "High Quality, 8000kbps, 60 min per DVD"

If your files are LOWER than 8000kbps then ULead WON'T re-encode them.

That's all there is to it!

If your files are higher than 8000kbps or not DVD-compliant (i.e. not the correct resolution, sound in the wrong format, etc. then I guess ULead will re-encode them also.)

[Ekin]

Handycam: ok the tip that u gave me is for authoring DVD but I am trying to do "SVCD". Soo is there a way to do it ? Because Ulead re-encode my MPEG files and the result is that there's onle 1 audio stream left instead of 2. So for example my MPEG fiels stats are:

video_stream 0x00 MPEG-2 Video 480x480 29.97fps 2530kbps
audio_stream 0x01 MPEG-1 Audio Layer-2 48000Hz 224kbps
audio_stream 0x00 MPEG-1 Audio Layer-2 48000Hz 192kbps

After using Ulead, only "audio_stream 0x01" works. So what do i do ??

[handycam]

Hmm. SVCD. For a start, I'm not sure it can cope with more than one audio stream.

As with the DVD though, you select Make Disk but you choose "Customize..."

In the bitrate box that pops up type in a bit rate higher than the 2560 you've got for your movie. If it won't let you go any higher then you will have to manually re-encode your file to a lower bitrate.

[VidGuy]

Don't know about ULEAD, but SVCD can handle at least 2 audio streams (I think that's all it can handle). I mux them with BBMPeg, and can choose between the two streams with the DVD control.

[Ekin]

Handycam: I am sorry to say that Ulead did re-encode my files. I down grade my files to see if it works

video_stream 0x00 MPEG-2 Video 480x480 29.97fps 2230kbps
audio_stream 0x01 MPEG-1 Audio Layer-2 48000Hz 128kbps
audio_stream 0x00 MPEG-1 Audio Layer-2 48000Hz 128kbps

So is there any other way or software that can do menu and chapters....and other stuff..like a good authoring software for SVCD ???

[marsmayhem]

SVCD can support 2 stereo audio streams, 4 mono audio streams, or 1 5.1 audio stream.