Authoring software suggestions & tips?

[spmc]

I have been using Ulead Moviefactory as I break my way into DVD authoring and it has worked pretty well. I am now getting to the point where I would like to have a little more flexibility with my menus, thumbnails, chapters, etc.
I would like some feedback from people who have used other authoring software and for them to share with me the good and bad features of that software.
I would most like to find software that has the ability to locate chapter thumbnails anywhere on the menu page instead of in a predetermined template arraingement. Price is also a consideration. Moviefactory does not do alot, but it also does not cost alot. I only burn home videos as a hobby so I am really not wanting to kick down for more than a couple of hundred dollars for software. I like Ulead's Workshop but I have a Pinnacle capture card and the two are not compatible, so please don't tell me how great that product is. I can't use it.
Thanks
spmc

[marsmayhem]

I don't have/use it, but I thought that Ulead released a DVD plug-in for MovieFactory, before they released DVD Workshop (which I use - sorry to hear you can't).

The incompatability problem you mention with your capture card - do you mean DWS won't let you capture through the card, or it won't install with the card present?

[spmc]

MM,
What do you mean DVD plug in for MovieFactory? I am successfull turning out DVDs with Moviefactoy, I just wanted to try other authoring software with a little more flexibility. I would most like to be able to locate my menu thumbnails anywhere on the menu page (like Workshop allows) instead of having the template choose where they will go.
Workshop will not operate with the Pinnacle capture card. When you open Workshop and try to open a project, as soon as you click okay, you see the capture window for about a second and then the screen goes black and and the computer freezes. I called Ulead support about it and all they said was that Workshop was not compatible with Pinnacle. No patch, no workaround, thanks, goodbye. The irony is, I don't even need the capture part of the program, just the edit, menu and burn, but i can't get to any of it. Oh well, perhaps their next version.
spmc

[marsmayhem]

Have you tried termporarily disabling the hardware under Control Panel | Systems?

[spmc]

MM,
No, I have not tried such. It sounds like a great idea though. Problem is, I have limited computer skills and must say I would be nervous to try that without some guidance. Have you done this yourself? If so, can you give me some pointers? Can I easily re-enable my capture card with no problems should it not work?. I have read nightmare stories from people who messed with their capture/editing software (Pinnacle/Adobe) and never got it to work again. I don't want to be one of those people. But I would like to use Workshop if I could. If you can provide any more help, I'm a listenin'.
spmc

[Mirror_Image]

spmc,

Just as an FYI for everyone, which model of Pinnacle card do you have? Workshop supports most (but not all) models.

[Bud]

DVDiT has worked very good for me. I have put three SVCD movies on one DVD-R

Aloha
CArl

[spmc]

I am using a Pinnacle DV500 capture card. Does not seem to work with Ulead Workshop. If someone knows better, I'd love to know.