Author 352x480 - Package?

[Xtasy2002]

Alright I'm looking for the lowest priced DVD authoring package that I can buy. There's so many out there including MovieFactory, Studio 8, etc. etc.. I know there's bound to be several packages that I have never even heard about! All it needs to do is this:

* Import 352x480 or 720x480 Mpeg-2 files encoded by TMPGEnc

* Allow me to slap the movies on to buttons in a simple menu - I click the button, the movie plays. That easy.

* Export the DVD files, it doesn't even have to burn (if it did, that would be fine).. But all I really *need* is the ability to export the Video_TS folders.

* When it exports my DVD, I don't want it to mess with my resolution. It needs to keep 352x480 files as they are and not try to re-size them to 720x480..

Alright.. So given all this, what package can do it for the lowest price? Under $100 please, thx.

PS: Plz don't mention SpruceUp. I'm looking for a package that I can *buy* and that still has ongoing technical assistance and a live support contact.

[chaseru]

Looks like Ulead DVD MovieFactory will work for you. I've used it to author 352x480 mpeg2's created by TMPGEnc. It will accept these files without converting. It can start without menus or with just a simple one and it seems to burn just fine or you can just create the DVD folders and burn with another program.

I wish Dazzle's DVDComplete accepted 352x480 w/o converting since I like their menu's and DVD case inserts.

[Xtasy2002]

Awesome news, chaseru. Thanks for the reply! I am going to download their demo right now and check it out.

[Xtasy2002]

OK so I've downloaded the demo and I'm checking it out.. It seems ok but.. Are there any others I can try out? Certainly somewhere out there has a good low cost editor that can do 352x480 not listed in here?

[Xtasy2002]

Now I have a problem..

Ulead DVD MovieFactory does NOT work out for me.. It is taking 75% of my files from TMPGEnc, and crashing on export.. Saying there's a problem with the original MPG2 file. But I know this is not entirely the case, as I've tried the same file in other packages and they work OK.

So I'm still looking for a low cost DVD authoring package that can handle 352x480, any ideas?

[Xtasy2002]

*PLZ*

Someone out there must have DVD authoring that handles Half D1.. Without spending $700?

[chaseru]

Give MovieFactory another try.

I'm using the latest version of TMPGEnc Plus to encode 352x480 MPEG2 video using most of the default settings from the wizard.

MovieFactory has no problem accepting these MPEG2s without reencoding.

Although other people don't have this problem, MovieFactory doesn't let me import an MPEG2 larger than 4GB and I can't seem to burn successfully with it. These limitations don't effect me too much since I typically have more than one MPEG2 file per DVD and I burn with Nero.

I'm almost done moving my kids VHS movies to DVD. With Half D-1 resolution I'm able to put 2 VHS movies on DVD with quality equal to or better than the original since I'm able to remove much of the video tape noise using virtualdub filters.