What's the best DVD creation prog, in YOUR Opinion??

[ButchNapkins]

Hi everyone.. I'm new to the whole DVD burning process, but am looking to jump in head-first. I've got a Sony DRU500A and it came with RecordNow (which I've upgraded to DX) and Sonic MyDVD.. These look like they could work just fine, but I was also looking at Ulead DVD Workshop because of the advanced menu-generating.. Why don't you tell me what's worked best for you? I'd prefer to get something more advanced such as Workshop, but I don't know, is there another program that's better than that one? I want to be able to create menus with animation in them, be able to divide a movie into chapters, have a special features menu, a picture gallery, use mp3s for menu music, etc.. Please advise, and thanks in advance!


Butch

[JDaCunha]

Try Ulead DVD Workshop trial version and wait till next version (pro) is out. That is what I'm doing. Most people I know use DWS.

[ButchNapkins]

Try Ulead DVD Workshop trial version and wait till next version (pro) is out. That is what I'm doing. Most people I know use DWS.

Just got done trying Workshop's trial software.. It crashes to my desktop after I start a new project, import video in the capture section, and click on edit.. or menu! I've got a 1.8ghz AMD 2200+ XP system with 600+mb ram, so I thought I'd have no problems.. Is there anything else anyone could suggest? What about the multitude of software by Sonic? Like say I've got MyDVD, but I noticed they had like 20 other dvd programs.. Anyone? Favorites?


Butch

[yg1968]

Ulead DMF 2.0 or Dazzle DVD complete. They have trial versions. However, you are better off encoding to mpeg with TMPGEnc.

[MYoung]

ULead DVD WS also crashes on my computer too! I've tried it on 2 computers. It is pretty versitle but the crashing is not good at all. Plus, can it work with transport streams? It seems to want to reencode files. Using a 3rd party encoder like Tmpg is a MUST for DVD creation!!!

[ButchNapkins]

It seems to want to reencode files. Using a 3rd party encoder like Tmpg is a MUST for DVD creation!!!

That's another thing, actually.. I've already sampled my video/audio with my ATI software.. Altogether I have a about 5.5 gb of mp2s that I wanted to go on a dvd. Now I am aware that there is the 4.7 gb limit, but I'd heard that DVD Workshop would re-encode the files to fit on the disc.. Since finding that program not working with my system, I began messing around with Sonic MyDVD.. I imported those files into it, and it looked like it took all the dvd space (and then some, no doubt).. Will that program (or any others besides Workshop) give you the option to have your files re-encoded to fit the 4.7gb mark??? Or do I absolutely have to rerun my files through TMPGenc because most of these progs only accept the exact file size you feed into them?


Butch

[yg1968]

Even if you find such a program. The program would do exactly what TMPGenc would do. That is re-encode the mpeg file into another mpeg file. You may find that this is not ideal. You are better off burning your files to separate DVDs. Or capture with your ATI card to mpeg at less than 8mbs (4 or 5 should be OK).

[ktnwin]

I used Studio 8 to capture, edit video, add transitons, etc.. to author DVD with menu/chapters and also to burn DVD discs.
All with a single piece of software. The MPEG-2 conversion is far from ideal but at bitrate > 6000 Mbits, picture quality is perfect on even the HDTV 65" (this TV will show any artifact in MPEG files)
I am surprised that there is no Studio 8 DVD guide in this forum.

[JDaCunha]

ktnwin,
I think you are lucky. I had all kind of problems with S8 and the quality was awful. I stopped using it and currently I'm waiting for the new release 8.5 (currently in beta stage).

[ktnwin]

Yes, I am kind of lucky with Studio software for the last two years. It always work as advertized for me. One thing to note is I am a software/hardware professional, so I may have a feel for what NOT TO DO to crash the software.

Recently, I ran into audio problem with two home movies about 90 mins each. The audio part seems to have noise in them. I am still trying to figure out what really cause it. The disc plays fine on Apex but not on my Pionneers (the audio problem is the issue).

If there is a DVD software program that works well for everyone (and must be cheap) then I will not hesitate to switch to it though. Somehow, Pinnacle forum cannot be accessed anymore !! so I cannot read from other users.

[Vejita-sama]

I think most people would agree that the best program is Scenarist NT (this is what the studios use). However, it's very expensive and takes 'some time' to learn to use

DVD Maestro is a good 2nd choice as it does nearly everything that scenarist can do but is cheaper and more user friendly. Ulead DVD Workshop and Spruce Up aren't bad programs. But you can do a lot more with scenarist or maestro.

[ktnwin]

I tried to look for info on DVD Meastro but could not find it.
Can someone tell me where to look for ? I already tried the 'Tools" on the left then click DVD Meastro but that site show not much.

[Vejita-sama]

Both DVD Maestro and Spurce Up, where made by Spruce Technologies, which as gone belly up Rumor has it that some people have gotten Maestro using p2p programs thou...

[MOVIEGEEK]

ButchNapkins,
For digital capturing I use Sonic MyDVD and make slideshow/home video DVD's with a menu and the quality is very good(drawbacks are it re-encodes to LPCM audio and only has 3 video settings).
For backing up DVD's and putting my old VCD's on DVD I use Ulead VS6,
VS6 is versatile by letting you adjust the output(video and audio)and make any video format(Real,WMV,MPG,AVI,DV).