newbie needs help putting camcorder tape on dvd with chaters

[vesterlee]

i have just recorded a wedding andwant to put it on dvd with chapters. are there any software and hardware I must use to accomplish this task

[Tommyknocker]

Please begin by reading this guide to get you started on the fundamentals on what you are about to do.

First, the hardware. If your camcorder and computer is capable of firewire, you have the beginnings of a great video.

Next, you will need a DVD burner with disks (hoipefully you have at least one DVD-RW disk with your DVD-R disks to avoid wasting disks if you make a mistake)

Next Software. I would suggest using freeware software in the Tools section at left. The guides you will be using will tell you what software to download.

Note: One of the programs listed (TMPGEnc) is not freeware, but shareware, but you can use it to encode DVD video for a trial period, long enough for you to complete your project, I believe.

The guides. You job will consist of
Capturing
Converting
Authoring and Burning

Just click on each subject to take you to the appropiate guide. Post again if you have problems

[Azza]

For Authoring I would strongly suggest Ulead DVD Workshop. I use this package commercially for my VHS to DVD conversion business and it is fantastic. The best benefit of DVD Workshop is the ease of creating menus and chapters.

For encoding the video you can use DVD workshop or better results with CCE. There is a Lite version of CCE available for about $US 60. Very good value in my opinion.

[HAGGARD]

vesterlee,

Depends on how "pro" you want your DVD!!!
Like Azza said you can use Ulead DVD Workshop, menu's look very simple, but if you want to go for "pro" DVD authoring then DVDMaestro is the way to go!!!
I also did a wedding DVD (my own in fact) and it looks really professional.
Menu's, chapters, hidden video (eg. my wife getting dressed!!! So only me and my wife can watch this!) even a complete photo slideshow!!!
Very high video quality!!! and very high audio quality (AC3).
Captured footage (recorded with 2 DVcams) via firewire to computer with Pinnacle Studio8, also edited with Studio8.
Encoded video (only) with TMPGEnc (8000kbps).
Extracted audio from AVI with virtualdub.
Encoded audio with BeSweet to AC3.
Scanned/Edited photos with Paint Shop Pro.
Created menu's, chapters, etc. with DVDMaestro.
Burnt DVD with Nero.

But it is your decision how you want it to be!!!

'HAG