DVD Authoring under $500?

[subigo]

Right now I have DVD Architect (which came with Vegas Video) and it does almost everything I want... almost. However, I am to a point where it is hard to learn anything more about dvd-a, the serious lack of tutorials and the fact that there is not too much talk about it on these forums make it hard to figure out new things (p.s. I hate the sony forums...)

Since there is so much talk about dvdlab on these forums, I downloaded the demo, and while it has a nice look, I really dont see what all the fuse is about. To me dvdlab is far from a great authoring program, it is very limited, but I can see where it would be good for very basic things.

Anyway, can anyone recommend a program that is at least as good as dvd architect and around $500 or less? And if not, at least point me to a place where I can find a lot of tutorials on Architect?

[housepig]

for information on DVD Architecht, you can check out the Creative Cow Vegas forum

I'm curious as to what you want to do that is too advanced for DVD Lab....

[subigo]

Subtitles and more audio tracks for one... but the main problem I had with dvdlab was the fact that anytime I had a video over 50 minutes it would cut it down to 18 minutes, I uninstalled and reinstalled twice and it always did the same thing. I figured either A. It was a bug -or- B. A limitation of the trial... still have not found an answer to that one.

I also need to have a preview feature, I really hate having to make the dvd just to see if a small change looks right.

[housepig]

fair enough, previewing in PowerDVD from my hard drive doesn't really bother me, the compiling is usually fast enough if I have to make a change. I've never need subs, and although multi-audio would be nice, I'll wait until they add it - I don't need it bad enough to buy a different app. If I really have to have it, I'll do the IFO Edit multi-stream hack..

the 18 minute limit sounds like a bug on your system - I made several full-length discs, single movies, double features and compilations during my trial period, and never had any problems like that.

[andkiich]

Let us not forget that DVD-Lab is not a completed product yet. Subtitles, multiple audio and multiple VTs sets are all coming. Most people don't really need these items either. For what I do, the $79 DVD-Lab price tag was way more appealing than anything else that even comes close.

DVD-Lab will have those features you speak of in the future.

[Sugar]

Have you thought about Adobe Encore DVD?

[lordsmurf]

Start using ReelDVD, there are many forums that support it too, namely Matrox and Sonic sites.

[subigo]

Are there any real big drawbacks of using ReelDVD? After looking at it, it sounds like it can do what I want, and I am downloading the trial right now...

[falberni]

I think DVD Workshop 2, which is about to be released, should be a very good one in that price range.

[lordsmurf]

Are there any real big drawbacks of using ReelDVD? After looking at it, it sounds like it can do what I want, and I am downloading the trial right now...

It was given to me by a Matrox user (yes, the original, not a copy) and it does anything I want... it's just a NT-only (2K/XP) program, so I don't use it much. My primary system runs ME.

[subigo]

I tried Reeldvd earlier today, and so far I like it a lot. But that doesnt mean I stopped trying the other programs...

On a different note, I am still trying to get dvdlab to work right. I installed the new release today and the "bug" I talked about above is gone. I would probably use dvdlab in place of DVD Architect for smaller projects, except for one thing. Everything I have made in dvdlab today comes out looking really blurry on TV. I have tried everything from a photoshop menu being imported, to basic text with a link, and they all look like crap in the end. Does anyone else have this problem with dvdlab, or know what I am doing wrong? Note that it is just the buttons, etc, that look like crap, the background is fine.

[housepig]

Does anyone else have this problem with dvdlab, or know what I am doing wrong? Note that it is just the buttons, etc, that look like crap, the background is fine.

the only time I have problems like that is if I pick a font that doesn't scale well. aside from that, I've had no problems like what you describe.