simple question... on Authoring

[pcexpress-guy]

Does subject of Authoring include the topic of video editing as main point or is just secondary or tangential to it?

I have been experience differnet authoring titles out there (primarily dvd-Lab and TDA) and have noticed a different emphasis on each package.

For example TDA, seems to handle video editing, chapter additions within the video in a faster kind of way i.e. it is faster for the user to add a bunch of chapters within a series of actual frames (TDA shows a lot more clips in the rolling movie section. Helpful when adding chapters between transistions and stuff). It also lets you cut video by using a start & stop point within the video. whereas dvd-lab the way it lets you handle video-editing is by the trim video function. If you using creating multiple segments of video clips from one large video and simple start and end frame would be more helpful i.e. like TDA. (or is there another way to edit video within dvd-lab?0

Don't get me wrong, i like dvd-lab... it produces some pretty easy to create menu's and handles a lot of the details of the layout very clearly for people trying to learn this subject. but... given the different approaches to handling video editing within TDA, Dvd-Lab and others, I just wonder if video editing is really consider... a main consideration for the subject of authoring.

So... is video editing a topic interlinked with dvd-authoring? Or is it secondary to it??


Thanks!!

[lordsmurf]

No.

They should not be related. Some software makes it that way, but it's not related at all.

[pcexpress-guy]

Ok Thanks!

btw, i editing the post a little... same idea though.

So the subject of Dvd-Authoring is strictly realated to layout of menus, VTS (video, & audio, and other streams), and the programing of this to each other within a dvd?

Is that more or less what we are talking about when saying authoring?

Thanks!

[mastersmurfie]

Does subject of Authoring include the topic of video editing as main point or is just secondary or tangential to it?

I would say that "authoring" comes after "editing"...

(in my limited experience with it) TDA does offer some editing, while DVD Lab has only the "trim the end" function"...I would have to also say that DVD Lab is better (again, in my limited experience with TDA) with making chapter points and menus...

With DVD Lab, you can create as many chapter points as you want...spaced however far apart that you want...not sure about TDA...DVD Lab also has motion menus for "chapter selection" pages...again, not sure if TDA has this or not...
(geesh...I'm starting to sound like an endorsement for DVD Lab!!) But, it has never failed me thus far...

just a thought

mastersmurfie

[pcexpress-guy]

Thanks!

I started out using TDA.. I find TDA useful for making dvd's that don't need to "look-great" but need lots of chapter points. In TDA, you can quickly add chapter points in that edit window. What I find helpful with TDA, is that the rolling picture (in the edit window) shows where exactly (more or less) where the scene is. While it is true TDA, could have a transistion starting in one of the pictures within the moving clip picture, it give you a pretty good idea where the scene is. In Dvd-lab, you see a large window with the movie, but it is too large. (TDA shows resolution at 16 frame per picture or something... Dvd-Lab, shows thumbnails every so often.)

Well... I am starting to sound like a TDA advocate. The truth is I am looking closely at dvd-lab. I find many easy to use features accessiable and I also find the actual menu's and programing of the menu's and stuff to be superior. (its just that some of my video's do not need any of this, but for those that do, this seems like a great program.)

Btw, what version of dvd-lab do you use the pro or non-pro? (I am using dvd-lab 1.4 beta 2, but some of the features in pro, seems interesting.)

Thanks!

[indolikaa]

I edit in VirtualDub or MPEG2-VCR.
I author in DVD-lab or VCDEasy.

I consider them two completely different steps. No relation at all.

[steptoe]

As far as I'm aware DVD-Lab is an authoring package that can basically enable you to do virtually anything within DVD Specifications, especially now that they are producing 2 version, with the pro version catering for the speciialist authoring that need access to all areas of the DVD Specs

TMPGenc DVD Author and DVD-Lab, while offering authoring are total different packages, I use TMPGenc because of its simplicity and speed to create the authoring I need, wheras DVD-Lab offers a hell of a lot more

Just read what it can do, and the tutorials on the DVD-Lab site, TMPGenc can't even get near to what DVD-Lab can do

But, I don't believe TMPGenc was written with this is mind, more to enable DVD authoring, but without the idiot interfaces that a lot of video and DVD software seem to think we need

I'm not suggesting anybodys an idiot, but the so called 'kiddie' interfaces are very restrictive, and reading on here you see people who use them finding that they just can't do even basic stuff that TMPGenc can, so end buying better software


I find that TMPGenc doesn't do some of the things I would like to try, but for everyday use and MY needs, it suits me perfectly, I've tried DVD-Lab and just couldn't get to grips with it, which is exactly what I mean

I'm aware how powerful it is, even more now the Pro version is being worked on as well, but its too powerful for me. Which is also why they offer 2 versions

Unless you can afford software like Scenarist, personally I'd look seriously into DVD-Lab Pro, if you need DVD Authoring that can really push your products, but not cost serious amounts of cash and a hell of a lot of time and effort to get good results


The basic editing in TMPGenc I've found useful too remove the dead time at the start and end of movies, but sometimes isn't quite enough, but doesn't warrent having to upgrade to more expensive and more time to learn software, nor having to buy editing software either

[pcexpress-guy]

I thought TMPGenc was an encoder, not an author nor edit package? Can you use TMPGenc to edit without getting the video encoded/transcoded? (TDA goes out of its way to say it doesn't change the video stream at all, which I think many out-of-the-box consumer programs do.)

anyway, just thought I ask. I never thought to use TMPGenc as an editor.

Thanks!

[Baldrick]

I thought TMPGenc was an encoder, not an author nor edit package? Can you use TMPGenc to edit without getting the video encoded/transcoded? (TDA goes out of its way to say it doesn't change the video stream at all, which I think many out-of-the-box consumer programs do.)

anyway, just thought I ask. I never thought to use TMPGenc as an editor.

Thanks!

yes tmpgenc is an editor also, under file->mpeg tools

[pcexpress-guy]

Cool... When using tmpgEnc and the edit tool, how do you know when the video gets recoded (transcoded, encoded, i.e lost of quality, whatever?) Or does this happen?

Thanks!

[Baldrick]

Cool... When using tmpgEnc and the edit tool, how do you know when the video gets recoded (transcoded, encoded, i.e lost of quality, whatever?) Or does this happen?

Thanks!

If you use the cut and join functions under the file->mpeg tools it wont get reencoded.

[pcexpress-guy]

I'm afraid to ask

is adding chapters to a video considered primarily "editing" a video? Or would that fall under the subject of encoding a video?

Thanks!

[mats.hogberg]

Chapters (no matter if we're talking VCD, SVCD or DVD) are added during authoring, so neither considered editing nor encoding.

/Mats

[pcexpress-guy]

is the info about chapters (ppt's) embedded in the Vob's or muxed file, or is it located somewhere else like the Ifo type file as is the case with a production Mpeg-2, dvd?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!

[mats.hogberg]

I'm not 100% on this, but I've always considered this to be part of the IFO, not the VOB.

/Mats