TMPGEnc DVD Author vs Tsunami MPEG DVD Author Pro

[Benhermies]

Hello,

I am curious about the differences between TMPGEnc DVD Author (TDA) and Tsunami MPEG DVD Author Pro (TMDAP). I know that they are highly regarded, but I have had lots of problems with TDA. The discs it creates are often either partially or completely unplayable on a standalone DVD player (NOTE: this is not a burner or brand of disc issue, other programs create working DVD's from the same spindle of discs). Is TMDAP any different/better/easier/more/less features, etc.

Are the unplayable discs with TDA a common occurance or secluded just to me? I do like the interface and find it extremely easy but it just doesn't seem to like me. Have others tried TDA and had better luck with TMDAP?

Please discuss.

Thanks.

[MackemX]

I know the Pro version supports widescreen menu's

[BobK]

Are the unplayable discs with TDA a common occurance or secluded just to me? I do like the interface and find it extremely easy but it just doesn't seem to like me. Have others tried TDA and had better luck with TMDAP?

I've never heard of anyone having a problem with TDA creating unplayable discs. Are you also burning with TDA? If so, try creating files and then burning with something else.

[FulciLives]

I use TMPGEnc DVD Author for like 99% of the discs I make.

I always have TMPGEnc DVD Author create a ISO IMAGE file.

I then burn that ISO IMAGE file with DVD Decrypter which is now replaced with ImgBurn although for now both should work fine (but in the future only ImgBurn will be updated).

I've never had any problems and I've had DVD discs out to all sorts of friends and a few "jobs" I've done. No complaints on incompatability.

It pays to use top notch media. I only use Taiyo Yuden DVD-R discs myself.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Moontrash]

Tsunami dvd author has an added feature in where you can add any audio to the menu...TDA..doesn't...I've only tried the demo though...I've never had one issue w/ TDA....works great but I wish it had audio options for the menu...I guess w/ tsunami...it now does.

[rkr1958]

Tsunami dvd author has an added feature in where you can add any audio to the menu...TDA..doesn't...I've only tried the demo though...I've never had one issue w/ TDA....works great but I wish it had audio options for the menu...I guess w/ tsunami...it now does.

You can add audio to the menu with TDA ... I do it all the time ... It's somewhat involved though ... I do by creating a short MPEG-2 clip w/MP2 audio and load that as your background image for you menu ... Enable motion menus and make sure that the length of your motion menu coresponds to the length of your clip.

[lordsmurf]

A box.

[FulciLives]

A box.

LOL

Are you smoking the blue fairy again?

:P

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[mattso]

Blue meanies, perhaps?

[lordsmurf]

Tsunami used to be ONLY sold in a box. No downloads.
Looks like that changed now.

[Moontrash]

Tsunami dvd author has an added feature in where you can add any audio to the menu...TDA..doesn't...I've only tried the demo though...I've never had one issue w/ TDA....works great but I wish it had audio options for the menu...I guess w/ tsunami...it now does.

You can add audio to the menu with TDA ... I do it all the time ... It's somewhat involved though ... I do by creating a short MPEG-2 clip w/MP2 audio and load that as your background image for you menu ... Enable motion menus and make sure that the length of your motion menu coresponds to the length of your clip.

I'm gonna give that a try....y not......now I have to create a short clip...

[wwaag]

I've been using the PRO version since it came out in Sept and must say that I really like it when compared with the regular TDA version. Here are a few things I like about new version:

1. Two audio tracks. Good for home videos when you want an extra track for narration/music or whatever. No subtitles, but for me, don't care.

2. First play action. For some of my home stuff, I like having this feature.

3. Interface for cuts-editing. I also use TDA for editing-out commercials. The interface for PRO version is so much better. Since it fills the entire screen, a lot more frames are viewable making the detection of commercials a lot easier. Plus, it just appears a lot smoother and more responsive. Certainly cuts down on time for commercial editing.

4. Frame-accurate editing. Old TDA only allowed cuts on I-frame. PRO permits editing on any frame and then recodes only the affected frame. Works in the same way that Tmpgenc's MPEG Editor does.. Good for those occasions when the actual program doesn't begin on an I-frame, although for the most part, I suspect--who cares since it's only TV?

5. Built-in transcoder. I really like this for putting multiple episdoes on a disc when you exceed the 4.7 GB limit. However, the transcoding seems to be a tad "aggressive" since the resulting discs are usually 4.26 GB.

6. Easy motion menus and audio. Could do in TDA, but it's a LOT easier in the PRO version. Also lots of special effects for text (e.g. strokes, shadows, etc.).

7. And finally, very stable and the resulting discs work well--no sync problems. Usually, I just open the built-in burning application. However, this doesn't seem to work well for rewritable discs. In those instances, I resort to Nero.

All-in-all, I really like it compared with the regular version of TDA. For me at least, well worth the upgrade costs. Also the AC-3 (2-channel), is included and not an extra plug-in like TDA.

Hope this helps.

wwaag

[Wile_E]

5. Built-in transcoder. I really like this for putting multiple episdoes on a disc when you exceed the 4.7 GB limit. However, the transcoding seems to be a tad "aggressive" since the resulting discs are usually 4.26 GB.

The 4.26GB is probably a result of them not calculating space properly. 4482MB is considered the max for DVD-R/+R. Some of my discs actually have about 4484-4486MB available. Yet in the program, it says 4438MB. Even the DVD Burning Tool won't allow you to burn more than 4438MB. I've checked the diskspace, by creating a disc with exactly 4438MB. There is still space left over on the disc. Approximately 4482-4438=44MB. I just ignore the message if I go over 4438, and then use Nero to burn the disc. I'm not going to buy their so-called "Pro" version, if they don't fix these issues and listen to their customers!!!

[lordsmurf]

I do not suggest letting TDA re-encode video. Do it properly beforehand.

I do not suggest TDA for editing. It is known to have audio/video sync issues.

You can do a firstplay with the normal TDA, sort of.

As far as I can tell, TDA "pro" is just a normal TDA update more or less, nothing "pro" about it.

[mattso]

I've test-driven this "Pro" version, and I'm sorry to say I'm not sold.

1. Two audio tracks. Good for home videos when you want an extra track for narration/music or whatever. No subtitles, but for me, don't care.

The DVDAuthor gui's can do both this for free.

2. First play action. For some of my home stuff, I like having this feature.

ditto

3. Interface for cuts-editing. I also use TDA for editing-out commercials. The interface for PRO version is so much better. Since it fills the entire screen, a lot more frames are viewable making the detection of commercials a lot easier. Plus, it just appears a lot smoother and more responsive. Certainly cuts down on time for commercial editing.

I don't believe "size of screen" can help too much with editing out commercials.

4. Frame-accurate editing. Old TDA only allowed cuts on I-frame. PRO permits editing on any frame and then recodes only the affected frame. Works in the same way that Tmpgenc's MPEG Editor does.. Good for those occasions when the actual program doesn't begin on an I-frame, although for the most part, I suspect--who cares since it's only TV?

For the same price, get Womble's VideoWizard, or for half the price get VideoReDo. Or try Cuttermaran for free!

5. Built-in transcoder. I really like this for putting multiple episdoes on a disc when you exceed the 4.7 GB limit. However, the transcoding seems to be a tad "aggressive" since the resulting discs are usually 4.26 GB.

How does it compare to Shrink with "deep analysis" and "quality enhancement" settings checked? I don't trust other "transcoders", to be honest.

6. Easy motion menus and audio. Could do in TDA, but it's a LOT easier in the PRO version. Also lots of special effects for text (e.g. strokes, shadows, etc.).

Easy in TDA too. Easy in the freeware DVDAuthor's too. Strokes & shadows I always add in the graphics program I'm using to format my menu background to begin with. Quite redundant in TDA Pro.

7. And finally, very stable and the resulting discs work well--no sync problems. Usually, I just open the built-in burning application. However, this doesn't seem to work well for rewritable discs. In those instances, I resort to Nero.

ImgClassic... DVDDecrypter... ImgBurn...

All-in-all, I really like it compared with the regular version of TDA. For me at least, well worth the upgrade costs. Also the AC-3 (2-channel), is included and not an extra plug-in like TDA.

Well, as I said, I wasn't sold. I was initially tempted with the "frame-accurate cutting" and the "audio noise reduction" added to the (very good ol') TDA package. But in the end, I can do all this with other cooler software, and a lot easier. For $100, I'd spend my money on something else, something more urgent.

I don't think this "Pro" package is very well thought out.

[mats.hogberg]

I don't get it: It's an "easytouse" authoring app. Neither a swiss army knife, nor a full featured authoring app, enabling everything within the DVD specifications.
Edit with an editor. Your sources should be ready before you start authoring, so in my book, any encoding capabilities of an authoring app is superfluous, and more of pain than gain (how many times haven't people complained about this or that app reencoding their perfectly good source files?)
Only thing wrong, is the PRO label. "Express" would be more fitting.

/Mats

[wwaag]

mattso

Thanks. First time anyone's quoted my entire post.

Just a couple of points. First, the initial request was for a comparison of the old and new versions of TDA. I tried to address the question based on my experience having used both of these programs for an extended period of time and nothing more. Granted, there are a lot of tools, many of them free, that can accomplish what the new version of TDA does and a lot more. Quite frankly, if I were starting anew and just had $100 to spend on an authoring app, I don't know what I'd buy. E.g. you can get the latest platinum version of Vegas Movie Studio which includes a "lite" version of DVD Architect--only $70 after rebate.

Second and really a minor nit. You said: "I don't believe "size of screen" can help too much with editing out commercials. " Here's was my reasoning. During editing in TDA, there are only 6 frames visible. In the PRO version, there are 12 frames fully visible and 2 that are partially visible. And since finding commercials is usually searching for "black" transition frames, it's a lot easier with the new version. Having used both versions, it's my experience that it's just a lot faster process with the new one--especially if you have a couple of hours of footage in a single file. This really used to be a "pain" in the old version of TDA.

With so many software options available today, it really does pay to try things out and see what works best for your particular problem over an extended period. I'm sure that I'm not the only one has has made a bunch of software purchases that seemed "cool" at the time, but haven't been used much since. On the other hand, TDA has been one app that I think I've gotten my money's worth. Just my opinion and nothing more.

wwaag

[bnbhoha]

Pro version:

1. Is it easier to add music to the menu? With the Tsuanmi version, you have to jump through a lot of hoops

2. If you had an additional track with the pro, does the user watching the dvd have to do anything to listen to it? For example, at a boring part of a home movie, I want to add a music track and then after that part, I want the movie to continue with the orginal audio. Would this work or does the user have to select the alternate audio track w/ the remote. Thaks