tmpge vs ulead

[densbucs]

I'm looking to purchase some new software for encoding and authoring DVD's. Is Ulead that far better than Tmpge that makes the higher price i would, worth it? Ulead is $400, Tmpge is $150. I just want to know if Ulead is that much better? Thanks

[rkr1958]

I'm looking to purchase some new software for encoding and authoring DVD's. Is Ulead that far better than Tmpge that makes the higher price i would, worth it? Ulead is $400, Tmpge is $150. I just want to know if Ulead is that much better? Thanks

If you're talking about TMPGEnc DVDAuthor, that's around $90 if you include the ac3 plug-in. I'm not familar with the Ulead program but I am with TMPGEnc DVDAuthor. I love it and use it all the time. Well worth the $90 to me. It's easy to use. One drawback some might have is that it produces fairly basic menus. For me they're fine.

[edDV]

I'm looking to purchase some new software for encoding and authoring DVD's. Is Ulead that far better than Tmpge that makes the higher price i would, worth it? Ulead is $400, Tmpge is $150. I just want to know if Ulead is that much better? Thanks

They differ by authoring capabilities and encoder technology.

authoring capabilities can be compared by downloading the manuals and making your choice.

Ulead uses the Mainconcept MPeg2 encoder accross their product lines.
http://www.mainconcept.com/company.shtml
There are lower end ULead products in the $100 range.
http://www.ulead.com/products/dvd_authoring.htm

Pegasys also offers a range of products
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tda.html

[thecoalman]

DVD Workshop is probably the easiest authoring app to use, most tasks can be accomplished via drag and drop.

It also accepts multiple file formats including AVI, Mpeg, mov.... Multiple image formats, jpeg, gif (animated too), bmp, tiff.....

Does multiple VTS, you can have multiple types of video and audio without reencoding, different resolutions, even 16:9 and 4:3 on the same disc.

I refer to it as the trash compactor, there isn't very many types of formats it won't accept regardless of what your trying to import.

[tmh]

But isn't the Ulead product for capture and EDIT also? I think you need to define what sort of software you need - is it just encoding and authoring - if so, then don't pay extra for the editing.

[GeorgeW]

DVD Workshop 2.x (Full or Express) is Ulead's Advanced Authoring application (it has some BASIC editing in terms of cuts), but it is really more of an Authoring software with Advanced features (multiple audio tracks, subtitles, fully customizable menus, Playlists, etc...)

Closer to TDA would be Ulead's other Authoring Application -- DVD MovieFactory 3.0 (Disc Creator is better than Standard). This has some basic editing as well, but does not have multiple audio tracks, subtitles, or playlists. It does have a good set of menu templates, and they are somehwat customizable using standard button templates (but not as customizable as DVD Workshop).

p.s. Ulead just announced VideoStudio 9 -- I wouldn't be surprised if some of their other titles have new versions on the horizon

[northcat_8]

IMO Ulead's DVD Workshop is the easiest and most flexible to use.

You can give DVDWS several different file formats and it will convert them all.

TMPGenc DVD Author is also very good, not nearly as flexible, but is much faster if you use TMPGenc Plus 2.5 to convert the video files to the .m2v format that TDA likes.

While I use TDA regularly now, I use to use DVDWS and still have it and use it on occasion.

In my opinion, if I were going to buy one of them, I'd by Ulead. Is it worth the price difference? No, I don't think so. But Ulead has other tools that work well with DVDWS, like Videostudio 6 (or whatever version they are up to now).

I personally think DVDWS gives sharper cleaner picture too. But it doesn't handle extremely large files very well and I had several system hangs with it when my original AVI was around 60 GB in size.

By the way Ulead's DVD Movie Factory sucks, no customization, everything very linear. Just my opinion.