synchronous burning and authoring software

[friesr]

Looking for suggestions for software. Needing to build a new system that will beable to author and burn dvd's from video recorded on a Panasonic model DMR-E85H.

The system will have 4 dvd burners and I will want it to burn to all 4 at once. One image to 4 dvd's. Also, need a authoring package I have used Ulead in the past but found it had a bug when trying to cram 4hr of video on one dvd where the audio would loose synch. I have a budget of $500 for the software.

Thx,
Rod

[lordsmurf]

You are trying too much at once. No professional or home user would ever want or need that type of sloppy setup.

Your sync issues are likely from trying to re-encode video. Do not do that. Authoring software is not meant to be used for video encoding, I don't care if it has encoder plug-ins or not.

Authoring software, while some can burn, the burning engines are almost always not great.

For multiple burning of discs, you would need to not only use Nero, but you would have to have a hardware setup that is appropriate, and I doubt that is the case.

Not to mention the question makes little sense. Panasonic DVD recorders (as mediocre as they are, especially in 4-hour mode), already author to a format. You would need to properly extract the video for re-author.

You need to simply do one step at a time and have a bit more care and patience to the world of video.

[friesr]

I am coming in the project midstreem. I am thinking of having the video cameras feed directly into a capture card in the computer and loose the panasonic.

I dont understand what is sloppy about it. Please advise how you would set it up.

The system would need to record 1 to 4 hours of raw video once a month, edit that video into a finished DVD and then make about 50 copies. The time it take to do all this is volenteer work and dont want the process to be toooooo time consuming. Since the system is only going to be put into action once a month for the video it will also be tasked with network storage for 4 users. Over all budge is $3000

[lordsmurf]

What you suggested is sloppy because of the hardware and the initial view you gave.

I do have a solution for you.
It both meets a speed and convenience factor.

Hauppauge PVR-250 video card $133 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116602

Record MPEG video to your hard drive.
I assume you already have at least 15GB free per disc project (all you really need, mostly temp space).
Time: realtime while event happens

Edit the MPEG down to the footage you need.
VideoRedo, $50
http://www.videoredo.com/Purchase.htm
Time: However long it takes you to click the mouse and add/remove footage. Saving only needs a couple of minutes (walk to fridge, get a drink, come back).

Import the video/audio files and author.
How advanced do the menus needs to be?
(A) Not very: TMPGEnc DVD Author $57
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/shopping/tda_d.html
Time: Very quick to setup menu, 10 minutes to author disc to folder
(B) More advanced: Ulead DVD Workshop 2 $395
http://www.ulead.com/store/dws/runme.htm
Time: May be slow the first few times you use it, but quicker after that. Again, 10 minutes to author disc to folder. A little longer if using a lot of advanced motion menus.

Two 16x DVD-R burners. 16x MCC03RG20 (Verbatim) blank media. You can push 3-4, but if it fails or underruns, no shocker to me (and the 3rd/4th would need to be on IDE channels on an expansion card capable of cooperating with high speed DVD burning, not Promise Tech cards). Hardware here could set you back a couple hundred.

Nero Burning ROM 6 (with all updates) and author a DVD-Video disc (use template) and output to multiple burners at either 12x or 16x speed.

You can create the disc in under a half hour, and then dupe 50 discs in a couple hours.

[friesr]

This is going to be a complete new system. Here is what I put together:

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/WishShareShow.asp?ID=1659989&WishListTitle=Video+System

[lordsmurf]

Buy yourself a pair of Pioneer 109 drives.
Those run about $45 each, DVD burners, very nice.

System you've assembled looks fine to me.
Buy two and send me one.

For more than 2 burners, I don't know if you're able to use all 4 onboard IDE ports or not. I don't know if SATA works in addition to IDE channels, or instead of IDE channels.

If you need an expansion card, research this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815102203

Looks good to me, as I know Promise cards are not super great about burning CDs or DVDs. This is really the only other choice at newegg.com that I saw. I don't know what to tell you on burners off expansion cards, never needed a card for it.

Also not sure how well Nero works with non-motherboard burning drives. Again, never tried. All I ever did was burn multi discs off two drives on the same IDE cable off the motherboard.

[friesr]

Yes, you can use all IDE and SATA ports at the same time.

So, where are we at burning to 4 drives at once... Is this too much to ask from the system?

[lordsmurf]

It might be too much, yes. You're welcome to try it, is all I can say. Stuff a Pioneer 109 in all 4 IDE slots and burn away. It'll work in theory.

[friesr]

Ok so lets say I still want to be able to take the video from the Panasonic, rip it off the dvd, edit it, then make the copies. What additional software will i need to convert the dvd to an editable format?