prosumer authoring prog. that meets my needs??

[anitract]

Hey guys. I've been looking into getting some prosumer-level dvd authoring software. I've been trying out TMPGEnc DVD Author; and though I like it's simplicity, I hate it's limitations (locked-in approach) with menus.

So here are 5 things I am looking for in my next authoring program:
1. Stability!
2. Fairly simple/easy-to-use interface
3. SLIGHTLY more control over menus than DVD Author allows
4. Simple chapter creation
5. Does NOT re-code mpeg-2 streams (my files are how I want them)
__
For simplicity, let's say money isn't an object. Any recommendations? I'd consider using mulitple products (like one specifically for menus) if that is viable.

[mike909]

I use Adobe EncoreDVD 1.5. With updates installed, it seems stable to me. If you are comfortable with other adobe apps (like photoshop) then you will find this easy to use.
I don't know what TDA limitations are, so don't know how much more "control" it gives you. All I can say is it does everthing I want, and as far as I know...is capable of doing anything allowed by the dvd menu spec.
In my experience, the authoring program will not re-code mpeg's that are dvd compliant. I know encore doesn't, and I would guess that TDA doesn't either...maybe your files are not dvd complient?
Hope this helps.

[lordsmurf]

Ulead DVD Workshop 2.0 is perfect for those needs, and works well as the next software you use after TDA.

Adobe Encore does not support all resolutions of the DVD spec and is therefore crappy software.

[mike909]

Hadn't run into a problem with resolution yet. Are you speaking of video resolution, or menu resolution?

[TBoneit]

TDA can not re-encode video, even the new Pro version can only redo the video at the frame accurate cuts so that it finishes the Gop before the cut and starts the GOp after the cut. They can encode the audio from 44.1 to 48khz or to AC3 if you have the Ac3 plug-in. But that is it.

Cheers

[guns1inger]

DVD Lab Studio

[lordsmurf]

Hadn't run into a problem with resolution yet. Are you speaking of video resolution, or menu resolution?

It only does 720x480 video. it completely ignored the others.

Pretty much all menus in all software is 720x480 anyway. It doesn't take up any real room at any resolution anyway.

[anitract]

What I meant by the re-encoding bit was that I LIKE how TDA leaves my files as they are (i.e. doesn't recode). So I want my next software to leave them untouched also.

lordsmurf, how would you say Ulead DVD Workshop 2.0 stacks up against other popular software (like DVD Lab Studio, DVD Architect)? *Remember I want a fairly clean/simple app.

[thecoalman]

*Remember I want a fairly clean/simple app.

DVD WS is the ticket, you won't find anything easier to use. Most operations can be accomplished via drag and drop. AFAIK none of the above mentioned apps even come close to supporting the file formats that DVDWS does, especially video foramts, you also get a built in MPEG and AC3 encoder.....

If you really wanted to you could go from capture to burn with DVDWS as it does have limited editing capabilities.

[lordsmurf]

DVD Lab is craptastic. It's got a clunky interface, has a lot of petty requirements (I really hate demuxing video assets, time consuming), and is a bit buggy. DVD-Lab is mostly popular because it's cheap and well-pirated, not really an issue of quality, certainly not for ease.

Sony DVD Architect is single VTS, and after hearing some great reviews on it, I was disappointed. It's also not an easy piece of software, interface wise. When I laid out a disc, it kept crashing when I went to author. I had no such problem in TDA or DVDWS2. I want to take another crack at DVD-A someday, but for now it was a dud. My demo expired anyway.

[jtoolman2000]

DVD-Lab is mostly popular because it's cheap and well-pirated,

Unfortunatelly that's the case with just about all SWs mentioned. That's probably why there are so many good freeware utilities out. Better free than pirated I suppose is the philosophy. I think we would ALL be naive is we were to even think that most of the people who ask the simplest and dumbest questions about a piece of very expensive sofware had ever even read their instruction book. When told to read the book they recieved with their purchased disc they just quietly go away. Questions will go something like, "Having trouble with Scenerist". You really must be kidding right??

Sorry about the detour!

Anyway, my favorites PURCHASED authoring progs are TDA, DVD Architect and Adobe Encore. I use all three for specific reasons juat as I use several NLEs.No one program can do 100% of all your project's requirements. They all also seem to be stable on my system and so far have allowed me to do what ever I envisioned.

[guns1inger]

DVD Lab Pro isn't as pretty as some, and it's pre-packaged assets are pretty cheesy. But I find it's workflow suits the way I work, in the same way node based compositing suits my brain much more so that a timeline based a'la After Effects (which I also use). That it is developed predominantly by one man, rather than a team with a big marketing budget, explains many of the things you percieve as short comings. As for issue such as demuxing - I generally prepare all my assets as elemetnary streams anyway, so I have never seen this as a problem. On the few occassions when I have not, it hasn't been much of an inconvenience to demux them.

TDA is a great tool for whipping up a quick menu for pre-packaged goods, but otherwise is too limiting for much else.

DVD Architect is half a package. Some high-end ideas but poorly implemented and knobbled at key points. Perhaps version 4 will get it right.

Adobe Encore seems to be even worse than DVDA in many respects. It omits large parts of the spec because the developers can't seem to be bothered catering for them, and each release seems to be more of a bug swap than a bug swat. And it's use of photoshop is way more complicated than it needs to be (although it is not alone in that - DVDA screws this up as well).

And finally, LS's favourite, DVD WS2. I can't really make a call on this one, as the demo is too knobbled to make it worth loading on my PC. On paper it seems to be a solid package (but then on paper, so does DVDA and Encore).

Ulitmately, each to their own. None of the packages are perfect, all work in different ways. The one that is best for you is the one that does what you need in a way you feel comfortable with.

[anitract]

Just for the record, I don't have a problem with purchasing software. Anyway, DVDWS2 sounds promising. I'll check it out first. Hopefully the demo gives me at least _some_ idea of its features.

EDIT: Ok, I've got a question all ready...well actually 2...I was looking on the DVDWS2 site, it lists one of the features as "Dolby Digital 2 Channel Stereo Encoding"...then there is also the 5.1 encoding also. So here are my questions:

1. I have mpeg2 files w/ the audio being mp2. Can I use the software to convert the mp2 audio to the ac3 (dolby digital 2 stereo) straight from my mpeg-2 file?

2. If I do this, does it leave the video part of my mpeg2 file alone? (again, I don't want re-encoding of video).

[Lester Burnham]

Hey guys. I've been looking into getting some prosumer-level dvd authoring software. I've been trying out TMPGEnc DVD Author; and though I like it's simplicity, I hate it's limitations (locked-in approach) with menus.

So here are 5 things I am looking for in my next authoring program:
1. Stability!
2. Fairly simple/easy-to-use interface
3. SLIGHTLY more control over menus than DVD Author allows
4. Simple chapter creation
5. Does NOT re-code mpeg-2 streams (my files are how I want them)
__
For simplicity, let's say money isn't an object. Any recommendations? I'd consider using mulitple products (like one specifically for menus) if that is viable.

Given what you've stated in your list: GUI_for_dvdauthor

Meets all the criteria you've listed, and it's freeware.

[Nelson37]

I second the vote for Guifor DVDauthor. Fast, stable, cheap, and supports subtitles. Easy chapter creation.

Been using this just lately as I have been experimenting with subtitles from captured CC files.

Have not messed with menu creation as yet, I really don't care much for them at all.

Don't much like DVDWS but honestly have barely used it.

[p_l]

1. I have mpeg2 files w/ the audio being mp2. Can I use the software to convert the mp2 audio to the ac3 (dolby digital 2 stereo) straight from my mpeg-2 file?

2. If I do this, does it leave the video part of my mpeg2 file alone? (again, I don't want re-encoding of video).

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

Another vote here for DVD Workshop 2. Its versatility continues to impress me, even after a couple of years of using it.

[anitract]

Excellent. Lookin good on their site too. I'm gonna demo it when I get off of work tonight.

[lordsmurf]

The DVDWS2 demo does not do AC3. That's part of the demo. The demo only works with MP2. This is one of a couple limitations the demo has. But I assure you the full version is a beauty, it will accept AC3, even encode it (if you tell it to).