Nero OK for DVD Authoring? Perhaps Something Better?

[DW]

Hi Everyone!

I am looking for a fairly simple, but very powerful, DVD creation program for the PC. That is, something not quite as complicated as Scenarist.

I have opened up Nero (well, Nero Vision) once. Its simple, but doesnt seem to allow much creativity/freedom.... am I wrong?

I would like a program that supports the most resolutions/specs, is fairly easy at making chapter/titles, etc. and one that allows me to just drop in video files, so that i DONT have to make the DVD files (vob's, etc) myself. In other words, have everything done automatically, except the personal, customization stuff.


any ideas? (DVDit Pro any good?)


oh, and one that is particularly good with compatibility... meaning, if I burn using a DVD-RW, it will play on most set-top players. I am using a Plextor 716AL.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Many options:
Ulead VideoStudio
Sonic MyDVD
WinDVD Creator
NeoDVD
TDA

[slacker]

Check the tools section of this web site under "dvd authoring". It's pretty much all there for you.

[reboot]

I found that all the programs listed above by Moviegeek had some limitation I wasn't willing to forego.
I author everything in DVDLab Pro.

[DW]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies

I looked into your suggestions…
Ulead VideoStudio isn’t this more of an editing app? I mean, wouldn’t Ulead DVD Workshop be more suited? I do my editing in Avid, so that end is pretty much taken care of. Also, I’ve heard that menu creation is not up to par… especially when compared to solutions from Sonic. Yes? No?
Sonic MyDVD Seems good, but as good/better than DVDit Pro? I’ve also read that it cant do mpeg audio on NTSC disks (its converted to PCM when you burn). True? It just seems a bit to basic, not a whole lot of “creativity” allowed. As one comment said: “MyDVD is a minimal solution at best.”
WinDVD Creator This seems nice because it can use wmv files. Do other programs support this filetype? But do I have to manually create the vob’s etc., with this program, and then create the disk?
neoDVD the first thing that jumped out at me when reading about this, only 6 chapter points per video clip?? I am looking for something a little more powerful/versatile than that. Also, it seems like there are only 3 options for bitrate encoding: medium, good and best. Again, not too powerful. I’ve also heard that capture isn’t too great.
TDA this seems to be a pretty good program. I did find a couple things that worried me though: it doesn’t do disk images? Sometimes, I don’t want to burn right away, but I’d like to have it all set to go/an image made on my hdd. Another thing is that it cant mix NTSC and PAL on the same disk?? And cant do non-standard dimentions/resolutions (also this might have changed??)? I NEED non-standard dimensions/formats.

reboot,
what limitations do you think TDA has, or DVDit Pro or DVD Producer? From what I read about DVDLab Pro is that creating chapters isn’t that precise. True? More importantly, it doesn’t support MP3 or avi files?? I need to be able to simply drag these in and have them go onto the disk. Although it does seem to be among the better progs… will it allow me to simply drop a video file (mpg, mpeg, avi, wmv, etc.) into the project and have it burn? or do i have to go through a seperate process to create the vob's etc.?


How do ReelDVD and DVDit Pro stack up against each other and DVDLab Pro? Or DVD Producer? Are there any point-to-point comparisons around?

[rlqua206]

Have you looked into 3D Album. It is a wonderful 3D program that is easy to use if you want to be creative.

[slacker]

DW,

You're using a high end editor, but you're questions tell me you are BRIGHT, YET new to this game. Why Avid at all?

I don't know how much you're willing to spend, but clearly the top prosumer companies out there with both editing and authoring products seem to be Adobe, Sony, and Ulead. And Ulead is close to dropping out of the prosumer ballgame altogether by choice.

Personally, and this probably goes totally against what others profess, I
try to select products within the same family, i.e. Vegas and Dvd Architect, MediaStudio Pro and Dvd Workshop, EditStudio and DVD Lab, TmpGEnc Express and TDA. Less headaches down the road.

BTW, Sonic sucks! No offense! However, if you are going to stick with Avid editing, I would suggest Sonic products for authoring since they have an obvious relationship with Avid. Avid Dvd it is called (by Sonic)!

Good luck!

[lordsmurf]

DVDit! PE 2.5 is excellent (5 and 6 suck). MyDVD is crap and doesn't even hold a candle to DVDit! PE

TDA is alright. Newbieware. Perfect for you. Works good, but has limitations that you'll want to grow out of after a while, assuming you progress in skill level.

NeoDVD and WinDVD is crap.

Ulead DVDWS2 is a great solution.

Try demos of these things, see what you like. If it has no demo, then screw it. As much as I think DVDit! PE was good, it's payware only, no demos. Oh well, their problems.

[guns1inger]

DVD Lab (all varients) require that you prepare your assets outside DLP, then use them when authoring. If quality is your main aim then you should be doing this regardless of the authoring tool, as this will give you by far the best control. Chapter creation is done with pretty much the same precision as any authoring software - I frame or frame offsets from an I-frame. Commercial disks encode specifically so there is an I-frame created where they want their chapter stops to be. It isn't a limitation of the authoring software so much as a consequence of the ecnoding method.

[pchan]

Simple and yet powerful DVD authoring software, none. DVDit 2.5 PE is good if you still can find it. No subtitle or moving icon. DVDLab Pro will cover almost all your needs. There are several gurus(reboot, gunslinger, etc) in this forum that can help move along just fine. It's a bit picky on your assets(audio/video) formats. Once, you get over that, it pretty smooth !

[guns1inger]

DVD Lab isn't picky about assets, it just doesn't encode for you. Any DVD compliant asset will be accepted without issue (more than can be said for Encore), and if you turn off full compliance you can also include SVCD assets.

[rebarlow]

If you're looking for a quick and easy authoring/burning witout bells and whistles, try Ulead DVD MovieFactory (http://www.ulead.com). Not a lot of options, but straightforward click and burn software.

[Lester Burnham]

Hi Everyone!

I am looking for a fairly simple, but very powerful, DVD creation program for the PC. That is, something not quite as complicated as Scenarist.

I have opened up Nero (well, Nero Vision) once. Its simple, but doesnt seem to allow much creativity/freedom.... am I wrong?

I would like a program that supports the most resolutions/specs, is fairly easy at making chapter/titles, etc. and one that allows me to just drop in video files, so that i DONT have to make the DVD files (vob's, etc) myself. In other words, have everything done automatically, except the personal, customization stuff.


any ideas? (DVDit Pro any good?)


oh, and one that is particularly good with compatibility... meaning, if I burn using a DVD-RW, it will play on most set-top players. I am using a Plextor 716AL.

Given what you've cited as criteria, I feel (once again) obliged to recommend gui_for_dvdauthor.

[reboot]

More importantly, it doesn’t support MP3 or avi files?? I need to be able to simply drag these in and have them go onto the disk.

If you want a program like that, you don't want DVD Lab, tmpgenc dvd author, or most other good authoring programs. What you want is a one-click-wonder that will do it all, with little or no user knowledge, or intervention.
You wanted something that allows creativity.
You wanted something that will encode for you.
You wanted something that will do everything, without you having to think about it or learn anything.
This just isn't going to happen.
If you want creativity, it's going to be somewhat complicated, get DVDLab Pro or Scenearist.
If you want an encoder, get tmpgenc or whatever.
If you want a brainless solution, get VSO DivX to DVD.
Sitck with Nerovision Express, or Ulead.

[xcoolguyx]

try to look at vegas 6 w/ dvd architect 3

[guns1inger]

Vegas/DVDA does not like VBR mp3 audio

[xcoolguyx]

ah,ok my bad =)

[PuzZLeR]

I know it's all relative and based on preference, but I say stick with NeroVision Express. It's the one I keep going back to over and over again after trying others.

All the other ones I tried either had weird .vob file configuration, "sticky" video, frames missing, bad burns, bad sync, etc, etc, and NeroVision never did.

It well respected in it's industry for good reason, and is also fully compliant (at least for me it was) and is very simple. You can just dump the files in, and it does it all for you. You can even get fully converted mpegs from .vob files as well (the other way around).

A bit of advice. Alot of people complain about NeroVision's set templates where you put text only where they want you to, etc., etc. so I agree with you when it doesn't allow for much creativity there, BUT there's a way around that. I actually design my menu pages with Powerpoint, with text and inserted images, and save the final result to jpeg and use that as background in NeroVision. I then "hide" NeroVision's text with a Blank Font (which you can find on the 'net).

I also design my own buttons with imaging software as well and insert into them into Nero's button directory for more choice.

Hope it helps. Good luck.

[Alex_ander]

TDAPro(v.2)
Fastest automatic menu creation with absolutely free placed editable text links, image objects, sounds etc.
Two audio tracks (unfortunately no DTS but it's not often used in custom DVDs). Saves a lot of time for creative editing, you don't even need to waist it on reading help files.

[steptoe]

I use TDA and I believe the exact same "issue" is also present in TDAPro v2.xx in that it doesn't support subtitles in any way shape or form

If you have subtitles in your project that are not hard coded it will actually remove them


The people that write TDA claim they won't support subtitles as it might encourage piracy .... err how ?

What about deaf/partially deaf people who may use subtitles .............



If I'm wrong on the subtitles in later version of TDAPro v2.xx please tell me then I'll look into buying it, without subtitles I ain't interested. TDA suits me for my needs but subtitle support will improve on a product thats easy to use but can achive quite good results with a bit of work

Shame it doesn't support mixed mode DVDs though (NTSC/PAL). Its also very strict on DVD standards as well

[Nelson37]

For most programs, encoding and authoring are completely seperate. Many of your questions seem to involve the Encoder rather than the Authoring prog.

You mention WMV files and Non-standard resolutions which you need to use. Do you mean that you wish to put these files on a disk and create a NON-STANDARD DVD which may not play on many players? (you mention compatibility as a desire, which is in direct opposition to this). Or is it that you want a program which will take these files and convert them to DVD-Standard files, ready to author? Most any encoder will do this.

IMO the best tool for each job is two seperate ones. Use a good encoder to create valid files. Then use a good author to create the DVD. Then use a good burner to create the actual disk. Actually three seperate progs.

These are not my rules, I do not make'em up. Just the way it is.

I use seperate progs to encode, strip wav, convert frequency, create AC3, correct aspect ratio, convert subtitles, correct subtitles, author, and burn. That gives me nine seperate areas to find the best tool available, or obtain different capabilities, rather than be tied into a one-click wonder that gives me few options and limits my capabilities. A simple macro tool automates these nine seperate progs into something close to the all-in-one prog, but much, much better.

In case you want the list, it is MMC, VDUBMod, SSRC, BeSweet, ReJig, ATI2SRT, Subtitle Workshop, GuiforDVDAuthor, and IMGBURN. AutoPilot for automation. I change one or more of these every few months or so, as something better comes along. Capture to burn is an hour or two and a couple of mouse-clicks, and typing the filename.