Can anyone recommend authoring software?

[12AMS]

I am converting all of my old VHSC camcorder tapes to DVD before they start degrading too much. The are (of course) of my kids, currently 7 and 2. I am capturing them through an AIW directly to DVD compliant MPEG using Lordsmurf's guide (Thanks, BTW). I would like to use reasonably capable authoring software to make the DVDs.

My requirements are quite specific. I will be putting 4 x 30 min tapes on each DVD. The menu structure is subject to change, but right now, I am planning on a main menu of the four tapes. Each sub-menu will contain an entry for each day on the tape. I would also like to have a Play All option.

Unfortuneately, price is an issue, as is time. I have a wife, two kids, a dog, a cat, 2 vehicles, and a 4-bedroom mortgage to support. Add to that a military career that regularly takes me away from home, and I'm not left with a lot of time to encode 50+ tapes, let alone learn complicated software.

I've tried Pinnacle Studio 8 and TDA, but their menus are either not flexible enough, or look plain ugly. I'm not looking for Hollywood style DVD flair; just something attractive.

Can anyone help?

[guns1inger]

TDA is capable of reasonable menus, but like any authoring tool, just how good it looks comes down to how talented you are as a creator.

As price is an issue, you could look at GUIforDVDAuthor. It is free, but it means you will have to prepare your menus assets (images etc) before coming in to create the menus. But you should be doing this with any tool.

[12AMS]

TDA is capable of reasonable menus, but like any authoring tool, just how good it looks comes down to how talented you are as a creator.

I'll admit that I'm not a graphic artist, but I don't like the way that TDA locks me into a certain number of menu items per page. Each of the tapes have a different number of days, and I would like each of the sub-menus to have a different number of items.

[guns1inger]

You can edit this afterwards. There are also spec limitation - no more than 32 menu items on a 4:3 page, and no more than 16 on a 16:9 page.

You could also look at something like Ulead DVD Movie factory - http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

[12AMS]

How do you edit it afterwards?

[guns1inger]

That is what help files are for, but a number of people use this program and have created their own templates with custom graphics and buttons etc.

[tjomara73]

The best software out there, that I've found is Sony Vegas and DVD Arcitect. It is AWESOME! I've never seen such a powerful program be that easy to learn. It'll take a little to figure out at first but overall simple compared to some other programs. It's not as simple as some of the other programs like Photodex Proshow and some others but this one lets you customize EVERYTHING!!! I would suggest that you try these 2 programs out (they're linked to work together). The only downfall is that these programs are expensive. Good luck.



www.omaradesigns.com

[sdsumike619]

Sony Vegas and Adobe Encore DVD (I couldn't get into DVD Architect for some reason)

[guns1inger]

Agreed about DVD Architect - it seems very cumbersome for anything but the simplest drag'n'drop work. Encore has some serious issues that it has yet to overcome, including the fact that it does not recognise all legal compliant resolution, is crash prone (although a lot more stable than version 1.x was) and sometimes transcodes compliant assets.

[sdsumike619]

I'm encoding a mini test for my first DVD in Encore right now. When I used to use Ulead DVDWS2, I would do all my encoding in Vegas to m2v and ac3. Apparently, Encore uses the same MainConcept encoder that Vegas does so I'm just going to try importing avi's, setting my chapter points and using the encoder in Adobe to see what happens... I'll let you know.

[guns1inger]

When you get some spare time, try authoring a disc with video at half-D1 and VCD resolution as well, just to see if they have improved things.

[sdsumike619]

how do you do that?

[sdsumike619]

Ok, just tested my first burned DVD with Encore. Perfect! No flaws, no issues whatsoever. I transcoded the AVI in Encore as opposed to Vegas and it worked just fine when I popped it into the DVD player. Quality is simply superb! I actually made a preset to match what the final length of the DVD will be, little over 2 hours, encoded it at 4790mbps, 2 pass I think it was and it looks just great.