Beginner software recommendation

[lened]

I'm trying to figure what I need to do the following and could use some advice:

What I want to do (overall) with DVD creation is two things:
1) Make home movies (from a DV camera)
2) Transfer TiVo recordings

I'll start out simple, maybe cut out comercials from the TiVo stuff and cut out boring stretches of home movies, but I'd like the ability to maybe learn and try new stuff with time. Nothing too fancy. I'm looking to spend $100 or less on software to do this. I've used the following software to mixed results"

Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 (which was killed when I upgraded to IE7 and WMP10), but it came with the burner I bought and don't mourn its passing too much.

Roxio MyDVD9, which I am in the trial period now, and downloaded because there was a link to it from the Tivo website.

Reviews online (PCWorld, CNET) praise Adobe Premiere Elements, and Pinnacle Studio.

I'm in the process of getting a new computer that should be able to handle anything.

I have a feeling this is not an uncommon question. New user, basic needs, budget software.

What are the suggestions, recommendations?

L

[redwudz]

I'm afraid I favor the individual programs.

I use WinDV to transfer DV to the computer.
VirtualDub Mod for editing and frameserving edited DV to TMPGEnc Plus encoder.
ffmpeggui to convert the audio to AC3.
TMPGEnc DVD Author to author the AC3 and MPEG-2 video to the DVD format.
ImgBurn to burn the DVD.

All of that is freeware except the two TMPGEnc programs.

I don't use TIVO, so I'll let someone else suggest those tools.

I do use MPEG Video Wizard for MPEG editing.

[frappawotsit]

I'm in a similar situation to you... novice user hoping to learn as i go along and slowly use more advanced features.

After taking advice from this forum, my current setup is as follows:

1) WinDV to capture (free)

2) Premiere Elements to edit/author (Buy)

3) ImgBurn2 for the final burn to DVD (free)

This setup works well and i'm barely touching the features, LOTS to learn yet!!

Good luck, it's a minefield i know!!!

[GilbyGood]

1. Use the TIVO Desktop program to transfer the show that you want to your harddrive.

2. Using VideoReDo to cut out the comercials and save as a mepeg file.

3. if you are going to burn it to a dvd then reencode it with TMPGEnc DVD Source Creator.

then burn it to a dvd, be aware that you should not do this with any copyrighted program.

Good Luck.