Looking for a DVD editing program for dummies.

[träskmannen]

My dad recently got a camcorder that records to DVD and now he wants to do some basic editing - cutting out some pieces here and there (such as the times when he forgot to turn off the camcorder and recorded a few entertaining minutes of floor or tablecloth...) and possibly adding stills to separate the different scenes, similar to intertitles of an old silent movie.

Problem is: he is 75 years old, stubborn and knows almost nothing about computers.
The camcorder came with some software from Roxio. I haven't tried it myself but previous experience with their software makes me doubt that it is something for him.

So: what he needs is something that accepts VOBs, is intuitive, basic and easy. Preferably an all-in-one program that finally will burn to DVD, that would eliminate the amount of steps he can mess up.

Has anyone got a good suggestion?

[kadzbiz]

I find Womble Video Wizard pretty easy and it accepts VOB files. You can even author the end product for DVD, but I'm not sure if it will burn, but I use Nero for that myself.

[serega]

I vote for Womble Video Wizard too. It doesn't record to DVD though, you save those file in folder then burn with any programm that came with your DVD drive....

[träskmannen]

Thanks guys, I'll download the trial when I get back from my vacation to see if it can be anything for him or not. Any other suggestions with the emphasis on simple and easy?

[lordsmurf]

Not really. That's not a simple task.

I'd do four steps:
1. Extract video with DVD Decrypter, as IFO with no file breaking (set all this once in the software options). All he'll have to do once it's set up is hit the big button. Easy.
2. Edit decrypter-ripped single VOB file in Womble MPEG Video Wizard. He'll need to read a bit on how to edit. Or you will, and you'll show him.
3. Author in something like TDA. Be sure to give him some templates and be sure he knows what the overscan (aka "tv safe area") is, when laying out menus. You might want to create him a good template in Photoshop and save it as a TDA template he can use over and over again. The built-in TDA templates are crummy looking.
4. Burn the authored folder set in ImgBurn.

and educated him on good discs. Don't by the store-branded or Memorex crap. Only buy Verbatim DVD-R or DVD+R and nothing else.

[Epicurus8a]

Looking for a DVD editing program for dummies.

Sorry, but there isn't anything like that available anywhere.

The easiest solution I can suggest is to buy a DVD recorder with a hard drive, edit on the hard drive, then burn the final product to DVD. WARNING: if a person doesn't know how to program their VCR, they'll never understand DVD recorders.

[träskmannen]

Back from vacation again.

I've taken a look at MPEG video wizard - it looks like a very nice prog, but I think it is a bit too much for the old man.

if a person doesn't know how to program their VCR, they'll never understand DVD recorders.

True

I think I will keep my mouth shut and refrain from giving any recommendation whatsoever to him. He would most likely get disappointed anyway. I will probably end up doing the editing for him. Problem is that I have to drive 1300 km to get to him, crossing 4 national borders and going by ferry for almost an hour in the process, so it's not a matter of going over an evening per week for a couple of beers and an hour or two of editing together... which means that I will do the work on my own at home and it will be my editing, not his. Well, you can't win them all...

Anyway, thanks for the input.