Special DVD creation procedure

[Nick/Athens]

Please, kindly, somebody help me to accomplish the following task or at least to find info where I can look for.
I have two video cassettes VHS, two Sound tapes and about 35 Photos
and I want to compose a video which I want to dedicate it to my father (who died recently)
The two video cassettes I have already copied to a CD and then to my computer so now I have .VOB files about 30 minutes each.
The two sound tapes I also copied to my computer with file extension .WAV
The Pictures are .JPG also in my PC.
Now I want to compose a video with:
1. selected parts from my VOB files
2. put the photos in and
3. edit it with selected parts from the sound files
I would like to know what software I should use; witch could be the sequence for this job, and any necessary instructions.
Thanking in advance,
Nick/Athens

P.S. Intel Pentium 1700, with 383 MB and Windows XP SP2

[guns1inger]

Given the memory constraint, I would

1. Use VOB2MPG to extract the video/audio from the VOBs
2. Assemble/edit using Windows Movie Maker
3. Output to DV avi in your television format (PAL or NTSC - don't know what Greece uses, although it is probably PAL)
4. Use FAVC to encode video and audio
5. If you want better menus than the simple ones that FAVC creates, use the VOBs from FAVC to create a new disc in GUIForDVDAuthor. FAVC is a simple way to get all your encoding done without having to learn a lot of new tools.

You will need quite a bit of HDD space for this project - possibly 20 GB or more for all the files - so you might want to look at a second HDD or external HDD for your system

[TaoTeWingChun]

Nick/Athens,

My very sincerest condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father. Your tribute idea is an inspiration to everyone. Please let us know how your finished project came out.

Sincerest Condolences On Your Loss,

TaoTeWingChun

[dnix71]

Read the reviews under tools>dvd authoring

You are at a disadvantage using a PC. If you have a friend with a Mac and Panther or Tiger, the iMovie and iDVD programs that come with the OS will do what you want. The only issue with a mac will be mp2 video or audio, if your vob's are that type, and the wav files would need to be converted to aiff's.

Audacity (free- pc and mac) will do audio conversion. VLC (free - pc and Mac) will do basic recoding to a different audio or video format if the program you choose doesn't support what you have already.

[guns1inger]

You are at a disadvantage using a PC

Why ? Because you have a choice from a wide variety of tools instead of a couple of simplistic programs that produce canned output that looks just like every body else's ?

Thank you for a completely unhelpful fanboy post

[lordsmurf]

I might have suggested Proshow Gold.
But your wants may be a bit more than that program can handle.
In that case, go with Premiere or Vegas.
I'd have done that in Premiere.

And to the Mac fanboy...
PC = personal computer
Mac is an OS. Windows is an OS. Linux is an OS
Windows has more video software than Mac and Linux put together, for video work.
Mac users are at the disadvantage.

[dnix71]

This isn't about 'fanboy' for a platform. The reviews for most consumer grade dvd authoring software aren't all that positive. Adobe Premiere is $100, and only got a 6.6. I've used Sonic, it was confusing.
Nero and Adaptec made great cd burning apps, but stumbled at dvd creation. Vegas is $600, Premiere Pro is $700.

Windows has a dvd authoring app, but it's $100 and no one here has even reviewed it.

Actually Microsoft Powerpoint is probably underrated for making a tribute presentation like Nick wants to do. Export as an avi when you're done and burn to dvd, or put it up on the web. There is a free powerpoint viewer so anyone with a pc can see it without buying MS Office.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=428D5727-43AB-4F24-90B7-A9478...displaylang=en

[guns1inger]

iMovie + iDVD = AUD$1699 minimum if you don't have a Mac, plus you have to learn how to work with one hand tied behind your back

Reviews are like statistics. If you look hard enough, you will find one to suit any preconceived prejudice.

[ZippyP.]

With regards to the original question...I would use Womble Mpeg Video Wizard (aka MVW). It will accept VOB's, jpg's and various sound files. Edit and compile as you wish with transitions and titles. The new version will author to DVD as well, although I haven't tried it.

[lordsmurf]

Adobe Premiere is $100, and only got a 6.6. I've used Sonic, it was confusing.
Nero and Adaptec made great cd burning apps, but stumbled at dvd creation. Vegas is $600, Premiere Pro is $700.

Most Vegas and Premiere (and Final Cut Pro) complaints are 100% user error. The people who gripe usually are limited by their own knowledge, not the software. Many end-user errors are from people with pirated copies too (at least in my observations).

There is editing software in all prices ranges, at all levels of experience. And best of all .. you've got choices. This, of course, is Windows world. On Mac, you've got a few things, and that's that. FCP works great, but if you don't plan to shoot and edit your own video, there's really not much point to owning a Mac for video. It's handicapped in many areas, with limited or NO software to be had. None, zip, nada.

"Sonic" is (was) the name of a company, and there are several packages available. DVDit! PE was excellent, back in the day, for about $200-300. They ruined it with DVDit! 5. MyDVD is idiotware (much like iMovie and other all-in-one software). Scenarist is probably out of your league (I know it's out of mine, both in price and complexity). Your complaint about "Sonic" is invalid.

I can't believe you suggested Powerpoint for making video. Good grief.