DVDlab Compared with TDA

[loster]

I am planing to switch from tmpgenc dvd author because my vesion is old but the new versions include junk such as divx authoring and encoding to mpeg. I plan to switch to dvd lab because it has more creative freedom at least in the creation of menus and more features. My questions are will there be a big jump in terms of complexity? Also is there a need for an internet connection to validate the liscence periodically (This is my main compliant with TDA).

[mats.hogberg]

will there be a big jump in terms of complexity?

Yes, I'd say so. Like going from "paint by numbers" to creating your very own oil painting. But if you feel TDA is limiting, I wouldn't recommend anything else.
I'm not aware of any "phone home" gimmicks in DVD-Lab.

/Mats

[daamon]

I switched from TDA to DVD Lab Pro and found the building of the DVD menu structure a bit more complex at first (TDA pretty much does this for you), but it became intuitive fairly quickly.

The main difference, apart from having a lot more control, was that it doesn't provide any templates for main menus and chapter menus. Sure, there's backgrounds and buttons, but you have to build the menus yourself.

I taught myself layers in Adobe Photoshop and how they can be imported into DVD Lab Pro so that each layer then becomes a selectable object which can then be used as links: Our Wedding, The Reception, Our Honeymoon, Play All etc.

So TDA is creative for you whereas DVD Lab Pro is a blank canvas for your own creativity.

If you do go to DVD Lab Pro (only) get the "Pro Extensions" - it makes life a lot easier for things like the setting of chapters and sorting out subtitles, especially in terms of timing for both as you can watch the video and audio together, frame accurate.

More on Pro Extensions:

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic333976.html#1733742

DVD Lab (Pro or otherwise) doesn't phone home.

[noemi7]

One important issue to consider: DLP menu rendering quality is not as good as TDA. If you place plain text links over a multi colour motion background in DLP they will look jagged - it's simply a joke to name the program "Pro" for what it renders.

[loster]

Thanks for the tips I hate and never use the templates in TDA. I just place buttons over a background image. I don't however do motion menus they are distracting.

[guns1inger]

I create all menus in Photoshop or Vegas, and use DLP for assembling and linking only. For that, it runs rings around most other tools for the freedom that it allows.

However you might also consider GUIForDVDAuthor as an alternative

[ron spencer]

@noemi7

that problem with rendering was fixed ages ago....you are a joke for bringing it up now.

No jaggies for AGES....


LOL!!!!!

[loster]

I create all menus in Photoshop or Vegas, and use DLP for assembling and linking only. For that, it runs rings around most other tools for the freedom that it allows.

However you might also consider GUIForDVDAuthor as an alternative

after reading through the docs I see that GUIForDVDAuthor will create the graphical buttons i want if tricks are used so I will probably just use that as its free