Menu-Creating VCD Authoring Software That's 100% Compatible?

[cvannest]

We've been looking for VCD authoring software on the PC with the following:

• (*) Low-cost (e.g., ~$100-300 range)
  (*) 100% VCD standards compatibility for standalone DVD player playback (this is a must)
  (*) Import VCD MPEG1 files created externally in Canopus ProCoder (or your-favorite-app) w/out re-encoding
  (*) VCD menu w/ auto-thumbnails creation,
  (*) Customizable VCD menu layout (e.g., thumbnail positioning, background graphic)
  (*) Menu background music a plus, but optional
  (*) Motion menus a plus, but optional

After much downloading, testing, posting, forum research, tech support, and coffee, here's what we've found (in no particular order):

• (*) Ulead DVD Movie Factory (OK reviews, but won't import Canopus files)
  (*) Pinnacle Studio 8 (tech support says MPEG1 import not even here yet)
  (*) VCDEasy (free, powerful, but no auto-thumbnail creation for menus which take a lot of time to create externally)
  (*) Sonic MyDVD (3.5 sounds promising? need more feedback & info),
  (*) Nero Burning ROM (OK, but some posters say menus aren't 100% standalone DVD player compatible?!)
  (*) Nero XpressVision (no word because not released yet)

Ulead's DVD Workshop was actually the 1st tool we looked at and it provided everything we needed, except that I don't know if it really produces 100% compatible VCD menus. I really can't believe that some programs, like supposedly Nero, don't do this if a free program like VCDEasy can. BTW, VCDEasy rocks-- if it would just support auto-menu generation w/ thumbnails, we'd be set.

Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks,
CV

[lusid]

Try TSCV.

It's free, and based on the same xml engine as vcdeasy. It can create the thumbnails and the motion menus for you, but it's got a slightly steeper learning curve than vcdeasy. You'll also need tmpgenc and virtualdub because it depends on those for menu creation.

[cvannest]

[quote="lusid"]Try TSCV.quote]

I went to their download page at http://www.tscv.org/download.htm, but clicking on the download link gives an error page. They also state "All downloads which are not linked are just premade ones. I will fill the links soon !!".

I couldn't find it at www.download.com or Google; any idea where there's a most recent copy available?

Thanks,
CV

[cvannest]

I just re-searched on Google and found a link at Doom9 as well as a description on how to use it. Unfortunately, from the sounds of that version (0.83b1, albeit not the latest) its dependent on TMPEG and a bit buggy:

From http://www.doom9.org/mpg/tscv.htm- Since every menu has to be an mpg file TSCV makes heavy use of TMPG (and you can't use another encoding program). Unfortunately, it is also still very buggy so if you have to restart your project multiple times that is all but abnormal. I've already fired off a couple of bugreports in the direction of the developers and I hope that they'll eventually release a version that isn't plagued by all these tiny issues that the current version (0.83b1) is.

I'm still searching for the latest version (TSCV 0.84); meanwhile, anyone know if the TMPEG dependency has been removed and it's able to support a different encoder (e.g., ProCoder)?

Thanks,
CV

[lusid]

I just looked on doom9, and the newest version is right there in the main software section under s/vcd tools.

The dependency on tmpgenc is only for automated menu creation. There's nothing stopping you from making your menu mpegs externally and assembling them by hand. You could even hand code the xml if you wanted to. VCDEasy and TSCV are just tools to help you drive vcdimager. vcdimager is the source, if you want all the power go there.

If this is something you want to distribute, which by looking at your site it is, then you should look into videopack 5. When it creates a VCD it includes an autorun so it'll play on a windows box as well as a dvd standalone. Your audience may appreciate that.