??? Authoring / burning DVD with StudioDV 8

[ktnwin]

I just placed an order for the Pioneer 105 to burn home DVDs. I have been burning X/S/VCD for two years now.
I have a few questions:
1) after editing the DV movie in Studio8, is it possible to convert/author/burn the DVD right inside of Studio 8. I only use Studio8 to capture and edit the DV movie so far.
2) after converting my AVI file to MPEG-2 (DVD compliant) by TMPGEnc, is it possible to use Studio8 to author/burn these MPEG-2 files ?
3) what is the best software for DVD authoring/burning (once MPEG-2 files are ready) ?
I read a lot in this forum (incl. the guides) but I like opinions of the experts (who succeed after many failing attempts).
I hope to get the answers before I install it ini my PC>
Thanks in advance.

[ktnwin]

anyone ? Please, I am still waiting.

[GaryStebbins]

Here's my opinion...

1) Yes, you can burn the DVD inside S8. Some people have better luck than others. I personally have been unsuccessful buring with S8, and had to resort to creating a DVD-image, then burning with other software. Pinnacle is very close to an update to S8 that may fix that problem (I've run the beta, but haven't tried burning to DVD with it).

2) Yes... but, you apparently have to match the TMPGENC parameters correctly with S8, otherwise S8 re-encodes. I haven't tried this, but check out Pinnacle's S8 webboard for details.

[ktnwin]

Thanks Gary. I will check Pinnacle forum.

[ktnwin]

While waiting for my Pioneer 105 to be shipped, I went ahead and try to author an SVCD from within Studio 8.
In the evening, after capturing the video (38 min long), I add menu and chapter points and then go MAKE DISC (SVCD), I also put a blank CD-R in the CD writer. The next morning, the CD-R is ejected (done), I tried it on my DVD player and it worked with menu, chapters. That's really nice.
One big problem: the SVCD quality (set at 85%) generated by Studio 8 is lousy at best. All the VCDs I made with TMPGenc look much better !!!
Hopefully, DVD converted by Studio 8 will look better.
At least, I can expect Studio 8 to author / burn DVD with menu and chapters.
Studio 8:
strong point: user friendly, easy to add menu, chapters, authoring/burning
weak point: VCD and SVCD quality is not acceptable once you have seen TMPGenc quality. (Conversion speed is about same as TMPGenc).

[GaryStebbins]

S8 DVD quality with latest patches is good. Early release had a problem.

[donpedro]

1) Yes/Yes/Yes

2) Look here Pinnacle Studio 8 and DV home video editing

3) Hard question.... But follow link in my signature. It might help you to decide. It depends what exactly do you need to do.

[ktnwin]

donprero,
thanks a bunch. Your DVD authoring with Studio 8 really answers my questions. I have been using Studio and TMPGenc for two years now with great results (on X/S/VCD).
I do not need to look further for any other tools to author my DVDs.
My Pioneer 105 has been shipped, must be arriving this weekend.

[ktnwin]

HAPPY STORY WITH STUDIO 8:

OK, my Pioneer 105 DVD writer arrived yesterday. I replaced my DVD-ROM and CD writer with this unit. I had no installation problem whatsover (I am a computer professional so this is a piece of cake).

Next I capture one of my digital 8 movie (59 mins) using Studio 8. This movie has been edited long time ago.
I simply create one menu with a dozen chapter points, and tell Studio 8 to MAKE DISC (DVD and not SVCD) then go to sleep.

The next morning, my DVD disc is burned. I tried it on the DVD player and everything works as expected. Menu, chapters. quality is great because I tell Studio 8 to fit 1 hour movie on one DVD-R. The bit rate is about 9500Kbs. Overkill, I know but this DVD disc is worth to keep and my TV is HDTV 65". All my great looking X/S/VCD do not look that good on this TV.

I must be one of the lucky ones with Studio DV 8 software. I still don't know why some others keep complaining about this. Maybe this is due to my experience with software and I had the feel on what NOT TO DO.

Studio DV 8 is truely ONE SOFTWARE THAT DOES IT ALL: capture, edit, author, burn.

There is only one little annoyance: after burning the first DVD, I put in one more blank DVD-R and tell it to burn a second one (for a relative) immediately without exiting or doing anything else, Studio 8 spends quite a long time to "compile disc". Don't know if other authoring software do the same thing ( When I used Nero to burn X/S/VCD, the preparation phase is pretty quick, expect Studio 8 to do same thing here).

Next, I will try to convert to MPEG-2 with TMPGEnc then use Studio 8 to add menu, chapters and burn the DVD disc and see if two hours movie look good on my TV screen.

[donpedro]

Congratulation !

There is only one little annoyance: after burning the first DVD, I put in one more blank DVD-R and tell it to burn a second one (for a relative) immediately without exiting or doing anything else, Studio 8 spends quite a long time to "compile disc". Don't know if other authoring software do the same thing ( When I used Nero to burn X/S/VCD, the preparation phase is pretty quick, expect Studio 8 to do same thing here).

Studio8 creates VIDEO_TS directory in Auxiliary folder. So next time you can just use any software to burn that (no compile step). Or in "Make Disc" you can choose option "Burn from previously created disc content" option and avoid "Compile" step.

[ktnwin]

Hi donpedro,
thanks again for your suggestion, this will save me lots of time. You must be an expert in Studio 8. I used it only to capture/edit so far and start using the MAKE DISC feature.

One more question: can Nero be used to burn the VIDEO_TS folder ?
Pls respond.

I also noticed that my previous installed Nero did not accept my new DVD writer, I have to re-install using the Nero CD shipped with the drive.

[donpedro]

One more question: can Nero be used to burn the VIDEO_TS folder ?
Pls respond.

Yes it can. Jus be aware of some issues with latest version. I am using version 5.5.9.17.0 and it works great for me. 5.5.10.0 have some major problems with DVD-Video.

[ktnwin]

I have made further progress with Studio 8.

1) after burning the first DVD disc, I "saved" the project then I can burn the second DVD disc from the saved image without going thru any rendering/compiling again. That's quick.

2) I encoded two short MPEG-2 clip using TMPGEnc, then import them in Studio 8 to author and burn DVD disc. This works correctly, Studio 8 only renders the menu (that I added) but does not touch the MPEG-2 files created by TMPGenc (no re-encoding, that's good)

I have no need to burn DVD with Nero yet. Crossing my fingers.