DVDit! error, is there any authoring sw that doesn't suck?

[Smart Dumb Guy]

Part 1:
I'm trying to make my first DVD with DVDit! PE 2.5 and when I try to make a DVD folder I get the following error:

"Could not complete the last command because: The GOP structure in the cell starting at 00:01:32:22 in PGC "pres 3" could not be broken into VOBUs"

The time index mentioned is :22 after a chapter point, so I assume it has something to do with that, any ideas?

Part2:
Is there any authoring software that doesn't suck?
Basically, here's what I'm after:

I'm looking for a program that can:
a) Handle separate audio and video files, and keep the sync ok.
b) Take MPEG2 DVD files and MPEG1 DVD files on the same disk and not bitch about it.
c) Create REAL chapter points
d) Not bitch about GOP structure or some silly minor detail that just about any DVD player will handle just fine anyway.
e) Has a preview mode that allows you to check to see if your files are going to have a sync problem at the end of the file without forcing you to watch the entire movie. (In other words, allow you to forward to the end).
f) Preferrable burn a DVD directly without needing to write the entire thing to disk first.
g) Not re-encode files that I already encoded.
h) Handle AC3.

So far I've tried, MyDVD 3.5.1 , DVD WorkShop 1.0 and DVDit PE 2.5.
Here's what I found:

MyDVD 3.5.1
a) Yes, most of the time, had problems with a few muxed VCD files, it converted the MP2 streams to PCM, and they got out of sync.
b) Yes, works great, except for one or two.
c) No.
d) Yes.
e) No, would have a few less coasters if this worked.
f) Yes.
g) Yes, except for PCM WAV audio, I don't believe it actually reencodes, but it strips the WAV header and leaves a copy on the HD, big waste of space.
h) No.

DVD Workshop 1.0
a) No, I couldn't find a way to send it two separate streams.
I pretty much gave up on this one after that.

DVDit PE 2.5
a) Yes, it takes separate streams, the sync on the preview seemed ok.
b) No, it bitches about creating a new project when attempting to put MPEG 1 video on a MPEG 2 project.
c) Yes.
d) No, see error.
e) Yes, albeit with a big delay before the video stream moves when moving near the end.
f) Yes, although I haven't tried it.
g) Yes, but I don't know for sure.
h) Yes, haven't tried it.

It seems I need a mix of MyDVD and DVDit.
Anyone know of any authoring program that would do this (preferrably without having to be a rocket scientist)?

[Nolonemo]

DVD Workshop 1.3 will take separate streams, but not an elementary AC3 stream (it takes PCM and maybe mp3 (though why would you want to).

However, I have been muxing m2v and AC3 using the TMPGEnc utility and popping that into DVD Ws 1.2 and 1.3, and it takes it just fine.

DVD Maestro will take elementary streams, including AC3, but it is a little picky about the video (I rendered a MPG from Vegas Video without audio and renamed it to m2v, but Maestro wouldn't take it -- I had to demux it with TMPGEnc and then no problem)

[Smart Dumb Guy]

BTW, I figured out how to solve the DVDit PE 2.5 error:

"Could not complete the last command because: The GOP structure in the cell starting at 00:01:32:22 in PGC "pres 3" could not be broken into VOBUs"

Strangely enough I did search for VOBU in the forums before my original post, and didn't find anything then, but today I did.
I found a few posts with the solution to the problem for TMPeg but not for CCE (which is what I'm using).

The key is to check the "Restrict auto I frame insertion" in the GOP settings.
I left the rest of the GOP settings to CCE's default (M = 3, N/M = 5, GOP Header = 1, SEQ Header = 1, Close all GOPs unchecked).

[Smart Dumb Guy]

Here's an update on some other programs I've tried since the original post:

First a recap of what I'm looking for:

I'm looking for a program that can:
a) Handle separate audio and video files, and keep the sync ok.
b) Take MPEG2 DVD files and MPEG1 DVD files on the same disk and not bitch about it.
c) Create REAL chapter points
d) Not bitch about GOP structure or some silly minor detail that just about any DVD player will handle just fine anyway.
e) Has a preview mode that allows you to check to see if your files are going to have a sync problem at the end of the file without forcing you to watch the entire movie. (In other words, allow you to forward to the end).
f) Preferrable burn a DVD directly without needing to write the entire thing to disk first.
g) Not re-encode files that I already encoded.
h) Handle AC3.

Spruce DVD Maestro 2.9 (My favorite by far)
a) Yes
b) Yes, however it seems to do "something" to the MPEG1 files (although it doesn't transcode them) that causes my PS2 to not play them right.
See : http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=123126&highlight=
c) Yes
d) Yes
e) Yes
f) Only if you have a DVD-RW that is in a select list, in my case no, but I don't care that much about this one.
g) Yes
h) Yes

Pinnacle Impression DVD Pro 2.2 (locked up a lot, I didn't try much after I couldn't resolve that, so I'm assuming yes on some of these without having verified them)
a) Yes (I assume)
b) Yes (I assume), however it always locks up when you drag an MPEG1 file to the track.
c) Yes (I assume)
d) Yes (I assume)
e) Yes
f) Yes (I assume)
g) Yes (I assume)
h) Yes

Sonic ReelDVD 3.0 (Bitched about mixing MPEG 1 & 2, I didn't try much after I couldn't resolve that, so I'm assuming yes on some of these without having verified them)
a) Yes (I assume)
b) NO
c) Yes (I assume)
d) NO
e) Yes (I assume)
f) Yes (I assume)
g) Yes (I assume)
h) Yes (I assume)


I'm going to try Scenarist next, and if that doesn't work, well I think I'll have no choice but to shoot myself.

[HaZee]

Mr. Smart Dumb Guy:

I wondered if you already tried some more programs or newer versions of the mentioned programs (like version 1.3 form DVD Workshop for example). Personally I do find your shortlist very usefull! (Mostly because I don't have the time to experiment that muh as you do )