Authoring .ac3

[Heartless Angel]

I'm sure the answer is lost in the myriad threads, so, apologies for asking once again.

Can anyone please recommend some DVD Authoring software that accepts .ac3 audio, provides chapters, and (sub)menus, that are freeware or relatively inexpensive. Thank you in advance.

P.S. Those encoding anime to DVD and the image is too big--subtitles being cut off--on their 4:3 NTSC TV's, here's my suggestion:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=155124

"Fallen Angels never forget the scorn they have endured... For even after days and months and years and centuries they still feel the pain and hatred for those who have wronged them."

[mustang581]

the following software has not yet been released, but you can download a beta/trial version.
http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/index.html

look around their web board for the download.

[Heartless Angel]

Ah, appreciate it--thanks! I'll give it a shot and give my feedback.

"Man is cruel by nature and there is no truer hell than the world we live in."

[Nolonemo]

I'd try the new TMPGEnc authoring software, I'd be real suprised if it didn't author ac3 (I'm assuming you already have your audio converted to ac3). Don't know about submenus. Worth checking out though, they have a trial version.

[K2]

trial of Movie Factory 2 complains about AC3 audio but works fine.

[spidey]

sonic foundry's Vegas 4 and DVD author 1

http://sonicfoundry.com

[RWANDREWS]

TMPGEnc Authoring program DOES accept Ac3 input whether on elementary stream or not, but it does NOT encode AC3. Use BeSweet to do this, then import to TMPGEnc author.

It's free to try, but $68 to purchase. I like it, and am going to buy it. No other program under $100 accepts 3rd party encoding to author vids, that I am aware of. NOTE: you cannot burn directly from TMPGEnc. You must make an image (I use IMGTool) then burn with other software the .iso file.

NeoDVDPlus 4.0 uses AC3 and is a good authoring program, BUT it will re-encode your video if you import a MPEG file. Neither DVD Movie factory, Magix Video 2.0 or recordNow Max allow you to use AC3.

[Robert Simandl]

With DVD MovieFactory 2, the first time you import an mpeg with ac3 sound, you'll get a message telling you DMF doesn't accept ac3 audio. Check the "do not show this message again" box and click OK. Not only will DMF2 allow you to use the ac3-encoded mpeg, it won't even object next time.

Note that the ac-3 has to be muxed together into a program stream with the video (an .mpg file). DMF2 will NOT accept an .ac3 elementary stream.

[Heartless Angel]

Thanks again everyone. I like Spidey's suggestion for Sonic Foundry's DVD Architect. It works great for me in accepting .ac3 audio, creating (sub)menus, and chapters. I recommend it. Other DVD authoring S/W I've used and wasn't completely satisfied with are:

Sonic My DVD(don't like the interface) and Ulead DVD MovieFactory(doesn't accept .ac3)

I'm still experimenting with Ulead DVD Workshop, TMPEnc DVD Author, and Mediachance DVDLab(Looks very promising).

"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."