My First Authoring Project with DVD Maestro

[Machine514]

I just completed my first DVD authoring project with DVD Maestro. It was pretty easy. I used short clips that I had from my miniDV camcorder. I do have some questions though.

(1) Can I test this off the hard drive with just the "VIDEO_TS" and "AUDIO_TS" folders? If so what program can I use?

(2) What software do I burn the folder and files with? NERO?

(3) This last question has to do with the bit-rate of the video file. I used the TMPGEnc defaults which shows 8000kbits/sec for the bitrate. With this I had a 10 minute video which turned out to be a total of 711MB with menus. I know that this is not right. Should I have the bit-rate down at 3000kbits/sec to maximize quaility and quantity on my DVD+R? In other words is 3000kbits/sec the absolute minimum for the bitrate? What is the usual for everyone here? Or does it just depend on what you want to do?

-Machine

[nerdboy69]

(1) Yes.
PowerDVD will do it. It has a file mode to open DVD file structures via IFO's or even single VOBS and MPEGs.

(2) Yes.
Nero, will do the trick. Just make sure it is a recent release as earlier releases were burning with a UDF version that was only compatible with some DVD Players. Then you can create a new "DVD-Video" project and drag your files/folders in.

(3) Everyone will have an opinion on this. The lowest bitrate I have ever slunk to is 434kbps.
(See this thread for why: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=154530&highlight=)
All depends on the quality you want, but 3000kbps is about as low as you want to go for full DVD resolution.

I will leave others to discuss the pros and cons of VBR and CBR and argue best results, but to me it all comes down to what I want to fit on the DVD vs how much I am willing to compromise. By default I stick to around 6000kbps for size vs quality compromise.

[Machine514]

Thanks for the response...but I still have more...

(1) will PowerDVD simulate the whole DVD process, i.e. starting the DVD with the menu and having it link to video files etc.

(2) I will try it with the newest version.

(3) Perfect, that is what I needed to hear.

Thanks again!

Now I am off to start creating complex menus. Does anyone have any tutorials for After Effects?

-Machine

[Psycho_Dad_Rules]

Hi,

You can use powerdvd to play the files just like they were on a DVD(r). Just select "play dvd files from harddisk" en select your VIDEO_TS.IFO file. This is the file a dvd player starts as first when playing a DVD.

Greetz,

pSyChO dAd

[Machine514]

Very good. I will try it.

-Machine

PS Married with Children?

[BJ_M]

windvd can also do the same as power dvd .

you should have checked anyway your navigation and layout from within maestro anyway first - which can also play just as a dvd before compiling ..

you can also use maestro to create a image file which you can burn with several burning apps ..

maestro will put a *.LAY file in your VIDEO_TS folder - make sure you dont burn that if you dont use maestro to make the image file ..

[Machine514]

Yes I noticed that "lay" file in that folder. Good thing you mentioned that! Thanks!

Which do you liek better, WinDVD or PowerDVD?

-Machine

[BJ_M]

they are both good ..

[Machine514]

A bit of an old post, but I figured I would post my results of PowerDVD vs WinDVD.

WinDVD is very easy to use. I would suggest using it. It took me a long time to figure out PowerDVD and I never even figured out how to open files off the hard drive.

I say stick to WinDVD!

-Machine