Authoring Apps?

[JamesB69]

Can anybody reccomend any good authoring apps. I am currently using Maestro just because of the the sheer amount of features/flexibility it allows.

Three I have been looking at are DVDLab, ReelDVD, and DVDArchitect.

I want some power features, but not confusing like Scenarist.

[tumbar]

You have already, IMHO, listed the "best".

I have come to realize that I need to spend more time "learning the craft".

I have experimented with each of those you named and more.

There are three levels of applications.

Newbie, intermediate, professional.

Personally I like Maestro, but the new dvdlab and tmpgenc's dvd author are also intresting.

After a year or so, I am still somewhere inbetween newbie and intermediate.

regards

[JamesB69]

Could i get your opinions specifically on ReelDVD and DVDArchitect? The thing is I am looking for something that can run under Windows98SE and Maestro wont. So far DVDLab is in the lead. TMPGEnc DVD Author is too limited, especially in the menus.

I want features, like fullest range of DVD Specs possible supported. Win98SE though.

[JamesB69]

anybody?

[housepig]

I'd reply, but I'm still trying to figure out why you'd pay all that money for Maestro without a machine to run it....

[Specialist]

Have a look at Ulead DVD WORKSHOP.

Good combination of power vs. price.

The new AC-3 version is part of the new StudioQuartet suite of professional tools:

http://www.ulead.com/products/studioquartet/runme.htm

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[spidey]

Forget DVD Architect or ReelDVD

You'd want Sonic's DVD Producer. It's a modernized version of Maestro and has many updated features.

ie - when you highlight an active area for a button only your overlay is active and changes colors, unlike in Maestro the whole square area you highlighted illuminates....not as nice looking

Check out Sonic's site as they have manuals and a tutorial guide which shows you it in action.

Also, ReelDVD does NOT produce different tile sets per movie - SO you can NOT mix and match Mpeg 1 & 2 clips as your sources, that is the HUGE reason to migrate up to DVD Producer.

I don't know in comparsion to DVDA.

I love Vegas Video, but I know that Sonic's best at authoring, so I use VV4 for editing, I installed DVDA to unlock VV4's ac3 capabilities, but that;'s my only reason for it............but I'd only use Sonic for authoring.


http://sonic.com/products/
http://sonic.com/products/dvdproducer/


I used Maestro very much, but once I found this more "modern" and more aestetically developed version there was no turning back

[JamesB69]

Housepig, i have more than one computer man, only one copy of windows xp. i also have a friend who only has 98se and would like some authoring apps. Dont start implying stuff. The whole point is, you dont know my reasoning. No hard feelings though.

And the guy who suggested DVD Worshop, please that is not features. Something that cannot make 16:9 menus is definitely out of the question. I want features and power, not a kids toy. I did try the software once. I couldnt even get it to compile without crashing my windows xp system.

Im currently checking out that DVD Producer, if it is as good as you say it is then it could be the answer. If anybody that has used it could compare it to DVDLab, id appreciate it. Still looking for opinions on DVD Architect too.

[JamesB69]

DVD Producer doesnt run on Win98 bud, any other suggestions?

[housepig]

Housepig, i have more than one computer man, only one copy of windows xp.

but you have more than one copy of Maestro?

I don't need to imply anything... you're doing quite a good job of that yourself.

[JamesB69]

I never said that man, now your just talking. Read, I am looking for an authoring program capable of running on the second computer, which doesnt have XP or 2000, therefore not capable of running Maestro. READ. If i had a second copy of Maestro, I wouldnt even be able to run it.

[Cornucopia]

2 words--DUAL BOOT.


If you could get another copy of Maestro, it's worth it to get a copy of 2k/XP to go with it.

BTW, I just saw a copy of Maestro go for sale on ebay for ~$3800 US. (No connection/No plug).

Scott

<edit>
That no connection/no plug thing meant that I'm not affiliated with that auction in any way.

[JamesB69]

i would still like a powerful alternative though