Newbie questions - DVD creation from iMovie on the move

[pglock]

I'm reasonably new to this game so I'd like some advice from you 'seasoned pros' please. I use a Ti PB 667 with Combo drive. I have a little experience in creating VCDs SVCDs using ffmpeg and MMT, then Toast 5.2.1 to burn.

I spend a lot of time travelling, giving presentations and training sessions. I need a portable solution for DVD creation when using a DV cam away from base, then leaving a finished DVD with the audience.

I've just purchased an external La Cie U&I DVD +- R/RW drive to provide archiving facilities for Macs and PCs. This version is cross-platform (and cheaper in the UK) than the Mac/Firewire only bundle, but doesn't come with CaptyDVD.

I have access to iDVD install disks that came with a Superdrive iMac (but I can't really carry a 17" lampstand on an airplane).

What is the most convenient way for me to create simple DVD's, playable in a standalone player, without buying DVDSP which is overkill for my needs?

[galactica]

I'm reasonably new to this game so I'd like some advice from you 'seasoned pros' please. I use a Ti PB 667 with Combo drive. I have a little experience in creating VCDs SVCDs using ffmpeg and MMT, then Toast 5.2.1 to burn.

Good

I spend a lot of time travelling, giving presentations and training sessions. I need a portable solution for DVD creation when using a DV cam away from base, then leaving a finished DVD with the audience.

I've just purchased an external La Cie U&I DVD +- R/RW drive to provide archiving facilities for Macs and PCs. This version is cross-platform (and cheaper in the UK) than the Mac/Firewire only bundle, but doesn't come with CaptyDVD.

http://ka.ws17.arena.ne.jp/en/products/software/capty_dvd_vcd/download.html
to download CaptyDVD

I have access to iDVD install disks that came with a Superdrive iMac (but I can't really carry a 17" lampstand on an airplane).

What is the most convenient way for me to create simple DVD's, playable in a standalone player, without buying DVDSP which is overkill for my needs?[/quote]

Try CaptyDVD. Another option would be to install the iDVD onto your powerbook since you have the burner now. However, im not 100% sure it will work with an external burner (can anyone confirm this?)
for some reason im inclined to say it wont. [Does your external burner with with finder burning or with iTunes burning? If it does, then iDVD should work?]

but you could always use iMovie, export to iDVD and if the burn is good with your external drive do that.

Otherwise, you will have to use Toast to burn the DVD once you get it exported as either a image or a VIDEO_TS folder.

[pglock]

Thanks for the wise words. The drive is recognised by iTunes, I'll try loading iDVD tomorrow.

Sorry to be so dense, here's a follow on question. Just in case iDVD doesn't load, I've downloaded CaptyDVD, it asks me for a serial number when I try to run. Is there a free version or a way of entering the serial number of the dvd writer to unlock the software?

[pglock]

Update: Following advice on another post, I found the full version of CaptyDVD at: http://webb2.pixela.co.jp/download/mac/dvd/CaptyDVD114_osxfull.sit

I installed the Japanese version then applied the English update from the site you gave in previous post (above).

I'll play with it tonight.