MyDVD 5 Deluxe... any good?

[Savant]

I was just looking over the latest Sonic offering and I found myself surprized that MyDVD 5 Deluxe offers Dolby Digital encoding as part of the software. That used to be only available with DVDit PE, and back then it was $400-500 for the software. I should know, I bought DVDit PE 2 years ago for $400, and although it was worth it for me (I had a large project to do) I'm wondering how it compares to MyDVD 5 Deluxe now?

A brief look at the features will indicate it's a pretty packed offering. With a coupon for $10 off the price is US$59.99 for download. Dolby, motion menus, capture utility, it seems impressive. However, I haven't used any of the new software of late, so how does it compare to a title like DVDLab for example? Or Ulead's DVD MovieFactory 2? Has anyone done any comparisons of late?

Regards,

Savant

[accountwiz]

I tried it, but wound up asking for a refund for a number of reasons. I decided to go with DVD-Lab for the time being.

I agree that DD/AC3 encoding is very appealing with MyDVD 5, but my captures are already in AC3 and DVD-compliant video, so the encoding time was driving me bardzark! The other deal-breaker was that they began selling the package without analog capture ability, but you'd never know that by reading their marketing literature. The word was that they hoped to add it in a subsequent patch.

The menus you produce with it are attractive, but I felt completely hemmed in to their handful of stylesets, so that was the ultimate turn-off for me. With DVD-Lab I don't have (or need) AC3 encoding, but I get a huge and robust playground for creating the menu system of my dreams. I also don't wait on DVD-Lab to re-encode my already-compliant mpg's.

However, if you have no other way to get your audio into AC3, and can live with the low-end limitations of MyDVD Deluxe, I suppose the price is quite attractive. But if you can capture into AC3 with an analog card, then the extra twenty bucks spent on DVD-Lab buys you a DVD author's toolbox that can't be beat!

[Savant]

Thanks for the reply. As much as I'd like to, I really can't afford to buy more hardware. I already have an ATI AIW Pro 9700 plus a Digital Camcorder with A-D passthrough onboard (Canon ZR70MC) so all I really need to be able to do is manipulate the video in an efficient manner. I'm not the artistic type so loads of graphical options won't be of too much use to me.

My understanding of the Dolby encoing in MyDVD 5 is that they are basically using the encoder from the old version of DVDit. Alternately the NEW version of DVDit has "realtime transcoding" that encodes "60 times faster" based on what they say on the website. Of course for $400 it had better be good. Right now DVDit will encode a full DVD folder in under 2 hours. Yeah not superfast but it doesn't take all night at least.

My main use will likely be just to convert VHS to DVD (for personal use) and whatever else I record on the DigiCam. So Dolby is a big feature for me since I know how small it can make the audio files. It's a tough choice... I guess I could use DVDit to encode to AC3 and then use DVDlab to then manipulate the encoded files. I wonder how much of a hassle that would be...

Regards,

Savant

[dcsos]

Sonic Foundry's DVD ARCHITECT does both
and at your level this might be the IDEAL program for you

It is a rock stable applicaion unlike that MyDVD (I've used 2.3 to 4.0 with hair pulling results)

although the final build with MYDVD is alway playable..the route getting there is never fun!

[accountwiz]

MyDVD sounds like the ideal choice for you, then. If you sign up for the Sonic forums before you purchase it, there's tons of posts about its quirks and benefits. Also, at the top of the screen listing all the forums, there's a link to save another 10% off the $59.99!

Best of luck!

[fairtomiddlin]

You can download the free trial version of MyDVD Deluxe 5 here:

http://support.sonic.com/trial/MyDVDTrial.asp

[Savant]

While I admit to shelling out $400 for DVDit PE, I don't have the cash to spend another $600 for DVD Architect. Besides, this is more for pesonal use, so it comes out of my pocket and not the business.

I had forgot about the Sonic forums, I thought they had clamped down on 'negative' threads about sonic's Products? Thats why I didn't bother looking there for info that might include comparison to competitors.

Thanks for the note about the coupon, a friend I beta test with (I beta test games for MS) also passed on a coupon code, use MSPLUS10 and you can get $10 off. (iinstead of 10%)

At least MyDVD 5 Deluxe isn't as much an investment as DVDit PE was. I'll have to give it some thought.

Regrads,

Savant

[elkfir]

PC Magazine loves it:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1319059,00.asp

I don't use it though, I prefer TMPGEnc DVD Author

[Savant]

Thanks for the link. Actually I already own a copy of TMPGenc Plus for sake of MPEG encoding, I've been using that to generate my source files since it is highly flexible. I tend to be the sort that PC Magazine talks about. They say it is one of the slowest out there, but that paid off when it came to the audio/video quality as it was second only to iDVD. Thats my big concern, I don't mind waiting if there is a payoff in quality. The extra few hours are a small price for something you want to last right?

Regards,

Savant

[trhouse]

I have tried a number of programs including Ulead Movie Factory 2, SpruceUp, TMPGEnc Author, DVDLab and MyDVD 5.0 Deluxe. Movie Factory 2 cannot create an AC3 file but will handle an existing one. DVDLab worked well but would not burn. It recognized the burner but seemed to misidentify the media required. TMPGEnc Author worked well. MyDVD 5.0 Deluxe worked well and was the only program in the group that could transcode to AC3.