What do you use to author your DVDs(part2)?

[therinrnb1]

i need some help with a question ya can any body help me and explain it to me like i'm a 6 yr old

1. I downloading movies right and I brought these disc (CD-R, dvd+r, and dvd-r) I burned a movies on to the CD-R and it worked but not on my computer my friends computer so I brought dvd-r and dvd+r so they can work on my dvd player. So my question to u is i have to format the dvd-r and the dvd+r and i don't know how to do that can u please help me or can u direct me to where i can get help. i use nero 6.6 and TMPGENC DVD AUTHOR and my tmpgenc is not working right it keeps on freezing or not responding i may have to redown load that but if u can help me i appreciate that thank you.

[Tom Saurus]

I use Tmpgenc DVD Author 1.6. I find it to be simple to work with. I have been using it for months and I am very pleased. It is well worth the money that it costs to purchase it.

Something I just learned recently is if you want the words in your titles to stand out more, right click on the words and pick "shadow setting". Now increase the shadow to 100 percent or if it isn't activated turn it on and chose 100 percent. It really makes the words stand out better.

[DVFun]

TDA until last week.
I mean I am still using it for simple DVDs.
But, I have just started to explore Adobe Encore for more flexibility. And I must admit the learning curve is quite steep!!!!!!!
I actually wondered why only so few people in this thread/poll are using Encore!?!?!

[Cyclope]

...life has some misterious ways!

I use DVD Lab Pro with TMPGEnc dvd source DVD Menu & TMPGEnc ac3 sound plugin.

PS & like DVFun i'm starting to explore Encore DVD 1.5 but i have a problem, need a upgrade on my machine!!!
But for now i think DVDLab gives more freedom & precise Authoring than Encore.Do you agree?

[SerbianBoss]

Does ulead dvd movie factory 4 disc creator re-encode video.

Y have mpeg2 files and y want just to make dvd menu without re-encoding.
So, question is, does dvd movie factory 4 work re-enkoding or not?

thanks

[xyankeejimx]

you can tell i'm a rookie cuz my choice isn't even on there.

Vegas Video.



cue laughter now

[VideoTechMan]

I have been using Encore. I did start out using TDA, but I found Encore more flexible and catered more to my needs after I bought the Adobe Collection Pro. I also like the fact that I can learn more in depth in setting bitrates for encoding and menu creation, which in some cases TDA lacks. I also like the fact that I can import the chapter points I created in Premeire Pro directly into Encore without having to add new chapter points.

VTM

[THE-KEK]

I use Ulead DVD Workshop 2 purely for authoring.

Does everything I need it to do.

After seeing all this Maestro praise, I must check this out.

[mzellers]

Most recently I used Adobe Premiere 6.5, bbMPEG, DVDAuthor/DVDAuthorGUI and burnatonce. The 5 hour render time with bbMPEG was my only real complaint after I figured out how to get the settings right so that the image would multiplex successfully.

Mark Z.

[greybeard]

Hi, I'm fairly new to this area, I've created several SVCDs, and I'm now trying my hand at DVDs. I'm interested in putting a number of movies on one DVD but I'm not having much luck doing it. I've used DVD-Lab and really like it, especially the menu feature, where I can set up buttons for the movies. The only problem I am having is that after the movies are compiled, I check the subsequent result with WinDVD and the audio gets out of sync on all three movies.

I tried using TDA and it works well, but the menu option doesn't seem to come anywhere close to DVD-Labs versatility.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to get around the audio sync problem, or how to create better menus with TDA?

Tia,

Grey

[j.jones]

I use Encore with the all-mighty Photoshop to make my menus. If I get really ambitious I will use Premiere or Vegas to make some background and transition videos.

[Nobodydies]

I am using TDA for cutting off the anoying comercials, and building the main structure of my DVDs, and TMPGEnc for repair the gaps between the scenes I cut.
As a final touch I use Virtual Dub Mod and when I am ready to burn I use most of the times Nero.

[CheeseSteak]

DVD Workshop 2 works for me.

[Bondiablo]

Ulead DVD Workshop 2 would be great if it supported NTSC Film.
Adobe Encore DVD would be great if it supported video resolutions besides
720 and 704 x 480 and 576.
TMPG DVD Author would be great if not for the online activation and periodic authentication.

[p_l]

Have you actually tried it? According to the manual "retain film mode" is only available if the project is PAL.

Retain Film mode is only enabled when the active title is in a PAL-compliant format. Selecting this option indicates that the video is in 24 fps progressive scan and will be flagged to 25 fps to comply with PAL specifications. Note that the video's frame rate is not accelerated to 25 fps but only "flagged" as 25 fps.

I routinely encode 23.97 NTSC footage in TMPGEnc Xpress and author it in Ulead DVD Workshop 2. I believe TMPGEnc Xpress uses a 3:2 pulldown flag, and DWS 2 does not re-encode the footage, so I'm guessing it's accepting my NTSC film files as is. Unless I've misunderstood something.

[Bondiablo]

I've encoded many files in TMPGEnc to 23.976fps (internally 29.97fps) and 3:2 pulldown when playback and they never work in DVD Workshop. The play time shown in Workshop for the file is always wrong and it's wrong when the authored disc is played and it plays in a jerky start stop fashion. Importing the same files into DVD Author works fine though and TDA recognizes the imported files as 29.97fps.

[dipstick]

DVD-Lab here.

The freedom to do anything I want with my menus.

[MeganCandy]

Hi all,

I have been reading this topic and downloaded the trial version of Tsunami Dvd Authoring and it was very good, however my trial ran out before i finished using it (yes i am dumb!).

I have now downloaded the trial of DVD lab as i see a lot of you recommend it and am going to try that.

My question: Have you all purchased these authoring programs that you are recommending? As i am only new to this i am only using trial versions, but would like to buy something. Being in Australia the conversion rate makes it quite expensive.

Should i buy on the net? Go to a store? Any tips?

Thanks so much, sorry for all the newbie questions!

[gerryc]

I personally use DVDAuthorgui. I have full control over everything and the best part is it's free...

[dantruon]

Hi all, i just finished reading this thread and the previous thread (part1) and all the info is very informative. Im currently voting that DVD Lab Pro is the best yet but i havent been using others like DVD architect, Mastreo, or DVD workshop. All of these software are the best in the field of DVD authoring and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. So i just wondering which DVD authoring software is the BEST in making SPECIAL Feature menu and SETUP UP menu where you can select audio and subtitles. PLease do not recommend the Sonic Scenarist, this is a beast when it comes to learning curve.

[peco]

I tried most of them. I used DVD-workshop for a while. I'm currently using DVD-LAB for all my "serious" work (with menus, etc) and TMPGenc DVD-AUTHOR for simple reauthoring DVD-RAM .VRO files.

[sohaibrazzaq]

I use Ulead DVD Workshop 2 mostly.But sometimes also use Sonic Maestro.
I wonder why so many people here voted TMPGEnc DVD Author.It has very limited menu creation and other authoring options.
DVD Workshop 2 rocks but it will be even better if they add DTS support in the future version of UDW.

[astrocity20]

I use TMPG DVD Author, I find DVD-lab a bit tedious but it does have some flexibility. My only main complaints for TMPG is that it doesn't support external subs, and it doesn't even let you delete buttons you don't want (I'm looking at you Play all button.) Nor does it let you add buttons. If they gave it more flexibility it'd hands down be the best because it's so user friendly imo.

BTW, what's used for "professional" DVD authoring? Any standard?

[TBoneit]

BJ_M wrote:

Craig Tucker wrote:
coyote wrote:
Can handle everything I throw at it as well as support for dual layer (gonna need that one soon)


I doubt it.



it does

Damn straight it does.....I'm glad I have been using it as long as I have and figured out all the ins and outs. Now that dual layer burners are coming out I'll be all ready. Now I just have to wait for a version of tmpgenc that encodes mpeg2's up to 8.5 gig.

FWIW TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress can do the job for you. When you click the set output button and choose, for example.NTSC DVD. then you can choose target size or 4.7 or 8.5 Gb DVD.

Good Luck

[TBoneit]

I've just had to worst experience in trying to create a DVD

TMPGENc DVD Author

1) The size bar is always wrong, when the vob files are created and loaded in nero you find there's room on DVD for more.

2) DVD playback has been awful for every disk created, first six or so chapter always play ok but after that there's freezing or sometimes just a black screen when going to next chapter.

3) Today 6-21 burned another dvd, not even halfway into the 5th chapter dvd jumps into next chapter. loaded unto computer and launched windvd and does the samething. ARRRRRRRG.


so far 0-4 using this app and 0-6 total in trying to create my 1st dvd from converted media files.

xp pro
amd thorton 2200
256 ddr sdram.

Maybe your mpgs are bad? Or could it be media problems. The program definately won't work right with corrupt files.

I use this program all the time and never have a problem like you describe. As for the size reading wrong? The creators have left a margin for safety. Iusually take mine up to 4483 and still have a little room left. at 4483 project size it warns it isn;t compliant or somesuch but will create anyway. It'll let you create a bigger size and then you can use shrink or if you are running 2.0 it'll autofit for you.

Cheers

[TBoneit]

I started out with Sonic MyDVD. It came with the Sony 500a burner, tried Ulead DVDMF2.

Settled on TMPGEnc DVD Author. Easy to use. does motion menus with audio. Converts the audio to AC3 if needed. Did I mention easy to use and I've used it with menus from the PAL disk I was converting and placed the buttons for it where the menus looked and worked as the originals did. Suits my workflow and needs.

Cheers

[bennetts]

I use Ulead VideoStudio 8 to do all my editing and burning of DVDs and have been very pleased with it. It is very limited on Authoring so I would like to use something that will work with this program to manually create menu's for my DVDs. I have tried Ulead Workshop trial version and after spending much time trying to figure it out I really liked what can be done with this program. A major problem is the price!! What do you think about Ulead DVD MovieFactory Disc Creator 4? I also see by the votes that many of you are using TMPGEnc DVD Author. Is this a great program? As far as Authoring goes how creative can you be with this program?

[Cyclope]

I use DVD LAB PRO. At the time seems to be a nice tool for creating versatile discs. it does almost everything you can possibly want.I've used it in different works & never failled me.

[ofbarea]

I'm using TMpgenc DVD Author but I want to get something that supports subtitles in order to add comments to my home movies.

[thecoalman]

I use Ulead VideoStudio 8 to do all my editing and burning of DVDs and have been very pleased with it. It is very limited on Authoring so I would like to use something that will work with this program to manually create menu's for my DVDs.

You can use Photoimpact to customize the look of the menus to some extent but not much. Same for Moviefactory. Other templates from MovieFactory should work, if you have any templates from a trail version you can import them into VS, not positive but you may also be able to do this with the ones from Workshop too. Do a search for *.ufo within your Ulead folder, thos would be the templates, copy to the corresponding VS folder. Make sure there isn't duplicate filenames, if there are rename the ones you're copying.



In the end though your still stuck with the templates, Workshop is the only fully customizable authoring app from Ulead.