TMPGEnc DVD Author vs DVD-Lab

[LSchafroth]

Could someone give me a rundown on the pros and cons of these two compared?

I've been using DVD-Lab a little but not enough to learn advanced features and I've never used TMPGEnc DVD Author.

LS

[bugster]

TmpGenc DVDA is very easy to use but does not offer the flexibility of DVD-Lab

[reboot]

No comparison.
DVDLab outperforms in all areas.

[FulciLives]

TMPGEnc DVD Author is a very nice easy-to-use program.

I like it because of how simple it is to use. Can get things done very quickly.

Of all the DVD authoring programs I've seen nothing has a better way of selecting chapters than this program. It makes your life SO much easier especially when you are doing custom chapters i.e., want to put them in certain places.

It also allows you to edit your imported file wheather it has MP2 or PCM or AC-3 audio. Very handy for those that import MPEG files that were captured that way or imported from a DVD-RAM disc etc.

The program works well. DVD-Lab on the other hand has a large handfull of quirks that can make working with it a real drag.

DVD-Lab beats out TMPGEnc DVD Author for the type of menu you can make ... much more control in DVD-Lab for that.

But let's make it clear ... it is the content that is important.

DVD-Lab has too many quirks to make it worth using JUST to get that fancy menu.

Not worth it.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[steptoe]

For simplicity and fast creation of authoring use TMPGenc DVD Author, but if you intend to go into DVD Authoring and want the wow factor then go for DVD-Lab

Apparently DVD-Lab Pro is even better as you can go into DVD Specifications, and tweak various things to get exactly what you want, which is why 2 versions of DVD-Lab are now available


I've used DVD-Lab, but for my simple needs was too involved, hence I use TMPGenc DVD Author



For future proofing, again go for DVD-Lab, the non-pro version has virtually everything you will need to create impressive menus, motion menus, slideshows, etc, etc

If I had the time to sit and learn it, then I would be using DVD-Lab definately, but my need don't warrent the time nor waste of a good piece of software for what minimal authoring I need

[trossin]

DVDLab ($100) allows you to make very fancy menus but does not allow you to mix video resolutions on one disk. It can only create 1 titleset so if one of your videos has MP2 audio and one has AC3 or one is 720x480 and one is 352x480 you are screwed. Also, it does not convert files. If you want to make a slideshow with audio you have to first convert the audio to MP2 or AC3. It will not take MP3 audio. This and the only one resolution problem was the deal breaker for me. I'm not willing to pay extra for the pro version once a stable version comes out.

TMPGenc DVD Author ($75) has very limited menus. No sub menus but seemed very easy to use. I think you had to still by TMPGenc if you need to reencode your video so it pushed the price over $100.

For cheap and dirty I would recomend Ulead's DVD MovieFactory ($50). It will convert your source material if you want or create multiple title sets so that you can mix and match video without you having to know what it is doing. MovieFactory is like DVD Author in that you can not have submenus but if you just have a main movie and some extras it works great. Also, you can create slideshows and feed in MP3 audio tracks and it will convert them. Version 2 will pass AC3 audio while in Version 3 you have to pay more but you get an AC3 encoder as well.

I have only demoed the first two while I own the MovieFactory 2.

[reboot]

does not allow you to mix video resolutions on one disk. It can only create 1 titleset so if one of your videos has MP2 audio and one has AC3 or one is 720x480 and one is 352x480 you are screwed

Not true.
I regularily mix dvd, svcd and vcd all on one dvdr. Also mix PCM, mp2, m2a, mpa, and AC3 on the same disk.
It is true that it won't take mp3, but I simply convert to .wav or AC3 in goldwave, soundforge or audacity.

[trossin]

It may work for you but it is a violation of the DVD spec. DVDLab even warns you about this if you try to author a disk. Maybe it works on your player but it does not on my Panasonic RV-31. You must put different audio and video resolutions in separate titlesets. The standard DVDLab only produces one titleset so you are hosed. I have heard that DVDLab Pro allows multiple titlesets.

On the DVDLab forum I asked about this and the author said that he feels it is too complicated for the casual user and will only put mulitiple titleset support in the Pro version. It has been a few months since I used DVDLab so maybe he changed his mind but it didn't sound like he would.

When I give DVD MovieFactor two different audio or video resolutions it will create two titlesets in the VIDEO_TS directory.

[reboot]

Yes, it tosses up a warning, and yes they do play on my Koss
I wasn't going to get into any particular players ability to play the disk, unless someone asked, then check the compatibility list.
That's one advantage that Ulead has, but I find it severly limited in most other aspects, and this is also a complex issue, not something most beginners would even question.
For the point and click gang, get Ulead or TDA, or even (gasp!) Sonic (no, not Scenarist, unless you want to spend $5k).
If you want more flexibility than most, get DVDLab, as probably the best "bang-for-the-buck" dvd authoring software ($100).
Sonic MyDVD is going for $8 on ebay (so I'm told).

[awlchu]

Do you consider yourself an occasional DVD lab author or want to jump in two feet first?

If you only needs are to send the DV movie to Gramma on DVD, both will work fine, with a nod to TMPGs product because it is wizard based.

However, you can quickly outgrow TMPGs answer if you want to customize your DVDs to behave the way you want them to. If this is true for you, then I give the nod to DVD Lab.

I feel that DVD Lab Pro is the ideal solution. It can be as simple to use as the std product (create a movie that plays once once inserted into the player) or as complex using playlists, custom VM commands, etc. . Same product and you don't need to buy (or learn) a different product. A drag and drop interface is so simple to use and learn!

Once you stumble through the first few tutorials, you will begin flying with DVD-Lab Pro.

Oh, I author mixed videos/audio all the time with DVD Lab Pro because it allows and supports multiple VTS title sets.

I do know TMPG and Media Chance (DVD Lab) have a close business relationship. The technical teams from both companies are in daily contact with each other discussing DVD topics. I as far as I know, DVD Lab is the only third party authoring tool that can call TMPGs excellent AC3 2-channel encoder directly.

Could someone give me a rundown on the pros and cons of these two compared?

I've been using DVD-Lab a little but not enough to learn advanced features and I've never used TMPGEnc DVD Author.

LS

[AmeliaK]

I stopped using DVD-Lab because the Disks don't play as they should on all DVD Players. It seems to have many bugs. Its a shame, because it is very quick and simple to use and the results look great!

Cheers

[lordsmurf]

I personally think they both suck. Each has bugs, each has limitations to making high quality menus and playable discs.

I recommend:
Sonic ReelDVD for complex work
Sonic DVDit! LE/SE/PE for quick easy work (one VTS)

Sonic DVDit! 5.1 ... still testing ... but looks to be DVDit! with ReelDVD additions (multi VTS, AC3 encoding at no extra charge, perfect DVD compliancy, motion menus, etc) ... I'll likely convert to this for all future authoring. The only drawback is it still hates badly-merged MPEG files (all Sonic products do pretty much). Upgrade didn't cost much at all, and I've not been unhappy yet. Also, P4 or better, no slow systems else you'll hate it (even P4 based Celerons are too slow). I think it's using the high bus and CPU instructions pretty highly, which is good in my opinion ... use what I bought you, good boy!

TMPGEnc DVD Author is ONLY good for converting flawed files to DVD as far as I'm concerned. It's more relaxed about MPEG files that are good but not perfect. This includes bad cuts that Sonic chokes on. Also perfect option for quick VCD conversions. I have issues with it's aspect ratio control on menus and the horrible aliasing of fonts. Button highlights sloppy. Looks so homemade because of this. Authoring is not perfect to spec, odd playback errors here and there.

DVD-LAB (and even the PRO one) are just not good enough. If I spend money, may as well go all the way. I'd rather spend $300-500 and think I spent too much (while getting top quality) instead of spending $100-200 and KNOW I spent too much (getting disappointments along the way). It just doesn't make perfect authors.

If I had to pick one, go for the cheap one. They offer the same quality pretty much. Only real difference is DVD-LAB has more features in the menu department (maybe subs, audio, etc ... nothing most people use, and if they did use it AND they cared, they'd get better software anyhow).

[roma_turok]

TMPGEnc DVD Author + AC3 plug perfect and enough for the simple user.

[LSchafroth]

Thanks for all teh replies. With all the activation crap TMPG is doing, I will stick with DVD-Lab.

I think I will take a peek at DVD-it also and what it is like.

LS