Dual layer Writer and Chapter Button Authoring

[Rhys]

Hello all,
Might i add, this website was recommended by me from an Liteon Support Technician, so that must be a good sign of Good Work Spread to the Manufacturers! 8) 8) 8) 8)

Anyway, my first mission is to seek out and find a dual layer DVD writer, Tower Based internal type.
Dual layer seems to be the way forward, and with double the memory capacity, why the hell not eh?
Anyway, dunno if this is a UK based site but PC World are doing an awesome deal on a Liteon Dual layer Writer for £99 all in.

Anyway spotted any better deals than this?

But my main subject for this post is DVD editing software.
Im after software that i cna create my own menu's but to a customed designed level.
My main aim is to create chapter buttons with MOVING images below as previews like you see on many Comercially created Films. .avi. mpg or even. GIF would be fine, a program that cna handle all of these 3 formats would be nice!
I was confidently persuaded to seek out a product called Sonic My DVD as i was told that this was the only software that could give me this kind of option when bulding menu's.

Are there any other DVD authoring software out there that can offer more advances dseign changes in the menu's and way the DVD menu's are created?
Stuff like a small movie to start the DVD would be a nice move.

But can anyone point me in the direction or tried and tested EXPERT DVD software?

Cheers once again lads, a fine job on this forum!

[daamon]

Hi Rhys,

I've recently left the UK (Englishman born and bred) and always swore by www.blankdiscshop.co.uk for hardware and blank discs.

I got a Pioneer DVR-106D from there and it served me very well. It's still running OK today (my Dad's inherited my UK PC).

I was so impressed that I've gone for a Pioneer DVR-108D 16x DL burner in my new PC... (4th item down if you follow the link).

As for the DVD authoring software, I'm still being unadventurous and using TMPGEnc DVD Author - this won't suit your needs. Check out the authoring software in the "Tools" section - the links for each app take you to reviews (if written) and the apps site etc.

Hope that helps.

[guns1inger]

DVD Architect 2, from Sony, can do this.

I use DVD Lab, however to get motion menus like this requires you to premaster the clips in an editing or compositing program. This has the advantage of giving you much greater options than just a square clip or canned templates.

[Rhys]

Cheers for the replies you 2 but,

You say wha by when how?

Im really good at computers, i can most stuff that others shy from, but that last reply went WAAAAAAY over my head!

On an update to the situation, i asked my mate who ownes one of the First gen of the updated Apple Computers running OS9, the first computers which housed the DVD ROMs.....

These apples have the software to create your own menus, and i asked him whether this kinda request was possible.

He came back saying that only some formats of video were being accepted, and they were totally over the shop....

Now im willing to accept that kind of trouble to get this going, but do anyone know what these MAC users Programs accept as moving images as buttons or a preview movie beneath the chapter name?

I am also very shocked to think that this program has been accessible, and was released around 3 years ago, and that TODAY, only one program can do the same task?

Surely DVD authoring software can do this in the menu creation scheme of things?

Does anyone own Sonic MyDVD 5.0 version? Can this moving image preview thing be done in the menu's?????

[Rhys]

Cheers for the replies, its very naughty to reply with praise on this forum.

Guns1inger, youre a nice man

[Blazey]

DVD Architect 2, from Sony, can do this.

I use DVD Lab, however to get motion menus like this requires you to premaster the clips in an editing or compositing program. This has the advantage of giving you much greater options than just a square clip or canned templates.

DVD architect 2.0 is limited only by the users knowledge of the software and their ability in Photoshop. Through custom masks and frames you can effectively do anything. Any shape clip and highlight you choose to create. The only thing DVD Lab does that DVDA won't is the transitions between menus.

@RHYS - DVD Architect is NOT FREEWARE. Is is quite costly and bundled with the Vegas 5.0 application. I'm not so sure you should be bragging about your "freeware"

[Rhys]

Sorry, TRIAL then! Trial or freeware, SOny offer the limited version of the program so i had a go.

[Rhys]

Official Sony DVD Architect TRAILware Link if you wanna cry over spilt milk like.

[Blazey]

Crying? It's not my hide I was worried about big shot.

Enjoy your trial.