Best authoring program if my main source is dvd files?

[brownstem]

I'm looking for an authoring app and would appreciate some advice. My main video source will be other dvds (including ones I've initially recorded with the simple menus of my Panasonic DMR-E85H standalone). In particular, I'd like to be able to import content without having to first convert dvd stuff to either .avi or .mpg. An example: I'm looking to make personalized dvds of the World Series, which I'm presently recording on the Panasonic and then transferring to a PC. I've edited out commercials on the Panny but would like to make some nice menus with ballgame image backgrounds and chapter breaks at each half inning.

Thus far I've tried Pinnacle Studio 9, though it only wants to import .avi or .mpg files. I've made these (without compression) using AutoGK but the resulting .avi files apparently contain audio which Studio chokes on.

I've also tried the trial version of Ulead DVD Workshop, and though it appears to be able to import content directly from the dvd-r discs I made on the Panny it has a 10-title limit. Seems as if the Panny inserts tons of "titles" (is this the same as chapters??) in what it records.

So, any tips on what I can try next (or how I can feed Studio 9 dvd content with acceptable audio)? Thanks in advance for any help.

[andkiich]

Either DVD-Lab Pro or TMPGEN DVD Author would be my choices.

[lordsmurf]

I would have said DVDWS2.
If that gave your errors, you must have skipped a step, or the MPEG files are dirty. Clean in Restream. TDA is not picky.

[brownstem]

Thanks to both of you. With regard to DVDWS2, as I said it was more of an issue of it giving me an error midway through importing the content from dvd (something like "this version only allows 10 titles...).

[lordsmurf]

Thanks to both of you. With regard to DVDWS2, as I said it was more of an issue of it giving me an error midway through importing the content from dvd (something like "this version only allows 10 titles...).

You must not have the full version.