converting files for authoring use

[yadda]

OK My previous post was locked. Sorry guys, I didn't mean to step into the dark side. I will rephrase my question:

Just when I thought I was onto a lot of the encoding ins and outs I am having problems now.

Has anybody created a matrix of the typical captures (AVI from NTSC capture card/AVI from DV device) and the possible programs to edit and author to DVD with??? There seems to be so many IFs.

I have captured a few programs with my new ATI HDTV wonder card (some transcoded to MPG, some in original AVI). What makes the best (easiest) sequence??? Quality is not the most important factor. Speed is important.

I had been using Ulead DV Movie factory to author the AVI in one fell swoop but it has been hanging lately.

Guides???

Thanks
Y

[guns1inger]

If speed is important - VHS. No encoding required.

If you want it on DVD, and speed is more important than quality, Ulead Video Studio or similar will probably do the job

[wwjd]

Ulead Video Studio 8 encodes avi to mpeg faster than most other software that I have tried and the quality is good. I have recently been using CCE Basic to convert my avi to compliant mpeg and then I use VS8 to author and burn. CCE is even faster than VS8 for avi to mpeg encoding and I think the quality is better.

It is an extra step but I estimate that I have reduced the time it takes to go from DV to DVD by 20-30%. What is great about CCE Basic is that you can load up a whole bunch of avi files and let it encode away.

wwjd