suggestion needed: DVD+/-VR authoring software

[fanbanlo]

I'm currently using Cyberlink PowerProducer 2 Gold (comes w/ LG Burner). It does everything I want, including:
- DL DVD support
- DVD+/-VR support (create + import)
- AVI/WMV/MPG -> DVD

However, it is super slow! and re-encode every mpeg (no transcoding).

Are there any software that can do everything above + mpeg transcoding, and at a faster speed? Preferrably more templated menus?

NeoDVD 6.0? Its speed comparison chart is definately attractive...

Cyberlink PowerProducer 3? but I've read quite a few negative reviews here...

Thanks in advance~

[Baldrick]

Test Ulead DVD Workshop or Ulead DVD Moviefactory.

[GeorgeW]

Just a note on the Ulead Trials -- they don't support Dolby Digital audio (although the non-trial DWS2.x and certain versions of MovieFactory 3.0 will decode/encode Dolby Digital -- the encoding is 2-channel only).

I only mentioned this because it looked like you might be importing discs from a standalone dvd recorder, and the dvd recorder might use Dolby Digital audio

[jrisch]

Try NeroVision Express 3. It is very restrictive in its menuing capabilities and I don't have speed comparisons but it's worth a try.

Regards, jrisch

[lordsmurf]

Do yourself a favor and learn to encode MPEG separately. Use authoring software ONLY for making menus.

[fanbanlo]

Test Ulead DVD Workshop or Ulead DVD Moviefactory.

DVD Workshop is too expensive...
DVD Moviefactory... do u know about its speed? Does it support transcoding? Hum.. it has a low rating in Tool section here.

[fanbanlo]

Try NeroVision Express 3. It is very restrictive in its menuing capabilities and I don't have speed comparisons but it's worth a try.

Regards, jrisch

But... it is the slowest one listed here:
http://www.mediostream.com/pdf/neoDVD_speed_comparison.pdf

[fanbanlo]

Do yourself a favor and learn to encode MPEG separately. Use authoring software ONLY for making menus.

But then I can't expect a burned DVD when I'm back, I need to come back and make the burn after the encoding is done...? Which MPEG Encoder would u suggest? TMPGEnc? How does the free ones compare in terms of speed/quality?

[lordsmurf]

You need to learn more patience. Video is a hobby/job that requires time investment.

[fanbanlo]

You need to learn more patience. Video is a hobby/job that requires time investment.

Hum... I guess I'm just a user looking for an easier solution. I can spend time tweaking each parameter in the encoder app, authoring app, burning app... but I don't really want to. In fact, I might not be the one who'll be using this, so, the easier/faster/cheaper the better~ Thx!!

[fanbanlo]

Wow... my own benchmark

test case: 20 min WMV -> DVD

Cyberlink PowerProducer 3 -> 17.5min
NeoDVD 6 -> 11min

I'd definately get NeoDVD if it can offer more features useful featuers found in PP3.

[pbhalerao]

Wow... my own benchmark

test case: 20 min WMV -> DVD

Cyberlink PowerProducer 3 -> 17.5min
NeoDVD 6 -> 11min

I'd definately get NeoDVD if it can offer more features useful featuers found in PP3.

Have you tried Mainconcept MPEG Encoder? It is pretty fast. I have tried TMPGEnc and Mainconcept. A lot of people in the forum have said that TMPG is better - but I have not found much difference (my opinion only); however TMPG was slower than MCE at 2-pass VBR. Hence I purchased MCE.

[pbhalerao]

Carrying on to the above post, once the MPG (MP2) is ready, I use TMPG DVD Author to create the DVD. I have not had problems so far - though I could use some good templates (I am too lazy and tired to make my own).

[fanbanlo]

TMPGEnc 3.0 XPress + TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 = US$ 110.00

So expensive compare to all-in-one by NeoDVD or PowerProducer though...

TMPGEnc is not free for MPEG2...

[burnman99]

Fan, Nero 6 or Sonic DVDit are middle price all-in-one
solutions. If you are converting divx you may want to try either the film machine or DIKO which are free all-in-one apps.
For using separate steps, A good free mpeg2 encoder is AVIDemux. DVDAuthorGUI, GUI for DVDAuthor and DVDStyler, are good free DVDAuthoring software, and finally, CDBurnerXP Pro, and DeepBurner are good free burning software.

Hope this helps

Rog