Easy simple authoring program that DOES NOT re-encode ?

[Hellbore]

OK here is my situation.

I have a WinTV PVR 250 card. I capture to MPEG2 DVD format. Then I de-multiplex the audio from the video and enter the results into IFOEdit to author a DVD. Then I burn directly to DVD.

With this process, I never encode anything. It is very fast, the longest part is the de-multiplexing. There is no rendering or encoding or anything because the Hauppauge card captured to the right format for DVD.

The problem is, IFOEdit is a very simple authoring program and it does not let me make fancy DVD's with menus and chapters and such.

What is the best simple, easy to use program to author DVD's and make chapters and menus and such, but that DOES NOT render or re-encode the MPEG2 file?

I just want a replacement to IFOEdit that has more features and is easier to use for my sister so she can use it, and also is able to make more fancy DVD's.

Any suggestions? It doesn't have to be freeware, I will buy the program if it does what I want.

What would be ideal would be this:

Capture with the Hauppauge card
Feed the resulting MPEG2 file directly into some authoring program, which will let me design a cool DVD with menus and stuff
Burn using Nero or using the authoring program, whichever.

[tmh]

Trial TMPGenc DVD Author (TDA) and see if it has the features you want. It's very easy to use and reasonable pricewise. Some think it's too limited - but that depends on what you plan to do. I use it as my only authoring program because it does what I want and I've had zero problems with it so far. I burn with Nero also, but TDA does have a burning engine I haven't used.

I'm pretty sure the trial is "full-featured" and lasts 30 or 40 days.

[FulciLives]

TMPGEnc DVD Author with the AC-3 plug-in so it will convert your MP2 audio to AC-3 audio.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[GeorgeW]

Ulead's DVD MovieFactory 3.0 Disc Creator is pretty user-friendly, and comes with some "canned" menu templates. Automates everything for you, and can be told to bypass encoding compliant files, or to encode files as needed.

The menus force you to use thumbnails as chapter points.

The Trial does not support Dolby Digital audio, but the full Disc Creator (not Standard) version does encode 2-channel AC3.

I use this when I need a DVD quickly...

[MOVIEGEEK]

Ulead VideoStudio will not reencode but it does make another copy(one thing I don't like).
I've never used it but there's also NeoDVD and WinCreator.

[MpegEncoder]

Try GUI for DVDAuthor

[housepig]

DVD Lab won't reencode, and I've made discs with simple menus in 5 minutes, ready to compile and then burn.

but it's got enough features and customization that you can create more involved and complex menus once you're ready or interested.

[wwjd]

TDA is the way to go. It is simple fast, cheap and pretty much bullet proof. It will not re-encode no matter what. Some of the other apps will re-encode if the settings for the output do not match the settings of the file being authored.

Another advantage of TDA is that it is mpeg frame accurate when cutting and trimming. Ulead Videostudio 8 for example is not, which can lead to audio sync issues when cutting or trimming mpeg files.

[MpegEncoder]

Another advantage of TDA is that it is mpeg frame accurate when cutting and trimming.

If people are cutting and trimming at the authoring stage, they are already doing it wrong. All of that should be done BEFORE encoding to mpeg.

[wwjd]

MpegEncoder wrote:

If people are cutting and trimming at the authoring stage, they are already doing it wrong. All of that should be done BEFORE encoding to mpeg.

I would normally agree with cutting, trimming and editing in avi, however
there are a fair number of us that have capture cards, such as WinTV PVR,
that capture directly to mpeg. TDA is a fast easy and fairly robust way to cut out commercials and unwanted video. You want to get down off your high horse and find out how the rest of us live.

[MpegEncoder]

OK

[jdizzy40]

I have used the same method you described but also used DVD Shrink to edit out commericals and create chapters. A month ago I bought TMPGEnc DVD Author. Great program, easy to use, good results. Get (buy) the AC-3 encoder with it. Very simple and as mentioned bullet proof.

[Hellbore]

OK based on the reccommendations here, I went and bought TMPGEnc DVD Author online (download version for $89, came with ac3 filter plugin) and I have been VERY happy with it so far. I also tried Sonic DVDIt (I found out a friend has it) and I like that one too, but I like TMPGENC better! It is just easier and faster, which is GOOD since I am going to be doing many DVD's in a row. Thanks!