Advice needed on authoring DVDs

[perdomot]

I'm archiving old vhs tapes onto DVD and I've been using NeroVision to create the chapters, menus and then burn the avi files onto the blank dvds for playback in my standalone player. The problem I've noticed is that there is a process called transcoding which seems to lower the video quality. Is there a way to avoid this or should I try using another program to do my dvds? Thanks.

[guns1inger]

What format were you tapes in once you transferred them to the PC ? See WHAT IS DVD (top left) to see compliant settings. You need to have your video in a compliant format to author. That said, NeroVision may also transcode if it thinks the output will be too large. Nero's mpeg encoding engine has always been sub-par, so if it does transocde, you will lose quality.

I would suggest encoding with tmpgenc, CCE basic or Procoder Express. All produce high quality at low cost. For simple menus, I would suggest tmpgenc DVD author, and once you get more confident and want more complexity, DVD Lab or DVD Lab Pro.

If budget is a problem, then you could also look at one of the DVD Author front ends. Both seem to be able to good work at no cost other than your time.

[ZippyP.]

...and then burn the avi files onto the blank dvds for playback in my standalone player. The problem I've noticed is that there is a process called transcoding which seems to lower the video quality.

Nero is converting (encoding) your avi's into DVD compatible mpeg format, this is an essential step in making a DVD that you can play in your set top player. See the advice above for encoder recommendations that will help reduce the quality loss.