Procoder output to VOB - seek authoring help

[e-nation]

i finally discovered the output to VOB option in Canopus Procoder 2! this seems to me to be the way to go because i can get in there (in the "file splitting" option) and tell it that it needs to fit the VOB's on a 4.7 GB DVD+/-R. I am pleased with the results. I've grown increasing partial to Procoder-- it just plain makes it difficult to arrive at a poor video! Not to mention that i can simply drag and drop the VIDEO_TS folder that Procoder creates right into Nero Burning Rom DVD Video option and have my set-top ready disc. But then I am left w/ a disc that has no menus-- just pop it in and it starts playing. I would prefer to have a menu... if for no other reason than it's aesthetically pleasing to have a nifty menu which i've created (as would be the case if i authored w/ Vision Express).

I tried using Tmpgenc DVD author. am i missing something here? i simply want to take the VIDEO_TS folder, as described above, and burn it to DVD w/ the simple addition of a menu. from what i can tell, TMPGEnc DVD author insists on making another VIDEO_TS folder on my hard drive-- thus consuming time, as i wait for this process. surly there is a way to take my Procoder VIDEO_TS folder and plug it into some authoring application such that it simply creates the menu for me, then burns the VOB's to the disc. if TMPGEnc DVD Author is capable, then i'm missing it. if it isn't capable, and i do need another authoring tool, what then should i use?

can anything that i have do what i want, or do i need to go out and get something else? For authoring, i have ULead DVD Movie Factory, ULead Video Studio, Nero Vision Express, Nero Burning Rom, TMPGEnc DVD Author, DVD Shrink... and i think that's it for the authoring tools.

suggestions?

[jkleslie]

When you create the VIDEO_TS folder, you have authored your DVD and that is that. The other programs you have allow you to take an MPEG2 elementary audio/video stream and do what you're telling Canopus to do for you, except with extra menu-creation options. I honestly don't know if any of those will accept VOB files as I've never used them (except for TMPGEnc - which does not).

In order to create menus, you're going to have to either stop outputting the authored MPEG2 format and just output the MPEG2 elementary audio/video streams for usage in another authoring program or you can get DVD-Lab which will accept VOB files for re-authoring. Canopus is an excellent encoder, but that's all it is.

I'm sure there are more options than this, but this how I do mine.

[e-nation]

but this how I do mine.

i'm not sure i understand how you do yours, precisely, unless you're saying that you use Procoder to output to Mpeg2 (not VOB), and then author w/ DVD Lab.

so, if i understand you correctly regarding the menus, there is no point in outputting to VOB as nothing will take that data and then make a (new) menu from that data? (unless, of course, i'm happy w/out my own custom menu)

it's been a while since i've done it, but i'm trying to remember how SmartRipper puts VOB files on the hard drive, and how those files are subsequently authored. oh! that's right, it's using the original's menu! duh.

in the past, i've used Procoder to encode to DVD-- the result was, i believe an m2v and an audio file (wav or mpeg, or even pcm... i don't recall). i couldn't figure out (in haste, i'm sure) how to author those files. if that is what you recommend i do, then what authoring tool do i use for the m2v (and audio) files? this is why i chose VOB output in Procoder-- because, although i wanted Procoder's speed and quality, i didn't want to end up waiting eight hours for files that i wouldn't know how to author.

[Dr_Layne]

You can import the VOB's in to DVD Lab Pro which will rejoin and demux them back to elementary streams. This is pretty pointless if you have the source files, so use elementary streams instead. It is useful however for a dvd you may have that's already authored and you want to correct things like chapter points, or make new menus.

Steve

[e-nation]

it sounds to me that you're telling me to do what i've done w/ TMPGEnc DVD Author, which was to point it to the VIDEO_TS folder and let it write another VIDEO_TS folder to my hard drive. This process was effective, and didn't take very long (30 mins or so).

using that method, there is of course an added step-- that is to take what TMPGEnc DVD Author has put on the drive, and then burn it to the DVD.

Is this the same thing that you're describing would happen w/ DVD-Lab?

[jkleslie]

Yes, I use Canopus to produce the elementary streams (m2v only for me as I do my own audio) and then use a different program for authoring if I want a menu.

However. DVD-LAB will accept VOB files for reauthoring. I've never done it but I believe there is a guide or two here that shows how.

For authoring, I don't see why you couldn't use most any of the programs you already have. I've not used any of those except for TMPGEnc DVD Author, so I can't comment on them. For TDA, however, it's quite simple. You create a project, import your video and audio file, set chapters, create the men, then output the VIDEO_TS folder. Your best bet is to really check the guides section for walkthroughs - there are probably guides for the other authoring programs you have as well. TMPGEnc is quick, but very limited in the types of menus you can create, so you'll probably want to search the guides section first.

[e-nation]

does TDA actually do the encoding? i thought it was strictly an authoring tool-- or is that what you mean... to encode w/ procoder, then import the elementary streams to TDA?

having spent so much time in the VCD realm, and only having scratched the surface of its vast variety of apps, techniques, preferred processes depending on media, preferred output, etc., and in the end finding my own favorite ways to do things-- i wish i were able to settle on something for DVD's already.

i find myself using avi source media most often. i don't care about chapters. a menu is nice. my main concern is video clarity, aspect ratio maintenance, and speed. i will likely go w/ procoder's VOB's and either stick w/ TMPGEnc DVD Author if i have to have a menu, or be satisfied w/out. it's simply not important enough for me to spend that much energy on a DVD project. and, for me, that's really an okay way to get on with it.

[jkleslie]

TMPGEnc has both an encoder and an authoring application (they are two separate applications) - you can do your encoding with Canopus then import the elementary audio/video streams into TDA to create your DVD-compliant VIDEO_TS folder.

If you output VOBs from Canopus, don't even bother with TDA as it will only accept the elementary stream outputs from Canopus.

[e-nation]

i beg to differ as i have used the canopus output folder as a source for a TDA "project" and it indeed puts a new VIDEO_TS folder on my HDD w/ the custom menu, as i said, in about 30 mins or so. i am also quite familiar w/ TMPGEnc versions free, 2.5 plus, and 3 xpress

thank you for all the info! it is appreciated. i am looking into DVD Lab as per your suggestion

[jkleslie]

I'll have to look into that then. I've never used it for anything more than creating the elementary stream, so that sounds interesting.

Learn something every day!

[jimmalenko]

TMPGEnc DVD Author will accept an already-authored VIDEO_TS folder, with IFO, BUP and VOBs - just use the "Add DVD Video" button when importing