DVD Encoding App - One Reliable Tool Exist?

[quantass]

I've been at it for over a year now and still hate the process. I download a .AVI file or .BIN (with SVCD or VCD movie) and would like to convert it to DVD for later authoring and burning to DVDR. With respect to .AVI I normally head straight to TMPGEnc Xpress. Sometimes it has problems and I have to popup VirtualDub and resave out the file then i can begin. Othertimes I find XPress can encode for a couple minutes then fail pushing me to use the older TMPGEnc 2.5, which too can fail all of a sudden for no reason. If somehow i get thru the 2-6 hr encoding process, I then move onto TMPG DVD Author which goes by smoothly, then burn.

The process of having to use VirtualDub sometimes, the older TMPGEnc because the XPRess edition has bugs, and other issues wirth TMPGEnc's encodign process has just annoyed me from day one. Is there a simpler, more reliable process for taking a .AVI file or .BIN file and quickly/properly/reliably converting it to DVD format ready for DVDR burning? Or must one still use several tools before they can have the DVD output?

All i need is a tool to reliably convert my input to DVD format without those annoying TMPGEnc cryptic errors, its capable of adjusting the encoding so that it properly fits a 4.5GB DVDR, and doesnt mess up the aspect ratio. Is there any tool like this on the market?

Thanks.

[guns1inger]

No. There are plenty that claim to, but a quick read of the forums here show that the best results come from using the correct tools at each step of the way. All the one-click-wonders have to make too many compromises to keep it simple to give truely good results. Usually they hide the ability to adjust bitrate, or only allow it to be changed in stupid increments (either an arbitrary quality scale or time scale).

The best I have found for reliability is DivxtoDVD, however you have to accept the quirky way it calculates bitrate, and not be perturbed by bitrates around the 2300 mark. It's quality is about equal to the source material, it has no filters, it produces AC3 audio and to date (for me at least) has never had a problem with the uauslly problematic VBR MP3 audio. But you get no menu (this may have changed in the current payware release), so TDA is still required if you want them.

But even with this tool installed, 9 times out of 10 I go through all the steps - filters, frameserving, encoding, authoring - to ensure the high possible results given the source material at hand. Yes, it takes 4 - 5 times longer in most cases, the quality difference if worth it, given most of the time is through the middle of the night while I sleep.

[mats.hogberg]

TMPGEnc 2.5, which too can fail all of a sudden for no reason.

No computer program fails for no reason. Sometimes it's because of a bug, but most of the times, it's because it's being fed data of wrong/unexpected format, and chokes on it.
I don't think you'll ever see one app to turn any video format you find on the web into a DVD. guns1inger has it down to what is involved. You get one app that takes care of let's say 75% of your source material, then you gather apps and know-how to deal with those troublesome 25% (75/25 is overly optimistic...)

/Mats

[dancoe]

the best i've found and have never had a problem with is "nero vision express" it is a free add on for "nero ultra 6"

it allows you to put 3 or more vcd movies one dvr

nice menu authoring also such as, audio in the background, video in the back ground

a real nice feature is automatic chaptering.

good luck

[ZippyP.]

the best i've found and have never had a problem with is "nero vision express"

Most of the regulars on this site would not consider Nero the best or even good for that matter. To each their own.