file formats when dvd authoring and software suggestions?

[trueman]

Hello,

I have a number of divx files that I would like to put onto a dvd complete with a menu page. I have Nero vision express 3 which will allow me to create an animated menu page, However for some reason when I preview the animation it jitters the text and locks up the video although the audio can still be heard, and wont play properly. This never used to happen with other versions of Nero vision express I have used before. I do admit though that the finished product is fine and the menu animated background works how it should.

Because of these problems I am thinking of trying out something else but not sure what and have a few questions I was hoping someone could answer for me.

1. What program do you suggest for doing simple dvd authoring. I just want to be able to add a number of video clips create a menu page which is animated but also with the option to remove the audio of this animation. Be able to preview the animation and set the length. Be able to animate the menu buttons to show a part of the clip that each button will play when clicked. NVE does do all of this but seems limited.

2.I have read that dvdlab-pro will not convert avi to mpeg. If I was to use dvdlab-pro could I just convert the files to dvd using divx to dvd and then edit them in dvdlab pro before burning?

3.I tried TMPGEnc DVD but was unable to use my divx files or any other avi files as an animated background for my front page menu. Whats up with that? What type of file do I need to use for my menus in this program?

Okay I hope all that makes sense and thanks ina dvance.

[redwudz]

This is not (S)VCD Authoring. Moving you.

[jimmalenko]

1. What program do you suggest for doing simple dvd authoring. I just want to be able to add a number of video clips create a menu page which is animated but also with the option to remove the audio of this animation. Be able to preview the animation and set the length. Be able to animate the menu buttons to show a part of the clip that each button will play when clicked. NVE does do all of this but seems limited.

I like TMPGEnc DVD Author, but it too has its quirks and limitations about what you can and can't do. Easy enough to do the basics though.

2.I have read that dvdlab-pro will not convert avi to mpeg. If I was to use dvdlab-pro could I just convert the files to dvd using divx to dvd and then edit them in dvdlab pro before burning?

DVD-lab is authoring software, and (quite rightly) expects you to have prepared your files correctly beforehand. You need encoding software to convert your source files into a DVD-compliant state first. DivxToDVD does authoring for you as well as encode, so you might need to be careful when importing authored VOBs into DVD-lab.

3.I tried TMPGEnc DVD but was unable to use my divx files or any other avi files as an animated background for my front page menu. Whats up with that? What type of file do I need to use for my menus in this program?

TMPGEnc DVD Author requires DVD-compliant MPEGs with MP2 audio, or if you have the AC3 plugin then you can use AC3 audio.

[trueman]

Thanks Jimmalenko.


Okay I could be way off the mark here but I thought that capturing video in PICVideo mjpeg or huffyuv avi files was my best option as they have the least compression. However if I am to use TMPGEnc DVD then I should be capturing in mpeg2 which from what I have seen is a much smaller file size and so obviously more compression. This seems to contradict what I have learned on this forum already.

Also, What would you suggest I use to convert files before authoring them in dvd lab pro, and to what format should I convert them too?

[mats.hogberg]

Take a look at WHAT IS DVD top left. It will tell you what kind of mpeg files are suitable for authoring as DVD.
If your system is capable of realtime DVD specs mpeg captures, go for that., and then just author it.
If not, do as you're suggesting, capture in a lossless codec like Huffyuv or mjpeg, then encode to DVD specs mpeg using for instance TMPGEnc. Most mpeg encoders have a DVD preset.

/Mats