Unique tool to create VCD/DVD from avi,mpeg,wm,quicktime,etc

[lerxst]

I have a bunch of short clips in avi, mpg, windows media and quicktime formats and I would like to know if there is a unique "universal" authoring tool that will allow me to simply add all these files, in these various formats, and create a VCD or a DVD with just simple icon menus.

What I would like to avoid is having to convert each file type to mpeg1 or mpeg2 before loading them into the authoring tool.

Is there such a simple thing?

Thanks.

[jimmalenko]

Authoring tools by strict definition expect DVD-compliant video (which means MPEG-1 or MPEG-2).

However what you're looking for is an encoding AND authoring solution in one that will handle the two seperate processes of encoding and authoring in the one seamless step.

My experience (and that of many other people here) has shown that there is no such tool that can do everything, unfortunately. Video and audio can be in many different "flavours" and as such there are times when you need to apply specialist tools. A lot of the all-in-ones can do a "decent" job, but generally you can do a better job yourself using the right tools and a little bit of know-how.

All that said, convertxtodvd seems to handle quite a wide range of input formats, so it might be worth giving it a go. Be aware that the trial version puts a watermark up the top of the screen, but should you like the product, the payware version has no watermark and is about twice as quick in conversion.

Whatever you do, STAY THE HELL AWAY from WinAVI

[laspis59]

If you are concerned about quality and VCD/DVD compliance then you will have to encode to MPEG1/2 with a decent MPEG Encoder because most of the all in one software I've tried is just not up to the standard I require.

Its slower I know but worth the time and effort to do it the step by step/tool by tool way I'm afraid.