What is the best program for creating Episodic DVDs?

[hiimbored]

Hi, I have 13 AVI files that I want to make 2 episodic DVDs out of. I tried using DIKO Free with the tutorial from here, but it didn't work for me. It would either give me a message about wrong framerate or it would just shut down right when it started and give me an error message. Can anybody recommend a program for this that I can create a menu with as well? Thanks!

[jimmalenko]

First things first: you need an encoder to DVD-compliant MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, and then you need authoring software to author it with menus, chapter points etc etc.

A number of tools offer both functions "all-in-one", but they are really two seperate processes and experience has shown that the best results are achieved by using two seperate and dedicated programs to complete the project. My favorites are TMPGEnc Plus and TMPGEnc DVD Author ( http://members.dodo.net.au/~jimmalenko/AVI2DVD.htm might help if using TMPGEnc Plus), but there are many different encoders and many different authoring suites that are all quite capable and vary in price from free through to thousands of dollars. And of course, there's many guides to the left as well as different forums to assist you with any issues that might crop up.

OTOH suitable results may be achieved with "all-in-one" tools, and of those around, I find it hard to go past Convertxtodvd. It is one of those programs that you can just throw, say, 6 AVI files at it and it will encode to DVD-compliant MPEG using just enough bitrate to retain as much quality as possible whilst attempting to fill the disc as best as possible, and at the end it will then place a menu on top with your choice of 6 eps to watch. It really is great for people who don't want to think about the entire process. That said, I think it is important that people know the manual process to gain a better understanding of just how good this tool is.

[hiimbored]

First things first: you need an encoder to DVD-compliant MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, and then you need authoring software to author it with menus, chapter points etc etc.

A number of tools offer both functions "all-in-one", but they are really two seperate processes and experience has shown that the best results are achieved by using two seperate and dedicated programs to complete the project. My favorites are TMPGEnc Plus and TMPGEnc DVD Author ( http://members.dodo.net.au/~jimmalenko/AVI2DVD.htm might help if using TMPGEnc Plus), but there are many different encoders and many different authoring suites that are all quite capable and vary in price from free through to thousands of dollars. And of course, there's many guides to the left as well as different forums to assist you with any issues that might crop up.

OTOH suitable results may be achieved with "all-in-one" tools, and of those around, I find it hard to go past Convertxtodvd. It is one of those programs that you can just throw, say, 6 AVI files at it and it will encode to DVD-compliant MPEG using just enough bitrate to retain as much quality as possible whilst attempting to fill the disc as best as possible, and at the end it will then place a menu on top with your choice of 6 eps to watch. It really is great for people who don't want to think about the entire process. That said, I think it is important that people know the manual process to gain a better understanding of just how good this tool is.

Hey, thanks for all the info. So is TMPGenc Plus for making the AVI files to DVD-compliant MPEG-1 or MPEG-2? And then after I do that, I use another program to put them onto DVDs? What program should I use for that? Thanks again!

[jimmalenko]

So is TMPGenc Plus for making the AVI files to DVD-compliant MPEG-1 or MPEG-2?

Yep, it's an encoder. There's other encoders here:
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=40#40

And then after I do that, I use another program to put them onto DVDs? What program should I use for that?

I use TMPGEnc DVD AUthor, but there's other authoring tools here:
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=2#2

[hiimbored]

Hey, I did everything you said using the programs you said. But when I get to the very end using the DVD author and I click "Begin Output" the window just disapears. Nothing at all happens. Can somebody help me? Thanks!