Help~ I want to author a DVD, what software is right for me?

[Shipuh]

I have several .avi files I want to author onto a DVD. I can change these files to whatever format they need to be in. (.mpg, .vob, etc. so .avi's are not the problem)

I am looking for a software that will allow me to use my own menu background (and music looping through the menu, but this is more of a personal preferance than a nessicessity) with various episodes displayed on the menu, (listed as buttons?) that would direct the viewer to the seperate video tracks on the DVD.

The only programs I have found to be able to do this were for the MacOS, and I am running a Windows XP (...ew)

I could probably also try appending my .avi videos together, convert them to whatever other format needed, and then seperating them by chapters with an authoring program if only one video file would work, but I still would like the menu to go to each "Chapter" rather than the seperate video track method listed above. I don't mind cheating this way.

Could someone please direct me to the software I'm looking for.

EDIT: One more thing I forgot to mention, my videos are in 16:9 Aspect Ratio

[vico1]

I believe TDA will do it for you.

[molamola]

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. Please stop hijack topics. And one topic is ENOUGH. Contine in https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=327849&highlight= .
/ Moderator Baldrick

[Shipuh]

uh...what? im hijacking a topic...!? D:

i always read the forum rules before i start a post on a new board...im sorry.

[redwudz]

Shipuh, don't panic. That wasn't addressed to you.

As mentioned, TDA may be all you need. Or for a more advanced authoring programs, look to DVD Lab Pro or similar.

For freeware, GUI for dvdathor would also do that, but requires outside programs and a bit more study and work.

You might also want to study 'WHAT IS' DVD to the upper left for the DVD format and specifications to see what you need for a DVD file.

And welcome to our forums.

[Shipuh]

im using TDA at the moment, its very nice, im just trying to figuire out how to ouput and burn now.

however, i was disappointed, because it lacked the customibility that i wanted. (i had already created dvd background menus, and i have to use their own templetes, not what i was looking for...) there also isnt an option for me to add my own audio to the menu...or well, if there is, i havent discovered it yet.

hahaha, still my first time authoring, so i gotta experiment with the tools a little~

[Alex_ander]

Try TDA2 or TDA3, there's no problem internally adding audio to stills or motion menu pages, templates are much more flexible to edit. TDA3 also supports subtitles, both allow 2 audio tracks, etc. Preview function before outputting. Still as easy and time-saving to use as v.1.6.

[redwudz]

TDA is easy to use, but somewhat limited. It doesn't do subtitles for one. Maybe the newer versions have corrected this. I still use V1.6. Look to some of the guides for the program. For general authoring information, see 'AUTHOR' to the left.

DVD Lab or DVD Lab Pro probably do all that and more, but they cost more also. GUI for dvdauthor will probably do the same in freeware. There are guides on it's toolpage like this one: http://download.videohelp.com/gfd/GUI_DVDauthor_eng_07.htm

Even most of the higher end authoring tools expect you to use a graphics editor and a few other outside tools to get the best results. It's something you have to work at. No 'one-click' authoring tools do it all.

[GeorgeW]

Along with the suggestions already made, Sony's DVD Architect Studio 4.0 gives you the ability to customize your dvd menus. It also has its own encoders (if you need encoding for video and audio). They have a full working trial, and for ~$50 it's a pretty good deal (no subtitles or multiple audio tracks though).

Regards,
George

[Shipuh]

thanks for all your help you guys!! you've been wonderful!

usually, most of the subtitles i use (if any at all) are all hardsubbed, so this wont ever bother me for soft-removing them from the video track to see the raw on my DVD.

actually, after experimenting more with TDA, i realized you can do quite more than i thought possible.

so my next question is a hardware question.

the only thing thats NOT working for me...is the burning of the final DVD product. i checked my hardware, and i do have a dvd burner, i also put in a DVD-RW (is the type of disk a problem?) single-layer (4.7 GB) but the disc is never recognized by the program (and maybe even my computer!!)

am i missing some sort of driver or something? why isn't the disc being recognized on my computer. my computer can read written and play DVDs, and it says its capable of burning. (i also remember ordering it with my dad for my computer).

any suggesstions would be most helpful!