DVD authoring on a Mac

[jwnulife]

This authoring stuff sounds so confusing. There are so many different software programs to choose from and I don't know where to start. I was hoping somebody out there could recommend a good place to start DVD authoring on a Mac---specifically an iMac G5. Many of the programs seem PC-specific, but I need Mac programs. I am particularly interested in creating "Fan Edits" for movies that I already own but I wouldn't know where to start. Any Mac savvy people out there willing to offer some advice?

[videopoo]

iDVD comes with your G5. Toast and DVDSP is your only other options. I think there might be another but really...who cares with those options I listed

[jwnulife]

Thanks. I have Final Cut Pro but do you know how it compares to DVDSP? Is one simpler than the other and more user friendly? I've done some rudimentary stuff in iDVD but I really don't like the way it renders type.

[videopoo]

FCP is an editing program and DVDSP is an authoring tool so there's no way to compare the 2.

[jwnulife]

What's the difference? Excuse my ignorance.

[videopoo]

FCP allows you to edit your movie. Apply music , dialog, special effects, ect. DVDSP takes that FINISHED movie and allows you to put it onto disc. DVDSP programs how the disc will preform - what buttons play what movie, design menus, ect.

[jwnulife]

Damn, all I want to do is seamlessly join Back to the Future I and II and remove the credit sequences.

[videopoo]

LOL!

There are tools for that. I'll leave that up to other's here who are more experienced with them. Also look around the tools section and play around.

[jwnulife]

Well I already got my start with Mpeg2Stream Clip program but as you probably already know--you get one software program only to realize that you need another...and another...and another...and so on and so forth...

All the more reason why I am trying to find someone who is adept at authoring on a Mac, so that I may find a way to navigate through this maze without having to download dozens of programs (and spend a lot of money, I might add)in an arbitrary, trial-by-method way.

[videopoo]

I don't spend alot of time joining 2 different discs but with MPEG StreamClip just De-Mux the 2 films them bring them into DVDSP and author them onto 1 disc. You'll probably need DL media for both.

You can do everything here with free tools. DVDSP isn't free but on the PC side, there are several tool that will work fine.

[jwnulife]

English please?

I have DL media and a DL burner. What is Demux?

[videopoo]

"Demux" is just removing the encoding MPEG-2 file from the already muxed VOB.

But save yourself some key stokes and go through the guides first - then come back with questions

https://www.videohelp.com/guides

[jwnulife]

sheesh

[jman98]

jwnulife - If you're not willing to do research yourself (and it appears that you are not), you're not going to get very far. People like you who are too lazy to look stuff up don't make friends here.

Good luck with the Mac. You will find that on Mac there are (IF you are lucky and it's a very big "if") usually 2 or 3 programs to do anything, at best, and if they don't work for you, you are out of luck. I hate Windows, but it's what I use for video and audio work because that's where the tools are. If tool X doesn't work for you in Windows, than maybe tool Y, tool Z, tool A, tool B, tool C, and so on will work for you. You will have few choices on the Mac and some of the things that are very easy for us to do on Windows are not so easy on Macs.

By the way, a Mac specific video forum on another web site might be more helpful to you. Most of us here don't use Macs (I have one at work and I don't use it for video and audio work because the Mac tools mostly suck in my opinion) and the few who do usually admit "I use Windows for all my video work" or something similar. If you want or need a lot of hand holding, well, good luck with that because typically non-Windows users like to say "read the manual" a lot.

[jwnulife]

Boy, and I thought it was supposed to be the Mac guys who were the elitist snobs. I think jman98 is doing a good job of reversing that stereotype (not to mention giving the other gentlemen in here a bad name). I don't want to this to regress into a juvenile bitchfest between Mac and PC users, so it would be nice if jman98 would consider taking his adolescent vitriol elsewhere. It's awfully presumptuous to assume that I'm trying to hitch a free ride just for asking a couple of questions. I even tried to be discreet and post in the "newbie" forum so I wouldn't step on jman98's toes but it looks like he's already got his panties in a bind. Is it his full time job to assault newbies in this forum and harass them? Can we get on to other important topics please?

[redwudz]

You would likely get better responses in our Mac forums rather than posting in Newbie/General. We do have a fair amount of Mac users. Moving you.

[jwnulife]

moving me?

[terryj]

Yes, and you are here and this thread is basically a duplicate of the other you started. Let's finish things up there, ok?

[jwnulife]

Right on. Boy, people sure are touchy here. Signing off

[Surfmaster]

jman98,

You are right on the mark. The newbie needs to realize that you're not going to learn DVD editing and authoring in 30 minutes. It takes 10 of hours or longer of research and lots of trial and error to get the finished product to meet your needs. Glad you set the newbie straight. Anyone who is not willing to do the work should just quit or pay someone else to do the job. He just wants handouts like Denise from Survivor: China.

[redwudz]

Good point, terryj. I hadn't seen the other post. Locking this one.

jwnulife, You would be better to keep similar questions in one forum/thread.
Please continue in: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic342457.html