Frustrated and Lost ! All I need is a simple menu for VOB files

[vulcan_man]

I have a standalone Panasonic Recorder that records to a DVD-RAM disc. It also records to DVD+/-R(W) discs ... but I prefer DVD-RAM for its powerful in-the-machine editing features. I have been able to convert the final .VRO files to .VOB files very easily without any major effort.

I am able to create menu-less DVDs out of this which worked fine on a standalone DVD player ... and I can jump to specific chapters via the keypad on the DVD remote. Not a problem.

But its not very appealing without a menu to access the chapters.

Is there a single freeware program that will allow me to add a simple menu without having to re-encode the VOB files ? I have found posts here that talk about using multiple sets of software in conjunction to accomplish this rather simple task. That is not very practical for me.

I heard about TMPGEnc ... but its payware.

I tried using Nero Vision ... but it wants to copy the VOB file from the existing folder on the hard drive to another temp folder on the hard drive ... thats very time consuming with large sets of VOB files ... and its baffling why it would want to do that. Thats very counter-productive.

Any suggestions ?

[louv68]

You can use DVDAuthorgui which uses all freeware tools.

You will however have to demux the streams first with a tool such as PgcDemux

[redwudz]

You can try the freeware authoring programs DVDAuthorgui. Or GUI for dvdauthor. Other than that, there's not many freeware authoring programs.

And welcome to our forums.

[vulcan_man]

Can I use PGCEdit to insert a simple menu into the VIDEO_TS file structure ?

[louv68]

I'm not sure about that. I think only to re-insert menu's from DVD's re-authored thru DVDShrink. DVDAuthorgui is very easy and intuitive to use; so is PgcDemux.

[vulcan_man]

Thanks ... but demuxing takes time.

How is a standalone player able to rebuild menus etc. on the fly on DVD+RW discs ? Perhaps the softwares that can do the same is not freeware ?

[AlanHK]

Maybe TitleWriter can do this (just from reading its description, it seems so).

[FallenAngel10]

Yes - Titlewriter can create a menu then insert it. No Demuxing
Open your compiliation >> Make Menu >> Create Menu and Add it -- about 1 to 3 min