Encore CS3 or DVD Lab PRO 2

[grzegorz]

which is more powerfull in authoring?

I know DVDLab PRO.
I've never seen Encore.

I'd like to buy one of they.

[guns1inger]

If you also use Photoshop and Premiere extensively, and don't need DLP's more advanced features, and don't by an old copy of Encore (pre version 2), then Encore might be a better option.

I believe that DLP is far more powerful on a feature for feature basis, however it does not have the integration with other tools that Encore does.

That said, there are far better tools that Encore.

What sort of authoring are you really going to be doing ?

[grzegorz]

I use Edius for prepare video material.

I'm going to create DVD for clients.

[GeorgeW]

They both have some features not found in the other (as is the usual case when comparing packages at this level).

Are you only looking at it from the SD-DVD view (i.e. don't need the basic Blu-ray functionality that Encore CS3 offers)?

If so, then I think DLP has more SD-DVD Features than most other PC Authoring packages (save Scenarist). But as guns1inger mentioned -- Encore's tight integration with other Adobe products is a benefit on the CS3 side.

Regards,
George

[grzegorz]

Can EncoreCS3 create:
- switched menu
- set UOP (User Prohibited Operations)
- set LayerBreak
- mix 4:3 and 16:9 on one DVD

[guns1inger]

Any good authoring tool can do all of this. Certainly anything that calls itself a professional level tool can. I don't know of any tool other than DLP that automates, or even semi-automates, switched menu creation, or allows for creation of multi-cell menus.

[GeorgeW]

Can EncoreCS3 create:
- switched menu
- set UOP (User Prohibited Operations)
- set LayerBreak
- mix 4:3 and 16:9 on one DVD

-Switched Menus: yes, but not with the help of a "Wizard" such as in DLP (as guns1inger mentioned)
-UOPS: yes, but only a "subset" -- however, free tools such as PGCedit can take care of UOPS for you
-Layer Break: yes
-mix 4:3 and 16:9 - yes -- it will put "like" assets in separate Title Sets

Regards,
George

[grzegorz]

thanks,
I have to try it

[zanos]

Speaking of encore I just downloaded Adobe Premiere to try it out. How the hell do you bypass Premiere to get to Encore???

[guns1inger]

They are separate products - I don't understand the question

[GeorgeW]

They are separate products - I don't understand the question

I don't have CS3, but I was under the impression that Adobe decided that Encore would no longer be a separately-sold product -- you have to get it "bundled" with Premiere in the CS3 version...

Perhaps someone with Encore CS3 can explain better how the integration or product works as a standalone...

Regards,
George

[SCDVD]

A general comment - There is a learning curve with higher end authoring programs. It takes a fair amount of time to master the full capability of any of these products. Once proficiency is achieved, other products are frustrating to use because they are different. As a result, people tend to stick with one because of the proficiency they have with it. I favor DVD Lab Pro because it has a tremendous range of capability. I don't anticipate doing anything with BluRay for quite some time but I hope that MediaChance adds BluRay support in a future version of DLP so that by the time I do want to do anything with BluRay I won't have to change my working environment.

[kizapet]

however it does not have the integration with other tools that Encore does.

If you try ti import other adobe tools, except Photoshop, you will be in a big trouble. Encore will try to import Aftereffects and premiere but it might not be what you wanted.