Multiple Authoring Apps Bad Effects ...

[cyberboy]

I have an exported MPEG-2 file that plays perfectly well on my media player; specifically, the title cards' text is well-defined, solid, clean.

However, when I author that otherwise perfect MPEG-2 file, bad things happen to the text on those title cards; the title cards' text flickers and is less solid, broken up. Additionally, the DVD-menu text appears rough and deteriorated upon playback as well.

Strangely, the images and audio on those copies appear fine, unaffected.

I've gotten these same results with multiple authoring applications ("MPEG Video Wizard DVD," "DVDStyler," and most recently with "Nero Vision") and burning applications ("ImgBurn," and "Nero Burn").

What might be happening to my title cards' and DVD-menu texts as I go from my MPEG-2 file to DVD? Thanks.

[guns1inger]

NeroVision could well be doing anything to your video, but I don't think this is the cause of your problem.

You say the unauthored mpeg-2 file looks OK in your media player. Are you playing back the authored disc in the same media player ?

[cyberboy]

Yes.

[guns1inger]

An authoring tool that does not encode will not affect the quality.

Try GUIForDVDAuthor, DVD Lab Pro or DVD Workshop 2

[cyberboy]

Could DVD players or my burner be causing the problem described above?

[borax]

...Additionally, the DVD-menu text appears rough and deteriorated upon playback as well.

On the computer screen or on the TV?
Because TVs cannot display texts very good. This is caused by interlacing. One solution is to blur the texts to avoid hard high contrasts i.e. vertically.
Look here: http://www.edithouse.com.au/information/graphics.html

[cyberboy]

Both computer and tv screens.

[guns1inger]

Can you post a few seconds of the unauthored mpeg, and the same few seconds from an offending VOB ?

[cyberboy]

Where could I go to quickly learn how to do that?

[guns1inger]

You already have Womble Mpeg Video Wizard - use that to cut the same frames from the mpeg and from the VOB. It will export without re-encoding (if it doesn't, you don't know how to use it). If they are small enough to can load them here. If not, you may have to use something like rapidshare. Try to keep the sizes down to a few MB (3 - 5) and concentrate on an offending scene.

[cyberboy]

I'm experiencing this problem with title cards and DVD menus, not with images or audio; I'll try to create some egregious examples and upload them. Thanks.