ConvertXtoDVD vs. Tmpgenc DVD Author w/Divx Authoring

[Iron_Monkey]

Up until this point, I've been using Tmpgenc DVD Author with ease without having to refer to any guides as its interface is very straightforward with excellent results, with a menu that looks very much like a commercial DVD and not something generic. The only reason I wanted to try something else is the very encoding time (up to 12 hours). So I gave ContvertXtoDVD a shot since I heard the encoding time was shorter. I have to say so far it's been such a drag trying to figure this thing out. So far, compared to Tmpgenc DVD Author, it's been pretty much the opposite. I just can't seem to do what I'd done with TDA using ConvertXtoDVD, or at least I can't figure out how to do it. The interface is horrible. With TDA, when I create a menu, I'm actually editing the actual menu frame itself as it would appear on the TV screen, whereas with ConvertX that's not the case. Plus, with TDA, I can precisely cut and/or trim certain parts of a video out. Is this option even possible with ConvertX? It seems like I'm ready to give up on this.

For those that are experienced with ConvertXtoDVD, can you give me some insight on this? (Yes, I've already read the comments for this product under tools but would like to know how it compares to TDA.) Is the learning curve higher for ConvertX just higher than TDA? Am I just not giving it enough time?

[guns1inger]

ConvertXtoDVD is designed purely to take an existing avi file that is ready to encode, and to convert it to DVD using a template based menu. You can't edit the footage, and you can't do much to the menus. It is meant to be a quick, easy and reliable solution to a simple problem, and it does what it does pretty well.

If you are after more complex features, then you have the wrong tool.

[proripp]

convertX is a simple one click 'get it now' tool ! for more complex authoring but not exactly professional users try DVDIT ! Then as u become more skilled move up to Meastro and beyond ? Depends on wot u want to achieve ! Tmpeg DVD Authoring Works 4 is a step on also from DVDAuthor !

[Iron_Monkey]

I've pretty much been able to do what I've wanted to with TDA, which is authoring a DVD with nice menu features and video editing capabilities. The only thing I'm dissatisfied with is the encoding time. Hence, can someone tell me why ConvertXtoDVD takes so much less time to encode a DVD than TDA? Also, how's the encoding time for DVDIT and Maestro? And is the interface more complex than TDA?

Thanks guys!

[guns1inger]

Tmpgenc has always been a slow encoder. The original Tmpgenc encoder (2.5nnnn) was frighteningly slow. Even though the encoder in the author version of tmpgenc is faster it is no rocket. That said, ConvertXtoDVD is only a single pass encoder (can't speak for TDA), and while it's quality is fine for the type of source it was designed for (low - average quality, over compressed Divx/Xvid files), it is no competition for encoders like HCEnc, Mainconcept etc.

I suggest that if you want to speed up your process, you first change your computer. If your specs are correct then you are running on very hardware, and all encoders will be slow. Beyond that, do your encoding with something like HCEnc instead of tmpgenc, then bring the files into TDA for authoring only.

But only new hardware will make any significant improvement.