I have a couple of Authoring Progs. Opinion Wise,Whats Best?

[IremainAMisterE]

My DVD burner should be here any day now. But i've been messing around with a few of the authoring programs, and i just want your guys opinion on which is the best as far as compatibility and reliability? Is there a certain one that the Pioneer DVR-104 prefers more?

So far i have: DVDit! PE, DVD Quick Builder, Ulead Movie Factory, and i tried SpruceUp.

As far as i can see it, all programs look like they can hold their own. But im a newbie to DVD authoring and burning, so which one should i go with? Or maybe there's an even better one? Also, most of the DVD's im going to back up, im just going to be ripping the main movie and the audio. So they'll probably be in m2v and ac3 form. So i would also like to know which of these programs accepts m2v and ac3 files?

Thanx-M

[EnemyWithin]

I haven't tried all of them, but for simplicity I would use SpruceUp. It is one of the few that supports AC3 and is very easy to use for a simple movie-only DVD.

[_Sly_]

Hello !
Roxio Videopack supports AC-3 too, and if you know and like WinOnCD you'll like the Videopack.

Greets from Germany
Sly

[Blackout]

I would definatley look at Ulead DVD Workshop for putting together your own DVDs....its the only current package in that "middle road" where it has a heap of good pro elements to it and is easy to use, without costing the earth....and its still being supported ...actually its a new product...unlike spruceup. Doesnt support AC3 tho if thats what you want.

Blackout

[EnemyWithin]

Yes, I liked the Ulead products too. Too bad they don't support AC3

[EnemyWithin]

_Sly_

Do you mean Roxio VideoWave?

[mp3superfreak]

"Best" is difficult to say (depends on situation), but I've used a few and here's my conclusions:

1. Ulead Movie Factory - Very basic, but great for learning about DVD Authoring. Only uses templates, so limited customization.

2. Spruce - Basic, but not as easy as #1. More customization for buttons, layouts, etc.

3. Ulead DVD Workshop - much more advanced that #1, allows motion menus/backgrounds, customized buttons, etc. I only used the demo.

4. DVDit PE v2.5 - no motion menus/backgrounds? but does support AC3 files.

5. Pinnacle Studio v8 - This $99 prog is easy to use and supports motion menus/backgrounds! However, you are limited in the customization. Visit http://www.pinnaclesys.com for a demo version on CD (once you find Studio 8, there will be a small banner on the left for "Demo CD")

6. DVD Quick Builder - I have not tried this prog

Hope some of this info helps! BTW, I have the Pioneer 104 as well.

[shin_kai50]

How about the famous DVDMaestro that cost around $37,000. Or the Pinnacle Impression DVD-Pro not sure what the price is.
The only question what can those two program do that cost so much.

Oh yeah there are alot program that cost $99,999 and $170,000. Not sure what the name is but that a lot of money.

[joms]

DVDMaestro is $37,000 ??? why so much? btw, i like the pinnacle 8 and the ulead workshop. i didnt know thought that ulead doesnt accept .ac3
is this a big thing? is .ac3 better than .pcm ?

anyway, whats the best authoring program if money is no concern?

[darkufo]

I use DVDMaestro and have never had a problem with it. It's very complex, but extremly powerful. You can tweak almost everthing. Most of the other packages "hide" these advanced features as normally you dont need them.

I've used DVDITPro for quick and dirty dvd creations, but Maestro gives me total control.

[andydd]

Id say Spruce Up but then again i havnt tried all the others but once I find a program I like and does what i want i tend to stick with it.

DVDquickbuilder (or DVDwise) can do more than spruce up but Ive never been convinced they author properally.. They seem to mess up menus sometimes and they are useless at getting video n audio in sync. But i sometimes use em for certain tasks. i have DVD maestro too and it certainly does whatever u want it do too but it is rather complicated plus it crsahes on my XP PC anyway.

[pvanosta]

My 2 cents:

i like SpruceUP and I burn the resulting files through Gear Pro DVD 6.0

Works like a charm.

[jkl]

DVDit! PE

[Foles001]

DVD Maestro!!

[BJ_M]

Maestro was not 37,000$ unless you also bought the hardware endcoder with it .. , it was only about 25,000$

Maestro is what we use at work -- i certainly like it ..

Impression Pro is not really expensive - i think 300$ and an excellent simple to use program with full ac3 support as well as very good menu support , make your own or use the templates and a nice feature is with this program is that the templates can be opened in photoshop for editing.


Really fast basic dvd with ac3 or anything -- use DvDmaker from vitec DVD tools ...