POLL - Best program for capture, convert,author VCD/SVCD/DVD

[joms]

Ive read the guides and surfed the vcdhelp.com site and its a bit overwhelming for a newbie to be faced with numerous programs. If the advanced old-timers can give suggestions or maybe have a POLL on what programs they deem best, maybe it can guide us to what we should invest our time on.

It would be a waste of time to read and study programs where old timers can easily advise us to chose between 1 or 2 programs which they deem best. If we had the luxury of time, i know itd be best to try them all ourselves =)

Can you guys list your top programs on:

1) VCD/SVCD capture, convert, authoring, burning
2) DVD capture, convert, authoring, burning
3) Overall program that does all

Thanks.

[EricB]

While I'm still looking for a better "one stop" solution, I capure DV with Scenalyzer, edit in Premiere, frameserve to TMPGenc, and author with ULEAD DVD MovieFactory.

I'm trying Pinnacle Studio8 especially to recommend to beginners. It has nice editing features, and cool authoring, but the encoder for anything other than DVD (ie. VCD, SVCD) is poor. You have to use their encoder to get the authoring.

[bruce48]

Pinnacle 8 for capture and editing, especially for newbies like me.
When done I output my project to AVI and then use the SVCD template from TMPGenc and burn the project via Nero.
This produces extremely good looking SVCDs.

[Gargoyle]

For #2, I recommend DVD2SVCD - it can't be beat.

[snowman7071]

You didn't specify what your objectives are... if you clarify this you'll get answers more suited to your needs.

My objective is analog (VHS, SVHS, etc..) to DVD compliant video. I consider myself still a newbie at VHS capturing (3 months into it) and have found a nice formula that suits me just fine:

Capturing/(Linear) Editing : VirtualDub
Encoding: TMpgenc
Authoring/Burning : DVD Workshop

[markadamwood]

Smart Ripper for ripping. (Hint if your using XP or 2K you need ASPI drivers).

DVD2AVI, the project file for TMPGENC & to produce the audio.
(hint do save project)

TMPGENC To encode (use one of the templates, adjust the bit rate to
200% ie 2CD 300% 3CDs etc)

TMPGENC To split (hint use mpeg tools, merge & cut & select the type of mpg file)

MPG2CUEBIN To convert the video to CDRWIN format

CDRWIN To burn.

[snowmoon]

Not to be confused with snowman...

I do TV -> SVCD

Cap ) AVI_IO basic, but get's the job done no questions asked. I often use vdub capture to calibrate the card ( preview w/histogram is great ).

Edit ) Vdub for editting/filtering

Conversion ) For mpeg-2 I use CCE, for VCD I use TMPGenc. Audio is converted with toolame ( or the BeSweet tool ).

Mux ) bbMPEG just appears faster and more compliant in the SVCD's it spits out.

Author/Burn ) VCDeasy, it's the best hands down for the task ( could be a but faster, but for free who can complain ).

Cheers

[Panther96]

I do DVD to SVCD and maybe thats why I use DVD2SVCD :P

Works a treat for me using CCE 2.5SP encoder and VCDEasy to burn.