Best program for authoring and burning with MPEG-2?

[rw88]

Hi, all.

I use Pinnacle Studio 7 to capture and add effects. I also use Pinnacle Express to author and burn DVD-R, and it works fine... but will only accept .avi files, not MPEG of any sort. This limits the burned DVD-R to about an hour if I keep my quality maximized.

I want to author and burn to DVD-R in the MPEG-2 (or 3?) file format... allowing me to (presumably) burn the DVD-R at a higher capacity.

I'm looking for a rock-solid program to do this under WinXP. Price range is in the under $80 range, although if there are quality solutions in the freeware/shareware category I'll sure take a look at them... I do require a few features, though, for the authoring software... chapter menus, titles, etc.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom...

Rich

[Xtasy2002]

Can you upgrate to Pinnacle Studio 8? That's probably the cheapest route for you, and they have DVD authoring built in.

[rw88]

I can upgrade, but I'm worried that their spotty drivers could go so far as to screw up what is already working with the capture and rendering end of my Studio 7 setup.

I really don't want to find myself in one of those "reinstall a clean version of Windows" situations...

Thanks for the input...

[rsuave5]

ulead dvd moviefactory will do all that you listed and its soooooo easy! or dload the trial spruceup and see how you like it. its a free trial and they dont make it anymore. the keygen can be found however and if you emailed me i could help try it first though . there are guides ghere for it

[donpedro]

Hi, all.

I use Pinnacle Studio 7 to capture and add effects. I also use Pinnacle Express to author and burn DVD-R, and it works fine... but will only accept .avi files, not MPEG of any sort. This limits the burned DVD-R to about an hour if I keep my quality maximized.

I want to author and burn to DVD-R in the MPEG-2 (or 3?) file format... allowing me to (presumably) burn the DVD-R at a higher capacity.

I don't know anything about Pinnacle Express, but doesn't it converting avi files to mpeg2 files ? That is what it makes DVD. Am I right ? SO what would be different if they will accept MPEG file ? Only thing that I can think of is quality of encoding in Pinnacle Express.

[rw88]

Pinnacle Express will only allow input from .avi for its authoring processes. Then, when you're done, it will burn your disc as you like it, with a variety of resolutions/qualities. And of course, when it does burn to DVD-R in DVD quality, it's writing in MPEG-2.

For some reason, though, using .avi files as input for their authoring bloats the process such that I can only write DVD quality output at about one hour per 4.7 GB DVD-R.

My presumption is that by using the much smaller, compressed MPEG-2 to begin with will allow for greater efficiency when it comes time to burn. I might be wrong, though.

It brings up a question: do DVD authoring programs work directly with compressed files? Or do they need to decompress to add menus/chapters/etc. and then recompress prior to burning?

Thanks for any info...

[donpedro]

Again. I don't know P.E. at all, but if I understand your issue, what you are looking for is setting that will allow you to burn DVD-R with less quality and more time per GB. Right ? Can't you alter settings for DVD-R ?

By accepting mpeg files you are risking that P.E. will reencode again. SO you will end up with less quality.

I know that Pinnacle Studio 8 can use mpeg files and if you create them properly in TMPGEnc and you will not alter file after importing it to S8, you should be able to add menu and burn without S8 being reencode mpeg file. At least that is my understanding from Pinnacle forum. Just do not place "return to manu" anywhere in the middle. Only in the end.

[rw88]

You know, maybe I'm working from a false assumption.

I thought that one 4.7 GB DVD-R could hold about two hours of DVD-quality video without compromising quality.

Am I wrong?

[donpedro]

Maybe... I don't have experience with burning DVDs. I think it depends what kind of video it is. When you compress video with a lot of movements (my for exampla, shaky hand ) then size of final file will be bigger (I guess) then (for example) video that is shot on tripod with very smooth moves. What do you think ?

Also I was reading somewhere that Pinnacle Studio 8 will not let you decide if your final mpeg file will fit in DVD-R and result is that you will end up with shorter video on your DVD with planty of space remaining. Maybe Pinnacle Express have same issue. Did you check how moch space did your 1 hour video took from disk ?

[harrymj3]

I tend to agree with rsuav5. Unlead Movie Factory or SpruceUp will do anything you need for authoring if you are backing up DVDs. There are many other highly regarded (by some) programs out there that can make a simple job extremely trying if you really need a challange. Good luck in your quest. I've tried lots of them and I came right back to these.
Harrymj3

[donpedro]

....if you are backing up DVDs.

I believe here is reason why somebody prefer Studio. My understanding is that neither rw88, neither do I, use editing software for backing up DVDs but to edit our home made video. And I like what is Studio capable of with great interface. I tryied Premiere and Unlead Movie Factory but it looks (maybe it is not and I just don't know how to use it) too complicated.

So, there are different criteria for users that edits home video and for users that makes backup copies of DVD.