What do you use to author your DVD's ?

[F-ING HOSTILE]

This is going back a bit in the line of things here, but I just wanted to say that I use DVD Maestro and this program is awesome, and it works very well with XP, I've had the software for a long time and I'm aware that it isn't produced anymore but I would urge anyone to try to find a way to get it.

I completely agree!!!
I have tried most all of the programs mentioned thus far (with the exception of Scenarist), and DVD Maestro seems to be the simplest and most powerful authoring program yet! I occasionally use Ulead's DVD MovieFactory2 for home videos or applications other than commercial DVD backups!

[jtoolman2000]

Ok, dumb ? here. Where does one buy DVD Maestro from. I;ve done a few searches to no avail.

Please, Someone let me know

[drewson99]

was using Ulead DVD moviefactory, now I'm on to DVD Studio Pro.

[F-ING HOSTILE]

Ok, dumb ? here. Where does one buy DVD Maestro from. I;ve done a few searches to no avail.

Please, Someone let me know

My understanding is that it is no longer sold
There are other ways of acquiring this program, but the "no warez" rule prohibits me from mentioning them wink,wink

[bf6239]

I use TMPG DVD authoring, DVDlab and DVDit PE 2.5.

TMPG new dvd authoring app is easy to use, fast, and can take movie directly from the dvd. It has only limited menu creation abilities.

DVDlab is a full featured dvd authoring app that is fast but is only available in beta test version.

DVDit PE 2.5 works fine for me it is just slow.

If I want to make a fancy DVD I use DVDlab otherwise i use TMPG DVD,
DVDit is just too slow for me, 40 mins ver 20 mins for DVDlab or TMPG DVD.

[ASB]

bf6239. DVDlab is out of beta.
see www.mediachance.com

[chazzie]

count on a few weeks of playing with it to "get" it if you're going it alone.

Come on! A few weeks? OK it is complicated, but so is the structure of a DVD! Even though it's complicated, it's logical. When you get the hang of it (took me about 5 hours) you understand the whole concept of it.

I do agree, when I got home from purchaising it, installed it and checked it out I got terrified. It looks like my old aglebra books =) Since I bought it of the lawyer handling a company that went out of buissness, I got it at a REALLY good price because he had no idea what it was worth :P Sometimes "regular" people DO screw lawyers =)

Chazzie

[Digitizer]

I use TMPEG's tool. It's too simple, but rock stable. And now since I mostly do menu-less DVD's, I don't need any more. Why? Because I got tired of doing it. I noticed that I never use chapter navigation in DVD's and just use the skip button. So what's the point of wasting half a day on creating what you will never use? Showing off? I am too old for that (23). So...

[HeavyKrush]

DVDShrink and COPY2DVD are the only two programs I seem to ever need.

Krush

[tendancer2000]

I use NeoDVD Plus (not on your list).

I bought this as I wanted to use their direct to disc burning to save some encode time but there is a bug in it that makes it totally useless in my situation. I currently capture to digital via a dac-100 and through firewire into the PC. NeoDVDPlus can see preview the video but when you tell it to capture it says there is no tape in the machine. I emailed them and they said that if you do av - dv - pc then it just don't work and advised me to get my money back.

I've used DVDWS for 6 months now and like it but I think I shall check out DVD-Lab....

[RayS]

Fortunately or unfortunately - depending on what version of software you have - I’m finding you can’t generalize on a particular company or one particular software package from that company without also noting the version number.

ULEAD Video Studio Version 5.0
Classic case in point was the ULEAD Video Studio 5.0 that came bundled with my ATI AIW video card. There were so many issues I had with this software, that I won’t waste space enumerating them all. But set-up was frustrating every time I booted the software. All too often I could hear the audio coming out of my speakers only to find that the captured video was silent. And, VCD capture, that one would think is far less demanding than MPEG2 conversion, was terrible. I read somewhere where ULEAD has recently improved this fault.

ULEAD Video Studio SE Basic
In stark contrast, I received a copy of ULEAD’s Video Studio SE Basic version 6.0 that came bundled with a Firewire card I bought on ebay. I found its interface similar to Video Studio 5.0. But my experiences with this software have been very good so long as I don‘t make it angry by clicking the wrong button. I also need to qualify my comparison between VS 5.0 and VS 6.0 SE because I have moved on from VCD/SVCD capture using the ATI AIW to DV capture using a Canopus ADVC-100. (I need to re-install version 5.0 to correct a bug that makes it crash every time I try to boot it.)

What I like about the VS 6.0 SE software is the ease of DV capture and the fact that it automatically creates new files as I pass through the 4.2 Gig barriers with my Win98SE operating system. Regrettably, the Basic s/w is limited to MPEG1 (which I haven’t had the time to try). So, VCD & SVCD conversion may or may not have improved. I also find that the captured AVI files are not directly compatible with Pinnacle Express unless I process them through the free Canopus DV File Conversion software. I’m using Pinnacle for my final DVD authoring because I hesitate to upgrade to the full ULEAD version 6.0 only to find its as bad and confusing as Version 5.0.

Pinnacle Express Version 1.11.2
So much promise yet sometimes buggy & sometimes falls just short of being ideal. Don’t take me wrong. Because right now its my authoring software of choice. Aside from the frequent crashes if you click the wrong button or blink, there are three features/faults I don’t like and a lot of great features that are making it my current favorite.
First the 3 don’t likes:
1. It only allows 18 minutes (4Gig) of capture with Win98SE, then stops. This is a non-issue for Win XP users. A rollover file creation feature would have been very welcome for us non-XP users. A dropped frame counter would also be nice. So right now, I use ULEAD VS SE Basic for capture and Pinnacle to do the rest
2. It purports to have automatic scene detection. However, when I authored a DVD using this feature, there was gross sync disruption between every scene change. It would have been real nice to have this feature work properly with my old VHS tapes. And
3. I would like motion buttons and the option of a motion background in the Menu creation

The Likes:
Once the AVI files are made compatible by the Canopus conversion software, they are easily transitioned into the authoring page. (I don’t know if this incompatibility is caused by ULEAD’s capture or Pinnacle‘s file requirements.)
I like the tools. This is probably the best feature when combined with sequential 4 Gig captures. The 4 Gig break points in video capture don’t always occur where you would like them. The cutting and splicing tools in PE allow me to create 30 second to 18 minute clips and take the leftover couple of minutes and glue it to the front end of the second file. This prevents random left over clips from showing up on the menu page.

You can use these same editing tools for some step and fetch trimming of video clips. Although PE’s tools would seem crude to an advanced user, I find them intuitive, simple and effective in getting the job done.

I like the fact that I can select any MP3 song on my computer and it will play the whole song in the menu mode on the finished DVD. Other software like MyDVD allows only up to the first 15 seconds of imported music. With MyDVD there is an audible gap of silence between every loop.

I like the fact that I can import any jpg backdrop image behind the various button templates.

I like PE’s ability to allow you to select the bit rate and be able to store 54 min, 60 min or 118 min on a 4.7G disc.

I like the quality of the final product. Although even with my 1.2 Gig Athlon, the transcoding with all these software packages takes hours.


MyDVD Version 4.0.2
It came bundled with my Cendyne DVD-R (Pioneer) burner and was the tool I used to author my first successful DVD. But I now realize it’s many shortcomings.
It only gives a very few choices on Video Quality - hence amount of time to be stored on a DVD - Good, Better & Best
It does not capture DV files as AVI, but attempts to encode them directly into MPEG2 on the fly. This would be OK if my 1.2 Gig Athlon could keep up. Unfortunately, I was forced to capture using another software program and had to import them into MyDVD. It then took hours to convert them. Par for the course with my machine and all of these S/W packages.
On the positive side, its ability to play any sound in the background, albeit limited to a maximum of 15 seconds was a good surprise on my first DVD project. I didn’t know I was getting it until after I made my first disc. The moving buttons were also nice and unexpected.
Maybe their upgraded software has more options - like AVI file capture and more than 15 second sound loops.

Magix’s Movies to CD & DVD
I know, many of you are saying ‘WHO?’
This was a $10 bet at Comp USA in search of the elusive deep discounted Software treasure. All I can say is it looked very impressive at first. The one DVD I made had respectable image quality. But the disc start-up was buggy and would jump to a random clip - bypassing the Menu screen. It may be a bad disc, but there is no highlighting in the Menu Screen to cue on the selected clip. Although the clip does change when I press the forward key in menu mode.

Like so many others, this software could be greatly improved by some updates. It does have some advanced features that I thought were excellent and unique among the others I‘ve tried - like video and audio enhancement/adjustment of captured imagery. But aside from this, I was disappointed each step of the way by its Eye Candy promises and disappointing limits. No moving buttons, no music and the captured files were split into soundless AVI and a Separate WAV file. I imagine this was necessary in order to allow the video and audio enhancement features that do seem very effective. But it meant that I couldn’t even salvage the DV captures for authoring by Pinnacle Express. As I recall, it did overcome the 4 Gig Win98SE barrier. But the multiple AVI files were only matched by a single WAV file. So I didn’t even bother trying to re-stitch them in TMPGE. Its editing strip also looked promising but I didn‘t spend enough time to figure out how to us it properly. It looked a lot like the movie reel strip in ULEAD VS and Adobe Premier The best I can say is that it included a lot of nice menu back drops that I was able to move into Pinnacle’s folder.

Bottom line: Pinnacle Express would be ideal if it were more stable, had the scene detection bug fixed and had a few extra features that I mentioned above including Magic’s video and audio enhancement options, moving buttons and moving scene Menu back-drops . Does such software exist?

[dcsos]

This threa has been going so long I'd like to note that 4 packages NEWER thn the thread exist that do everything the previous poster asked for are available NOW:
1. SONIC FOUNDRY DVD ARCHITECT
2. ADOBE ENCORE
3. TMPG Author
4 DVD LAB
all of these are head and shoulders above ---

the typical prosumer crap
1. ULEAD
2. PINNACLE
3. SONIC's cheap stuff

tho' some may love the oldies but goodies
1. Maestro (really for WIN NT 4.0)
2. Scenerist (OK THE BEST..but why at home?)
3. Spruce Up (great but too basic)

[RayS]

Thanks for the leads. I guess you are correct about this thread being old. A lot has changed in 7 months. That's why I'm glad this post is stuck at the top of the list. Many of your suggestions are included in DVDRhelp's tools list. Its too bad that so few people have posted comments on that page. It would be very helpful for the rest of us to see what a larger sample of users think about these programs.

I looked up each software package you suggested and the ULEAD looks interesting. However, I guess I have to admit I am a prosummer on a reasonably limited budget. Several of the packages you mentioned are well over $200 and seem to be geared for the Professional. I don't mind a three or four day investment of time to learn the in's and out's of a new software package. But for the average user - intuitive is good. Out of the software available on the market today for the average Home user at under $100, what would be some decent alternatives?

Anyone concur or disagree with this month's "Top 100" picks in Computer Shopper magazine (for what their prejudices are worth) that included: Dazzle DVD Complete, Video Explosion Deluxe, NeoDVD Standard v4.0, Pinnacle Expression and Video Wave Movie Creator 1.5.

[BJ_M]

Computer Shopper magazine top 100 has no basis in reality other than advertising $ i think ..

though Video Explosion i heard is not a bad basic app that had some good features
- never seen it myself though ..

[funkguy4]

TMPGEnc Author

[pixel]

I currently use Ulead DVD Workshop. It is simple enough for the DVD's I create.

[harrymj3]

Spruceup, I love it. ............ harrymj3

[funkguy4]

I can't wait 'til TMPGEnc DVD Author can do better menus......but for me it has been the most reliable and all-around versatile authoring app!

[ASB]

RayS

Try DVDlab from mediachance, it's under $100 and very, very good.

[funkguy4]

I did like it a lot (I've used it before), but for some reason, it put funny little glitches in random spot in my first MPEG2 video stream. However, the second stream had no problems. A couple of downfalls are that it can only author with one VTS, so no mixing of 4:3 and 16:9 video. I HATE THAT!

[hootie29]

I use Sonic MyDVD ver. 4.0.2 and have had very good success with it. I don't use it to capture video I use Vegas Video for that. I have noticed that MyDVD does bloat the mpg file when you import it. Example if you have a 30 min. show and it is 800mb when you import it , it will be 900-950mb ( I think I read somewhere that MyDVD doesn't use audio compression and that is the reason for the larger file size, but I could be wrong on that). That is probally why you get the encoding audio when you start to burn your DVD.

The only thing I don't like about MyDVD is the menus can not be moved if that could be changed I would be happy with it.

[Xest]

I am Using DVD Movie Factory though I have only produced a couple of Movies so far I am extremely happy with it. Ive had a couple of teething probs with the smoothness of my menu's but am working on it. The working environment is very easy to pick up and am looking forward to using it more and more.

Its good to know that I'm using the same as most people.

This is a great Poll. Keep em coming!

[funkguy4]

For single movies, just go with DVD-Lab. Otherwise, TMPGEnc DVD Author.

[mastersmurfie]

after reading several threads and using it myself, I have found DVDLab to be (so far) the best and most versatile authoring program...and I'm still on the 30 day free trial!! I have used MovieFactory2 and MyDVD-which offer somewhat easier interfaces and built-in templates...but for the money, go with DVDLab...

PS...I do tend to post a lot about DVDLab...but I am in NO way affiliated with anything associated with them at all...I just found something that works for me, and I'm gonna stick with it....

[funkguy4]

I fit three movie, KDVD style, per disc, and they rarely have varied resolutions, in which case I am stuck going with TMPGEnc DVd Author. The thing I hate about DVD-Lab is it's single VTS style. That just plain sucks.

[spectroelectro]

NObody seems to have voted for DVDLab yet, but it's a great program. Not quite as easy to use as Spruce but once you learn it, DVDLab can do almsot everything DVDMaestro is reputed to be able to do. Motion menus, separate streams linked together to play continuously, you name it, DVDLab seems able to do it. It's also dirt cheap.

[thayne]

I'm Diggin DVD Workshop, but I still use MovieFactory for quick and dirty TV show recordings on an RW that I delete after I watch.

I also Use SpuceUp once in a while, not so much anymore now that I got DVD Workshop

I HATE Sonic apps! DVDIt and MyDVD SUCK @ss!

[funkguy4]

Thayne.........Ulead is a mother sucker as well.....absolutely no control over the program compared to DVD-Lab or DVDMaestro or even TMPGEnc DVD Author.

[Gregg]

For simple projects DVDIt! - can output sound in AC3. This is what I like. What I don't like the program is very sloooooooooooooow!
For advanced projects DVD Maestro.

Enjoy!

[funkguy4]

For simple projects DVDIt! - can output sound in AC3. This is what I like. What I don't like the program is very sloooooooooooooow!
For advanced projects DVD Maestro.

Enjoy!

BeSweet outputs AC3, and it's free. DVDMaestro is no longer sold.