cannot find good DVD authoring software

[teljeur]

Shure Impression SE and PRO can import AC3, but SE is buggy and PRO to expensive. I don't agree with donpedro that you don't need AC3 because it gives far more better compression and sound quality resuts than MPG. I agree with donpedro that most of the time you've got only a stereo sound track, but you can always make a LFE track from it. And if you are inventive and have some imagination you actualy can make a 5.1 AC3 sound track to.

[Nolonemo]

I author with AC3 in DVD Workshop, I mux the elementary streams using TMPGEnc and open the resulting .mpg in DVD WS with no problem.

[yg1968]

Donpedro said:

At least my camcorder does not record sound with 4 microphones

I have often wondered about. My Sony digital camcorder (like many other camcorders) allows me to set the audio to 12 bit, 32khz with 4 channels? Would AC-3 encoding allow me to preserve these 4 channels? Or could I achieve that with mp2? I am not even sure what is meant by 4 channels for DV audio.

[donpedro]

I don't agree with donpedro that you don't need AC3 because it gives far more better compression and sound quality resuts than MPG. I agree with donpedro that most of the time you've got only a stereo sound track, but you can always make a LFE track from it. And if you are inventive and have some imagination you actualy can make a 5.1 AC3 sound track to.

I would have to agree with you. I gues I am not that inventive. I was just trying to point out that you don't have to pay extra money for AC3 if you are authoring just home movies. Again, you are correct that it will give you more options but it is not "must" for everybody, but to create "menus and chapters at will" can be done with tools that does not support AC3.

yg1968, I have no idea since my audion is just 2 channels. Maybe somebody else can answer that.

[Ndb;-))]

Something everybody seems to miss is that SpruceUp can import AC3 audio file's. As far I know the others don't. If you are a serious in creating DVD's than in mine opinion this is a must.

If I was seroius about creating DVD's I would want something that can use 16:9 AR like DVD Workshop and not 4:3 only like Spruceup

DVD Workshop can use AC3 audio, as from version 1.2 it just passes all DVD compliant files (audio and video) with no re-encode.

Plus I would also want a program that can do Motion Menus and Motion Buttons which DVD Workshop can do and Spruceup cannot

Plus it's great the way you can use your old VCD files in DVD Workshop and burn them to DVD with only the audio needing re-encoding

Still each to their own, just don't call Spruceup a serious DVD Authoring program :P

[DVDAdvisor]

Coeng73

Since it appears that you like Ulead DVDWS and it is working for you I want go into great detail here.


Adobe Mpeg Encoder has an update that you can download version 1.2

http://www.mainconcept.com/adobempeg/downloads/AdobeMPEGEncoder1.2Eng.exe

it address a lot of problems

[pcostanza]

I also like DVD Workshop but the support is a problem. I wish there was an easier way to trim the products. So far I've trimmed in Studio 8 and imported to DVD Workshop to add chapter points and menus. More time consuming maybe but trimming in S8 is much easier for me.

[Nolonemo]

pcostanza:

No question about that. To set chapter points I note the times in my editing program and type them into DD WS since the scrubber is so useless. There needs to be a way to zoom in on the timeline so you can arrow along it at different rates.

[coeng73]

There was still one question that I believe was not answered in this thread.

When I go to burn a project in DVD Workshop, why does it ask me for bitrate settings and VBR/CBR option?

Does it have to match what I used to encode the MPEG-2 with TMPGEnc?

[donpedro]

I believe that it has to match or be higher if you want to avoid re-encoding.

[Ndb;-))]

If you have already encoded your footage in TMPGenc to DVD Standard just pick any of the top 3 DVD standard settings.

If you have created motion menu(s)/button(s) etc then pick the one closest to the bitrate/video size you used in TMPGenc, as DWS will have to encode the MPEG for the motion stuff.

Now if you have version 1.2 or above then you can select "do not encode compliant files" (on the burn screen) for audio and video and it will just mux your menu audio, create the vob's etc and burn, otherwise DWS will encode the lot to the bitrate etc you select.

If your files are not DVD compliant then most of the above is of no use, as DWS will have to encode it all to DVD std etc etc etc....

I hope this helps Ndb)

[Nolonemo]

DonPedro is right for v1.0, but in 1.2 and 1.3 you can check a "do not convert compliant" files box and it won't reencode, so it doesn't matter what you choose to get into the make disk page.