Best (NEW) DVD Authoring Program?

goldenimage wrote on 4/9/2002, 11:00 PM
Okay we went through two (or three I don't remember) Dazzle Bridges and ended up with the Sony DA Converter.

Lesson learned.
Now we're stepping up to DVD...

What are the better DV authoring programs? I'd rather ask now than spend first and ask later!

Thanks-
Jackie

Oh, and I decided on the Pioneer A04 recorder ( based on the forums info and suggestions :)

Comments

PeterMac wrote on 4/10/2002, 11:36 AM
Have you tried Ulead's DVD MovieFactory? I have that (and a Pioneer A04) and they work together perfectly.

The program is simple and based on some good templates. You can't reposition buttons and all that kind of thing, but you can get a slick DVD together in next to no time. There is (or was) a trial download and the prog's not expensive anyway.

Reading around I get the feeling that Sonic (NOT Sonic Foundry) products like MyDVD and DVDit! should be given a wide berth. They're expensive and a pain to use.

There was a thing called SpruceUp, since taken over by Apple and given the kiss of death, that used to be okay - although it was more for VCD/SVCD.

Good luck anyway - let us know how you fare.

-Pete
kkolbo wrote on 4/10/2002, 1:53 PM
Well, I don't know if you are only looking for new products or not. It depends on what you want to do with it and what your threshhold of pain is for price.

Ulead DVD Workshop was at an intro price that was great but has now gone up to $279USD. For movies this was my favorite. The full motion menus as oposed to Dazzel's motion buttons are very nice and easy to use. The cutomizable highlight colors are nice. The internal encoder/transcoder is fast and does a good job, although it is had to get around it if you want to do your own. The downside is it's end of play navigation features are limited. They are sufficient for movies or titles without complex interaction. AC3 audio is not supported.

Sonic Solutions DVDit SE is my work hourse. It does not do motion menus although we are hoping for that in the summer. For a kiosk or an interactive training tool, DVDit's navigational abilities are what is required. There are no alignment or layout tools. The transcoder is quick but not the best. It easily uses your encodes from VV. AC3 stereo is support in the PE version. 5.1 is not. For professional titles this is entry level software.

Sonic Solutions MyDVD. This is a bare bones slap it on a disc application. Shooting for a $39 price means it does only what it does and you mold to it. Slap a few clips onto the menu and out it comes.

Pinnacle Express is Pinnacle's version of MyDVD. Slap it on a disc. A few more options but, slap it on a disc.

Pinnacle Impressions DVD-Pro. Nice package, full featured DVD functionality. Still having some stablility problems I hear through the grapevine. The new version just released should correct that. AC3 support, motion menus, subtitles, multiple audio tracks. $599. For the PC this is the one to watch?

Apple's DVD Studio-Pro. I mention this becuase this will probably be the desktop standard even though it is MAC only. The incorporation of Spruce into it has made a FULL featured and stable product for the MAC user. $999

Next you step up in to the $1000 and above class. I doubt you are looking for that, but if you want truely all of the features of a DVD then that is still where it is.

JMHO
Keith
doormill wrote on 4/10/2002, 1:55 PM
Try the new Ulead DVD Workshop. I liked it so well I bought it @ $279.00. I have Ulead DVD Movie Factory (ok but limited) and DVDit pro 2.5 (can do more than Movie Factory but is not as stable or as easy to use)and DVD Workshop is way better and more stable. It also has motion menus and motion buttons. They did have a demo available on their web site but I think that has ended now.


Have a great day
rwsjr wrote on 4/10/2002, 2:35 PM
Does the Ulead DVD Movie Factory allow one to insert navigation instructions so that it can play clips continuously in a specified order? When I tried the preview version, it appeared that each "chapter" was based on clips I imported. After the clips played, Ulead DVD Movie Factory always returned to the menu.

One link I like about the Dazzle product in my evaluation is that you can specify what happens after each movie clip plays. For instance, I can have it play several clips in a row and then go back to the menu.

I am editing my video and saving the DVD compliant mpeg 2 clips to CD-R until I get a DVD burner. Obviously, I need to split some of the clips so they fit on a CD. When I am ready to make DVD movies, a software package that allows me to play a series of clips in sequence without returning to a menu.

If anyone can answer in the affirmative that the Ulead DVD Movie Factory product can do this, that would be my choice.