DVD A vs. ReelDVD

silenttap wrote on 2/21/2003, 6:53 PM
Good day peeps.

How does DVD Architech compare to ReelDVD or Impression Pro? I'm very close to picking up Vegas DVD+. I'm seeking both a professional DVD authoring and video editing environment for corporate presentation development. Any extensive reviews/comparisons on the web? I'm looking to kill two solutions with one tool ;)

sd:

Comments

beatnik wrote on 2/21/2003, 7:30 PM

Hello Silent Tap, here's the scoop!

ReelDVD is the Crem-De-La-Crem .... at $1,000.00 (US) it better be. You can find
a review of it at the magazine called "Computer Video Maker" at www.videomaker.com

I use DVD-Architect and am pleased with the product, for a first version it is good.
It is somewhat easy to use. I think the ReelDVD has a slight learning curve.
But DVD-Architect is only $100.00 or $200.00 (US). For simple to somewhat complicated
DVD's for fun or for corporate I would use DVD-Architect especially if you use
VEGAS 4.0 as your editing software because they are integrated.

As far as Editing software I would have to say Vegas 4.0, I just purchased the program with DVD Architect and am VERY PLEASED with the program. I am new to this
and any pro I spoke to suggested AVID EXPRESS 3.5, yeah, like I have $2 tpo $3,000.00
(US)! You can do amazing things with Vegas 4.0

Do a google search on "VEGAS 4.0 REVIEWS" and I think you will find your answers.
I guarantee you Vegas 4.0 will WIN as a best product of the year!

Hope this helps!
johnpete wrote on 2/21/2003, 9:15 PM
I've used both ReelDVD and Impression Pro.

Impression Pro... no Dolby digital encoder (a must and real must) very step learning curve (you have to make your own menus and they can be complicated, each button has two layers).

ReelDVD.... build in Dolby digital encoder (2 channel only) easier to make menus (still have to make your own) and expensive.

DVD-A... full Dolby digital encoder (5.1, nice) drag and drop menus (no brainier), cheap $100 to $200 (you must use Vegas, the only way to go). DVD-A is first generation so it's not feature rich and I'm sure it'll be buggy. But has the best support on the planet. I'm sure SOFO will be adding features as we go along. They have great upgrade pricing, a real +.

The authoring of a DVD is only one small part of the whole process and I think you can make a pretty professional looking DVD with DVD-A. It interfaces well with Vegas so it can make the process more straight forward.

Even if you pick up another program later on you still have a great NLE program with full 5.1 encoding, which is really nice.


John
silenttap wrote on 2/21/2003, 10:03 PM
Great advice guys! Thanks a bunch.

sd:
vonhosen wrote on 2/22/2003, 5:10 AM
I have all three.

Impression & Reel have richer feature set & much more control on navigation.
In it's current form DVDA can't compete. That said I have still purchased it as I believe it will develop , offers a 5.1 encoder & if SF's upgrade policy continues, your upgrades that follow will be at a good price.

Both Pinnacle & Sonic Solutions don't act with the pace of change that SF does (or support their products as well.) I'm confident SF will develop DVDA into the solution we all want. When DVDA has the feature set & navigation to rival the others, add it''s much easier menu creation etc it will be the winner.

Even at the price you are getting V4+DVDA, you are getting tremendous value editing program with a 5.1 Dolby encoder (encoder is $1000 alone at some places).

At present I use v4 to edit , Canopus Procoder for MPEG encoding, v4 5.1 encoder for audio & Reel or Impression for authoring.
dsanders wrote on 2/24/2003, 1:35 PM
Sonic Solutions dropped the price of ReelDVD - its now about $850 US Dollars. Sonic Solutions also has other DVD authoring apps, namely Scenarist and Producer that are in the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.