DVD burner bundled software

Former user wrote on 12/12/2002, 1:38 PM
I just purchased a Sony DRU500A DVD burner and it comes bundled with the following software packages:

Veritas RecordNow (CD/DVD mastering)
Veritas Simple Backup
Sonic Solutions MyDVD (DVD video authoring)
ArcSoft ShowBiz (video editing)
CyberLink Power DVD (soft DVD player)
MusicMatch Jukebox

Of course, I edit using Vegas Video. So you guys figure that VV along with any/or all of the above software should cover my DVD burning needs? Or should I get some other DVD authoring package, like DVD Complete? My needs, right now, are fairly simple -- 1 or 2 videos per DVD each with a few chapters.

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 12/12/2002, 1:51 PM
The version of MyDVD I got with my burner didn't include the ability to do chapters. I suspect you have the same version, making it next to useless. If so, you may want to take a look a Ulead's DVD Movie Factory or a similar low priced package.

DVD Movice Factory does do chapters and you can make custom template-backgrounds, add your own music backgronds for the menus, stuff like that. The truth is the high end DVD Authoring packages in my opinion are huge rip-offs. They only add the ability to include intro vids, better text support and maybe a clumsy scripting language. Worth the hundreds of dollars extra they charge? No way, to my way of thinking. I will gladly pay a higher price for QUALITY software like Vegas, but to give some company hundreds just to do DVD chapters isn't going to happen.
Former user wrote on 12/12/2002, 2:13 PM
Do you have to re-encode Mpeg files created by VV when using DVD Movie Factory? Or are the Mpeg's good to go, right from VV? Also, looking at ULead's burner compatiblity list there isn't a DRU500A listed. They do show a DRX500A. Are you using the DRU500A?
Hammer wrote on 12/12/2002, 2:37 PM
If it's like the MyDVD that came with my Dell bundle it also has the nasty habit of re-encoding all your audio to uncompressed PCM. I'm been using MovieFactory and have been very satisfied with it. It will take your VV/VF mpeg's straight up. Let's you pick chapter points and set thumbnail images independantly. My only complaint is that you can't design your only templates. You can change background images and add music, but you can't really create a template from scratch. But it only cost me $45.00US so i'm not complaining too much;) I think it's on sale for $25 right now.
prairiedogpics wrote on 12/12/2002, 3:13 PM
I have the Sony DRU500A burner. I don't use MyDVD with it, though; too many known issues; I use Ulead DVD Movie Factory with it, which has been rock solid for me (last I saw, you could purchase it for $25 or so). I've had no problems with this setup. I have similar needs as you, for now, and Movie Factory suffices.

I bought Dazzle's DVD Complete through a good rebate offer, but I had nothing but problems with it. I got weird menu thumbnails where a sliver of one thumbnail appeared in another and vice versa. Through numerous emails with their support I could never resolve it and so I ate the cost of that software.

In short, I have the drive, but use none of the software that came with it. I use Nero for the CD-R burns.

BTW, there's a firmware update for the DRU500A available now (1.0f). I downloaded it, followed the instructions to the letter, and had no problems installing it.

You can use DVD NTSC MPEG2 directly from VV3 in Ulead DVD Movie Factory, no re-encoding occurs.

My $0.02.

Dan

Former user wrote on 12/12/2002, 3:31 PM
Thanks for the feedback. I've just purchased Movie Factory 2 via download from the Ulead web site. $45 (I didn't see a $25 price anywhere). Are you using version 2?

I also use Nero for burning CD-R's, in fact, Ahead (the Nero guys) now offer a DVD burning package called "Nerovision Express" and it's free to 5.5 owners. But, there's a catch -- you have to buy a license for the MPEG2 encode module before you can burn DVD's. You can burn VCD's without the module though.
prairiedogpics wrote on 12/12/2002, 3:54 PM
Ulead must have come out with a new version 2.0. The interface displayed on their website looks different than the one I have. (That would also explain the recent $25 price - clearing out old inventory before the new version.)

Dan
JohnnyRoy wrote on 12/12/2002, 4:13 PM
So you have version 2 of DVD Movie Factory. Does it allow you to do text menus? (i.e., link from words and not just thumbnails?) They don’t have a downloadable trial version available yet. I see its only $34.95 to upgrade for existing users. I would definitely upgrade if it lets you create menus with text links to video and other menus.

How is the stability? I have Ulead Cool3D, which is solid as a rock, but I downloaded the trial version of the new Cool3D Studio and it crashes a lot. What do you think of DVD Movie Factory 2 so far?

~jr
BillyBoy wrote on 12/12/2002, 4:32 PM
DVD Movie Factory accepts MC DV NTSC or DV PAL files as is... no re rendering. So you get the high quality of the MC encoder plus save a lot of time not having to render again. Give or take a few minutes if I use the default MC setting (VBR) with between 4-6 chapters per movie I get a little over 1.5 hours on a DVD disc.
prairiedogpics wrote on 12/12/2002, 9:27 PM
I didn't word my last post clearly. I have Ulead DVD Movie Factory 1.0, with all the patches installed. The new version on Ulead's website is 2.0.

Dan
Former user wrote on 12/12/2002, 9:59 PM
I haven't installed it yet. I hope to give it a shot tomorrow or Saturday. I'll let you know how it preforms. I also just got in a buncha DVD-R and DVD+R so I can give 'em both a try out.

Jim

Wambeke wrote on 12/12/2002, 10:53 PM
Dazzle DVD Complete ... hands down it's well-worth the money. It only cost $50 and it gives you up to 30 seconds of motion background for your menus as well as motion thumbnails in your chapter points. I tried Ulead's DVD Workshop but it was so unintuitive that I went with Dazzle. Can't beat the price!
sqblz wrote on 12/13/2002, 10:42 AM
Sorry Guys/Gals, I don't want to be picky, but if I were the forum moderator I would just scratch this thread altogether.

I went through all of it just to conclude that I had just wasted my time. Not a single post relating with any SoFo product.
Maybe that's why the Dazzle / Ulead forums are empty, but I would like to re-focus the meaning of *this* particular Forum.
Like I said, nothing too serious (yet) but we have to recognize that the Forum has served lately to harbour threads that *really* don't have *anything* to do with SoFo, much less with VV.

Is this the beginning of the end ? Will we use bad language and start exchanging warez next ?
By the way, I am the second "oldest" in this thread, with a bow to Wambeke :-)

OK, start flaming ...
BillyBoy wrote on 12/13/2002, 11:10 AM
I would guess this and similar threads are here because SoFo has no DVD authoring software to offer, so what are those of wishing to burn DVD's with compliant files made in Vegas suppose to go to discuss the topic?

I would hardly think this thread is off topic and it does clearly state on the subject line WHAT the topic is about while other recent threads have had misleading subject lines that had little if anything to do with video editing.

You're right about one thing... you aren't the forum moderator.
Former user wrote on 12/13/2002, 12:18 PM
As the originator of this thread, I figure I should respond.

My main concern was if the MPEG files created using Vegas Video could be used with what DVD burning / authoring software, without needing to be re-encoded. That makes it a VV topic. And, as a side benefit, I wanted to get some feedback from some end-users out there as to their experiences good or bad. Also, this isn't the only thread that discusses DVD authoring. I have found useful information in all of the them.

Also -- what in subject / topic line "DVD burner bundled software" intrigued you to read it in the first place? Was it misleading?

Apparently you feel that if a particular thread doesn't interest you then it should be banished. Sorry you wasted your time, but now you're wasting mine, so I guess that makes us even...