DVDA worth it?

spanky wrote on 3/15/2003, 10:10 PM

Do people who have used a variety of DVD authoring programs feel that DVD Architect is worth $200? While I soon plan to buy VV4, I'm not sure if DVDA is worth the extra money. I plan on creating DVDs, but I can't tell if DVDA does more than other programs out there.

I guess truly professional DVD mastering software is pretty expensive. From the screen shots, DVDA looks similar to Uleads Movie Factory and other programs, which usually generate a static (or mpeg) background, and a few customizable buttons specified from templates. Is this the case with DVDA? I find most current authoring programs pretty cheesey.

Are y'all making some pretty cool menus with DVDA? Do you have pretty good control of what happens on the menus, or are most of the functions canned?

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BillyBoy wrote on 3/22/2003, 10:08 PM

I can go 3 glasses. :-)

I think a lot are saying the included AC-3 encoder ISN'T what they wanted, or needed and without it, in my OPINION, DVD-A is just another $50 (value) DVD Authoring program as it presently stands. I haven't given up on it, it does have some nice features like I've said several times already, and I hope it gets a big improvement in the next version.

Some STILL are mixing up what I've been critical of. I expect a version one release to be somewhat limited in features. That's SOP. However, some of the standard features (other DVD authoring applications have usually at a MUCH cheaper price) are either missing or clumsy in DVD-A. So are some expected features part of Vegas, which you already bought, like being able to put transations between images in a slideshow that for some odd reason you can't do in DVD-A.

Such ommissions for sure are disappointing considering the price tag, and the fact you can't really test DVD-A until after you've purchased it, because you can neither import any MPEG files or burn a DVD with the demo. All that on top of the silly registration schme that stopped me dead in my tracks over last weekend because I needed to register both the surround sound and MP3 plug-in and couldn't over the weekend in spite of the claimed automated registration system makes one grumpy. At least it made me grumpy. I'm only human. That should not be confused with "ranting", since pointing out shortcomings and missing features is one of the purposes of this forum. Most understand that. The adults do anyways. I think. Well most of the adults. :-)

Paul_Holmes wrote on 3/22/2003, 11:01 PM

Personally, I can't wait to get DVDA, and I'm glad Billy Boy's grumpy and pointing out the short-comings. I played with the Beta enough to fall in love with it, especially after my experiences with MyDVD and DVDItSE. Both programs work well for me, especially in combination, but the high points of DVDA to me were the motion menus, the ability to have an intro video with a button on it, the ease of creating slideshows, etc.

I think one problem I would not encounter is what I occasionally see posts about, problems with burning the DVD. I've been conditioned with MyDVD to create a DVD folder, THEN burn the DVD with my burning software. Never have a problem that way.

In my opinion (I sound like a groupie here), DVDA is the most promising v1 DVD authoring program yet produced, but it is the FIRST version (sorry, didn't mean to yell!). Billy Boy's comments combined with the known responsiveness of Sonic Foundry to user suggestions will only result in this program rising above the ashes of other poorly produced programs that never seem to get better!

wobblyboy wrote on 3/23/2003, 2:11 AM

It is true that you can't burn but you can certainly import MPEG files and perform all other functions.

BillyBoy wrote on 3/23/2003, 9:36 AM

You can NOT import any MPEG video file into the demo.

The demo doesn't even "see" the file in its explorer.

Why not? Because it requires REGISTRATION and because of SoFo's shaky financial condition they DO NOT allow you to register PRIOR to PURCHASING the product. This is TRUE of other SoFo products like Vegas. No support of MEPG unless and until you BUY the product. Period.

wobblyboy wrote on 3/23/2003, 2:42 PM

BillyBoy,

I guess they must have sent me the wrong thing. I have been importing MPEG files generated by Premiere 6.5 and Vegas 3 into the Demo version for two months. When I try to burn the resulting product I am directed to a window that says that I must buy the full product to burn to DVD.

Also I have one last comment related to the worth of the product. You could purchase Premiere 6.5 which ships with Sonic DVDit LE and does not provide real time preview to monitor, mpeg file processing (in video editor), color correction, AC-3 encoder, motion menus and buttons, real time preview of motion menus and buttons, or chapter points or you could spend the same amount of money and buy Vegas+DVD, get all of those features plus great customer support.

I also understand your concerns about DVD Architect. I had some of the same concerns and considered just purchasing Vegas 4 and authoring in DVD Workshop. However, after much thought and testing I decided to purchase Vegas+DVD because: it comes with an AC-3 encoder, it sets up chapter points from markers in Vegas, it provides real time preview of motion menus and buttons, and I expect that the problems of linking clips together and returning to desired menus will be resolved in future versions. However, I do agree with you that these issues could be considered design flaws.

I would like to thank you for all the time, energy and passion you put into your involvement in this forum. I am sorry that I took some of you comments personally, and hope we can maintain a good relationship in the future.

Wobbly Boy

BillyBoy wrote on 3/23/2003, 3:56 PM

Perhaps there are different versions of the demo. The version I downloaded is crippled. That's the one I'm referring to which is another annoyance to me and what usually results in me never buying the product, if you can't really test it. I hate that. I make an exception for SoFo because I know they make good software.

I think we all take comments the wrong way or too personally sometimes. All water under the bridge. Forgotten.

DigVid wrote on 3/23/2003, 3:59 PM

"The only problems with DVDA are that it's still in its infancy, so it's missing some minor things like video end actions..."

* * *

I am really impressed with DVD-A. I have been working with MPEG1/2 stuff for a few years, own DVDit!PE and SpruceUp and tested ReelDVD. It's workflow is far better than any of those apps. Bravo SoFo! It has a few issues, but for a first outing it's nothing short of magnificent.

However, that being said (and from what I'm reading on a few forums) DVD production even on this level is not easy. It takes a love for it to get the right results. DVD-A rewards those who can appreciate what it can and can't do. Enjoy!

BTW, I have NEVER seen a DVD with end actions (but I'm sure one day I will)...

Paul_Holmes wrote on 3/23/2003, 8:22 PM

"I have never seen a DVD with end-actions . . ."

You don't "see" end-actions, they just happen! Actually, DVDItSE 2.3 allows you to set end actions. This allows me to say break up a wedding movie into three sections composed of 3 movies that can be independantly viewed from the main menu. But when the user chooses the 1st section, I've set an end-action that causes the next section to be played when the 1st is done. Same with the 2nd to the 3rd. This allows choice, but also allows it to be viewed as one long movie.

pb wrote on 3/24/2003, 12:04 AM

I admit I do not know a lot about high end DVD authoring; however, we produce at least one new DVD with one or two movies, each with several chapter points pretty well every day. We used to use a Pinnacle product but the Senior editor hated it so much we tried Sonic DVDit LE then settled on DVD Complete. Certainly it is limited with respect to templates and themes but it does work and PrimoDVD is our tool for making multiple copies. We'll be getting a mass duplicator later this year. I bought three copies of DVDA to get away from being locked into the DVD Complete themes and as soon as one of us time to sit and work through it a second time I am sure it will replace DVD Complete. Last time we tried DVDA it took so long to burn the Master DVD we decided to shelve it until we can figure out where we screwed up.

I apologize to bb for exploding over his use of the word "professional" but I guess a decade of working with know-it-all kids doing their practicums and endless calls from freelancers who insist their Canon XL1s and JVC GY500s are just as good as our BetaSP and BetaSX camcorders has made me hypersensitive.

In closing, I offer the following analogy, using cameras: the Canon XL1 and XL1s are great cameras for prosumer use but they certainly are not worth 6 or 7 thousand dollars and are not and will never be in the same league as Sony Broadcast gear. There is a reason a DXC D35/DNV5 16:9 BetaSX camcorder with a Canon broadcast lens equipped with an apspect ratio converter and 2X step up almost 15 times as much as a Canon XL1 and that is it is more rugged, native 16:9, has more picture elements, better control over audio, infinitely better lens and overall far superior image under any lighting condition. I guess the same can be said of Sonic ReelDVD vs. DVDA, to a point. Haven't used the Sonic program and will give DVDA another chance within a couple of weeks. We paid about 150$ US each for the three copies because we upgraded three V3s to Vegas 4 + DVDA at 295 USD each.

pb

DigVid wrote on 3/24/2003, 6:47 AM

"I've set an end-action that causes the next section to be played when the 1st is done. Same with the 2nd to the 3rd. This allows choice, but also allows it to be viewed as one long movie"

Yes, but not without the added liability of having to fill your disc with 2-MPEGs of the same material. Because I know you can't instruct DVDit to both access chapters (with the end result of the next chapter being shown) AND access indidvidual chapters exclusively (with the end result of say a menu being shown) on the same MPEG material (it must be duplicated, wasting disc space).

DigVid wrote on 3/24/2003, 6:57 AM

BillyBoy,

I'm sorry you couldn't get DVDA to work for you. I'm having great success with it (and fun too).

No crashes and the flexibility of multiple title sets, various types of audio import (wma, mpg, wav, etc), motion menus, usable templates and flexible frame/buttons speed the authoring process.

Kudos to SoFo and keep up the upgrades. I'm looking forward to this promising programs future.

fockerdvds wrote on 3/25/2003, 6:02 AM

I am not sure why so many people here seem to be unhappy with DVD-A.....I actually like it a lot and I think it's definitely worth $200.....DVD Wise is around $1000 and DVD-A runs circles around that product.

People are correct that it can't be compared to high end DVD authoring apps (like Maestro, ReelDVD, Scenarist, etc.)....the functionality is just not there.....but for basic DVD authoring DVD-A is the best in my opinion.....it's not nearly as picky as the Sonic products (like DVDit) and the menu creation is very straight forward.

Just My 2 Cents