Not true. Cinemacraft has a nice encoder for the same price as TMPGenc. I prefer the pro version and the ability to do 6 passes. :)

acidsex,
the version of Cinemacraft that's the same price as TMPEnc, it's still only 2 pass VBR isn't it?

The prop version that will do six passes is much more expensive I thought.

Just checked it out, seems the pro version was discontinued some time ago, the full version is about USD 1,700, the basic is USD 58.

i'm currently using DVD Architect for authoring, but was going to move to something nicer like DVDIt. do these programs hook into that software directly, or do you have to render separately, then import your mpegs into the authoring software?

Please do not go to DVDit. Lets just say you can replace the DVD in the title with SH. I made the mistake of paying $500 for the program for the ac3 encoding feature and honestly, it gave me more fits with compatability.

what about reeldvd? anybody have any experience with that?

I've used ReelDVD on a trial and I was less than impressed. For one, you are working much closer with the DVD spec than in other progams so the learning curve is a bit steeper. OTOH, the flexiblity gained is much greater and compatibility will never be an issue because of the engine used in the software.

BUT it had two shortcomings that simply kept me from buying it: no resume feature was supported and button highlights won't retain their settings on a looping menu. The resume feature meant that when you're watching a movie and press the menu button it takes you to the menu. Fine. However, when you press the menu button again the movie should resume where it left off and does on nearly any authoring software out there--except ReelDVD. It just puts you back on the main menu. Can't resume the movie at all. The second item is more minor, but button highlights will always reset to the first button when a menu loops. Non-standard behavior but annoying to me nonetheless.

Adobe's EncoreDVD might be a program to look at if you want flexibility and more power. Based on everything I've read, it's an easy sale for me. I'm just waiting for the masses to get a bit more experience with it so I can see what the major gripes are.

that's strange for such an expensive program. i was looking for something powerful that enabled me to do custom buttons and custom button highlights/colors/shapes, etc. also looking for good slideshow capability. DVDa puts one image on each track (bad if you're doing more than 99 slides!). need something that doesn't eat up tracks and lets me put "<<Previous Next>> Main Menu" buttons on each slide

can somebody recommend a good DVD authoring package that's powerful, flexible and easy to use? price isn't too much of an issue, as my client is paying for it, just need something that allows me ultimate control of all aspects of creating a DVD.

Look at DVD-Lab bud, it's brill.
I think you will find it does everything you want :-)

http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/

I wouldnt use anything else now

dude you rock!
thanks!

I second it, not to go to DVDit. It is a nightmare of a program. The interface is odd, but the program freezes, shuts off, and it is hardly compatable with anything. I tried multiple bit rates before anything worked, my graphics had to be converted, it was picky about the sound files--and worst of all, it usually doesn't tell you there's a problem until it has spent about 1/2 hour working on your files...then it spits up an error message.

It also doesn't help that their documentation is thin and horrible.

These folks had a big head start, sat on it and deserve to go out of business.

i think i'm going to use tmpgenc for the encoding, even though it is only 2-pass. is there any benefit from more than 2 passes on VBR? also, what is the difference between the free version of tmpgenc 2.5 and the version that pegasys is selling for $48?

I'd take a closer look at DVD-Lab before you buy it, the price alone should make you wonder about it. How can a program do so much for such a small price tag. Easy, the don't really conform to the DVD Spec which can cause you to have a lot of problems with your discs, and most replicators probably won't accept them either. Bottom line is, you get what you pay for. I know it's probably out of a lot of peoples price range, but I use a Sonic Fusion system with a SD-1000 encoder card and I love it, it will do everything you need to do, and it does it with a strict conformity to the DVD spec allowing you to create great titles that will work!