2. Make a seperate encode and do not use the audio; call it something like "footage name without audio" with "footage name" being the name of your clip.
Obviously, encoding another "audio free" version of the movie will use up more space on the disc. I was hoping for a solution that didn't involve a separate file.
What version are you using? With DVDA you should be able to simply add an additional audio track to the movie, then provide a way via a menu to select the alternate audio track.
In Vegas, you create an additional audio track that doesn't have audio where you don't want it (for the entire track if that's what you want) - this new track is the same length as the video you have, then render this to an AC3 file and include it as an alternate audio track in DVDA. Kinda like a directors commentary but in this case the director doesn't have anything to say.
Just curious, but why wouldn't mute be an option? It's a whole lot easier than choosing an alternate audio track during playback. It's also extremely easier to create since it invovles zero effort during authoring.