I've tried a number of other authoring tools, and I was most happy with Ulead's DVD Workshop. It used a non-standard but easy-to-use interface. I like DVD Architect, but there is room for improvement.
First a few "bugs" to fix:
1. Sometimes it fails to overwrite a DVD+RW that contains data. It says it finished, but nothing is written. Clean DVD+RWs never have this problem.
2. I'm losing about 1-2 seconds of the video/audio tracks when my menus include them. They preview fine, but when I play the disc created by DVD Architect it jumps into the clip about 1-22 seconds from the true beginning.
Some enhancements to the interface are needed. Here are my top 10:
1. My biggest wish: DVDA desperately needs something similar to DVD Workshop's "Attribute copy/paste" feature. A HUGE time saver. Define the attributes for ONE object, them easily copy them to other objects. I've been swearing at how time-consuming it is to modify multiple objects in DVD Architect.
2. What's with this "Auto" text sizing. Is there a way to lock the size to a specific point size and then modify the envelop size? When I drag the envelope handles, too far, the font decreases in size. Again, an attribute copy/paste would fix this.
3. Alignment tool seems very inexact.
4. A "nudge" tool using the keyboard is needed when you wish to move an object a very small amount. The mouse is too coarse and the X/Y coordinates too slow.
5. A way to lock or group an link image with its text so they don't accidentally get misaligned.
6. Remember the zoom level that I was using when I was setting up chapter points when I return to that view. It always returns to full zoom out level.
7. Grid settings need to be finer -- too coarse now
8. Provide a way to create a link object BEFORE creating a chapter point, then link the object to a newly created chapter point. In other words, add an object to an existing scene selection menu, them modify where it points. Currently, it works the other way 'round.
9. Simplify the steps needed to change the thumbnail image for a chapter. Take a look at DVD Workshop.
10. Provide an outline rectangle envelope for indicating which object has focus. Better yet, provide a way to create a custom envelope, e.g., modify the line thickness, shadowing, etc.
First a few "bugs" to fix:
1. Sometimes it fails to overwrite a DVD+RW that contains data. It says it finished, but nothing is written. Clean DVD+RWs never have this problem.
2. I'm losing about 1-2 seconds of the video/audio tracks when my menus include them. They preview fine, but when I play the disc created by DVD Architect it jumps into the clip about 1-22 seconds from the true beginning.
Some enhancements to the interface are needed. Here are my top 10:
1. My biggest wish: DVDA desperately needs something similar to DVD Workshop's "Attribute copy/paste" feature. A HUGE time saver. Define the attributes for ONE object, them easily copy them to other objects. I've been swearing at how time-consuming it is to modify multiple objects in DVD Architect.
2. What's with this "Auto" text sizing. Is there a way to lock the size to a specific point size and then modify the envelop size? When I drag the envelope handles, too far, the font decreases in size. Again, an attribute copy/paste would fix this.
3. Alignment tool seems very inexact.
4. A "nudge" tool using the keyboard is needed when you wish to move an object a very small amount. The mouse is too coarse and the X/Y coordinates too slow.
5. A way to lock or group an link image with its text so they don't accidentally get misaligned.
6. Remember the zoom level that I was using when I was setting up chapter points when I return to that view. It always returns to full zoom out level.
7. Grid settings need to be finer -- too coarse now
8. Provide a way to create a link object BEFORE creating a chapter point, then link the object to a newly created chapter point. In other words, add an object to an existing scene selection menu, them modify where it points. Currently, it works the other way 'round.
9. Simplify the steps needed to change the thumbnail image for a chapter. Take a look at DVD Workshop.
10. Provide an outline rectangle envelope for indicating which object has focus. Better yet, provide a way to create a custom envelope, e.g., modify the line thickness, shadowing, etc.