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DVD authoring... does anyone here do it? ***UPDATE 2***

NuclearNed

NuclearNed

Raconteur
So last week I got an NEC dual layer dvd burner from AT's hot deals forum. The software that came with it is a suite from Roxio, and even though I haven't spent much time with it, I think I can safely conclude that it sucks badly.

Basically, I want to put my home movies on DVD. I've already put them on SVCD, and I assumed that the process would be similar. I captured my digital-8 movie using Windows Movie Maker, broke up the film into 5 minute segments, then used TMPGENC to encode the segments into animorphic widescreen MPG's. So far, so good.

What I want to do is create a 16x9 menu that uses the segments as chapters. Motion thumbnails would be a nice bonus feature if I can get them. I looked at DVD Lab Pro last night, and it will create 16x9 menus. The problem is that I can't seem to get it to accept multiple MPG's - apparently it wants the movie file to be one large MPG. Also, this software seems to be a little more complicated than what I need.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't afford to spend much money on whatever software I finally pick, so please keep that in mind.


***UPDATE***
Over my lunch break I gave DVDlab Pro another shot. After a little reading, I figured out how to add multiple MPG's to a project (fyi, it is not in the tutorial). I'll definitely give this software another shot, because it seems to be able to do just about anything imaginable in the world of DVD authoring.

And I looked further into the Roxio software - I still can't find any documentation showing how it can create a 16x9 menu. I don't think it can, so for the moment I am going to give up on it.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

***UPDATE 2***
DVDlab Pro does everything I need for making menus, and I highly recommend it. Now I need some suggestions for software that does something else. I have lots of old home movies that are in 4x3 aspect ratio. I would like to add "filler" to the sides of the video so that it displays in 16x9, and I can encode it in animorphic widescreen. If possible, I would like the "filler" material to be something that contains motion, to help prevent burn-in on my projection HDTV. Does anyone know of software that will do this?
 
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So last week I got an NEC dual layer dvd burner from AT's hot deals forum. The software that came with it is a suite from Roxio, and even though I haven't spent much time with it, I think I can safely conclude that it sucks badly.

Basically, I want to put my home movies on DVD. I've already put them on SVCD, and I assumed that the process would be similar. I captured my digital-8 movie using Windows Movie Maker, broke up the film into 5 minute segments, then used TMPGENC to encode the segments into animorphic widescreen MPG's. So far, so good.

What I want to do is create a 16x9 menu that uses the segments as chapters. Motion thumbnails would be a nice bonus feature if I can get them. I looked at DVD Lab Pro last night, and it will create 16x9 menus. The problem is that I can't seem to get it to accept multiple MPG's - apparently it wants the movie file to be one large MPG. Also, this software seems to be a little more complicated that what I need.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't afford to spend much money on whatever software I finally pick, so please keep that in mind.
Click to expand...
DVDlab Pro so kicks anything else's a$$.

You didn't read the tutorial did you.

Just add another movie on the left. Then you can add your video and audio. Make a main menu and add your links to the movies. You have lots of control over the finished product.

DVDLab Pro makes Encore and TMPGENC Author look like kids toys.
 
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So last week I got an NEC dual layer dvd burner from AT's hot deals forum. The software that came with it is a suite from Roxio, and even though I haven't spent much time with it, I think I can safely conclude that it sucks badly.

Basically, I want to put my home movies on DVD. I've already put them on SVCD, and I assumed that the process would be similar. I captured my digital-8 movie using Windows Movie Maker, broke up the film into 5 minute segments, then used TMPGENC to encode the segments into animorphic widescreen MPG's. So far, so good.

What I want to do is create a 16x9 menu that uses the segments as chapters. Motion thumbnails would be a nice bonus feature if I can get them. I looked at DVD Lab Pro last night, and it will create 16x9 menus. The problem is that I can't seem to get it to accept multiple MPG's - apparently it wants the movie file to be one large MPG. Also, this software seems to be a little more complicated that what I need.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't afford to spend much money on whatever software I finally pick, so please keep that in mind.
Click to expand...

I've used TMPGEnc DVD Author with great result.
Why don't you give the Roxio suit a try? It can't be that bad.
 
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So last week I got an NEC dual layer dvd burner from AT's hot deals forum. The software that came with it is a suite from Roxio, and even though I haven't spent much time with it, I think I can safely conclude that it sucks badly.

Basically, I want to put my home movies on DVD. I've already put them on SVCD, and I assumed that the process would be similar. I captured my digital-8 movie using Windows Movie Maker, broke up the film into 5 minute segments, then used TMPGENC to encode the segments into animorphic widescreen MPG's. So far, so good.

What I want to do is create a 16x9 menu that uses the segments as chapters. Motion thumbnails would be a nice bonus feature if I can get them. I looked at DVD Lab Pro last night, and it will create 16x9 menus. The problem is that I can't seem to get it to accept multiple MPG's - apparently it wants the movie file to be one large MPG. Also, this software seems to be a little more complicated that what I need.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't afford to spend much money on whatever software I finally pick, so please keep that in mind.
Click to expand...

I've used TMPGEnc DVD Author with great result.
Why don't you give the Roxio suit a try? It can't be that bad.
Click to expand...

I actually gave it a try. I have to admit, I went into the task a little skeptical because I've had the joy of using Roxio's fine products before. The biggest problem I immediately found is that it seems to be impossible to make a 16x9 menu with it. Otherwise, it seems to have virtually all the features I really need.
 
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So last week I got an NEC dual layer dvd burner from AT's hot deals forum. The software that came with it is a suite from Roxio, and even though I haven't spent much time with it, I think I can safely conclude that it sucks badly.

Basically, I want to put my home movies on DVD. I've already put them on SVCD, and I assumed that the process would be similar. I captured my digital-8 movie using Windows Movie Maker, broke up the film into 5 minute segments, then used TMPGENC to encode the segments into animorphic widescreen MPG's. So far, so good.

What I want to do is create a 16x9 menu that uses the segments as chapters. Motion thumbnails would be a nice bonus feature if I can get them. I looked at DVD Lab Pro last night, and it will create 16x9 menus. The problem is that I can't seem to get it to accept multiple MPG's - apparently it wants the movie file to be one large MPG. Also, this software seems to be a little more complicated that what I need.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't afford to spend much money on whatever software I finally pick, so please keep that in mind.
Click to expand...

I've used TMPGEnc DVD Author with great result.
Why don't you give the Roxio suit a try? It can't be that bad.
Click to expand...

I actually gave it a try. I have to admit, I went into the task a little skeptical because I've had the joy of using Roxio's fine products before. The biggest problem I immediately found is that it seems to be impossible to make a 16x9 menu with it. Otherwise, it seems to have virtually all the features I really need.
Click to expand...

Maybe a healthy doze of RTFM and time will help.
Good luck.
 
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
DVDlab Pro so kicks anything else's a$$.

You didn't read the tutorial did you.

Just add another movie on the left. Then you can add your video and audio. Make a main menu and add your links to the movies. You have lots of control over the finished product.

DVDLab Pro makes Encore and TMPGENC Author look like kids toys.
Click to expand...

You should try Scenarist! Not very intuitive, but extremely powerful authoring program.
 
***UPDATE 2***
DVDlab Pro does everything I need for making menus, and I highly recommend it. Now I need some suggestions for software that does something else. I have lots of old home movies that are in 4x3 aspect ratio. I would like to add "filler" to the sides of the video so that it displays in 16x9, and I can encode it in animorphic widescreen. If possible, I would like the "filler" material to be something that contains motion, to help prevent burn-in on my project HDTV. Does anyone know of software that will do this?
 
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