reccomended software for mpeg--->dvd conversion?

[Jim Bancroft]

I'd like to convert my vidcaptures to dvd format, ideally with add-on chapter menus. Any software that stands above the competition? Freeware, shareware, capitalist-pig commercial software....I'll consider it all. Don't need anything too fancy or expensive however. Thanks!

 

[rikadik]

Pretty much any home video/consumer video editing software will do.

My advice is stay away from Pinnacle Studio since it is very buggy, unreliable and the GUI is needlessly resource-intensive.

I use (and reccommend) Ulead Video Studio 8: it's very stable, is very easy to use, and fairly inexpensive. You can drag your MPEGs straight on to the filmstrip, and add music, record voiceover, use impressive effects and transitions. And it is a breeze to make DVD menus, with animated backgrounds and scene previews.

There are much more advanced things out there, but I think this is ideal for your needs. There will however be cheaper software out there which does much much less, but will allow you to do the bare minimum of what you require (get an MPEG onto a DVD and add a menu).

It is $49.99 at Amazon, well worth the money.

 

[John P]

Everybody has their own opinions. I have use Pinnacle Studio since the first version and haven't had a lot of problems with it. I use version 9.0 Plus now and love it.

The cool thing about Studio 9.0 now is that there is the ability to add plug-ins. There are a bunch of 3rd part plug ins being made and a bunch of free ones available to play with.

I wouldn't pay full price for any of this software though, I bought Pinnacle Studio 9.0 Plus for $29.99 after rebates when it was on sale at Outpost. I wouldn't pay much more than that for any video package. At that price it's "disposable" software - if you don't like it you can still afford to try something else. Vegas Movie Studio + DVD is on sale at Outpost for $34.99 after rebate. You may want to look into some reviews of that also.

You could also just buy an OEM version of Nero 6 suite that has NeroVision Express if all you want to do is go straight from mpeg to DVD.