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What is the best DVD authoring software out now....

J

JackBurton

Lifer
I've used TMPGEnc Author 1.6 and is doesn't give me the control I need. It basically just let's me fill out templates. I've also tried DVD-lab Pro and I'm not really that big on it (not very intuitive). The one other authoring software I tried was Ulead's DVD Workshop 2.0. AWESOME software and it gives you full control of how you want to setup your DVD. Unfortunately the thing costs $400! 🙁 I'm not paying $400 for software that I'm not using to make money off the products I create. The DVDs I'm authoring are for personal use, I'm not going into business selling them. SO, the question is, what is the best DVD software for a reasonable price?
 
What program do you use to edit your video? I've been using Pinnacle Studio 8 for a couple years now, and it captures, edits and authors/burns DVDs... all for less than $100.

Most of the consumer video editing apps do menus, authoring, etc. Adobe just released new Premiere Elements for $99. ULead, Pinnacle, Roxio, there are plenty of companies offering video editing with built in DVD authoring and custom menus and such.

I'm not sure how detailed you need your menus and stuff need to be. But for simple chapter thumbnail menus, these consumer programs should be able to do it.
 
I use TMPGEnc Author 1.6 to author my DVDs but that is only for a quick and basic DVD authoring project (basic menus and such). I want something to look more pro. All the ones I've tried have predefined menus where it only gives you a certain number of menus to choose from. I want to be able to create my menus from scratch. Like I said, Ulead DVD Workshop 2 gives me all the control I want, and is very intuitive. The only thing holding me back is the $400 price tag. 🙁 I might give Premiere Elements a shot though for $99.
 
How do you capture and edit your video? Are you capturing from a DV camcorder or what?

If you use a program like Premiere Elements or Pinnacle Studio, you plug your camcorder into Firewire, capture the video from the tape to the hard drive, edit the video, create menus... then you're ready to burn... all from one program.

Both programs have menu templates.... but I know for a fact that Pinnacle Studio will allow you to make your own custom menus from scratch.
 
Well I don't need the capturing portion, I already have the video in MPEG2 format. The only thing I need is the authoring portion. I'll check out Pinnacle Studio.

Thanks!
 
Not to be a pest... but where are you getting compressed MPEG2 files from? I'm curious as to what kind of stuff you're into... fellow video editor.

I've never edited with MPEG2 files.. only with raw AVI files captured from a MiniDV camcorder. I'm sure all editing programs support it though.

It wouldn't hurt to have a complete video editing package... just in case you need it.

🙂
 
Studio 9 Plus gets good reviews. I just upgraded so I can't tell how well it works, but Studio 9 worked well enough.
 
Originally posted by: MScrip
Not to be a pest... but where are you getting compressed MPEG2 files from? I'm curious as to what kind of stuff you're into... fellow video editor.

I've never edited with MPEG2 files.. only with raw AVI files captured from a MiniDV camcorder. I'm sure all editing programs support it though.

It wouldn't hurt to have a complete video editing package... just in case you need it.

🙂
Click to expand...
I'm capturing video straight from my TV capture card. What basically is happening is, I capture the event (fighting event) and it has a BUNCH of fights on it. Well it sucked when you record it on VHS or straight to DVD because without chapters, you'll be fast forwarding forever looking for a particular fight. Anyway, capturing it on my tuner card (saves it as high quality MPEG2) and creating chapters for something like this is awesome. I can go straight to whatever fight I want to watch. But like I said, I'm REALLY weird in that I just don't want to have something that looks like it was just slapped together. When friends come over, I'd like to pop it in the DVD player and have the DVD look pro looking.

Anyway, that's the whole story.
 
I've created some fairly complex DVD menus with DVD-Lab (not the Pro version). I've only scratched the surface on it, though. It creates motion menus, motion backgrounds, you control the order of play easily, and it has a "connections" page showing the paths very plainly.

The price? It was under $100, but don't remember exactly. It doesn't even use templates, so no restrictions there. The biggest drawback is you must be artistically creative if you want the DVD to look "cool" (mine are relatively boring, but work well)
 
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