DVD Authoring

[zipzap]

What's a good solid DVD authoring program that I can download, I mean purchase? One that spits out double layer DVDs too - Nero doesn't seem too good on that front.

[oldfella]

I am a comp iliterate but find that DVD shrink handles my backup needs. May be what you need.

http://www.dvdshrink.info/

[Wedgie]

Yeah DVD Shrink and Nero Express do the job for me.
Ive had issues with Nero before but find it does everything I need these days.
Occasionaly use MyCDPro, Roxio and DVD Decrypter too.

[zipzap]

I am a comp iliterate but find that DVD shrink handles my backup needs. May be what you need.

http://www.dvdshrink.info/

Nah I don't mean backup, I mean 'authoring' in the sense of taking existing video files (eg TV episodes, DV CAM shot video files) and making a classy looking menu/interface that will load in a DVD player. I've been asked to make a DVD of our school's graduation. Nero does it but it's fairly limited. It also doesn't like double layer DVD9s. I'm trying Ulead Videostudio 9 at the moment but like everything by Ulead it's a pile of arse.

[Dissident]

To author a DVD - you'd be best served to try DVD-LAB or DVD-LAB Pro. Scenarist is great too but very high end. Depending on the video files you have/use, with sound and resolution, you might need other programs to change these things.

[zipzap]

To author a DVD - you'd be best served to try DVD-LAB or DVD-LAB Pro. Scenarist is great too but very high end. Depending on the video files you have/use, with sound and resolution, you might need other programs to change these things.

Sorry Diss, I should have PM'd you first - didn't occur to me. Thanks for the advice. The types of things I want to tunr into DVDs are twofold. Original DV-Cam movies and avi/wmv files. For the latter I find nero takes forever to do bugger all - after 4-5 hours of rendering it crashes or gives up. I'll look into DVD-Lab. Is that what you used for the grand final DVD?

[Dissident]

The first is easier ZZ. Usually with a Digital video camera you get software to turn the files into DVD compliant videos. Quite often the programs will do it all for you (usually cut down versions of bigger programs).

Making random mpeg/avi etc into DVD files requires them to be re-encoded. Authoring programs like DVD-LAB only make the DVD *after* you've got the files in a good order (resolution, etc). Using something like TMPGEnc which is free can help turn the files into DVD compiant files. Vegas Video which I use, can edit videos to a good depth - I've used this to make some video clips for bands.

An easy "quick" way to make random files into a DVD is to use DVD-Santa : A bit "dirty" as far as doesn't always work but it comes out well if it does.

Let me know if you want a hand with anything.

[goat1069]

Well that was a bit messed up... 8)

[Zorro]

Hi Diss, if you want some handy options to transfer a standard avi file into a DVD with options to chop and edit etc, give Pinnacle Studio a look. I use it to render the DVD compliant files which I then finish through Nero.