Which DVD Software are you using?

[Birtyboy1]

I've been using Ulead Workshop 2 for sometime now but need something that can create menus in 16:9.

Any recommendations as what to consider.

I'm about to install Edius 5 which came with movie factory and i understand we will get an upgrade to version 7 shortly but is this any good?

Been playing with Sony DVD Architect but don't want to spend too much time leaning this is MF 7 is any good.

[Rusty]

If you have Vista, Windows DVD Maker may be worth a look...
it's included.

[Alade]

I have been using Movie Factory for quite some time, and it is great....but I have just started using Encore, and think I love that more.....has a slight learning curve, but I think I have it covered....and i can make my very own style of menus, which i prefer....

[Ron Evans]

I had used DVDlab 2.0 most of the time but since moving to all HDV /AVCHD and then to Bluray have moved to DVD Architect 5.0 . It was a little strange at first as it wasn't as easy to do the things I had come to expect with DVDLab. However now I am more familiar with DVD Architect I like it a lot. It is nice to be able to have the same authoring for SD and Bluray and be able to easily substitute files without changing things( ie change HD encode to SD encode and keep everything else the same). I tend to edit multicam in Edius output HDV with Speed Encoder take into Vegas finalize audio, add and name chapters and encode for Architect from Vegas. Chapters including the names are transferred to Architect. I have Encore too but prefer Architect at the moment for what I do.

Ron Evans

[swsw1550]

If you have Vista, Windows DVD Maker may be worth a look...
it's included.

Great little program but only comes in Vista Ultimate.

Steve

[Bluetongue]

I have used DVDLab Pro2 for some time and it has one advantage over all the others I have used, it allows mixed format DVD's
ie 4x3, 16x9, with any combination of audio mpeg, PCM or ac3
It does this by using multiple VTS each VTS dedicated to each combination of format (Video + Audio). The VTS contains the information for the player to correctly decode the video, if you mix formats on a single VTS one or all will not play properly but is dependent on the player, so it may play on one player but not the other.
It seems to play ok on a computer but not stand a lone players
DVD Lab Pro allows full control of the navigation from the menus and can be daunting for some one new.
I have started using Movie Factory that came with Edius 5 and this does switched menus far simpler than in DVD Lab Pro and has some great menu templates that can be manipulated using Ulead Photoimpact 12 and new ones can be made if you download the DVD Menumaker plug in from the Ulead site
I have even used Photoimpact to translate Movie Factory menu's for use in DVD Lab Pro
One severe disadvantage of DVD Lab for the future is it will not handle Blueray!
Regards Barry

[Rusty]

Great little program but only comes in Vista Ultimate.

Steve

Not true, it also comes with Vista Home Premium.
It's on a box at the house.

[swsw1550]

sorry Rusty my mistake, I was thinking more of Vista Buisness Edition, forgot all about Home Premium.

Steve

[STORMDAVE]

Encore CS4.

[Emulgator]

Edius 4.61 + DLP 2 for SD-DVD.
DLP is so easy and versatile.

Vegas+DVD-A 5 for SD(DVD) and HD(BD-R)
(DVD-A still unstable for some BD-MPEG-2 streams.)

Edius 4.61 + TAW4 for BD-R.
TAW4 is very easy to handle.

[vienna1944er]

> Edius 4.61 + TAW4 for BD-R. .... TAW4 is very easy to handle

forget it for a "classic" NLE-workstation without internet .... it is a L.E.A.P.System

Source: http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/sh...info_leap.html
License Verification System
This software uses a license verification system (L.E.A.P.System) which requires an Internet Connection.

After the first installation of the software, the license validation (activation) will be processed when starting the program.
In addition, it will also be processed periodically from time to time.
Therefore, the PC using this software must be connected to the Internet.

In environments like universities or companies using LAN, we cannot guarantee that the license verification will be correctly processed due to restrictions that might be set.
*Before purchasing the software, please run some test with the trial version (which also includes the verification system).

friendly greetings from europe to europe ...old (but not morbid) Hans ;-)

[dparker]

We use Encore CS3. Make your menu pages in Photoshop and still have access to all the layers in Encore. Export from Edius as m2p and they drop right in without any further transcoding.

[Imagine Video]

DVDitproHD ;-)

[iibw]

DVDit Pro HD. Awesome entire page motion menus, can burn blu-ray and SD DVD from the same project.

[beachside]

can burn blu-ray and SD DVD from the same project.

That is an essential feature for me, and as far as I have seen only DVDit Pro allows that.