Needed: DVD authoring help and info

Software and Dev Software & Tools
1

This is one territory I never ventured into so far. I was contend to watch all the videos on a computer. But not anymore.

In the last couple of days I have tried a couple of programs but it is quite evident that I am a noob when it comes to DVD authoring and handling videos (with all the codecs, audio, demuxing etc).

While I will get to know them gradually, for now I will be contend to get a good DVD Authoring program that can turn AVI, MP4 files into DVD-ready folder.

My primary requirements are:

1- Should be easy on a noob.

2- Quality of encoding is VERY IMPORTANT. Of course lot depends on source file, but still I need something very good here. I have a fairly fast computer (though only with two cores) and would like to put it to good use.

3- Support for AVI, MP4 files, subtitles is must. Also it should allow mixing files of different frame rates or resolution into one project

4- For now I have found ConvertXtoDVD 3 best of lot.

TMPEG refuses to accept many of my AVI files and DVDFlick produces very bad encoding. I tried AVItoDVD as well but it gave me silent videos with no audio. So I need something better than ConvertXtoDVD 3

Pitch in ye audio-video gurus…

2

As far as i have experienced DVD Authoring on Windows sucked a**.

If you can get your hands on any Mac you can try DVD Studio Pro , it may take you a bit of time understand it but its really powerful.

3

Try Allok AVI to DVD/SVCD convertor. I’ve used few tools from Allok and i found them best..

4

Convertx to dvd..best of the lot..Rest will make u deall with lot of crap..

Any particular problem with it?

5

edited.

(wrote about dvdflick)

6

Not much of an issue… just that I wanted something that can support mkv files, give me option to chose bit rate as well as give me two-pass encoding (better quality).

ConvertXtoDVD supports only one pass encoding, arbitrarily decides the size of DVD folder and does not allow you any control over bit rate. Though I must say it’s very very fast. I mean 20 minutes to encode a 110 minute AVI file… well that is very fast and quality, though not great, is perfectly acceptable considering the quality of sources file.

7

There are tools that deal specifically with authoring DVDs. One program i used is DVD Lab Pro. Lots of control over the format, layout etc fo the DVD.

Conversions are best handled externaly with best-of-breed specific utilities and then just add the resulting files into the authoring tool.

8

^^ but it is a lengthy process and not too noob-friendly. I will love to try what you suggest but I have very little idea about how it can be done. will you guide me through the process?

9

There is one issue to consider, if your titles are in a higher resolution than DVD, you will be losing quality if you opt to make a DVD.

Dont most hardware ‘DVD’ players out there already support these formats natively ?

Much easier this way, no rencoding loss just burn a data disk and play.