logo Sign In

What do you use to master your DVD's?

Author
Date
Author
Time
Post link
I'm fairly new to the whole DVD mastering thing, I've played around with a few programs but I haven't really spent the time to master just one. I tried DVD Architect and didn't like it, I found TMPGEnc DVD Author to be really simple to use but limited in what it could do and just recently I've started to play around with a combination of Womble MPEG Video Wizard and DVD-lab and I like the results I'm getting with those two the best so far. That being said I was wondering what the old pro's here in the forums are using to master and compile their DVD's? One tool or a combination of many? Lastly, what made you settle on the tools that you do use?
My DVD Collection

alt.binaries.starwars
Usenet. Get it! Learn it! Love it!
Author
Time
Post link
DVD Lab Pro is simple to use quickly, and very powerful as well. I am always trying new things with each of my subsequent DVDs. The ability to move menus back and forth as PSD's between it and Photoshop makes it easy to perfect placement of menu items. I can make my menus exactly the way I want them, and won't use anything else now.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

Author
Time
Post link
On the lower end of the scale, I encode my material from VHS, Betamax, or laserdisc (using the S-Video connections when possible) with my DVD recorder while choosing the closest appropriate recording bitrate for the task. The finalized DVD is then imported to my computer where I use The GIMP to create menu and background graphics and TMPGEnc DVD Author to put it all together.

If I had more computing power and larger hard drives, I'd probably venture into the computer encoding route with higher end authoring software, but the results so far (mostly using VHS and Betamax masters) have been pretty good.
Author
Time
Post link
I use Sonic Scenarist. It was the first "real" authoring program I messed with and I've been able to do pretty much anything I want with it. Of course there's a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it and understand the structure of a DVD, it's easy to use. I've heard great things about other authoring programs out there, like DVD Lab Pro and Maestro, but I've never tried them myself.

My Projects:
[Holiday Special Hybrid DVD v2]
[X0 Project]
[Backstroke of the West DVD]
[ROTS Theatrical DVD]

Author
Time
Post link
I used DVDAuthorGUI for my DVDs, which is ideal if you just want a quick and simple structure.

For more complicated authoring, I've used DVD-lab PRO, which is pretty easy to use and quite powerful. However I did once have a problem with it not recognising a text file containing timecodes of desired chapter stops.

Scenarist is, of course, the industry standard. I've never used it - the version I had, when I tried to install, turned out to be a trojan (bloody Suprnova ). Apparently it's very powerful, but as Zion said it probably takes some time to get used to.

Guidelines for post content and general behaviour: read announcement here

Max. allowable image sizes in signatures: reminder here

Author
Time
Post link
I use Apple's DVD studio pro.

I find it does an excellent job with a lot of available customization. A helluva lot better than that crap iDVD.

What’s the internal temperature of a TaunTaun? Luke warm.

Author
Time
Post link
Adobe Encore- it has its quirks, but it is very well integrated with other Adobe products (especially Photoshop for menu design) and with some practice it is very powerful.
I'm sorry, I hate it when it does that.....
Author
Time
Post link
I use DVDMaestro. It's quite easy to learn the basic's of this program. And it can also do some advanced things.

A new release of Star Wars is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.

Author
Time
Post link
I started out with DVDMaestro and loved it, then lost it in hard drive head crash. DAMN IT! So know I use TMPGEnc DVD Author but hate how restricted it is. Just got DVD Lab Pro, hoping to understand it pretty quickly, does not look to bad.
Author
Time
Post link
Let me know if you have any questions.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

Author
Time
Post link
i "acquired" DVD Lab Pro a few weekends ago to play with and decided to test it by making some DVDs of crappy Star Trek: The Animated Series avi files. (not good quality for TV viewing by any means, but watchable, and keeps me from sitting in my uncomfy computer chair too long.)

it was SO damn easy to use--had a custom static menu with music in no time. nothing fancy but absolutely customizable and fun.

so for this technologically-retarded user, a big thumbs up for DVD Lab Pro.
Pop Geek (my blog)
Entertainment Geekly