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What DVD software is the best?
Hi – Ive just joined the cow because I really need some help with this and there’s so much on the net it’s overfacing.
Im currently using DVD Studio Pro 4 for authoring and I’m really not happy with it. It has a problem even displaying a JPG.
I want the menus to look crisper, funkier, just better….
So I’m wondering if anyone can recommend a good industry/professional DVD authoring programme that really looks the business?
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26 Replies
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If you prepare your assets correctly you can get a great image quality from DVDSP.
But you can look into Adobe Encore or Sony DVD Architect. These 3 have there pros and cons with regards to the way they author but you can produce professional level DVDs. If you want spec level authoring there is Sonic Scenarist.
I have produced 100s of titles with DVDSP and they are high quality both for video and stills.
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Thanks for your reply – but its not just about JPEGs. DVDSP doesnt handle HD Footage well unless the project is HD. Its rubbish at importing subtitles, and doesnt export them either.
I just want something better.
I’ll take at look at those suggested…anyone else have any suggestions?
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Lucy
The issue is in your workflows. Getting new app willnot help your issues. You need to research the correct ways to handle and pre processYorubar media before authoring. -
Apologies! First post from my new iphone.
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thanks for the threads
But I dont specifically want HD – I want a good all rounder.
Im using a Mac Pro
There must be something better than DVDSP? Or do I need to create the templates in their entirity elsewhere and then import them??
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Sorry DVDSP for can do 99% of the authoring you need. If you don’t like the quality just look at encoders. But most reasonably priced encoders need SD assets. Compressor does a fine good with good source material that has been Color Corrected and you can use high bitrates. When it drops below 5 Mbps it starts to suffer. There is BitVice or CinamaCraft for encoding.
Oh, if you are encoding within DVDSP then all bets are off, if will do a crappy job more times than not.
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Thanks -yes, I do use compressor, understand all the settings and always use highest quality source files but thats not really my issue per se
Its hard to explain but I want to make menus that look slicker – behave better – odd shapes and sizes. Sliding action with sound effects. Something like the Universal Blu Ray menu (half circle, translucent).
DVDSP doesnt handle the alpha on images well either – so where I think the background is clear, it turns it black on import.
An added bonus would be software that imports subtitles better (doesnt loose half of them on import) and most importantly exports them if they’ve been typed straight on. I know theres a bolt on that can do this but it would be good if it was all in the soft itself.
What is out there that’s really high end? Something that doesnt come with wedding templates!!
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Lucy you are confused. DVDSP is not a design tool. DVD is not blu Ray either. All the fancy smancy stuff you see on disc were done by highly talented designers with years of experience. It has nothing to do with DVDSP 🙂
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Adding to eric’s post most of this stuff cannot be done on SD DVD. No sliding graphics, no sound, no animation. SD DVD is not BluRay, need to get over that and learn what is doable with SD DVD. It really sounds like you don’t understand how the software works, you can build drop zones in graphics that work in DVDSP but you have to do it the correct way. I build all my menus outside of DVDSP and bring the finished piece in. Encore would most likely do better here so if this is important it maybe a reason to give it a try.
[Lucy Merchant] “(doesnt loose half of them on import)”
If you are importing a ST script and losing ST then most likely your TC is over lapping. As far as export STs well that is not a feature but like you said there is a program to get it done. Not sure anything else can export them.Like I said Scenarist is a spec level authoring program and anything that can be done with a DVD can be done in that program. It has a steep learning code and is a couple of grand (don’t know where the price drop ended) but once again it will do what a BluRay disc does.
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I am not confused and I didnt say that I want to author blu ray. I said I want the menus to look like the blu ray menus that universal use.
I realise that DVDSP is not a design tool – but even if I designed that sort of menu elsewhere, it wouldnt import into DVDSP.
This is why Im asking what ALTERNATIVES to DVDSP there are out there – that are really high end and look slick.
Many thanks
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