WoB
18th February 2004, 12:56
Hi
It's been a while since I've done anything video related so I thought I'd check around and see what the latest programs were to make life easier. The main things I do are DVD backup, home movie creation (DVD) and conversion of AVI to DVD.
For DVD Backup I think most people (apart from the fussy!) have gone the way of the 'one click backup solutions'. I'm happy with that to either create an exact copy or just the movie. Previously I was into using IfoEdit just to create a movie backup (was a bit scared of replicating menu's myself!).
For home movie/AVI to DVD is a different story. I'm still not sure I'm doing it the most efficient/easist way and that I may be over-complicating things. I will list my steps (from a year or so back) and then the steps I have chosen recently. I'd appreciate any comments and bearing in mind I have posted this in the 'Authoring' section of the forums, my main concern is on the authoring but it may be that previous steps prior to authoring should be done differently.
Divx >>> DVD - Movie Only - NTSC to PAL (old way)
1. Use NanDub to extract audio (MP3) and also create 25fps video only AVI.
2. Process AVI with CCE (avisynth) to get M2V/MPV file.
3. Convert MP3 (WAV) to AC3 with AC3 Machine (25fps also).
4. AUTHOR with IfoEdit.
Problems with low volume AC3 which I know is a common problem (and I've since learned it is supposed to be low?). I could also use Spruce Up to import these files if I wanted to have menu's/mulitple titles etc. Fine apart from low volume.
OK, so after reading up it seemed to be recommended to go MP2 audio to get around the volume problem. Right...
1. Use NanDub to extract audio (MP3) and also create 25fps video only AVI.
2. Process AVI with CCE (avisynth) to get M2V/MPV file.
3. Convert MP3 (WAV) to MP2 with BeSweet GUI (25fps also).
4. AUTHOR with Tmpg DVD Author.
I think I can also use IfoEdit with MP2 audio (renamed to MPA). I don't think SpruceUp likes MP2? I know I can also remux the M2V and MP2 with TmpgEnc (MPEG tools) or some other program but I don't know if this is superfluous or necessary depending on the authoring program?
So, after all that! Any comments of my steps? And finally as I am trying to make my life easier, is there any authoring program which can simply do a movie only DVD with M2V + MP2 and also have the capability to do nice menu's etc.? Tmpg DVD Author looks OK but kind of basic on the menu's.
Am I able to dump IfoEdit as authoring? Is it considered 'old hat' now? Sorry for the rambling. I'm just at odds over whether I need to remux the M2V/MP2 before loading into authoring programs etc.
Your advice greatly appreciated.
It's been a while since I've done anything video related so I thought I'd check around and see what the latest programs were to make life easier. The main things I do are DVD backup, home movie creation (DVD) and conversion of AVI to DVD.
For DVD Backup I think most people (apart from the fussy!) have gone the way of the 'one click backup solutions'. I'm happy with that to either create an exact copy or just the movie. Previously I was into using IfoEdit just to create a movie backup (was a bit scared of replicating menu's myself!).
For home movie/AVI to DVD is a different story. I'm still not sure I'm doing it the most efficient/easist way and that I may be over-complicating things. I will list my steps (from a year or so back) and then the steps I have chosen recently. I'd appreciate any comments and bearing in mind I have posted this in the 'Authoring' section of the forums, my main concern is on the authoring but it may be that previous steps prior to authoring should be done differently.
Divx >>> DVD - Movie Only - NTSC to PAL (old way)
1. Use NanDub to extract audio (MP3) and also create 25fps video only AVI.
2. Process AVI with CCE (avisynth) to get M2V/MPV file.
3. Convert MP3 (WAV) to AC3 with AC3 Machine (25fps also).
4. AUTHOR with IfoEdit.
Problems with low volume AC3 which I know is a common problem (and I've since learned it is supposed to be low?). I could also use Spruce Up to import these files if I wanted to have menu's/mulitple titles etc. Fine apart from low volume.
OK, so after reading up it seemed to be recommended to go MP2 audio to get around the volume problem. Right...
1. Use NanDub to extract audio (MP3) and also create 25fps video only AVI.
2. Process AVI with CCE (avisynth) to get M2V/MPV file.
3. Convert MP3 (WAV) to MP2 with BeSweet GUI (25fps also).
4. AUTHOR with Tmpg DVD Author.
I think I can also use IfoEdit with MP2 audio (renamed to MPA). I don't think SpruceUp likes MP2? I know I can also remux the M2V and MP2 with TmpgEnc (MPEG tools) or some other program but I don't know if this is superfluous or necessary depending on the authoring program?
So, after all that! Any comments of my steps? And finally as I am trying to make my life easier, is there any authoring program which can simply do a movie only DVD with M2V + MP2 and also have the capability to do nice menu's etc.? Tmpg DVD Author looks OK but kind of basic on the menu's.
Am I able to dump IfoEdit as authoring? Is it considered 'old hat' now? Sorry for the rambling. I'm just at odds over whether I need to remux the M2V/MP2 before loading into authoring programs etc.
Your advice greatly appreciated.