Sonic Solutions tells me it no longer supports ReelDVD 3 authoring software program so the license number allowing it to be installed on my new computer will not be provided.

I used Cinema Crafts CCE-SP2 for MPEG-2 encoding and the MPEG-2 encoded file is not accepted by Sonic's DVDit 6 software program that was provided with the Media Composer software package.

I would appreicate it if someone might recommend an excellent DVD authoring software program that accepts the MPEG-2 encoded file by CCE-SP2.

Thank you.

Don R.

Value for money and ease of use it is hard to go past DVDLab Pro. Used it since version 1 DVDlab and not had a failure in that 5 or 6 years.

For mastering I choose to author with Lab pro and then burn the DVD Video TS file using Nero.

Always used to be a complete working demo for 30 days so you could evaluate it properly before buying

 I also use DVDLab Pro2. It is a great programme. Even though you can create very complicated menus it is quite easy to start with and you'll grow with it.

I really hope that they come out with a Blue Ray version soon.

DonR:

Sonic Solutions tells me it no longer supports ReelDVD 3 authoring software program so the license number allowing it to be installed on my new computer will not be provided.

I used Cinema Crafts CCE-SP2 for MPEG-2 encoding and the MPEG-2 encoded file is not accepted by Sonic's DVDit 6 software program that was provided with the Media Composer software package. . .

 

If DVDit 6 won't take the file, chances are you encoded an MPEG-2 file that is not DVD compliant.  (MPEG-2 for DVD have some additional requirements beyond MPEG-2 MP@ML encoding.)

You might want to try simply exporting a QT-ref from MC, importing that into DVDit 6 and doing the encoding in DVDit.  On the DVDit Preferences SD Transcoding tab, select either Medium Quality VBR or High Quality VBR (depending on length of video and bit-budget).

Sorenson 4.5 or later does a good job of transcoding, as does ProCoder 3.  However,  you need to be sure you start by selecting a DVD compatible MPEG-2 encoding preset and modify only the data rate and making sure you select VBR encoding.  That is the safest way if you are not familiar with the differences that make an MPEG-2 file DVD compatible.

wmcole:

If DVDit 6 won't take the file, chances are you encoded an MPEG-2 file that is not DVD compliant. 

DVDit from its inception has been a picky unprofessional piece of software. A few here have persevered with it's foibles long enough to get a product out of it.  Heck in the earliest days of XDV I persisted and managed to make it work subsequently posting on the forums how to do it. The instant there was an alternative my four copies of DVDit never got looked at again.

Reel DVD was an improvement but still could not touch the alternatives available. 2 of my 3 copies of that program are still in their shrink wrap the other was opened to do the tutorials and see if it offered anything usefull. (apart from being bundled free and making my Avid purchases more expensive)

Sonic DVDit 6 results were so far infrerior to work previously done with CCE-SP2 and ReelDVD 3.1.3a that the work is just not acceptible.

DVDit 6 would not accept the MPEG-2 DVD compliant files from CCE-SP2 and went into trancode mode. The resolution and color were YUCKY! So bad that I pulled out some earlier DVD'S for comparison. A huge difference. The transcode of DVDit 6 is very likely where quality turned south and went down the tubes.

Will try the ProLab package since you guys gave it a fine recommendation.

Thank you.

Don R.

 Couldn't agree more with Andrew. The quality of the DVDit compression is very bad to say the least, plus all the restrictions when creating proper menus. Can't believe Avid is still bundeling their software. I only use the Pro HD version because I need a BR authoring solution.

You won't have any problems using your CCE mpegs with ProLab2.

BTW, what do you guys use for BR authoring?

AquaPix:

BTW, what do you guys use for BR authoring?

Forum member drbgaijin (working in Japan) appears to me to have the best insight into BR authoring and burning on here at present. Much of the hardware he talks about is not available here at present

Sony's DVD Architect has always been a very dependable, flexible, and easy to use burning software for me. The next release, scheduled for June timeframe, will include Bluray  with menu authoring. Or, is it heresy to use the "S" word in this forum?

I'm using DVDit 6 with great results, but I do the encode with Procoder using a QT reference file from Avid (using Avid codec and 601 color).  I haven't tried the encoder in DVDit, since Procoder has always provided an excellent encode, generating an m2v file with a separate audio file.  For standard DV files I have to convert from lower field first to upper field first during the encode in order to be complient with the DVD standard.

For years I've been encoding the video to mpeg2 with Sorenson Squeeze and the audio from MC as a wave file.  I import the mpeg2 straight into DVD Studio Pro on a Mac.  The audio I import into Final Cut Pro, where I up the level a bit before exporting it from FCP to Compressor.  I use compressor to encode the audio to AC3, as it makes a much smaller file size so I can keep the video at a high bit rate.  Otherwise you have to sacrifice video quality by lowering the bitrate to accommodate the audio bitrate when it muxes.  So in short, I'd recommend having a Mac networked to your PC that runs FCP Studio which includes Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro and Compressor.  DVDStudio Pro is a great program for making awesome menus, and compressor is fantastic for encoding to AC3.   I only use the DVDit program or the Sonic DVD program if I need to quickly export a scene to DVD for a client to review at home.

 For the past few years, I have used Adobe's Encore on various projects ranging from film school projects to indy documentaries to sports promo videos and I have yet to have a major problem come up.  I'm currently using the CS3 version of the program which supports both SD and HD media, and I truly enjoy it!

The best thing about Encore is it's interoperability with other Adobe Programs.  Depending on if you do your own DVD work (creating titles,menus, etc.) this can have awesome benefits.  If you are making static menus, you can create PSD files in Photoshop, and if you ever need to make a change in real time, you can click a button and the menu is opened in photoshop immediately. Make the changes you want, save as you exit, and all the changes are updated in Encore immediately.  Also, it works well with Adobe After Effects Assets, which I often use due to AE working with Native Quicktime Reference/OMF files from Avid.

Overall, I really like Encore and recommend it for the price point.  If you could afford Scenarist, I'd say get that, but if you want something a little easier on the pocketbook, Encore is actually a pretty viable solution.  Adobe offers a 30 day unlimited trial, definitely check it out to see if it fits your needs.

*edit* As far as encoding, I personally use Sorenson Media for mine simply because I can't afford the CCE Encoder and Hardware.  I have used CCE Basic in the past and loved the results, so I can only imagine how SP performs!

I have almost the identical workflow to NfoRcErX, except that I also do "quick and dirty" playouts to a Panasonic disk recorder for quick preview copies.  I can back up his support for the Squeeze/Encore workflow.  The only difference is that I usually build to a VIDEO_TS folder and burn from that using Nero.  It makes producing multiple copies less of an issue.

jwrl:

The only difference is that I usually build to a VIDEO_TS folder and burn from that using Nero.  It makes producing multiple copies less of an issue.

I actually do this as well, the only reason I would do an in program burn was if I needed a copy before a quickly approaching deadline.

As far as more support for Encore goes, it also supports Macrovision and CSS if you are using DLTs for Mastering, so it has that going for it too!

Encore worked perfectly the first time I tried to burn a Bluray from a HVX-200 P2 project.  Solid!