Need some advice please at DVinfo.net

Jim Rog · December 17th, 2005, 12:28 PM

Hello

when you buy a retail DVD you hear the director talking on a 2nd audio track doing the commentary, would someone be as kind to tell me what program i would need to do this as i also want to do this with my project. also what good programs are out there for authoring a DVD? i am looking for a program that has lots of templates and can make some nice menus and chapters.

Thanks for any help you can offer me on this one.

Regards

Jim

Matt Brabender · December 17th, 2005, 06:28 PM

For PC I would recommend DVD Lab Pro.
I find it's the best, most flexible authoring program (scenarist being an exception) with a price tag that's easy to take.

For Mac, it would be DVD Studio Pro.

You'll be able to find tutorials for both regarding extra audio tracks etc....

Jim Rog · December 17th, 2005, 07:51 PM

Thanks for your reply

Putting cost aside for a sec what is the very best authoring DVD program out there? I don’t mind spending that bit extra for something that is going to last me for time to come and something that has all the bells and whistles and lots of great templates and buttons to choose from.

Thanks

Glenn Chan · December 17th, 2005, 08:23 PM

Jim:

It's more helpful to post your approximate budget.

Otherwise folks like me are going to be facetious and point out programs like Scenarist.
http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/scenarist.htm
"Roughly $39,000"

Jim Rog · December 17th, 2005, 08:51 PM

Hi

wow $39,000 does it do any magic for that price? i would want it to talk to me and make me a drink for that kind of money lol

for me I have set it to a maximum of $2,000 around £1,200 anything up to that or under that i will be interested.

Thanks

Matt Brabender · December 18th, 2005, 01:47 AM

For anything that's under the budget of scenarist I would still recommend the programs I mentioned above. While Scenarist allows you total complete control over every possible aspect of the dvd, many don't need to tap into that.

That's where DVD Lab Pro and DVD studio Pro come in.
They give you the flexibility you need but without the confusion and second mortgage.

I do have one piece of advice I didn't offer before - learn photoshop. Most of my menus are created using either photoshop or/and after effects.
In fact, as much as I don't like Encore, you'd be hard pressed to go past the Adobe video production suite if you want to create funky original menus. Most of your time would be spent in AE and photoshop creating all the elements and layers and then you'd bring them into encore to piece them together.

Jim Rog · December 19th, 2005, 12:09 AM

thanks Matt

Anyone with experience with architect 3? Seems to be good and can do a lot in the way of creating good menus.

Thanks

Mike Moncrief · December 19th, 2005, 07:26 PM

Hi jim,

I use DVD Architect 3.0 and i believe it is a very good program.. most of my business right now is DVd business.. and this is my workhorse.. I have never used it to do a commentary track .. I know you can do subtitles with it.. but I have not seen commentary as a feature.. but that does no mean you cannot do it.. maybe by having an alternative audio track as a menu choice would work.. You should be able to find out more on Architect specificly if you visit here at the sony Forums.. (there is an Architect specific forum)

http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/default.asp

Mike Moncrief

Matt Brabender · December 19th, 2005, 08:31 PM

DVDA 3 allows you to do it too. It is a very good program - about on par with the others, maybe not quite as good in the fine details but damn close.

Mathieu Ghekiere · December 19th, 2005, 09:48 PM

I use Adobe Encore. Works very well for me.
You need some time to learn everything, but once you got the basics, it's really good and gives you lots of options.
But I don't know what the other programs are like, so I can't comment on that.

December 17th, 2005, 12:28 PM	#1
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Need some advice please Hello when you buy a retail DVD you hear the director talking on a 2nd audio track doing the commentary, would someone be as kind to tell me what program i would need to do this as i also want to do this with my project. also what good programs are out there for authoring a DVD? i am looking for a program that has lots of templates and can make some nice menus and chapters. Thanks for any help you can offer me on this one. Regards Jim

December 17th, 2005, 08:51 PM	#5
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Hi wow $39,000 does it do any magic for that price? i would want it to talk to me and make me a drink for that kind of money lol for me I have set it to a maximum of $2,000 around £1,200 anything up to that or under that i will be interested. Thanks Last edited by Jim Rog; December 17th, 2005 at 09:24 PM.

December 19th, 2005, 07:26 PM	#8
Mike Moncrief Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: orlando florida Posts: 426	Hi jim, I use DVD Architect 3.0 and i believe it is a very good program.. most of my business right now is DVd business.. and this is my workhorse.. I have never used it to do a commentary track .. I know you can do subtitles with it.. but I have not seen commentary as a feature.. but that does no mean you cannot do it.. maybe by having an alternative audio track as a menu choice would work.. You should be able to find out more on Architect specificly if you visit here at the sony Forums.. (there is an Architect specific forum) http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/default.asp Mike Moncrief __________________ Mike Moncrief mikemoncrief@gmail.com www.themikemoncrief.com

December 17th, 2005, 06:28 PM	#2
Matt Brabender Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 230	For PC I would recommend DVD Lab Pro. I find it's the best, most flexible authoring program (scenarist being an exception) with a price tag that's easy to take. For Mac, it would be DVD Studio Pro. You'll be able to find tutorials for both regarding extra audio tracks etc....

December 17th, 2005, 07:51 PM	#3
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Thanks for your reply Putting cost aside for a sec what is the very best authoring DVD program out there? I don’t mind spending that bit extra for something that is going to last me for time to come and something that has all the bells and whistles and lots of great templates and buttons to choose from. Thanks

December 17th, 2005, 08:23 PM	#4
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Jim: It's more helpful to post your approximate budget. Otherwise folks like me are going to be facetious and point out programs like Scenarist. http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/scenarist.htm "Roughly $39,000"

December 18th, 2005, 01:47 AM	#6
Matt Brabender Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 230	For anything that's under the budget of scenarist I would still recommend the programs I mentioned above. While Scenarist allows you total complete control over every possible aspect of the dvd, many don't need to tap into that. That's where DVD Lab Pro and DVD studio Pro come in. They give you the flexibility you need but without the confusion and second mortgage. I do have one piece of advice I didn't offer before - learn photoshop. Most of my menus are created using either photoshop or/and after effects. In fact, as much as I don't like Encore, you'd be hard pressed to go past the Adobe video production suite if you want to create funky original menus. Most of your time would be spent in AE and photoshop creating all the elements and layers and then you'd bring them into encore to piece them together.

December 19th, 2005, 12:09 AM	#7
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	thanks Matt Anyone with experience with architect 3? Seems to be good and can do a lot in the way of creating good menus. Thanks

December 19th, 2005, 08:31 PM	#9
Matt Brabender Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 230	DVDA 3 allows you to do it too. It is a very good program - about on par with the others, maybe not quite as good in the fine details but damn close.

December 19th, 2005, 09:48 PM	#10
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	I use Adobe Encore. Works very well for me. You need some time to learn everything, but once you got the basics, it's really good and gives you lots of options. But I don't know what the other programs are like, so I can't comment on that.