Ok... I recently started trying to make DVDs, and have overloaded my computer with programs I never use... I'm still trying to learn what works best, and so far Nero's Vision Express 3 has been the easiest and the fastest... All I'm really trying to do is convert the avi, mpg, torrent, etc files to DVD format that will play on my DVD player, and back up my home DVD collection. Here's a rundown of what I have and what I've tried (all complete versions)... what I really want to know is if I'm missing anything and if there's anything here that I should absolutely get rid of... 1. DVD-Cloner 2 - Started using it once, but didn't get to finish... DVD was too big, DVD-C stopped and started DVD Shrink... stopped it to start another project. 2. NeroVision Express 3 - Been the best so far. I like the easy menu-making program, plus it's just an all-around user friendly program. I did have the entire StartSmart program, with Burning Rom, Recode, and all the rest, but I never used it. 3. McFunsoft Video Solution DVD/SVCD/etc... - So far I haven't had any luck at this program... I tried to convert one movie, but it just took too damn long... I think it was about 18 or so hours for a 2 hour film, from avi to mpeg 2... couldn't wait that long... nothing good out of this one so far... 4. Cinema Craft Encoder 2.5 - Mainly got this just because of what I've read around here. Haven't gotten to really work with it yet. 5. TMPGenc & TMPGenc Plus - I hear it's supposed to be great, but it just looks like something my algebra teacher would have made... boring and hard to use... I should probably spend more time with it, right? 6. #1 Video Converter - Tried a couple of films on it, but just never got anything out of it... gave up and there it sits... Looks good, though... 7. AVI2DVD - Took too long... maybe I'm just too impatient... 8. Intervideo's WinDVD7 - Didn't get to spend much time with this one... not much to say... they do have the best anti-piracy securtiy, though! 9. EasyDVD Converter - I've used it to convert 1 DVD to avi format, I believe... no complaints, but not much use... 10. DVD Lab Pro - Very confusing program... I started working with it, but got completely lost, even with instructions from VideoHelp.com... I hear it's great, though... Another I should spend more time with? 11. AnyDVD - My favorite so far... I installed it and forgot about it... it just works!!! 12. DVD Shrink 3.2 - Got it just before AnyDVD... haven't needed it yet... Ok... that's the main scoop... there have been a few others here and there that I just wiped out and didnt' mess with... what am I missing and what am I wasting space with, in your opinion?
Maybe you need to try it before you rate it: [bold]boring and hard to use[/bold] Its actually quite easy to use and theres also the dvd author companion software which you seem to have not mentioned.
I haven't mentioned the DVD authoring software because I don't have it... I did say that I've heard that it's a great program, it just LOOKS boring... it hasn't completed a thing I've started and everything I try to do just takes SOOOOO LONG!
For mine I almost always use NeroVisionExpress3, I find that all I have to do is open NVE3 and drag file into it and then burn, it converts most formats hence the ease of using it. @andmerr, hows it going?
I have both RAR files you sent, one from hotmail and the other from tpg...just waiting for the boy genius to come home. I sent you a PM this morning, Cheers
I'm sure my PC is what's slowing me down... I have: Dell Dimension L800r PIII 733mhz 80GB Master HD & 10GB Slave 384mb RAM LiteOn external DVD+RW Sony internal DVD player It is an older system, I know... I'm in the process of building a new one... It's worked out great until I got into this whole DVD thing... But still, some of these programs are much slower than others... NVE takes roughly 8 hours to do a full conversion and burn with a full menu and everything, whereas McFunSoft was taking 18-20.... TMPGenc still seems to take about 10 or so, I think...
@txbrtndr Hi texas bar tender. Here is what i would keep from your list. 2. 4. 5. 11. 12. You can always save the programs to a disc and just keep the ones you use on your PC. If you have shrink, and nero, and AnyDVD, only thing i would add it DVD Decrypter to your list, or DVD Fab Decrypter.
I think you'll find once you have increased the chipset /board/and ram your time problems will disappear. Consider getting a p4 64 bit board (gagabyte or asus) 3.2 gig chipset 1024 meg DDR PC 400 ram Then try encoding and burning.Think you'll find that the hours you have been experiencing may now be infact 1hr
Good catch there andmerr. Yes 512mb is about the lowest you should go to and try encoding. You will notice a BIG difference in speed if you can get up to 1 gig of memory. Memory is always on sale and fairly cheap.
Also have you checked your DMA settings? You may be in PIO mode on one or more drives. If you have Nero info tool, run it, and click thru all the tabs. It will show any problems, and tell you what mode your devices are in. You should be DMA on.
