I'm looking to make the big step up from convertxtodvd. I've read a few things/searched through the guides on here and over on videohelp, and i'd just like to clear something up for myself. So basically what i want to clear up for myself in the difference in convertng and authoring. So to get the best quality, do i first have to convert my .avi to a MPEG2 and then 'author' it?
In the context of DVD authoring, you convert the source file to comply with the standard spelled out for DVD video (may include, but not restricted to, MPEG-2 video, AC3 audio, 720x480 resolution for an NTSC disk). Conversion implies encoding the video from one format to another..encoding generally means a loss of quality. Authoring means to take the compliant file(s) and wrap them in a package that meet the standard for playback on a DVD player. The authoring step may involve adding subtitles and a menu - and the source video may have to be demuxed (separated into its elementary parts - video and audio) but there is no encoding of the source, so no further degradation. Many 'one step' programs combine the two stages (ConvertX, DVD Flick and FAVC are examples). DVD Styler is a program that takes compliant files and authors a DVD. It has an extensive menu creation system - but takes a fair amount of reading to create complex menus.
Thanks, thats great. Definitely clears a few things up for me. Was messing about with TMPGenc(following a guide), which was pretty straight forward, the encoding is going to take a long time, but i'm fine with that if the results are worth it in the end. But in this guide, the audio seems to be done separately. So i'm just wondering at what stage are the video and audio then "brought together" again, so to speak?
Either you combine them in TMPGenc (by choosing to output a Program Stream) or you use a separate authoring program.
It's been quite some time since I used TMPGEnc but I found then it didn't handle audio very well and a wav created and added seperately before encoding, as said, to program's was the solution. Goldwave can be used but isn't free or VirtualDub: http://www.videohelp.com/oldguides/virtualdubaudio (assuming TMPGEnc still output's mpg)
