Hi All I'm a computer geek but I've been avoiding the DVD burners and software because I just didn't think it was really up to par and easy to use yet. Bought an adaptec videoOH usb 2 that does hardware mpeg2 has a tv tuner and can dig from an external source awhile ago (mostly for the tuner), just bought an HP 640e Dual layer external firewire/usb drive. The biggest problem I've had in the past is the video editor software just wasn't intuitive for me and I gave up trying to learn to use it--tried several programs. The MyDVD 5.2 that came with the VideOH makes sense to me and (does a lot of stuff automatically without me having to know all this stuff yet) I've made a couple of dvds off some old AVI files, those went swimmingly. The problem I'm running into now is with tv shows recorded with WinDVR2 (the adaptec came with 3 and it's better, 2 was buggy I know). I got three tv shows, used myDVD to cut the commercials out of it and let it run (the shows were like 20 minutes each after all the junk was deleted), it ran and ran and ran for hours then I got the windows hate message about the program needs to close. I've read a couple of posts in here that say these kinds of problems can be caused by errors in the file, well they play fine inside the myDVD editor so I can't see how there could be errors but if this is indeed a problem, what can I do about scanning for/correcting those kinds of problems before wasting hours trying to create a dvd that isn't going to go?????? If there's a better package than myDVD that works like it does then I'd love to hear about it. I've never been able to figure out how to cut pieces out etc with other packages. With myDVD you just mark what you don't want and delete it before it gets to the editing screen--I guess you can say it works like my mind does and I need that. I'd love some suggestions for other stuff to have and programs that work like MyDVD but are better programs. Thanks.
sony dvd architect and vegas video: heres an article for you to read and a site to trundle over to: Sony Vegas 5.0+DVD As most competing prosumer editing programs grow more alike, Sony's Vegas refuses to conform. Its approach to DV marks it apart and could make it a must-have program Competition is still fierce in the prosumer video editing market, and most software developers seem intent on conforming to a specific type of workflow and user interface - largely based on a model set down by Avid with Media Composer. Pinnacle's Liquid Edition already comes from the same background as Avid, having been developed by Fast for the high-end broadcast market, but the model has also been adopted by Canopus with Edius, and even Adobe has applied a more high-end feel to the interface of Premiere Pro. Amid all this conform-or-die panic, Sony bought Sonic Foundry, and its very individual DV editor, Vegas. Vegas began life as an audio editing application, and hasn't significantly changed in approach or attitude with the addition of video editing tools. Video enthusiasts crossing over from other editing programs are almost certainly in for a steep learning curve, but those coming from an audio background should be up and running within minutes. Its audio-centric approach to DV could be the program's biggest strength - sound is a hugely important part of the movie-making process and badly neglected by the majority of DV editing programs. Vegas+DVD is a bundle of two programs - Vegas 5 for editing, and DVD Architect 2 for DVD Video authoring. When we looked at the previous pairing, Vegas 4 impressed us greatly with its support for 24-bit audio as well as its intuitive and tactile 5.1 surround-sound panning. DVD Architect 1 added Dolby stereo and surround-sound AC-3 encoding and a reasonable (but rather limited) DVD authoring program. With V5 of Vegas, Sony Pictures Digital [Media Software] has decided simply to build on the strengths of its predecessor, while DVD Architect 2 has seen a substantial overhaul in reaction to strong competition from Adobe Encore and Ulead DVD Workshop 2. As well as the main application, Vegas's installation process provides a network rendering engine that can be installed on up to two other computers. The program also needs Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 to be installed. This is provided on the retail CD, but anyone buying online should be prepared for an extra 23MByte download on top of the main application. Vegas and DVD Architect need to be activated, too, otherwise they stop working after 30 days. Conclusion Vegas 5 is a good DV editor in its own right, but its unorthodox approach could discourage a lot of experienced editors familiar with the more established Avid-style interface. On the other hand, Vegas's audio tools put most of its current competitors to shame and we're sure that (from a video enthusiast's perspective), Vegas will present a much easier learning curve as a movie-orientated sound editor than most dedicated audio programs. Now that it's possible to use almost any DV editing program on a system with an OHCI FireWire port, there's no reason why users can't have more than one program installed on their systems. And, even if Vegas 5 is not the first-choice video editor, we still consider it a must-have program. We're highly impressed with DVD Architect's logical and intuitive interface. Purists will be disappointed by its inability to import and use ready-made menus in Adobe PSD format, but for DVD authoring from scratch, the program is generally excellent. Its lack of support for commercial replication processes is a worry, though - not only because it leaves Architect several steps behind Encore and Workshop, but also because it causes 'Vegas+DVD' to fall way short of its potential. This software bundle could represent a killer package for finishing off movies. Its surround-sound mixing tools are intuitive and genuinely easy to use, video and audio editing tools are strong, and network rendering can be a huge help with colour grading and video filters. From there, taking the finished project to DVD with Architect would be a logical step, but without support for DLT or copy protection, commercially-minded users will have to author their discs in another program, bypassing Architect altogether. Doubtless Sony will eventually respond to market pressure and bring Architect in line with its competitors. Until that time, Vegas+DVD is an excellent package, but falls sadly short of its potential to be phenomenal. Peter Wells http://www.computervideo.net/aug04-1.html
I recommend a trial of http://www.videoredo.com - its super easy to use and super fast since it does not re-encode your video - simply rejoins the cuts you make back together. The forums have the fastest support system you will ever see. Check it out. It was MADE to edit mpeg2 in a superior fashion. One of the few packages I have downloaded and raced to register before my trial period was up...it's just that good. The upcoming VideoRedo Plus version has feature called Ad-Detective to sense commercials and place cuts for you. However, it's so fast and easy to use that I just zip through most TV captures myself just to see how fast I can do it manually. [Takes me about 3 minutes tops] I am in no way affiliated with VRD, it just saved me so much time that I am a major fan.
Thank you all so much for the suggestions, I'll check those out. I'm looking forward to someone coming out with 64 bit software for this, it "should" run multiple times faster on a 64 bit cpu. I'm sure it'll also help to have tons of RAM available to it. That's all I'm waiting for before I upgrade, 64 bit applications that will really be able to take advantage of the better hardware and increased resources! On a note: I think I figured out why myDVD crashed the first time I tried to make a dvd from the windvr files. I have another utility (that runs in the task tray all the time), also from sonic, that translates .WMF music files....I shut that down and cleaned the registry (registry repair pro--great program). After I shut that sonic utility down and cleaned the registry the same dvd project that crashed the first time completed normally and the DVD plays great. I have to say that for a freebie it works pretty well but after a couple of the posts I've seen about the version 6, I'm not really sure I want to lay out $99.00 for something that sounds like they give exactly zero tech support (at least on the phone). I've used the 5.2LE with avi, quicktime and mpeg, worked just great. Only thing I noticed is that when I copied one of the dvd's I made with Nero the verification failed and it said there were errors on it (but it plays fine so go figure).
I decided to cough up the $99.00 for studio. It works better than 5.2 in several areas and unlike several tryware versions of other products I tried, it fully supports the adaptec VideOh! and the HP 640e Writer on the firewire connection. Only one annoying problem now, I can't seem to find if there's a way to edit buttons that it assigns to chapters in the menu; you seem to be stuck with whatever the program wants to stick in there (disappointing). I read somewhere, don't know if it was in here that mydvd often doesn't play well with firewalls and antivirus. I've had a couple of projects that will fail (big ones, 3 hours generally) if Norton is running but will complete if I isolate from the internet (i.e. hit the power switch on the dsl modem) and shut down the Norton. For a newb this thing does a lot automatically, I hope they fix the firewall conflict issue with an update soon, that's really annoying--especially for anoyone using an internal modem directly (which means the only way to shut it down is to pull the cable). I also had an issue with easy archive crapping half way through the backup, I think I had an error on the hard drive with the files I was trying to backup, once I figured that out it was fine. (The program doesn't restart from where the problem was if you have a big backup and got through 5 disks it starts over--very wasteful, they should correct that.) I've used the dvd copy function to copy my own dvd's worked great, basically don't need Norton if you've got this but I have to agree that Norton may be a bit faster at doing things.
