DVD Authoring Software

**CyinCo** · 11-23-2009, 08:35 PM

Does anyone have software they would recommend for capturing digital video or importing digital video (I have a Mini DV cam as well as a point and shoot camera that records in .AVI) and then authoring the clips into a DVD with full menu, music, etc?

I formerly had Nero 6 and it was OK. It doesn't work with Vista so I can't use it on my new PC. It also wasn't good enough that I would buy it again.

Anyone have recommendations? I don't want to do anything too fancy. Basically, I want to take my MiniDVs to DVDs that can play on most any DVD player.

**dmclone** · 11-24-2009, 06:11 AM

Microsoft has their free DVD maker software.

**CyinCo** · 11-24-2009, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

Microsoft has their free DVD maker software.

It doesn't do what I need to do. It doesn't allow you to break up a long stream of video into chapters. You need to have it already divided up. I'm also not sure that it is even authoring anything. It looks like it will just burn to DVD any format your video is currently in. It doesn't indicate that a DVD player will be able to even read what is on the DVD.

**ruxCYtable** · 11-24-2009, 07:11 AM

I know what you are saying but I really like Windows Moviemaker. It is simple and easy to use. Then I would take the finished product from WMM and import into Nero 9 to add chapters and menus. Nero has its own movie making software but I didn't like it. Recently Nero started crashing my pc, which is near death anyway, so I switched to Ashampoo Burn Engine because it was on sale for $10, but I have not had an opportunity to try it yet. I probably won't do anymore DVD making until after Christmas when I hopefully have a new pc. I'm about 5 years behind on family vacation videos.

I have used Pinnacle in the past as well and it's functionality is great, but it is a huge resource hog and was extremely slow and crashed my pc often.

**CyinCo** · 11-24-2009, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by ruxCYtable

I know what you are saying but I really like Windows Moviemaker. It is simple and easy to use. Then I would take the finished product from WMM and import into Nero 9 to add chapters and menus. Nero has its own movie making software but I didn't like it. Recently Nero started crashing my pc, which is near death anyway, so I switched to Ashampoo Burn Engine because it was on sale for $10, but I have not had an opportunity to try it yet. I probably won't do anymore DVD making until after Christmas when I hopefully have a new pc. I'm about 5 years behind on family vacation videos.

I have used Pinnacle in the past as well and it's functionality is great, but it is a huge resource hog and was extremely slow and crashed my pc often.

I don't understand why there aren't good software packages out there. There must be a lot of people in the same situation where they have videos and want to make DVDs. DVDs with menus and chapters and music and transition scenes, etc. This shouldn't be this difficult.

MMM is OK for making videos but I can't authoring a DVD without a software package like Nero, which you mention. I am trying to avoid springing big money for Nero when I don't think it is all that great.

Anyone know if Windows 7 comes with all of the capability to capture video, chapter, and author a DVD??

**dmclone** · 11-24-2009, 07:17 AM

Oh yeah I meant Movie Maker not DVD maker. It's very basic but it works for me.

**CyinCo** · 11-24-2009, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

Oh yeah I meant Movie Maker not DVD maker. It's very basic but it works for me.

When you are done with Movie Maker, how are you getting the "movie" to a DVD so it is readable by a typical DVD player. I didn't think MM could do that??

**dmclone** · 11-24-2009, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by CyinCo

Anyone know if Windows 7 comes with all of the capability to capture video, chapter, and author a DVD??

I have Windows 7 and i don't believe it has anything more than Vista had for DVD authoring. I think you'll find that they make this type of software for 2 types of people. Basic free programs like MMM for people like me who don't need anything complex or the Nero type programs that are not free and can do a lot of different things.

**dmclone** · 11-24-2009, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by CyinCo

When you are done with Movie Maker, how are you getting the "movie" to a DVD so it is readable by a typical DVD player. I didn't think MM could do that??

Maybe this is where the DVD maker software comes into play. I forget what I used since I have so many different programs but I think I "made the movie" in MMM and then burned it in the Microsoft DVD maker.

**dmclone** · 11-24-2009, 07:27 AM

Here is more info.

Movie Maker - Windows Live

**ruxCYtable** · 11-24-2009, 07:52 AM

I suggested Cnet.com to someone yesterday and I'm going to do it again. Go there and click on the downloads tab, then search for DVD authoring software. You may find some freeware. As I said, I was able to get Ashampoo Burn Engine on sale for only $10, but I have not tried it out yet. There are a lot of software options available for DVD authoring but it seems like people either love them or totally hate them and there is a wide range of opinions on each.

**CyinCo** · 11-24-2009, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

I have Windows 7 and i don't believe it has anything more than Vista had for DVD authoring. I think you'll find that they make this type of software for 2 types of people. Basic free programs like MMM for people like me who don't need anything complex or the Nero type programs that are not free and can do a lot of different things.

I'm not positive, but I think for Windows 7, MM can now author to a DVD player format. I don't believe it could in the Vista and prior versions. I'll have to check into that.

Thanks.

**CyinCo** · 11-24-2009, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by ruxCYtable

I suggested Cnet.com to someone yesterday and I'm going to do it again. Go there and click on the downloads tab, then search for DVD authoring software. You may find some freeware. As I said, I was able to get Ashampoo Burn Engine on sale for only $10, but I have not tried it out yet. There are a lot of software options available for DVD authoring but it seems like people either love them or totally hate them and there is a wide range of opinions on each.

Yep, I'll check it out.