+DVD worth the money?

C

CameraguyPEI

New member
The +DVD is about $200-$300 extra :o, but I'm having my doubts if this is a wise purchase.. One review I've seen says:

"Most themes are family oriented... there's nothing suitable for designers or web authors... the frames, buttons and other page furniture options are limited to the available presets."

Is this an accurate review?... If so, is anyone using another DVD authoring program in tandem with Vegas? (maybe a Ulead or Pinnacle?)
 
Re: +DVD worth the money?

I'll tell you where +DVD is worth the money ALONE . . .

The Dolby Digital encoder. Vegas 4.0 by itself does not have it, and it's about $250 extra. So why not get a DVD authoring app along with it?

It's true about the buttons, but you have a lot more flexibility with the menus and appearance than this review gives it credit for. You choose a theme, but after that, you can do whatever you want -- insert your own background, moving or not; use your own fonts, etc..

It doesn't do things like subtitling, multi-angles, multi-language soundtracks, etc., so no, you can't do some of the things commercially-produced DVDs do, but you sure can do a lot.

Not sure why a web author would want DVD burning software, though . . .
 
Re: +DVD worth the money?

Thanks,  I was looking into the option of editing with Vegas and authoring with EncoreDVD.  

good combo?
 
Re: +DVD worth the money?

Not if you want to do Dolby 5.1, it isn't. You'll have no encoder.

But, if that's not important to you, then don't worry about it.
 
Re: +DVD worth the money?

I love DVD architect.  I've done 5 or 6 DVD's so far and am totally pleased.  The only feature I wish it had was alternate audio tracks for commentaries, but i'm sure that will be included in the upgrade soon.  I don't use the themes, but create my own backgrounds, and although you can't design the shape of your own buttons, you can put moving video into the wide selection that they do have.  My menu pages are looped video and audio, with moving video in all of the buttons and submenu's.  It's a great program, and very easy to use (I haven't even used the 5.1 yet because I just got me Echo Gina sound card.)
 
Re: +DVD worth the money?

One reason i dont like DVDA is because it's not compatible with my burner (Plextor 708A)...It definately needs another update. I usually "prepare" the DVD in DVDA and copy it to Nero and that seems to work fine though.
 
Re: +DVD worth the money?

Regardless of the DVD authoring app I'm using, I always create an image to be burnt using dedicated CD/DVD burning software (i.e. Nero). It ends up being much faster to burn another copy from Nero than from the authoring app.
 
Re: +DVD worth the money?

I've used both Arc. and Encore and while Encore has more design flexibility it is not as stable as Architect. I've had problems getting Encore to read some of the edits done in Vegas using 24pa etc. and anamorphic squeeze. It is recognized automatically by Arc. whereas Encore I haven't quite figured out yet.

Without the squeeze problem Encore is great. They are both 1.0 progs. though and are not as good as they'll get in a year or so. Oh and you can steal some templates particularly menu backgrounds and motion menus from the templates in Encore and use them in Vegas. :D
 
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