Encore VS DVD Studio Pro (**NOT** an Adobe VS Apple thread!!)

F

filmguy123

Veteran
Ok, no comparisons about the suite, CS3 package, FCStudio, etc. That's been beaten to death.

Isolated, these two applications only...

Playing around with them, I am very impressed with Adobe's Encore and find it to be much better and easier to use than DVD Studio Pro. In fact, DVD Studio Pro seems very limited. Maybe I am missing something on how it operates...?? It just seems much more difficult to create from scratch, or edit, menus in DSP. Encore seems to have much more functionality here, a better interface, and seems to be missing no features of DSP, while adding some in the process! Plus it integrates with Photoshop!

Now, I use Final Cut Pro for all of my editing, but I am wondering here - is Encore just a better DVD Authoring program? Or am I missing some of how DSP operates? I fear maybe I don't "get" DSP...

Thoughts/opinions/experiences? Advice on possible DSP features that I'm not seeing or using correctly?
 
Im not sure what features DVDSP may be 'missing' like you say that encore has, i haven't dabbled in encore in a long time, since it first came out for CS3 i played with it a little since it came with our bundle, but not more than that...

anyways, i felt the opposite about the interface and it being easier, and i think its the fact that the DVD Spec is limited , not necessarily the program. I have stretched the abilities of DVD Authoring pretty much as far as I could take them in DVDSP, having to be extremely creative and clever beyond my characteristic btw, ;) in order to have some discs that stand out, but in any case, i think you should definitely use which one suits you best, because ill tell you this, the interface isn't the stoppage in where the DVD author can take his creation, but it is the DVD Spec road that doesn't deviate from its extremely simple map.
 
For example, making text and formatting it with tons of options in Encore CS3, plus having styles like DVDSP - way more control. And all you have to is select the text, and click "convert to button" - done! And I can change highlight states on my custom text that way.

DVDSP button making seems to pretty limited in comparison - unless I am doing something wrong? I have to drag a track in, then remove the asset, then change the button text and format it with limited options. Or use one of the preset styles. Or make the file in photoshop first. Encore is like a mini photoshop, and then I can open the files I make in encore into photoshop for more detail and save them back with instant updates/etc.

That's just one example...
 
I guess i just dont mind leaving the program and using photoshop. Whenever i work in DVDSP, i work directly in photoshop with it in another screen. saving is realtime, so i just change my text in photoshop, and when i get my menus fully ready to author, i make my overlay files from my photoshop menu i created, thats for static menus.

video menus are a whole 'nother beast. i dont even touch DVDSP until im ready to map them all together, and then using DVDSP is even easier since photoshop work combined with DVDSP is essentially overlay files only.

changing highlight states ive had no issues with , i dont think ive actually made a button in DVDSP at any time actually. i do it all in photoshop/motion before i go to DVDSP.
 
Ah, I see. Yeah, that's how I thought you had to do it. I think that's why I like encore so much more. It integrates much better with Photoshop and After Effects (which I prefer to Motion anyway); *plus* you hardly need those apps as it is, it is so fully featured, you can do must of it without leaving the app and when you need to its better integration.

Of course, for each individual, nothing beats a familiar workflow that works well for them!
 
Like Nic said the DVD spec is the biggest limitation for an authoring app. Both DVD SP and Encore will get the job done. Given that Encore is part of the CS3 suite the integration with PS is very tight. I haven't had much time behind the wheel of Encore so I can't say how well it works under stress. I've used DVD SP quite a bit and it does just about everything I need it to do.

Supposedly Encore has the ability to convert the authored program to a flash page. It sounds interesting on paper, I'm curious how well it actually works.
 
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ya, the Flash option could be pretty cool. but also think about the video , itd have to be light on video and heavier on info, and in that case, might as well use flash.

but its how you put it to use.
 
What do you guys mean by the "DVD Spec" exactly?

Nic - did you mention that DSP has a better "DVD Spec" (whatever this means)? - if so, how so?
 
The DVD spec refers to the standards for DVD set by the DVD Forum. This covers all the tiny details involved in authoring a DVD. Details like number of tracks, colors used for menu creation, jacket picture format, etc etc etc. These standards have remained unchanged for years. What this means in practical terms is that just because it's easy to glow text using AE or flash doesn't mean it's something easily achieved in authoring. Think of it like trying to work on your car with one wrench and a couple of screwdrivers, as opposed to having an entire toolset to choose from. Note - the DVD spec refers to standard def DVD.

With regards to HD on disc I think the rules are still be written and I'm not clear who's setting the standard. I guess it's the BDA (Blu-ray Disc Association). The DVD Forum (that set the current DVD spec) was backing HD-DVD so they've been marginalized by the demise of HD-DVD.
 
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