Best DVD authoring Software?

[fharris770]

My PC came with Sonic Digital Media Plus V7. I recently purchase a new internal and a new external DVD drive. As a result I now have CD's for NERO Express 6, Nero 7 Essentials, and PowerDVD (Cyberlink).

Any recommendations as to which is best would be appreciated.
For now I will be moving Digital Still Pictures to DVD to free up HD space. In the future I might try transfering Digital Camcorder tapes to DVD.

I am running Windows XP pro on a Pent 4.

Thanks

[Kevin_gibson]

Well,

Nero is clearly for writing to both CDs and DVDS, and Power DVD is just for watching DVDs it's a video codec.

Install em all

[fritzi93]

Strictly speaking, the term "DVD Authoring" refers to the process of making video playable on a set-top DVD player. The video must be MPEG2, of compliant resolution, it must not exceed a combined (audio/video) bitrate of 10.08 Mbps. Framerates of 25 fps (PAL), 29.97 (NTSC), or 23,976 (Film framerate, requiring pulldown flags). Blah blah.

http://www.videohelp.com/dvd

Authoring articles:

http://www.videohelp.com/author

Authoring apps:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/authoring-dvd

The above might prove useful when you get around to doing something with that camcorder footage.

[fifiward]

Nero is better

BTW< how do you burn photos to DVD? Just burn them as data or make them to something like slideshow? A program called DVD Photo Slideshow can make slideshow DVD in amazing way and I have recommended it to everyone.

[fritzi93]

Originally Posted by fifiward

Nero is better

BTW< how do you burn photos to DVD? Just burn them as data or make them to something like slideshow? A program called DVD Photo Slideshow can make slideshow DVD in amazing way and I have recommended it to everyone.

Yes, if all you want to do is preserve them and/or play them on your computer, burning as data will work. Also, some set-top DVD players can play JPEGs.

Here are some more applications for making slideshows:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/photo-dvd-vcd

I use Photodex Proshow, and have used MemoriesOnTV, both are quite good. DVDslideshowGUI is fully capable and free, but nearly every operation is manual, therefore it's got a steep learning curve. Good luck.