Any suggestions on good DVD burning software?

[amalsher]

I've been burned (pun intended) by various commercial burning programs. I'm currently using Nero (latest version 7.x.x.x) - the Nero Vision component, to burn .mpg files to DVD-R for viewing on a DVD player + TV.
I find it one of the most unreliable, clumsy, painfully slow and bug-ridden pieces of software.
I guess a fair proportion of VideoReDo users must use some sort of burning software. What do you all use? I'm not averse to paying for software, but I am fed up with paying for three different over-hyped trashy burning products.
Is there anything as well put together as VideoReDo for that final step in the process? Personal recommendations would be welcome!

[phd]

In addition to the responses you'll get. Here is a recent thread on the subject. Also check some of the other thread regarding the same topic.
http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/showthread.php?t=2919

[Anole]

If you really mean just to burn, after you've authored them, then I use and recommend Nero 6.something Burning Rom (not the entire suite!)
Since I always burn two DVDs at a time, I'm sticking with what has worked for me.

I've gotten bad feedback on the Nero 7.0/.1 but am no expert on it.
I'm expecting a test verson soon with the bugs ironed out, and happily continue on with 6.6
By the way, I used to burn my DVDs with 5.5 (as I recall), and it was fine, too.

Others here will tell you about a number of other fine software programs, many of which are free, that they're satisfied with.
I'm sure you'll find something you like.

Now, if you are talking about making DVDs, as in Authoring them....
...then the link PHD provided , above, is a much better answer. ;)

[bits]

For burning only I recommend ImgBurn, it is solid and it is free!

[Lester Burnham]

For burning only I recommend ImgBurn, it is solid and it is free!

Seconded.

I don't think there's a better burning engine, I used to use DVD Decrypter for burning before it was developed into imgburn - and some of that was due to poor results with Nero burning ROM.

[amalsher]

If you really mean just to burn, after you've authored them.....
Thanks for all the suggestions to date.
I should have made myself clearer.
I have a bunch of .MPG files that I've topped and tailed and removed ads using VideoReDo.
I now want to take these files, put them on a DVD-R with a simple menu list of the program names, and play them on a Panasonic (or other) DVD player. Is that just burning or authoring too?
Thanks to Bits and Lester for their suggestion re ImgBurn. I downloaded this (Version 2.0.0.0) and successfully (I thought) created a DVD containing 5 programs. I did this by first creating an ISO image and then burning that image. However, although I can view the programs with VideoReDo and with Windoz Media Player on another computer, my Panasonic doesn't recognise the disc as valid.
Clearly I created a disc with valid data but the wrong format. What have I done wrong? Does the disc need finalizing? If so how?
I've also taken a look at GUI for DVD Author, but its documentation suggests you need a separate burning engine - it suggests Nero version 5.5 or higher. That takes me back to my original problem: Nero (for me at least) it sucks.
I didn't have any joy with TMPGEnc either.
It would seem from the "What DVD Authoring Software Are You Using" thread that Johnny Swindle is having a similar experience to me (I'm more into old programs like Heartbeat, Pie in the Sky, Two Ronnies, rather than Sci-Fi).
If you get a working system, please let me know the details.
I do have a networked media centre, but I need to back off some of my files to DVD - I'm rapidly running out of HD disk space and couldn't face the loss of the HD.
All I'm after is a simple process to get my library onto DVDs.
I like Bits' "no more converting" approach, and would love to find a good DVD player that could play .MPG mpeg2 files directly.
I understand that Sony PlayStation 3 may do this - when it arrives.
In the meantime, any help gratefully received.
Alan Malsher

[Lester Burnham]

Thanks for all the suggestions to date.
I should have made myself clearer.
I have a bunch of .MPG files that I've topped and tailed and removed ads using VideoReDo.
I now want to take these files, put them on a DVD-R with a simple menu list of the program names, and play them on a Panasonic (or other) DVD player.
Thanks to Bits and Lester for their suggestion re ImgBurn. I downloaded this (Version 2.0.0.0) and successfully (I thought) created a DVD containing 5 programs. I did this by first creating an ISO image and then burning that image. However, although I can view the programs with VideoReDo and with Windoz Media Player on another computer, my Panasonic doesn't recognise the disc as valid.

I suspect you created a data DVD with 5 mpegs on it.


Clearly I created a disc with valid date but the wrong format. What have I done wrong? Does the disc need finalizing? If so how?
I've also taken a look at GUI for DVD Author, but its documentation suggests you need a separate burning engine - it suggests Nero version 5.5 or higher. That takes me back to my original problem: Nero (for me at least) it sucks.

That's not a problem. GUI_for_dvdauthor will automatically burn using Nero if you want it to.

However, although I have Nero, I don't use GUI_for_dvdauthor like that. I author using GUI_for_dvdauthor, have it create DVD folders, rather than go on to burn.

Then you can use IMGBURN to take these DVD folders and burn to DVD (the current version of IMGBURN incorporates this type of feature - ie creating an image from DVD folders - before this version, I used imgtool classic as an intermediary step between authoring DVD folders in GUI_for_dvdauthor, and burning with IMGBURN - but now you can go straight from GUI_for_dvdauthor, and then run IMGBURN on the output, and burn to a DVDR).


All I'm after is a simple process to get my library onto DVDs.
Any help gratefully received.
Alan Malsher

OK, author using GUI_for_dvdauthor - make sure what you save from VideoReDo, is saved as type VOB, but with the extension of .mpg.

DON'T configure GUI_for_dvdauthor to burn using Nero - just simply have it author to a DVD folder structure. Once it's done that, use IMGBURN to create an image from the folders, and burn to DVDR.

[Anole]

Well, obviously the steps of making a valid DVD are not so hard.
We're all doing it.
Of course, the steps are long and detailed, but there are numerous reference guides and discuscions both here on VRD forum, and Doom9.
Unfortunately, each software package requires specific steps, and the programs and docs are hardly interchangable.

While I do not suggest you give up and just burn .mpg directly to DVD data discs, there is a Philps DVD player that will play them for you.
It's advertized as being able to play DivX, but I forget its model number. (642?)
Sells for around $70 retail, but often it's on sale for less.
Friend of mine has one.
I don't care for the way the remote control works, nor the range, but it does the job.

Authoring is taking the raw .mpg files and converting them to .VOB files, along with all the support files necessary to make valid DVDs.
In this proceedure, chapters, menues, and other DVD-related features are created.
(do not confuse the ability of VideoReDo to write so-called "VOB" files as any step in the authoring process)

Burning is either taking an ISO image, already in the correct format, and writing it to a DVD media blank, or...
... or taking the .vob, .bup, and .ifo files and writing them to the VIDEO_TS folder on DVD media...
All for the purpose of turning a blank DVD into a functioning and playable movie disc.

(I made up those definitions, but they should make the difference clear.) :)

[amalsher]

Well, obviously the steps of making a valid DVD are not so hard.
We're all doing it.

Hi Anole, thanks for your comments, useful as ever.
Sure it's not so hard, but I'm certainly finding it hard to get together all the pieces to achieve what I would have hoped was a pretty straightforward requirement.
Simply stated, my requirement is to be able to watch (mainly British) terrestial TV programs any place and any time I like. I travel quite a bit, and would like to catch up on my favorite shows eg. on a train or in an airport lounge or plane.
Oh, and I also have quite a collection of old VHS tapes.
I guess in this respect, I am not unique.
Attempted solutions:
1. Panasonic DMR-EH80 VHS/HDD/DVD recorder + portable DVD player.
- great function
- reasonable editing features
- fast (less than one minute per hour of program) to create DVD-R from HDD
- 6 hours of programs on one single-sided DVD (with adequate good quality)
BUT
- I have to be at home to set up the recording schedule
- This machine, and many of the recent Panasonic models have a dreadful reliability record. Sony and Philips not much better.

2. PC with ethernet attachment to a Pinnacle Media Center/ShowCentre
- Flexibility of file system, backups, etc
- Excellent video editing software (VideoReDo)
- WebScheduler allows program recording schedule setup on the go.
BUT
- All the downsides of owning a PC; viruses, spam, contant requirements to update, incompatibilities, etc.
- It took me two years to find a suitable (ie properly working) TV recording adapter. Now using Freecom DVB-T USB
- Poor video quality on Pinnacle, lip-sync issues
- No solution to "on-the-road" requirement
- No backup for large accumulated data files
3. As 2 but backup to DVD
- Very slow transfer of video files to DVD
- So far I have not found the right mix of software and hardware that works reliably. Nero 7, Cyberlink PowerProducer and others are too fancy and/or buggy for their own good.

With the help of the useful contributions to this forum, I'm making progress, but I wouldn't say it's been an easy ride.
Is my requirement a niche, or is someone missing a huge market here??

Alan Malsher

[Anole]

The link PHD gave at the top of the thread is a great one.
(What DVD authoring software are you using? (http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/showthread.php?t=2919))
Plenty of ideas to try, freebie programs, documents, et al.
Likewise for the thread:
(Any good authoring programs? (http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/showthread.php?t=2604))

I just came in here to go to bed after authoring a DVD with Transporter 1 and Transporter 2 as a double feature.
Trans2 was from HBO, to it just needed each end clipped.
Trans1 was from the FX channel, with commercials.
VideoReDo made quick work of both shows.

The authoring program I use, DVD Labs, is happier with demuxed video and audio files, so I have VRD save as mpv/mpa.
I sprinkled in some chapters (I don't really use them); around 12 per hour.
I think my biggest problem was deciding which frame of which movie to use as the background for my menu. :)
I actually used a VideoReDo feature to save some candidate frames, then chose one of them.

DVD Labs is a bit spendy. It has lots of features I may or may not ever use.
However, I picked it in the beginning along with VideoReDo, as the best of the available and affordable programs.

The freebie programs that have become available this year are really outstanding.
However, the landscape was pretty bleak 18+ months ago.
Two years ago, I used IFOedit to make my first DVD from unedited mpeg.
Just one show per disc. Pretty crude. :)
Today, there are much better docs for it, and it has a competitor in the simple MuxMan.
I think if you have patience and work with some of the tools, you'll find your way.

Oh, and the Nero-burning-problem mentioned above, may be due to running a limited-function OEM version.
I've never really had any trouble with the version 5- nor 6- family.
Version seven, on the other hand, I've just heard bad things about, and am awaiting the fixes.

[hdtvman-2]

I use Nero 7 to author DVD's from mpg and stream files that I've edited with VideoReDo. The latest version available from www.nero.com is quicker than previous versions. I use the "write to folder option" to create the DVD files and then the burn DVD-Video option to write these files to DVD-R media.

While it is time consuming for the PC, my time spent in front of the monitor is rather small.

I have tried several other DVD authoring programs and I've always come back to Nero 7. The only thing missing from Nero 7 is the ability to edit the video files. That's why VideoReDo is a perfect match and the answer to what I've been looking for.

[Lester Burnham]

I use Nero 7 to author DVD's from mpg and stream files that I've edited with VideoReDo. The latest version available from www.nero.com is quicker than previous versions. I use the "write to folder option" to create the DVD files and then the burn DVD-Video option to write these files to DVD-R media.

While it is time consuming for the PC, my time spent in front of the monitor is rather small.

I have tried several other DVD authoring programs and I've always come back to Nero 7. The only thing missing from Nero 7 is the ability to edit the video files. That's why VideoReDo is a perfect match and the answer to what I've been looking for.

That's quite possibly the first positive thing I've read, here, about Nero 7 and DVD authoring...

[amalsher]

I have tried several other DVD authoring programs and I've always come back to Nero 7. The only thing missing from Nero 7 is the ability to edit the video files. That's why VideoReDo is a perfect match and the answer to what I've been looking for.
Amazing!
Do you ever try to write more than one program to a DVD?
Can you create a text-only menu of programs?
If you have several (eg 6) programs on a DVD, can you make the text of the menu large enough to be readable across your living room on a TV?
If you have more than one menu page, can you navigate the menues?
Out of 10 burned DVDs, how many does Nero 7 ruin by seizing up during burn?
Out of 10 DVDs, how many does Nero 7 eject before finishing the process, necessitating reinsertion just to answer the "Do you want to save the log" dialogue?
Oh, and by the way, before I bought Nero, Nero were very responsive (but misleading) to my questions about functionality. Now that they have my money, and I've signed up to their "VIP" support, I can't get any response from them at all.
I could go on.... And who was the guy that coined the term "burning". It's hell!