It seems this site promotes multiple programs to author and burn DVD's (with menus). I get that one program designed to do one thing likely executes its single task better, but what are the other main concerns with all in one programs like:
Ashampoo
Corel Movie Factory
Sonic DVD It
Pinnacle Studio 12
You get the point, in some DVD authoring reviews I have found report some of the program often referenced on this site are on the lower end of the reviews while Movie Factory, Sony DVD Architec, AVS DVD Authoring and Roxio My DVD are tops. TMPGEnc DVD Author sits down around the 5 position in terms of reviews.
Is it a $ thing? As some of the recommended programs here seem to be freeware. Is it a processing thing? The all in ones are heavy and consume a lot of memory.
I just want to get the best results and I want to make an informed decision on which way to go.
Sorry is this has been asked, I am sure it has but my search for all in ones gave me little results.
I don't think it's a $ thing so much as some free program's do as good a job or better than a paid program plus no one want's to recommend a paid program when there is a free one available. Two case's in point, ImgBurn against all other burner's and DVD Shrink goes against CloneDVD2 very well as well as many more free programs that can match a paid program. Plus a lot of people only need thing's once or twice, no sense paying for that. And a lot of people here are just getting into thing's; I know in the beginning, I was just happy to have thing's work and as time has passed, I got a little more in depth. The only progam you mention that I have used is MovieFactory and I know of no freebie that come's close to it but I don't think TMPGEnc is much less, in fact I understand it's very good. In these review's, I think the personal preference of the reviewer play's a huge role; I've trialled product's that had great review's but I thought were terrible. If people specifically ask for a paid product or one's thought to be the best way to go, it will be recommended. The problem with all in one program's is bloat beside's one program, one job, as you mention is best. I wouldn't trade MovieFactory but it's installed size is staggering; it used to incorporate MainConcept and I think still does, it's burning engine is ok, I use it for mpg but there is no need for it's size, I don't use it for encoding and that only account's for a fraction of it anyway. It's better to do one thing good rather than a lot ok and most of the free program's do one thing well, sometime's slower and maybe in a few more step's is all.
I agree with mistycat many of us first started with program A then learn more and use programs abc but if you want a good program for converting any codec to dvd format a good one is for $ and worth every penny its vso softwares Convertx to dvd. If you want a program to convert dvd to divxAutoGK is great and free. Two simple programs anyone can learn to use with ease.
I have used Nero, but uninstalled it as there were just too many aspects of the huge program I didn't use. Was using VSO Software ConvertXtoDVD 3, don't know if I had any problems with it, maybe menu options weren't great (uninstalled it, rethinking that now...). I am now using Corel Movie Factory 7 but my burn skips, checked original VOB files and they had a few jumps as well. (This could be a RAM problem, I only have 1GB and I have a lot of running processes. Could be a media issue also, so I am getting Verbatim also.)
My problem is I author and burn often so convenience and quality are very important and $ is not a concern however I am concerned with getting too much bloat as Nero had. I have more RAM in the mail which will push me up 3GB. Editing isn't huge concern as well, simple editing options would be plenty as I am not crafting videos, more authoring with menus and converting/encoding AVI's and burning.
So if I don't go separate, using TMPGEncode, Image burn and some authoring program (following this sites presumed preference and guides) then what would be the best paid all in one program for authoring with menus, encoding and burning? Should I stick with Movie Factory and just wait for my RAM and media?
D'ya know dvd-styler absolutely kills convertx .. yeah it's not easy to use.. it's not n00b friendly.. it isn't meant to be.... but supports animated menus.. different views and 4 subs and audio tracks.. convertx is like something from the dark ages compared to the cutting edge freeware. HOW can something primitive and so basic as to be almost pointless be considered worth the money? dvd flick is better than convert x
