Das Geekery

[tiamatlady]

Tell me what program you prefer for DVD Burning.

I do not have a Mac. In fact, I apparently own the world's oldest PC. it takes up an entire storage room at MIT.
ILife, despite being tempting, is not going to turn me to The Dark Side.

I'm looking for ease of use, maybe something that will up the rendering speed. 8 hours is a bit hard to take. But I will live with it, for now. It must also not be a resource hog, I don't mind big and lumbering, i DO mind something that needs more than my elderly computer can handle, no matter how hard I try.

I'm currently using Nero, which came with the DVD drive. The Horseman Death showed me how to use it - we're waiting for the arrival of the other three horsemen in advance of me actually doing something right the first time. I think it's asking me to pay for it in about a month's time, so if i have to buy something, I'd rather buy something more better. Yes, I said more better.

KthnxIluvubyebye

Comments

[tk7602.livejournal.com]

the rendering speed isn't likely to be improved much between apps.

that is a REALLY slow process. on my 2 ghz g5 imac it takes 3-4 hours to render a DVD, more if i make really complicated menus. it's a pretty processor intensive process, so the only way i know of to make it fast is put it on the fastest hardware possible.

i've never used any non-apple DVD mastering apps, so i can't say anything about those.

[tiamatlady]

I knew that about the speed - more just wishful thinking *grins*
I was letting Nero auto detect Chapters, which is taking a FUCKTON of time. Given that I didn't think this thing would do more than spit out a DVD drive with a *Bleeeeech!* the fact that it works is a minor miracle.

I can totally live with meh menus and such - these are for specific purposes, one of which is storage off the hard drive. (it needs to be payable though) I'm looking into that Apple ITV for my "must watch stuff on the big tv" needs.

Did you guys get a Tivo or the DVR? There's a deal for a refirbed Tivo free, and monthly fee of $12.99, but I was thinking of just getting the Comcast DVR instead. I resist paying fees for a piece of equipment to operate. But I already pay to rent the cable box. BUT = I can always download something and use Itv for it. I had the Doctor Who Xmas episode about 2 days later.

Heh - it doesn't pay to answer one of my questions. 'Course, I am going to be getting you a buncha money back in a few weeks *grins*

[tk7602.livejournal.com]

we have the RCN Cable box DVR thing. HDTV tunner, dual-tuner DVR (record 2 shows at once, or watch one while recording another). it's something like $12/month for the box rental/service i think.

the comcast DVR is the same hardware i think. if so, it's pretty nice. not *quite* as good as a tivo, but cheaper (especially since you don't have to worry about warranty / replacement / failures )

[tiamatlady]

Yeah, I'm paying about $7 to rent my box *grins* the DVR box is $15. I think that's the route I'm going to go. Also, I'm hearing that Comcast is doing some upgrading in order to work more like a Tivo, with Season passes and suggestions, that kind of thing.

Honestly, I'm really liking the fact that a 50 DVD spindle cost about $11 at Microcenter, and that's enough to burn pretty much anything I'd want to watch. If I have to have a box set, I can still get it. I like having the extras that come with the InuYasha box sets, but think $100 for the Doctor Who set is just plain silly.

This means more anime for me!

[thenetimp.livejournal.com]

They've actually partnered with TIVO to keep from getting sued I believe, so the new Comcast DVRs should work exactly like a Tivo.

One thing I like about the ReplayTV, is I don't have to encode the videos I download from it they are already mpeg2 dvd compatible. So for me it's a bit easier and less intensive.

All my experiences with making video DVDs on the PC was a PITA, but that was 4 years ago, and I'm sure the apps have improved.

[emarkienna.livejournal.com]

I've mainly only used the programs which have come with the DVD - currently Nero on my desktop, and "Cyberlink Power2Go" on my laptop. But for re-enconding / copying DVDs (i.e., actual video DVDs rather than just burning data DVDs), I use DVD Shrink. I'm not sure what thing it is you are doing - it can take up to an hour on my machine to reencode and burn a DVD. Is the problem that you are running out of memory?

[tiamatlady]

Except for the time it's taking, which is unavoidable unless I want to buya faster drive/computer *grins* Nero seems to work exactly like I want it to - IE without much input from me. I CAN make it pretty but if I'm just looking for it to just run, it does.

The thing is I need it to play in the DVD player. What I was looking at on DVD Shrink didn't say it would allow that - am I wrong?

I have to work today *sighs* but when I get home I'll DL DVD shrink, and try it with the next 4 eps of Torchwood.

*grins* Captain Jack was SO effective yesterday *drools*

*snuggles* Thanks! I'll poke you when I'm home tomorrow, stupid work. *kicks*

[emarkienna.livejournal.com]

Yep, DVD Shrink can't do what you want - sorry, I meant it as an example of how long this sort of thing takes on my computer (I've never made a DVD from a video file, only done copying, and even reenconding the whole DVD in DVD Shrink, it doesn't take longer than an hour).

The speed of the DVD writer shouldn't be the problem (does it actually spend 8 hours writing, or does it spend a lot of time thinking beforehand?) Can you see if you're running out of memory (control+alt+delete to go to Task Manager)?

One thing which slowed things down for me was if the software is set to write the DVD image to a file first (it can be safer, but it's quicker just to burn directly).

Unfortunately most of the software which comes with DVD writers seems to be made so that they can only work with that make/model of DVD writer, I don't know any freely downloadable ones I'm afraid.