DVD Authoring Software (Need Help)

15 replies
Have a couple of questions about DVD authoring software.

First, I assume you have to have a DVD drive that can read and write.

Second, where can you get a good one from?

Third, I assume you can't use a blank CD, that you actually have to buy
DVDs. I assume there is a physical difference and not just in the formatting,
correct?

Any assistance on the above is appreciated.

And if anybody knows how to recycle Aweber messages for your subscribers,
that would help too.

Thanks.
#authoring #dvd #software
  • Profile picture of the author flnz400
    #'s 1 and 3, yes to both.

    You mentioned software in your title, but in the post you're mentioning hardware...i.e. drives, etc...

    Not sure which you really need. Try these for computer hardware pricing....

    Newegg.com

    zipzoomfly.com

    maybe buy.com
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  • Profile picture of the author getsmartt
    Steve,

    You are correct you need a DVD Burner (writer) Tiger.com (you can also check pricewatch.com) usually has some good ones on sale, Just look for brand names (Lite-on, Pioneer, Sony) they are all about the same, since there are only a handful of companies that actually make them.

    Yep you need blank DVD's as well, they come in 2 basic formats +r or -r, most DVD Burners can write both and Most modern DVD players can read both so essentially go with whatever is cheaper. I would use a brand name here as well TDK or Maxell are my favorites.

    Cant help on the Aweber issue, sorry
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by getsmartt View Post

      Steve,

      You are correct you need a DVD Burner (writer) Tiger.com (you can also check pricewatch.com) usually has some good ones on sale, Just look for brand names (Lite-on, Pioneer, Sony) they are all about the same, since there are only a handful of companies that actually make them.

      Yep you need blank DVD's as well, they come in 2 basic formats +r or -r, most DVD Burners can write both and Most modern DVD players can read both so essentially go with whatever is cheaper. I would use a brand name here as well TDK or Maxell are my favorites.

      Cant help on the Aweber issue, sorry
      The DVD in my PC says it's a Lightscribe DVD Multi Recorder. I am able
      to make CDs with it so can I assume it will make DVDs as well?
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      • Profile picture of the author getsmartt
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        The DVD in my PC says it's a Lightscribe DVD Multi Recorder. I am able
        to make CDs with it so can I assume it will make DVDs as well?

        Yep, and it can use either the +r or the -r DVD's

        EDIT: BTW Lightscribe means that it has the ability to burn pictures on the top side of the DVD (they kind of resemble Holograms) if you buy Lightscribe compatible media.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Originally Posted by getsmartt View Post

          Yep, and it can use either the +r or the -r DVD's
          Great, then all I need is the software to do it. This stupid PC doesn't come
          with any, or is it built in like when I pop in a blank CD and it asks me what
          I want to do with it?
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          • Profile picture of the author jonhel
            Windows XP (and I presume Vista, I've not seen it) has inbuilt CD authoring software but this is not suitable to burn DVDs.

            You will need a package such as Nero to do this. There's lots of different software available for this task.

            Jonathan
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            • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
              Originally Posted by jonhel View Post

              Windows XP (and I presume Vista, I've not seen it) has inbuilt CD authoring software but this is not suitable to burn DVDs.

              You will need a package such as Nero to do this. There's lots of different software available for this task.

              Jonathan
              Jonathan, thank you so much and everybody else too.

              Last question. If I want to have a company make the DVDs for me,
              assuming I am going to crank out a lot, do I have to send them a master
              to make them from or just the files that I want on them and in what order?

              If I can avoid having to create anything myself, that would be the best
              solution.
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              • Profile picture of the author Careygee
                Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                Jonathan, thank you so much and everybody else too.

                Last question. If I want to have a company make the DVDs for me,
                assuming I am going to crank out a lot, do I have to send them a master
                to make them from or just the files that I want on them and in what order?

                If I can avoid having to create anything myself, that would be the best
                solution.
                Steven,
                With Kunaki.com. you simply create an account and send it to them
                via the internet.

                The procedure is to log in and have your DVD inserted into your drive.
                Then you would simply click the button (in the Kunaki panel)
                and the download to them is performed. I over-simplified, but it is easy.
                They will send you one (1) sample for free, if requested.
                You also can design your cover on their site.
                Carey
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                • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                  Originally Posted by Careygee View Post

                  Steven,
                  With Kunaki.com. you simply create an account and send it to them
                  via the internet.

                  The procedure is to log in and have your DVD inserted into your drive.
                  Then you would simply click the button (in the Kunaki panel)
                  and the download to them is performed. I over-simplified, but it is easy.
                  They will send you one (1) sample for free, if requested.
                  You also can design your cover on their site.
                  Carey
                  Carey, do you know what Kunaki charges per unit?
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                  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
                    Hi Steven,

                    You can get all the details from their site:

                    Kunaki -- CD/DVD manufacturing and publishing service

                    Regards,
                    Jeff.
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                    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                      Originally Posted by Jeff Henshaw View Post

                      Hi Steven,

                      You can get all the details from their site:

                      Kunaki -- CD/DVD manufacturing and publishing service

                      Regards,
                      Jeff.
                      Jeff, are you sure that's not a typo? $1.75 per DVD?

                      Wow! Talk about dirt cheap.

                      This sounds like a better option that making manuals and shipping them.
                      Put all the content on CDs and DVDs and ship them out.

                      I like it...Thanks.
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                      • Profile picture of the author Jack Duncan
                        Steven,
                        Another great company to check out is DiscMakers. Lots of folks in the music industry are aware of them...

                        They have some really affordable rates and some great design rates too...if you want to go with a case.

                        You can find them here: DVD Authoring, DVD Menu Design, Video Post Production, Color Correction, and Encoding
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                      • Profile picture of the author Careygee
                        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                        Jeff, are you sure that's not a typo? $1.75 per DVD?

                        Wow! Talk about dirt cheap.

                        This sounds like a better option that making manuals and shipping them.
                        Put all the content on CDs and DVDs and ship them out.

                        I like it...Thanks.
                        Steven,
                        I have been using them over a year.
                        I can list them on Amazon, because of the
                        FREE Barcode they offer.

                        Quote From their site:
                        "Full-color, glossy, fully assembled, cellophane-wrapped, retail-ready products with free UPC bar codes. We manufacture to high-quality retail specifications letting you sell your CDs and DVDs at CD-Baby, Amazon, and other retail outlets."

                        You WILL love their service.
                        Carey
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                  • Profile picture of the author Careygee
                    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                    Carey, do you know what Kunaki charges per unit?
                    Currently $1.75 per Disc.
                    You add in whatever price you wish.
                    When it is ordered by your customers, they pay your
                    price and Kunaki deducts the $1.75 and sends you the
                    rest each month.

                    The shipping is $5.00 for one but bulk is very reasonable
                    if you want to stock your own inventory.
                    Carey
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  • Profile picture of the author jonhel
    Steven,

    That will be able to burn to DVDs as well. DVDs hold a lot more data than CDs.
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  • Profile picture of the author getsmartt
    here is a sample of what lightscribe can look like.
    Attachment 869

    Since you do need software I would also recommend Nero, it is the only software I use any more.
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  • Profile picture of the author espacecadet
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    • Profile picture of the author Careygee
      Originally Posted by espacecadet View Post

      I have purchased IM products burned to DVD from some Warriors who used Kunaki and I can attest that Kunaki does top-notch work. And yes, only $1.75 per DVD! (That is very low for a small run. A lot of houses won't touch anything under 5,000 pieces.)
      Yes, True. They will do one run of a single CD/DVD
      I'm not sure but I believe I read that they will also do the manufacturing on a set number of discs, package them for selling and ship them all to your house so you can ship them out as sales come in, if you prefer.
      Yes, True. They will ship any number at your request CD/DVD
      The $1.75 includes shipping/handling costs to your customers but if you prefer to do it yourself, Kunaki, I believe, offers a lower price. I might be wrong on that, but it's something to look into if you want to pack and ship yourself.
      NO, Not True. The $1.75 is their set price to you for manufaturing ONLY for each CD/DVD. Shipping is separate.
      I've always been a hands-on kinda guy. Having someone else take care of my business leaves me feeling uneasy. What if they say they shipped but my customer is yelling at me, wanting to know where his DVD is?

      It's my rep on the line, not Kunakis, get my drift? (That's why I don't use dropshippers, either.) If I have the product sitting there in my house I can rest easier knowing I can ship the same day, and I can tell the customer the exact day it was shipped if they don't get it.

      Dropshippers might run out of something and not say anything to you, and you wouldn't know until your buyers start screaming. Not good.

      But Kunaki? Yes, good.
      Yes, mistakes can happen, but Kunaki is very good at tracking and I can see that tracking or non-shipment.

      Excellent Customer response.
      Carey
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  • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
    Hi Steve

    If this is in preperation for that big course you're planning on doing, you would be much better off outsourcing it to Kunaki or something similer.

    Just imagine the headache of having to burn a 1000 discs, packaging them and then posting them out. (The stuff nightmares are made of)

    Kim
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Kim Standerline View Post

      Hi Steve

      If this is in preperation for that big course you're planning on doing, you would be much better off outsourcing it to Kunaki or something similer.

      Just imagine the headache of having to burn a 1000 discs, packaging them and then posting them out. (The stuff nightmares are made of)

      Kim
      Thanks Kim. Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Maschke
    Hey Steve,

    About the burning software, what format is your video in now?

    Do you have Windows Movie Maker installed on your computer?

    Dave
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by David Maschke View Post

      Hey Steve,

      About the burning software, what format is your video in now?

      Do you have Windows Movie Maker installed on your computer?

      Dave

      Dave, I use Camtasia to make my videos.
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  • Profile picture of the author David_Thompson
    This is a very timely thread I'm in the middle of doing videos for my project
    and wanted to offer it to buyers as an upsell/downsell instead of downloading
    or watching online get a DVD....

    Keep the recommendations coming...

    --David
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  • Profile picture of the author David Maschke
    Hi Steve,

    If you don't have Windows movie maker, you can turn your .avi into
    dvd video, but it will take a few steps.

    The first software you want to download is at:

    VSO DivXtoDVD (Freeware) v0.5.2b (freeware)

    That is the best I have found without spending money, and it does not create an audio/video out of sync problem that others may cause.

    The second is: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/vi...dvd_shrink.cfm

    The third software is : ImgBurn v2.4.2.0 (freeware)

    Imgburn is also a good peice of freeware

    All the software have guides on afterdawn, just read thru the pages and you'll find the links.

    These are really old school software, and there are many options now in turning your avi's into dvd.

    Dave
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