Pinnacle Impression DVD Pro

[Canewdon Chris]

Hi, anyone know where to get a demo copy of this software? I don't really want to fork out the cash if I can't get on with it.

Thanks in advance .


On a similar subject, I can recommend Vegas 4.0 if that helps anyone.

[vonhosen]

Don't know where you can get a demo version.

If you have any questions I'll try and answer them (It's one of the authoring programs I use). Price seems to have fallen steadily over the last year & not much news of any update or upgrades for it.

Yeah Vegas is great , I use that too

[Canewdon Chris]

Thanks for the reply vanhosen.

Any other authoring progs you can recommend that I can get a demo for first? Am reluctant to spend a fortune on something that might disappoint!!!

[vonhosen]

What features are a must for you ? Sort of money you want to spend ? PC or MAC ?

[RecordablDVDfan]

The full version appears to be available on certain p2p sharing progs. Is this prog part of Pinnacle Studio 8 ?

[vonhosen]

No it's not part of Pinnacle Studio 8.

It's their stand alone fuller featured authoring program.

[RecordablDVDfan]

Hmm I'll have to try this prog. Does it allow frame by frame editing ?

[vonhosen]

It's not for editing at all , it's for authoring only.

You even have to make your menus outside the program (using Photoshop etc).

When I say fuller featured I mean it allows more features within the DVD spec than your basic programs

ie

2 video tracks (for multi angle discs)
8 audio tracks (for languages etc)
32 subtitle tracks
Motion menus (hilight subpictures)
Or
True Colour menus

[RecordablDVDfan]

OK thanks for info. I'm trying to find a prog whch does this more accuratly than TMPEnc Author

[vonhosen]

You looking for frame by frame editing of MPEG or AVI files ?

[RecordablDVDfan]

Yes. TMPEnc Author is good at this but not frame accurate

[vonhosen]

If you are looking to be frame accurate with editing MPEG you are going to find it difficult, you are better editing .avi THEN encoding to MPEG

MPEG uses temporal compression

The MPEG stream is made up of GOPs (Groups Of Pictures). These GOPS with PAL footage are typically 15 frames in length & consist of I,B & P frames.

You will get an I frame at the start of each GOP (every 15 frames or 15/25ths of a second. You can only edit on these I frames. the reason for this is that I frames are full frames (compressed similar to JPEGs) but the B & P frames are not full frames. They only contain information on the differences between that frame & the previous/next frame. This is why MPEG is used in DVDs & you can fit so much (compared to .avi) on a disc.

If you are going to have frame accurate editing of MPEGs then your editing/encoder needs to have the ability to re-encode in segments & redefine the GOPs. It is similar with chapter points. These can only be inserted on I frames or the encoder will have to force an I frame where you want the chapter point to be.