After being a long-time Linux user, I have recently installed Vista Home Premium on one of my systems, however, I'm having quite a lot of trouble finding the appropriate software!

My hobbies, and to an extent my line of work means that I tend to capture quite a lot of video footage, which I then edit using my chosen software and subsequently run through Roxio Creator 2009 in order to apply a DVD menu and burn it to a disk.

However, my problem is this; If, using the software I generally use Linux, I wanted to add a 700mb file to an ISO, the file itself would retain it's original size even when converted, meaning I could fit several movies onto a single disk. However, if I import the same file into Roxio Creator 2009, it 'bloats' it terribly (often up to 3.5GB+).

Could anyone possibly recommend a decent piece of burning/menu creation software that would ensure the files I add to the ISO retain their original size? Aesthetically pleasing menu templates would also be rather pleasant! Whilst freeware is obviously desirable, I wouldn't be averse to paying for a piece of top-quality software.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[senu]

DVD Movie Factory ( Ulead / Corel) you can try b4 you buy
As for "Free" Im not sure there is any DVD authoring solution which is free
DVD Architect Studio ( Sony ) is also good athough a little less easy to use
It is often bundled with Sony Vegas Movie Studio but is available as standalone title
It also has a trial version ( usable)
Certainly versions of these other than the very latest may be found for peanuts
I might have an older version Im not using and not on any PC PM me if ou wish to try but the trial version is fully working AFAIK

Thank you very much for the recommendations, Senu.

I did try DVD Architect on a friend's computer a while back, but I personally didn't like it all that much.

I seem to be suffering the same problem with DVD MovieFactory. A 700mb video file suddenly became 6.3GB (too large to fit on a disc!) when imported.

Any suggestions, anyone?

[senu]

There must be something in the settings to make your files " expand"
Ive used the last 4 versions of Movie factory and never experienced this
I also have Roxio 2009 thouh I dont use it much
Just what are your source files, and work flow. Although DVD Meuns may use up a ittle space, they do not tend to bloat DVD complinant mpeg2 files as you describe
If you are using DIVX or mpeg whose video is beyong 2 hrs thia may be an issue
An analogy i you can have a large no of mp3s on a CD but when yu try to create an audio CD,the file format changes and only a few will fit in

[jaymac]

This may be too basic but its free alas only for today
Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily. Today: WinX DVD Author 5.5 - WinX DVD Author is professional and easy-to-use DVD authoring software designed to create and burn DVD from various video files, ...

[Ikki]

Three free DVD authoring apps for Windows are:

DeVeDe

DVDStyler

DVDFlick

I haven't really used the bottom two, at least not for a long time. I use DeVeDe quite a lot as it is very reliable.

Originally Posted by senu

There must be something in the settings to make your files " expand"
Ive used the last 4 versions of Movie factory and never experienced this
I also have Roxio 2009 thouh I dont use it much
Just what are your source files, and work flow. Although DVD Meuns may use up a ittle space, they do not tend to bloat DVD complinant mpeg2 files as you describe
If you are using DIVX or mpeg whose video is beyong 2 hrs thia may be an issue
An analogy i you can have a large no of mp3s on a CD but when yu try to create an audio CD,the file format changes and only a few will fit in

I use DivX. May I ask why this would cause the files to expand in such a way? I've used DivX files in Linux with no problem at all.

Originally Posted by jaymac

This may be too basic but its free alas only for today
Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily. Today: WinX DVD Author 5.5 - WinX DVD Author is professional and easy-to-use DVD authoring software designed to create and burn DVD from various video files, ...

Thank you very much for the link. I downloaded and installed it, but it refuses to so much as open. Strange!

Originally Posted by Ikki

Three free DVD authoring apps for Windows are:

DeVeDe

DVDStyler

DVDFlick

I haven't really used the bottom two, at least not for a long time. I use DeVeDe quite a lot as it is very reliable.

You see, DeVeDe is the program I use when creating DVDs in Linux and I've had no problems of this sort before. However, I just attempted creating an ISO in the Windows version of DeVeDe and I still have the same problem with 'expanding files'.

This has me well and truly stumped!

[MarkE19]

Originally Posted by Nocturnus

I use DivX. May I ask why this would cause the files to expand in such a way? I've used DivX files in Linux with no problem at all.

DivX is one file format that can have a much higher compression ration than MPEG-2 (used for a DVD) before you loose too much quality. When you create a compliant DVD the files must be converted to MPEG-2 and therefore they will increase in size. For a single layer DVD you will only get 1 to 2 hours of footage before the quality starts to drop off.
I can only assume that your previous discs were just DivX files on a DVD rather than a true DVD and they would therefore only play on a DivX compatible DVD player

Mark.

[aet3]

What about Pinnacle Ultimate V12 + Patch ( a free download).

[jaymac]

[QUOTE=Nocturnus;9524469]

Thank you very much for the link. I downloaded and installed it, but it refuses to so much as open. Strange!



QUOTE]

Sorry it did not install and now as its past the close point probaly wont .Though I have known it to sometimes succeed .I presume you unzipped and then used setup .exe. then you install and then you need to use activate .exe to activate . Academic now as ti may be too late

[aet3]

Did you download and install Pinnacle Ultimate V12 OK.
The free download patch is dependent on which operating system you are running (ie: Vista Premium or Ultimate etc).
You stipulate which system at the time of download.
Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by MarkE19

I can only assume that your previous discs were just DivX files on a DVD rather than a true DVD and they would therefore only play on a DivX compatible DVD player

Nope, I'd import them to DeVeDe, which would subsequently compile them all into an ISO, which was playable on any DVD player.

[FauxPas]

Personally I prefer Adobe Encore, but it sure isnt free!

[senu]

Originally Posted by FauxPas

Personally I prefer Adobe Encore, but it sure isnt free!

No.... its not even cheap either
and
It isnt that easy to master, although like most Adobe stuff you can usually make simple stuff fairly easily

[FauxPas]

TBH, it took me about 15 mins to get the hang of Encore.
And if you use photoshop you can create a nice menu with buttons as separate layers (flattening all other layers, except these buttons I should say) and then you dont have to use built in crappy buttons...

Then you import the PSD into encore and bingo.
Then like most authoring software its a case of linking everything thoroughly.

I also like that enocre will allow you to test everything and will tell you whats not linked.

Then I always create an ISO, so multiple burns can be made quickly.

[mmace]

Originally Posted by FauxPas

TBH, it took me about 15 mins to get the hang of Encore.
And if you use photoshop you can create a nice menu with buttons as separate layers (flattening all other layers, except these buttons I should say) and then you dont have to use built in crappy buttons...

Then you import the PSD into encore and bingo.
Then like most authoring software its a case of linking everything thoroughly.

I also like that enocre will allow you to test everything and will tell you whats not linked.

Then I always create an ISO, so multiple burns can be made quickly.

you don't have to flatten anything, buttons go in folders with a certain name, anything else can be in layers/folders etc so it can easily be edited back in photoshop or in Encore itself

[FauxPas]

Completely true. However, I like to keep a tidy ship.

[senu]

Originally Posted by FauxPas

TBH, it took me about 15 mins to get the hang of Encore.
And if you use photoshop you can create a nice menu with buttons as separate layers (flattening all other layers, except these buttons I should say) and then you dont have to use built in crappy buttons...

Then you import the PSD into encore and bingo.
Then like most authoring software its a case of linking everything thoroughly.

I also like that enocre will allow you to test everything and will tell you whats not linked.

Then I always create an ISO, so multiple burns can be made quickly.

There are quite good tutorials on it and I also didint need a long time but if you are familiar with say Photoshop , or Premirere, that helps .. a bit
My comment of getting the hang of it stems from trying to teach people how to use it
Not everyone warms up to it as easily
Most Software allow creation of images for testing, and multiple burns