My ULEAD "DVD Workshop" CD Has Arrived!

[Jerry Jones]

...installation was easy.

I've also upgraded my version 5 of ULEAD PhotoImpact to the latest version: 7.0:

I haven't had a chance to record a DVD, yet, but I'll be testing the software through the weekend and I'll write a report.

One thing I've noticed right away:

The "SWITCH" menu in ULEAD PhotoImpact 7.0 includes links to *all* Ulead programs on my system, including DVD WORKSHOP and all of the modules of MEDIASTUDIO PRO 6.5.

However, MEDIASTUDIO PRO 6.5's *SWITCH* menu doesn't yet "see" PHOTOIMPACT 7.0 or DVD WORKSHOP.

I'll take a look at the Ulead32.ini and see if I can do anything to adjust that.

My first impression of DVD WORKSHOP:

The interface looks quite nice!


Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Jerry Jones]

Okay... my initial observations.

This program definitely is the best DVD authoring package in the sub-$1,000 price range.

FOLLOW THE MANUAL.

That's my first word of advice.

This program is not too simple and not too complex.

Last night, I was able to create my first DVD using a built-in titling WIZARD, but this is a program with enough sophistication to require several days of study to master.

DO NOT USE NON-APPROVED, 3RD PARTY MPEG ENCODERS.

Why?

There's no longer any reason to use those and - worse - they have the potential to create non-compliant MPEGs.

I AM AMAZED BY THE QUALITY OF ULEAD'S MPEG.NOW

Yes - folks - you're going to like the new Ulead MPEG.Now codec.

The DVD I've produced with DVD WORKSHOP is both...

a. visibly better than the one I produced with Ligos

b. glitch free

Playback on my GE 1106P-B DVD player is FLAWLESS.

Audio and video sync are PERFECT.

My system:

EliteGroup K7S5A (SIS 735) motherboard
512mb of Corsair PC2100 DDR memory
CompUSA (SIS) video card
Onboard Sound
Latest bios
20gb IBM system drive
40gb IBM video drive

The only thing I'd like to change is the size of my hard drives... I'd like much bigger ones.

BUY ULEAD PHOTOIMPACT 7.0

This program is designed so that it can use images created in Ulead PhotoImpact.

My video was shot with a camcorder I no longer even have... a JVC GR-DVM5U, which bit the dust several months ago - the camcorder simply stopped working.

I'm using the highest quality setting offered in the DVD WORKSHOP options and I'm having a very hard time telling the difference between the DVD video and the original Mini DV tape.

I have lots of work ahead of me to learn the motion menus and other fancy features in this package.

But I am so far convinced this is truly the best package on the market.

http://www.ulead.com/dws/runme.htm

More to come.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[dchip]

Thanks for the info Jerry. What DVD-R drive do you have?

[Jerry Jones]

I'm using the Panasonic LF-D311.

...and...

...personally I'm glad I did not go with the Pioneer DVR-A03.

It's not that I don't like the Pioneer. I do. I think it's a great drive.

But for people like me who have a distinct need for an appropriate storage and archiving format, there is a real advantage in using a drive that *also* offers DVD-RAM functionality.

These DVD-RAM cartridges are simply amazing. They can store a fairly large amount of DV material and they don't scratch because they're protected by the cartridge.

I am in the process of building a second workstation and I want the ability to use DVD-RAM cartridges as a quick means of swapping material back and forth between the two workstations.

I can also use the DVD-RAM cartridges for archiving precious material.

They work just like a hard drive... drag and drop... and they're designed for thousands of writes/re-writes.

As for the DVD-R functionality... I'm finding that with the new Ulead MPEG.Now codec... there is not a need to create a "test"burn to DVD-RW.

This codec is rock solid... and the Wizard makes it possible to get all of the right DVD parameters with the click of a mouse and the result will look great.

I understand Panasonic, Hitachi and LG are getting ready to release a new drive that will *add* DVD-RW to the mix.

Now *THAT* will be hard to beat.

Jerry

[IM_Riktar]

Hi Jerry,
How does the quality compare to TMPGEnc?

[Jerry Jones]

You're on your own where TMPGEnc is concerned.

I'm not even going to bother with it because I'm satisfied with MPEG.Now.

However, for those of you who try 3rd party encoders:

DVD Workshop encoding templates have a specific bit rate.

So, if your 3rd party MPEGs do not match the
template, then DVDWS will re-encode your file.

The answer is to go into "Make Disc" and choose the custom option.

Then set the data rate to the same as your original MPEG files.

Then it won't re-convert them.

The only trouble with this is you might have MPEGs encoded at different bitrates.

(And you might have MPEGs that are slightly off spec, in my opinion.)

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[dchip]

I would hope that ULEAD DVD Workshop would find properly-made TMPGEnc MPEG-2 acceptable. In the 2 years or so that TMPGEnc has been around it's gained a lot of fans (me included). Like most, I've still never paid a dime for it, yet it has been better supported, and updated, than a lot of software that I paid for.

Thanks again, Jerry, for posting your ULEAD DVD Workshop results. It sounds like a winner. I'm going to poke around on some other forums and see what others are saying about it.

[Jerry Jones]

Okay, I've achieved very nice integration.

Ulead MEDIASTUDIO PRO's "switch" menu now lists Ulead DVD WORKSHOP!

I also got it to list Ulead PhotoImpact 7 and Ulead Gif Animator.

So what this means is the entire powerful SUITE of Ulead programs are now easily accessible via SWITCH.

There is a remarkable similarity between Ulead VideoStudio 6 (which I have also purchased) and Ulead DVD Workshop.

The work flow is setup in the same way...

The interface is very similar...

...now with LARGE preview windows!

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net