Best format for saving files

[Mitch]

I recently purchased a Dazzle DVD Recorder capture device. Unfortunately, I
didn't do my research properly, and I got the less expensive device that does
the rendering thru software, instead of getting the device that does it thru
hardware. Anyway, by doing some playing around, I have found that I get
better capture using MovieMaker instead of the supplied Pinnacle software,
but of course WMM only saves as .wmv files. The Pinnacle software will save
as MPEG-2 without my purchasing the extra codec pack which offers MPEG-4
capabilities. So I am using WMM to capture the footage from my video tapes,
but then I want to go in and add titles, etc. I have edited the footage using
both WMM and Pinnacle and added titles, transitions, etc in both apps, then
saved them to compare. When saving the footage in WMM, they save as .wmv
files, or I can save as .avi files, but they are extremely large. When saving
the edited footage in Pinnacle, they save as MPEG-2 flies. I have been told
that MPEG-4 is the best to save as, but would have to buy the codec pack from
Pinnacle to do so.
Question....which file, .wmv, .avi, or MPEG-4, is better to save my files as
so that I can create DVD's later with them?
Any help would really be appreciated, as I have attempted to read posts
here, on the web, etc., and can't seem to find any real answers to this
question.
Thanks, Mitch

 

[Mitch]

Thanks John,

that makes sense and makes it a lot easier. do you have a suggestion as to a
good authoring software? i have the limited sonic app that came with my xp
laptop

 

[Mitch]

Thanks again...I'll look into it. You've been a big help!

 

[Gord Dibben]

Mitch

I'm kinda partial to ULead Factory6 at $50.00

For a lot more dollars you could have ULead DVD Workshop with more features or
the slightly cheaper DVD Workshop Express.

See Wojo's Web for reviews on these and others.

http://www.remember-christopher.dostweb.com/Wojos_Web/DVD/DVD.htm


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP