Movie making software suggestions?

[SA]

I'm looking for software to make DVD movies from home movies. I want the
following features:

-Start with .avi files
-Edit avi clips
-Make menus for different chapters
-Burn DVDs to watch on DVD players

Any suggestions?

 

[Andrew E.]

Try windows media encoder 8 or 9 series,with 9 thiers also a 9 series SDK,
plus get the utilities...One can also use windows xp "movie maker" after its
thru,run it thru the encoder "convert audio/video"....

 

[Trevor Lawrence]

Try windows media encoder 8 or 9 series,with 9 thiers also a 9 series
SDK,
plus get the utilities...One can also use windows xp "movie maker" after
its
thru,run it thru the encoder "convert audio/video"....

I have exactly the same requirements.

I have used Ulead Movie Factory - supplied with a DVD drive I no longer
possess.

But lately it does NOT do the 4th requirement - the DVD only plays on the
computer

I am wondering whether it is because I am working with avi files and the VOB
files created are actually just containers for avi files, which don't play
on DVD players

I am now thinking of converting avi to MPEG2 first.and then trying to edit,
make menus and burn to DVD. The only converter I have is Free Video
Converter, which I found as a free download. This appear to convert OK, but
I have become so downheartened by my failures when writing to DVD that I
just haven't got around to redoing the Ulead part (editing, making menus and
writing to DVD)

Andrew E., are you saying:
1. Run Windows Media Encoder to convert files
2. Use WMM for editing and menus
3. Use WMM to write to DVD

Re 1.
I don't know where Windows Media Encoder can be found. (I haven't followed
this thread up till now, so I may have missed something.)

Re 2.
I haven't tried WMM yet so I assume it will do this

Re 3.
WMM has this in its Help. Nowhere does it mention saving to a DVD
This page of the Save Movie Wizard lets you select which movie saving option
you want to use, depending on what you want to do with the final movie. The
following options appear on this page.
My computer
Recordable CD
E-mail
The Web
DV camera

I am hoping that answers to this thread will also put me on the right track.
Especially if it is from someone who has done this and can give a step by
step description of how

 

[raymond.william.c]

Hey, you guys,

I just got a software DVD Slideshow Builder recommended by my friend
Ross, which can do what you guys want.

Import images/videos, edit DVD menu templates then burn onto DVDs/HD-
DVDs for watching on TV.

And It's totally free to download and have a try.
http://download.photo-to-dvd.com/DSB_trial.exe

 

[Nanook]

I have exactly the same requirements.

I have used Ulead Movie Factory - supplied with a DVD drive I no longer
possess.

But lately it does NOT do the 4th requirement - the DVD only plays on the
computer

I am wondering whether it is because I am working with avi files and the VOB
files created are actually just containers for avi files, which don't play
on DVD players

I am now thinking of converting avi to MPEG2 first.and then trying to edit,
make menus and burn to DVD. The only converter I have is Free Video
Converter, which I found as a free download. This appear to convert OK, but
I have become so downheartened by my failures when writing to DVD that I
just haven't got around to redoing the Ulead part (editing, making menus and
writing to DVD)

Andrew E., are you saying:
1. Run Windows Media Encoder to convert files
2. Use WMM for editing and menus
3. Use WMM to write to DVD

Re 1.
I don't know where Windows Media Encoder can be found. (I haven't followed
this thread up till now, so I may have missed something.)

Re 2.
I haven't tried WMM yet so I assume it will do this

Re 3.
WMM has this in its Help. Nowhere does it mention saving to a DVD
This page of the Save Movie Wizard lets you select which movie saving option
you want to use, depending on what you want to do with the final movie. The
following options appear on this page.
My computer
Recordable CD
E-mail
The Web
DV camera

I am hoping that answers to this thread will also put me on the right track.
Especially if it is from someone who has done this and can give a step by
step description of how

If you burn the DVD with Nero Vision Express, you can feed it avi files
and it will convert automagically, you can also feed it the files directly
from Movie Maker.