DVD Authoring Software Gallery
    -- Professional Tools  (see also Consumer Tools)

Full Version -- with details & screenshots

        Full version, with product summaries and screenshots.
        Also see the faster-loading Summary version, without screenshots.

    by Douglas Dixon

Software applications for desktop DVD authoring, organized from consumer to professional. Each application includes a brief description, and information on the latest released version. Product descriptions and images are summarized from published information. 

Contents

• DVD Software Players
• Personal / Automated DVD Authoring Tools

• Professional DVD Authoring Tools
• Professional / Film DVD Authoring Tools
• DVD Recording Tools

See also: Digital Video Editing Software Gallery

Updates -- 2008

10/2008 - Adobe - Encore CS4
9/2008 - Nero 9, Nero Move it
8/2008 - Roxio - Creator 2009
4/2008 - CyberLink - PowerDVD 8
3/2008 - Corel [InterVideo] - WinDVD 9

Updates -- 2007

8/2007 - Apple - iDVD '08
7/2007 - Adobe - Encore CS3
2/2007 - Ulead - DVD MovieFactory 6
1/2007 - Roxio - MyDVD 9

Updates -- 2006

12/2006 - Sonic - DVDit Pro HD
            - Sony - DVD Architect Studio 4 standalone
            - CyberLink - PowerDVD Ultra
11/2006 - CyberLink - PowerProducer 4
            - InterVideo - WinDVD 8
5/2006 - InterVideo - WinDVD Creator 3
4/2006 - CyberLink - PowerDVD 7
3/2006 - Adobe - Encore DVD 2.0
           - Ulead - DVD MovieFactory 5
2/2006 - Sonic - MyDVD 8
1/2006 - Apple - iLife '06 - iDVD 6

Updates -- 2005

8/2005 - Sonic - DVDit 6 Pro
6/2005 - InterVideo - WinDVD 7
           - MedioStream - NeoDVD 7
4/2005 - Apple - DVD Studio Pro 4
3/2005 - Ulead - DVD MovieFactory 4 Disc Creator
1/2005 - Apple - iDVD 5

Updates -- 2004

10/2004 - InterVideo - WinDVD 6
9/2004 - Microsoft - Windows Media Player 10
            - Sonic - MyDVD Studio Deluxe 6
            - Sonic - DVD Producer 4.5
7/2004 - Sonic - DVDit 5
            - Ulead - DVD Workshop Express
6/2004 - CyberLink - PowerDVD 6
5/2004 - Adobe - Encore DVD 1.5
            - Apple - DVD Studio Pro 3
1/2004 - Apple - iDVD 4
            - Ulead - DVD MovieFactory 3 Disc Creator
            - Ulead - DVD Workshop 2

Updates -- 2003

9/2003 - Sonic Solutions - MyDVD 5, RecordNow! 6
            - Sonic Solutions - DVD Producer 4, Scenarist 3
8/2003 - CyberLink - PowerDVD 5
            - InterVideo - WinDVD 5
4/2003 - Apple - DVD Studio Pro 3
            - Adobe - Encore DVD
            - Pinnacle - Instant CD/DVD
2/2003 - Apple - iDVD 3
1/2003 - Adaptec - MyDVD Video Suite
            - NVIDIA - NVDVD
            - Topics Entertainment - Instant DVD Maker
            - Ulead - DVD MovieFactory 2.0

Professional DVD Authoring Tools

DVD authoring with support for more DVD-Video features: menu and button graphics, multiple video and audio streams, subtitles, navigational links, scripts, Dolby audio. Still at an "abstraction layer" above the DVD specification, with limits on full multi-tracks, multiple titles, programmability, etc. Customization requires more manual editing and layout, materials to be prepared and converted to DVD formats. Around $200 to $700.

Apple Computer - DVD Studio Pro 4

Apple DVD Studio Pro 4.2 - with FC Studio 2, released May 2007
    Apple Final Cut Studio 2 -  $1,299
    Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro 2, 
         Compressor 3, DVD Studio Pro 4.2, Color

    Apple DVD Studio Pro 4 - due May 2005
    Encode. Author. Burn. Deliver.
   Separate $499
   Bundled with Final Cut Studio - $1,299. FCP upgrade $699
     Final Cut Pro 5, Soundtrack Pro, Motion 2, DVD Studio Pro 4

- Burns high definition DVDs to the latest HD DVD specification 
- Distributed encoding tools 
- Support for mixed formats and advanced scripting

    DVD SP 4

Apple DVD Studio Pro 3, released May 2004; $499, upgrade $199

- Graphical View: Projects in storyboard form with nodes and connections.
- Render-free Transition Preview
- Alpha Transitions - Blend menus, titles and video imagery
- DTS Audio, Dolby Digital Professional AC-3
- Photoshop Integration: Edit and update Photoshop assets
- Compressor 1.2: Encode HD to SD MPEG-2
- Jacket Picture support

    DVD SP 3

Apple DVD Studio Pro 2, released Aug. 2003; $499

DVD authoring for creative professionals, not DVD technicians
- Integrated menu editor, Timeline-based track editor, Context sensitive drop palettes
- Compressor - batch transcoding tool

     DVD SP 2

Apple DVD Studio Pro 1.5 for Mac OS X - April 2002; $999 ($499 as of April 2003)

- MPEG encoding and compilation of projects in the background
- Import chapter markers from Final Cut Pro

Apple DVD Studio Pro 1.2 - Jan. 2002

- Support for external DVD-RAM/DVD-R FireWire drives
- Enhancements to creating DLT tapes for use as replication masters

        DVD SP 1

Adobe Systems - Encore CS4

Adobe Encore CS4, released Oct. 2008 
    Bundled with Premiere Pro CS3, with OnLocation, $799
    Intel Mac and Windows XP / Vista

Production Premium suite $1699
    with After Effects, Soundbooth, Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, Flash
    plus Bridge, Device Central, Dynamic Link

- Deliver three formats from single project file: DVD, Blu-ray (HD), Flash for Web
- New: Dynamic Link from Premiere Pro CS4, use timeline without rendering
- Publish DVD projects to the web: Flash animations with DVD interactivity and menus
- Industry-leading Blu-ray Disc authoring: New pop-up menus, New dual-layer burning, subtitles
- Enhanced subtitling: Subtitle track export for editing
- Flowchart, enhanced independent variable zoom
- Slide show editor
- New: Preview with FireWire video out
- Adobe Photoshop integration
- Adobe After Effects CS4 integration: Create motion menus
- New: Resource Central: News and tutorials

Adobe Encore CS3, released July 2007     Bundled with Premiere Pro CS3, with OnLocation, Ultra, $799     Intel Mac and Windows XP / Vista Production Premium suite $1699     with After Effects, Soundbooth, Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, Flash See article on Using Adobe Encore DVD 2.0

Author professional-quality DVDs
- Use Dynamic Link to work with After Effects animations for DVD motion menus without re-rendering
- New: Author single project, deliver as standard-definition DVD,
    plus high-definition Blu-ray Disc, and Web-ready Flash content
- New: Blu-ray Disc authoring with same interface and features
- New: Create interactive DVD-style Flash version of project
    Create interactive SWF content without scripting and without Flash authoring
    Deliver DVD-style menus, interactivity, and content to Web Flash Player users

    Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 released March 2006, $349, upgrade $149
    Production Studio Standard $1,199:
        Premiere Pro 2 $849, After Effects 7.0 Std $699, Photoshop CS2, Adobe Bridge 
    Production Studio Premium $1,699: 
        plus After Effects 7.0 Pro $999, Audition 2.0 $349, Encore DVD 2.0 $349, Illustrator CS2

- Slideshow creator: Browsable or autoplay, transitions, pan and zoom effects
- Flowchart view: Dynamic display schematic tree structure. Review and edit links
- Automated chapter menus: Generate multipage menus from templates
- Chapter Playlists: Reuse content by playing specific chapter ranges
- Arrange Multiple clips on the same timeline, Add chapter points at set intervals
- Import Line 21 files for closed captions, XMP metadata support, Royalty-free templates and art

Adobe Encore DVD 1.5 released May 2004, $549, upgrade $99
    5/05 - price $349

- New Library Palette, Styles Palette with Photoshop CS layer effects
- Import QuickTime files. Preview menus on external monitor
- Background transcode, customizable workspaces, Project Checker
- Photoshop CS with nested layer sets, non-square pixels

Adobe Encore DVD released Aug. 2003, $549  

- Sophisticated menu design with unparalleled Photoshop integration
- Timeline interface, optimized for DVD production
- Powerful navigation controls - end actions
- Efficient project management - sort elements and apply global changes
- Integration with Adobe Premiere and After Effects
- Integrated video and audio transcoding

Roxio [Sonic] - DVDit Pro 6 / Pro HD 6              

Comprehensive Blu-ray Disc authoring for video professionals and enthusiasts Roxio [Sonic] DVDit Pro HD 6 - released Dec. 2006, v. 6.4 June 2008     DVDit 6 Pro $199; DVDit Pro HD 6 $299 (Blu-ray) www.dvdit.com, www.sonic.com See article on Delivering HD Discs: Roxio DVDit Pro HD Find related Sonic/Roxio articles in the Manifest Tech Blog     Find Roxio DVDit Pro HD on Amazon.com

Roxio [Sonic] DVDit Pro HD - v. 6.4 June 2008
    DVDit 6 Pro $199; DVDit Pro HD 6 $299 (Blu-ray)

DVDit Pro HD - v. 6.4
    AVC and VC-1 video pass-through, Multi-channel (to 7.1) PCM pass-through for higher quality
    Output BD-50 Discs and Masters
    Create mixed aspect ratio, resolution (SD and HD), frame rate and video codec Blu-ray Discs
    Windows Visa support

DVDit Pro HD 6 - released Dec. 2006
    DVDit Pro HD $499 (originally $599) - Blu-ray; DVDit 6 Pro $299 (was $399)

DVDit 6 Pro - Professional timeline and menu editing 
    Up to 8 audio and 32 subtitle tracks, Dolby Digital Stereo Encoding; 5.1 pass through

DVDit Pro HD: Author project once and output to DVD and HD Blu-ray from same project
    Deliver 1080p. 1080i or 720p movies on Blu-ray
    Design interactive menus at full HD resolution
    Create mixed aspect ratio, resolution (SD and HD), frame rate Blu-ray discs
    VBR HD MPEG-2 Transcoding up to 40,000 kbs for Blu-ray projects
    Min and Max Bit-rate Controls for DVD and Blu-ray Disc
    LPCM audio includes superior-quality PCM on Blu-ray Discs
    Consumer Dolby Digital Stereo Encoding at up to 640kbs for Blu-ray Discs
    DVD (DLT) and Blu-ray Disc (CMF) mastering services, and add CSS and AACS content protection

    DVDit 6 - released Aug. 2005 - DVDit Pro 6 $399, DVDit 6 $299
Powerful DVD authoring for video professionals

- Flexible workspace, 2-layer PSD menus, motion menu duration, Dolby Digital stereo
- Pro: eDVD 4, Playlist, OpenDVD, 8 audio and 32 subtitle tracks in timeline
- Navigation: link set stream and highlight, Menu & Title buttons
- Pro Dolby Digital stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 pass-through
- Mastering: DLT, Dual-layer, CSS & Macrovision APS content protection, region coding, jacket picture

Sonic DVDit 5 - released June 2004 - $299 Powerful DVD authoring made easy

- Motion menu creation, object alignment, button highlight and text tools
- Navigation control - First Play, End Action, button routing, Easter Egg buttons
- New chapter editing timeline, frame-accurate scrubbing
- Real-time MPEG-2 encoder, Variable Bit Rate (VBR), Dolby Digital (AC-3)
- Supports AVI, MPEG, QuickTime, Windows Media Video
- Professional-quality graphic content - includes a built-in set of exclusive high-quality menu graphics.
- Double Layer disc creation -DVD+R Double Layer DVD (8.5GB)
- Compatible with MyDVD

Sonic DVDit! 2.5 - SE $299, DVDit! PE $399 - Q2 2003
Sonic DVDit! 2.5 released November 2001; 
Standard Edition $299, Professional Edition $599

Sonic Solutions - ReelDVD 3  (old)

ReelDVD 3.0.1 - Sept. 2002

- Migration path to Scenarist
- Nine video angles, eight audio streams and 32 subtitle streams

Ulead Systems - DVD Workshop Express

DVD authoring software for corporate and personal use Ulead DVD Workshop Express, released July 2004; $299 - $199 www.ulead.com/dws

DVD Workshop Express, released July 2004; $299

Same workflow of DVD Workshop 2.2
without high-end DVD replication technology that only professionals require
Two subtitle and audio track, Dolby Digital AC-3
Playlists, motion menu, preview

Ulead Systems [Corel] - Ulead DVD Workshop 2

Powerful and intuitive authoring software for professional DVD creation Ulead DVD Workshop 2, released Jan. 2004; $495 - $395     DVD Workshop 2.2 update - released July 2004 www.ulead.com/dws Find related Corel/Ulead/InterVideo articles in the Manifest Tech Blog     Find Ulead DVD Workshop on Amazon.com

DVD Workshop 2.2 update - released July 2004

- Dual-layer DVD burning support - 8.5 GB
- Two-pass MPEG-2 encoding
- PhotoImpact DVD Menu Plug-in for DVD Workshop 2.2
- DVD menu creation plug-in for enhanced interoperability w/ PhotoImpact (version 8 and above)
- Create graphics for DVD buttons, frames, backgrounds and complete menu templates
- Create DVD menu elements, assign and check object identification, and import seamlessly

DVD Workshop 2, released Jan. 2004; $495

Professional Features
- 8 audio and 32 subtitle tracks
- Playlists - multiple sequences of movies, menus, chapter points, audio and subtitle tracks
- Dual-layer (DVD-9) and DLT (Digital Linear Tape) support
- Copyright protection support for CSS and Macrovision, region coding
- Motion menu loop control - Set a motion menu to loop at a specific point
- Buttons with irregular masks, rotation; Text effects; Invisible buttons
- Real-time motion menu preview

Enhanced Input Options
- Import 5.1 channel Dolby Digital AC-3 audio files, encode to 2-channel stereo
- Capture and encode DV/AVI, MPEG or analog video, WMV and Sony MICROMV
- Import single- or multi-layered images, including Photoshop PSD files

Enhanced Output Options
- Multiple-format Video Title Sets
- 16:9 widescreen format video

DVD Workshop AC-3, Feb. 2003; from $479

DVD Workshop 1.3 update - Oct. 2002

- Elementary Stream file import - import independent video and audio
- Import Matrox RT MPEG AVI files

DVD Workshop 1.2 Power Patch - July 2002

- Encoding LPCM audio
- Multiple Video Title Set support (Multi-VTS)
- Faster burning, reliability, Premiere AVI import

Ulead DVD Workshop released June 2002; from $279

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Professional / Film DVD Authoring Tools

High-end tools for multimedia professionals and feature film DVD production. From $10K and up.

Sonic Solutions - DVD Fusion / DVD Producer   (old)

Sonic DVD Producer 4.5 - released Sept. 2004 - $1,999

- Dual-layer (DVD-9) title production, DVD+R double-layer DVD-recordable drives
- Integrated professional Dolby Digital audio software encoder

Sonic DVD Producer 4, Sept. 2003

SD-2000 advanced MPEG encoding system
- FilmPack authoring support - dual-layer (DVD-9) authoring,
-  Volume Info, Regional Coding, CSS, CGMS, and APS copy protection schemes.
- Automatic Dolby Digital transcoding - to Dolby Digital from PCM
- Integrated hardware real-time proofing to external video monitor
- PlayList Manager - multiple independent playback order lists of DVDs assets,
    up to 64,000 links, control start position, audio and subtitle stream selection
- JumpAnywhere, custom Jacket Picture, real-time bit-for-bit project proofing
- Full support for OpenDVD

Sonic Solutions - Creator / Scenarist

For feature film DVD production  Sonic Scenarist - on Windows Sonic DVD Creator - on Macintosh (old) New: Scenarist Authoring Workgroup for     Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD Authoring Industry-standard professional DVD authoring system for feature film and commercial DVD title production.  Systems range in price from $4,999 to $35,000. - Scenarist Studio - 16:9, DVD-9, up to 3 camera angles  - Scenarist Advanced - adds copy protection, regional coding and closed-caption  - Scenarist Professional - up to 9 video angles, DTS, Text Data, Jacket Pictures. www.sonic.com

Sonic Scenarist 3 - Sept. 2003

- Hollywood-standard DVD Authoring Solution
- Advanced Copy and Paste of DVD Commands -- entire command sections
- Import and Export VTS -- distributed across multiple authoring seats
- Pan-Scan Video Support -- import 16:9 encoded video, centering the image as intended
- PlantDirect Tapeless Premastering -- transfer DVD images electronically
- Auto Update from Track Editor -- Moving from a DVD Creator or DVD Fusion
- Improved Template Handling
- Enhanced Simulation Window -- a new Menu Editor and Command Editor
- Expanded DVD Recorder Support

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DVD Recording Tools

Other tools and utilities for DVD authoring, DVD copying, and data recording.

Ahead Software - Nero 
    www.nero.com

B.H.A Software - B's Recorder
    www.BHACorp.com

CyberLink - PowerDVD Copy
    www.gocyberlink.com

GEAR Software - GEAR PRO
    www.gearsoftware.com

InterVideo - DVD Copy
    www.intervideo.com

NewTech Infosystems (NTI) - CD & DVD Maker
    www.ntius.com

Pinnacle Systems - Instant CD/DVD  (formerly VOB)
    www.pinnaclesys.com

Roxio (Sonic) - Easy Media Creator  (formerly Adaptec) 
    www.roxio.com

Software Architects - WriteDVD 
    www.softarch.com

Sonic Solutions - RecordNow!
    www.sonic.com

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