Blu-ray Authoring - Blu-ray Forum

teknix1 · 01-14-2009, 05:36 PM

Hi, can anybody tell me what software is currently available and affordable (<100$) that can author Blu-ray discs on Windows platforms? I'm not talking about encoding videos nor audio. Just the creation of menus, sequences, etc... My understanding is that menus are Java driven, so if such an authoring tool would have some type of Java IDE that would be even better.

Sorry if this is already answered elsewhere, but my searches only turned two year old posts. I would appreciate a link if you happen to know where this was answered recently.

Thanks in advance
Nic

Bobby Henderson · 01-14-2009, 05:58 PM

Pinnacle Studio Plus version 12 is a $99 application suite that supports AVCHD editing and Blu-ray authoring. Nero version 9 is in the same $99 product category. Roxio Creator 2009 has some built-in HD-DVD authoring, but a $29 plug-in is available to add Blu-ray support.

Low priced DVD/BD authoring suites may have some limitations and even be a bit flaky. If you're serious about putting together better quality discs you'll need to look at more expensive offerings from Adobe, Sony and others. To get into the "pro-sumer" level, you're looking at spending at least a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars or even more.

Enterprise level Blu-ray authoring turn-key systems (used to create the Blu-ray movie discs we buy at retail stores or online) are very expensive. Sonic Scenarist and Sony's Blu-print/Blu-code line are popular among professional disc authors.

BigB88 · 01-14-2009, 05:59 PM

ULEAD DVD MovieFactory 6 (~$80) and the HD Plug-ins (~$20) are the only products that I can think of in your price range that will do what your asking. There could be others, but I have this product and it isn't half bad for the price.

teknix1 · 01-14-2009, 06:13 PM

Thanks for all the replies!

Do any of these suggested products have a Java IDE? Any one you would recommend above the other ones?

I think I remember downloading the trial versions of MovieFactory and/or Creator but the HD component were left out. So there was no way for me to try them out.

Nic

McBain · 01-14-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teknix1

Hi, can anybody tell me what software is currently available and affordable (<100$) that can author Blu-ray discs on Windows platforms? I'm not talking about encoding videos nor audio. Just the creation of menus, sequences, etc... My understanding is that menus are Java driven, so if such an authoring tool would have some type of Java IDE that would be even better.

Sorry if this is already answered elsewhere, but my searches only turned two year old posts. I would appreciate a link if you happen to know where this was answered recently.

Thanks in advance
Nic

Software list here: http://www.emedialive.com/articles/r...leid=11425#ixp

Java is not mandatory for menus.

plee · 01-14-2009, 08:20 PM

As you can see from the list there is nothing cheap with BD-J interface coding.

You might try taking a look at this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-HD...1967882&sr=8-2

It gives some examples, you can use the Eclipse IDE but I haven't gotten a chance to really give it a try...

teknix1 · 01-15-2009, 12:59 AM

Well looks like I've got a lot of reading to do. Great links, thank you all. Sounds to me like the technology is not quite there yet.

jmkoch · 01-15-2009, 02:18 PM

If you author BDs, the biggest investment is not the software. The Cyberlink, Pinnacle, Ulead, and Nero products all compete in more or less the same price range. They work, provided you meet the system requirements.

Your biggest investment will be:

1) A multi-core PC with an adequate graphics card and BD burner.

2) The BD+RE SL or BD+RE DL discs themselves, which are quite expensive.

3) The unreliable quality of some DVD+RE DL discs, which can carry an hour of HD video in AVCHD-DVD format, but often register "burn failure" and end up as coasters. Of late, I've had terrible experience with Memorex DVD+R DL discs and am disappointed that few stores seem to stock other brands in DL. "Coasters" can infest and overwhelm.

4) Time. It takes more time to burn BD disc images and discs. Rendering of edited AVCHD to BD-AVC is only about 3.5 fps on a core 2 duo, and often under 10 fps on basic quad systems. That means over a day to burn a disc covering a 4 hour sports event or "wedding + honemoon" video. If you decide to change your project after seeing the "beta," you have to be very careful not to miss any changes, since you don't want to do it a third time.

teknix1 · 01-15-2009, 03:54 PM

Interesting way of seeing this. I'm not too worried about the hardware part, I have a lot of free time ahead of me

.

For point 3, I've had great success with FujiFilm discs, although I hear AVCHD discs don't work well on every Blu-ray players. Especially DL discs.

What does the rendering do exactly, encode the video or simply converts the data to the proper file type, structure?

The more I read about all of this the more I think I'll have to wait until I get into this.

01-14-2009, 05:36 PM	#1
teknix1 New Member Member since:Jan 2009	Blu-ray Authoring Hi, can anybody tell me what software is currently available and affordable (<100$) that can author Blu-ray discs on Windows platforms? I'm not talking about encoding videos nor audio. Just the creation of menus, sequences, etc... My understanding is that menus are Java driven, so if such an authoring tool would have some type of Java IDE that would be even better. Sorry if this is already answered elsewhere, but my searches only turned two year old posts. I would appreciate a link if you happen to know where this was answered recently. Thanks in advance Nic

01-15-2009, 02:18 PM	#8
jmkoch Member Member since:Dec 2008	If you author BDs, the biggest investment is not the software. The Cyberlink, Pinnacle, Ulead, and Nero products all compete in more or less the same price range. They work, provided you meet the system requirements. Your biggest investment will be: 1) A multi-core PC with an adequate graphics card and BD burner. 2) The BD+RE SL or BD+RE DL discs themselves, which are quite expensive. 3) The unreliable quality of some DVD+RE DL discs, which can carry an hour of HD video in AVCHD-DVD format, but often register "burn failure" and end up as coasters. Of late, I've had terrible experience with Memorex DVD+R DL discs and am disappointed that few stores seem to stock other brands in DL. "Coasters" can infest and overwhelm. 4) Time. It takes more time to burn BD disc images and discs. Rendering of edited AVCHD to BD-AVC is only about 3.5 fps on a core 2 duo, and often under 10 fps on basic quad systems. That means over a day to burn a disc covering a 4 hour sports event or "wedding + honemoon" video. If you decide to change your project after seeing the "beta," you have to be very careful not to miss any changes, since you don't want to do it a third time. Last edited by jmkoch; 01-15-2009 at 02:25 PM.

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01-14-2009, 05:58 PM	#2
Bobby Henderson Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Oklahoma Blu-ray collection:96 Blu-ray reviews: 12	Pinnacle Studio Plus version 12 is a $99 application suite that supports AVCHD editing and Blu-ray authoring. Nero version 9 is in the same $99 product category. Roxio Creator 2009 has some built-in HD-DVD authoring, but a $29 plug-in is available to add Blu-ray support. Low priced DVD/BD authoring suites may have some limitations and even be a bit flaky. If you're serious about putting together better quality discs you'll need to look at more expensive offerings from Adobe, Sony and others. To get into the "pro-sumer" level, you're looking at spending at least a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars or even more. Enterprise level Blu-ray authoring turn-key systems (used to create the Blu-ray movie discs we buy at retail stores or online) are very expensive. Sonic Scenarist and Sony's Blu-print/Blu-code line are popular among professional disc authors.

01-14-2009, 05:59 PM	#3
BigB88 Active Member Member since:Aug 2007	ULEAD DVD MovieFactory 6 (~$80) and the HD Plug-ins (~$20) are the only products that I can think of in your price range that will do what your asking. There could be others, but I have this product and it isn't half bad for the price.

01-14-2009, 06:13 PM	#4
teknix1 New Member Member since:Jan 2009	Thanks for all the replies! Do any of these suggested products have a Java IDE? Any one you would recommend above the other ones? I think I remember downloading the trial versions of MovieFactory and/or Creator but the HD component were left out. So there was no way for me to try them out. Nic

01-14-2009, 08:20 PM	#6
plee Senior Member Member since:Mar 2007	As you can see from the list there is nothing cheap with BD-J interface coding. You might try taking a look at this book: http://www.amazon.com/Programming-HD...1967882&sr=8-2 It gives some examples, you can use the Eclipse IDE but I haven't gotten a chance to really give it a try...

01-15-2009, 12:59 AM	#7
teknix1 New Member Member since:Jan 2009	Well looks like I've got a lot of reading to do. Great links, thank you all. Sounds to me like the technology is not quite there yet.

01-15-2009, 03:54 PM	#9
teknix1 New Member Member since:Jan 2009	Interesting way of seeing this. I'm not too worried about the hardware part, I have a lot of free time ahead of me . For point 3, I've had great success with FujiFilm discs, although I hear AVCHD discs don't work well on every Blu-ray players. Especially DL discs. What does the rendering do exactly, encode the video or simply converts the data to the proper file type, structure? The more I read about all of this the more I think I'll have to wait until I get into this.

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