humanist7, It would have been nice to have some kind of response. If you are going to offer your software, you should have someone monitoring things for the entire time of the giveaway. Otherwise you drive people away from the software and company in general. While also giving the GOTD folks a bad look. Because of this I'm not sure it would ever be worth my while to deal with Laewo ever again. Too many other options out there. Not the way to run a business.

Phillip Lipton, just try!

Phillip Lipton,

As TK posted, you're limited to the 720 x 480 [NTSC] or 720 x 576 [PAL] frame sizes. Quality itself depends on the video you use, e.g. a high quality 1080p video re-encoded to 720 x 480 can look very good on a lower rez screen, & generally is acceptable [watchable] on a 1080 display.

It gets tricky though, particularly for NTSC video [as used in the US]... the max bit rate is ~9, and you're limited to ~4.5 or 8 GB of storage on single & dual layer DVDs. As TK also posted, the mpg2 encoding that DVDs use is less efficient than something like the AVC used on Blu-rays -- at DVD frame sizes an mpg2 file is roughly double the size of the same video using AVC. To make the best use of the available disc space you want to use Variable Bit Rate encoding [VBR]. And if the source is originally 24 fps [like most movies], for NTSC you want to use drop frame encoding -- what that does is let you store only 24 frames per second, so smaller files, that are played back at the required 29.97 fps. [Note: nowadays you *may* be able to get away with 24 fps non-drop frame video -- IF your DVD authoring software will allow it -- depending on your playback device.]

But wait -- it gets trickier still... because DVDs were designed in an analog world, what you see on a PC at *roughly* 640 x 480 NTSC has to be resized to a 720 x 480 frame -- PAL requires a similar resizing. [I say "Roughly" because the math, exact figures, & the reasons behind it would take a full page to explain.] 16:9 wide-screen video also has to be squeezed into that same 720 x 480 or 576 frame -- the player expands it back out to full size. And just like still images, resizing video does effect quality too -- another reason you want to start with high quality video, so you can better afford the data loss.

My goodness Mike, that was an outstanding reply to Phillip Lipton's question!

You really need to be commended for taking the time to share your vast knowledge with the folks that visit this site.

Thank you sir for being so generous with your time.

I know I have personally benefitted from your comments and just wanted to let you know that what you do is appreciated.

That goes for other commenters on this site that post helpful comments as well.

I actually don't download too much any longer, because I pretty much have all the software I need, but still come here to partake of the treasure trove of info to be gleaned from the comments.

Thanks to all that share here!

Best regards, Mister Lee

Phillip Lipton,

Thank you for asking such an interesting question. It resulted in some awesome, very enlightening answers from TK and mike.

Cheers,

consuella

consuella, The very learned explanation that Mike gives is very good, but then there is the question if Phillip Lipton knows what he is talking about after that explanation. It seems that Phillip Lipton is a debutant.

consuella, by the way, i use sometimes the free Sothink Movie DVD Maker 3.8

TK,

You *might* be able to find an excellent DVD authoring guide on the net from 15 years ago; "PIlgrims Guide to DVD Authoring". The V2 guide was comprehensive, and corrected a few errors in the initial version.

I haven't looked for it in a while, so cant post a link (I'm also at work....)

An update.

The second I posted, I uninstalled the software. Horrified to see it takes up almost 300MB on disk (!!!!). The uninstall process does launch the Leawo software site, where the ask why one is uninstalling. And to their credit:

a) one of the options is "I dont like the interface"
b) they provide a link to download the previous version (in my case V5)

So whilst I don't like v7, a thumbs up to Leowo for recognising the new interface is not to everyones taste, and a means of using the older version that the user was happy with!

Alan, Thanks for your review, it was most helpful. However i must say that most of the users who come to sites like this one are looking for free stuff that is easy, simple to understand and use, with the emphasis on simple. The interface is more often not a part of the issues we have, since we are not all wiz kids or is ready to give out the kind of money that the better looking programs cost. We are mostly just interested in knowing the given program preforms well and does the job it was intended to do well .

Hi Alston, thanks for the kind comment!

Agreed, its a case of different tools for different people. I just found the interface simplistic to the point where it had taken the software backwards rather than forwards. Without meaning to insult anyone, if I was looking for a program for a 10year old to create DVD/BD videos, and/or slideshows, then v7 would be a go-to tool. It would excel at that level. Please dont get me wrong, I don't mean to equate anyone who is not a "whiz kid" to a ten year old!

I think that rather than castrating the existing program to achieve that, Leowo might have been marketing this as a separate, different, product, and retaining the v5 type tool and interface as a different product. Anyway, have a like as your raise a good point :)

Alan,

Thanks for the heads up about V5. I have V5.3 from previous giveaway but it now shows 'Unregistered'. I guess it was limited license.

Based on what you wrote, I'd rather get V5. It seems the only way to get V5 now is install V7, Unistall, they give you option to download V5.

Then, what about the registration key? How did you register your V5?

humanist7, at al

I would - but I wasn't asked for it on install, I'm guessing it picked up something from the previous installation that wasn't removed when V7 upgraded from v5, nor when I uninstalled v7.

I'll have a gander if I get time later.

TK,

There was no link per-se, the uninstaller opened a browser page on the Leowo site, which asked for feedback regarding why I was uninstalling. The first option was "I don't like the interface", and on the page was a hypertext link "I want to revert back to previous version (5.something something)"

I'd guess that as part of the installation or usage, Leowo collect user information such as email address and software version number, then use to dynamically generate the chance to revert back to the last installed version - hence rather than a generic "let me download an older version" it lists a very specific version.

Alan, I can survive most of what there is but still have no idea how to create chapter points in my video.

I can't believe they don't support that. Can it be true?

Pah, software informer is an add-on to let you know of new software released. Users are prompted if they want the add-on with any install of GOTD software. I typically leave these options unselected and without issue.

Grump Pah, If you follow the link in the Readme from GOTD-zip, you can get a code.
And if you read your mail good, you can download the software and install it.

Ootje, thanks! I missed that.

Why does this process need to be so convoluted?

Grump Pah, its windows10...

Dale, you should click the REPLY button under Gary's comment in order to have your comments tied to his. Otherwise, your reply doesn't have the original context (and folks will give you a negative usefulness vote, for whatever that's worth ;) )

Gary,
As far as I am concerned yes. I have found it to do more than what I need and if you have problems even though it is a free program they will help with a great attitude.