Hi

Anyone heard any rumors about a new version of DVDit beyond 6.4?

Thanks
NBK

I might be able to tell you within a week or two

A Beta tester?

Hi

How does one become a BETA tester?

Thanks
NBK

If I had been beta testing some version of Dvdit Pro, I wouldn´t have been allowed to tell even that little, no something quite different, I am waiting for the latest release of Avid Dvd, brought together with Media Composer 3,51, to see if anything new has happened and if some old bugs are fixed.

Oh OK. I had heard that DVDitProHD was essentially "dead" software - i.e. no plans for future improvements, extended features or bug revisions. Even the release of the 6.4 revisions was sort of handled haphazardly with previous customers having to obtain it through emails etc. - no download site, etc. Your comment stirred some hope. I think that the corporate philosophy is that by adding some more features that are in Sonic Scenarist into DVDitProHD - it would take away from their high-end line so we are sort of stuck with what we have with no future changes.

The version of Avid Dvd brought together with 3,0 was called version 6,0, that was actually 6,4 1B01A

The version delivered together with 3,51 is named Avid Dvd 6,1 , there are also rumours about a version 6,2 but , as said, time will tell, I´ll let you all know of course.

I would not hold my breath on any new version as there has been only 2 official releases of DVDit HD Pro 6.3 and 6.4 in about 2 1/2 years. So taking that time line maybe next year. Having emailed with Scott about various issues long ago, I got the feeling that Avid versions got first priority and DVDit was pretty much when they can get to it. Heck even 6.4 still has bugs in it that have not been addressed. I've pretty much moved on to use the Adobe CS4 suite since I was using Premiere anyway. If there is a new release, will it be an update or upgrade?

I am with you on that one, Plee.

The story about the "update/upgrade" is as follows.

Avid has previously been "Dongle" protected.
The earlier "special" Avid versions have had to have some code inserted to allow them to work with the Dongle.

With the release of Media Composer 3.5, Avid offered 1. Dongle protection, as before or 2. Software activation.

Roxio now has to supply 2 versions to Avid. The regular one known as AvidDVD vers. 6.0, and a newer one AvidDVD vers. 6.1

The software is exactly the same as far as authoring goes.

Then, as Tomas said, "there are also rumours about a version 6.2". The keyword is RUMOURS

Regards,
Douglas

The delivery receipt just came by mail, now it is just to wait for the package, no more speculations

So, I have just opened up the package and done the install, version number is 6,1 641B39A will do some tests

From the readme that came together with the disc, dated June 2008 so that is an old readme in that case but the version number is new, as I have installed now, I have no old readme to compare with, here we go

3
Changed in Version 6.0
Avid DVD by Sonic v6.0 includes the following enhancements or fixes:
ï Added support for elementary AVC stream import, preview, and pass through.
ï Added support for elementary VC-1 stream import, preview, and pass through.
ï Added support for 8 channel WAV audio output for BD.
ï Added support for BD-50.
ï Added support for BD-R v2.
ï Added support for BD-RE v3.
ï Updated MPEG-2 encoder.
ï Updated Sony CMF output to version .92 for replicator compatibility.
ï Increased support for Vista 32 and Vista 64.
ï Improved photoshop file handling on some Vista computers, where import and usage was
extremely slow.
ï Fixed bug where all WAV audio was being transcoded for BD burns.
ï Improved project size estimation.
ï Fixed ìset highlightî button numbering issues.
ï Fixed bug where Blu-ray menus were being rendered in Standard Definition following
simulation.
ï Fixed bug where temp files/transcodes could not be larger than 4 GB on some RAID drives.
ï Clearer QT menu processing.
ï Fixed issue where some program files would cause an ìEnd of Fileî error when outputting
to Blu-ray Disc.
ï Fixed issue with transcoding of files on Windows Vista.
ï Added Blu-ray output.
ï Fixed DLT output issue where projects smaller than 4.7 GB would prompt for two DLTS.
- Fixed transcoding issue where audio that was 1 frame longer than video would prompt a
transcode.

This is exactly the same as the older readme for AvidDVD6.0

It is also the same as the "latest" DVDitPro HD as follows
DVDitProHD 6.4 641B03A

6.4 changes
• Added support for elementary AVC stream import, preview, and pass through.
• Added support for elementary VC-1 stream import, preview, and pass through.
• Added support for 8 channel WAV audio output for BD.
• Added support for BD-50.
• Added support for BD-R v2.
• Added support for BD-RE v3.
• Updated MPEG-2 encoder.
• Updated Sony CMF output to version .92 for replicator compatibility.
• Increased support for Vista 32 and Vista 64.
• Improved photoshop file handling on some Vista computers, where import and usage was extremely slow.
• Fixed bug where all WAV audio was being transcoded for BD burns.
• Improved project size estimation.
• Fixed “set highlight” button numbering issues.

6.3.1 changes
• Fixed bug where Blu-ray menus were being rendered in Standard Definition following simulation.
• Fixed bug where temp files/transcodes could not be larger than 4 GB on some RAID drives.
• Clearer QT menu processing.
• Fixed issue where some program files would cause an “End of File” error when outputting to Blu-ray Disc.
• Fixed issue with transcoding of files on Windows Vista.
6.3 changes
• Added Blu-ray output.
• Fixed DLT output issue where projects smaller than 4.7 GB would prompt for two DLTS.
• Fixed transcoding issue where audio that was 1 frame longer than video would prompt a transcode.

So nothing new at all!
Except, as I have mentioned earlier.... possibly it can work together with MC 3.5 - software activated (as distinct from the Dongle protected version)

Regards,
Douglas

Hi

I guess DVDit has become abandonware like Ulead's DVD Workshop 2.0???

NBK

So how are the "Tests" going, Tomas?

Copying and pasting an old "ReadMe file" are hardly what I would call tests.

There are probably a lot of readers who have followed your build-up in this thread who, like me, want to know what the differences/ bug fixes. etc you have found or not found!

You have also mentioned version 6.2 somehwere.
Do you have any further news about that rumour?

Hope to get a definite answer about the results of your tests.
It may make a difference to me as to whether I begin a serious look at some of the new altenatives to DVDitProHD/AvidDVD that are beginning to pop up.

I believe that one of the members of this forum, TV John, has been exploring one of the alternatives.

Regards,
Douglas

Sorry, been busy doing lots of other stuff related to editing.

Anyhow, made 2 dvd discs yesterday and one bd today, there are still things that needs to be fixed like the reencoding probs when using preencoded dvd files, preencoded bd files runs straight through.

Also I get uncorrect aspect in my animated buttons when coming from a QT ref in Avid, coming from a preencoded file gives me correct aspect.

My old 6,3 version on my XP sys with wmp 10 is still my main editor, this also because the ridicolous bd export to gi file instead of the export to iso that is the fact with 6,3 and bd.

We really need a new version for dvd and bd creation I think, if not Sonic will create one for us, we might be looking at other alternatives, yes I have had some private conversation with John, seems to be an interesting app he has began to test.

Is this something new in 6.1? Or did you have this problem in 6.0? (NB. I am referring to AvidDVD6.0 and 6.1 - NOT DVDitProHD version numbers.)


I thought the same, at first, but for my workflow there are no problems using the .gi files.


I have been testing one from Pegasys (TMPGEnc developers) - I think it is the same one as John is testing.
It looks very good BUT it falls short for my needs. There are only 2 Subtitle tracks available and I don't think there is any possibility to add audio subtracks (yet).
I will need to look at menu creation a little closer there too. At the moment it does not seem to suit my productions.

But Sonic is definitely losing ground !
The "traditional" lack of support has now been replaced by almost no support at all.
The silence about any possible new versions means that even staunch supporters are now leaving to find alternatives.
Of course, this may be part of the Sonic's plan. Who knows?

I am not leaving yet, as I depend on both subtitles and audio subtracks.
Adobe is too expensive..... having to buy all the other stuff I don't need to be able to get at Encore.
According to what I have read, Encore is certainly not a reliable product yet........ either.

Regards,
Douglas

mjolnarn

I was under the impression that you have been burning successfully for years!

One of your quotes to my problem was...

"very good that it works as well for you as for me John, I can see that Encore is mentioned, I have tried that of course and even created some H 264 bd discs but I see nog big favors in doing that, I haven´t had a bad disc from Dvdit Pro hd during the last years, it all works very well, you must take care of your editing sys of course."

Maybe there's something wrong with your edit sys? Lol

I have, my 6,3 with preencoded files from CS3 runs like a hot knife in butter, I do not like version 6,4

Long time / No post...
Recently, I've had some problems with DVDitHD V6.4. I have had a project corrupt itself upon closure, opening it up revealed an "untitled project"
Also I have created a couple of BD-R coasters, good pix, no audio. lately, I've seen almost no company participation in these discussion boards.

The annoying "requirement" for separate images for BD-R and BD-RE.

Limited effects possible for menu text.

Unpredictable transcoding.

Limited audio PCM settings, especially for BD.

I have purchased The TmpGE product, its cost is quite modest, and while it does have some shortcommings as Douglas mentions, there are more than a few advantages, .ie singular BD image creation, a very diverse transcoding features set, especially when paired with TmpGe Express 4.

I have seen all 4 cores of my AMD 940 at 100% during encodes, with reduced encode times as a result.

If Pegasys puts a bit more professional features into Authoring Works 4 they will have a killer app. While Media Chance has a good, powerful authoring app, the lack of BD capability dooms the program.

To add to what I already have written, I " tried" to create a dvd disc yesterday from a ready encoded file with 6,4 , the app wanted to reencode as usual.

Also, as usual, I added that file to my old 6,3 instead, runs, as always, perfect, no reencoding.

And, yes, if the question shows up, I needed 2 pass encoding for this project.

I made my first bd discs with popup menus yesterday with the app that you mentioned, tried both from preencoded files and Qtrefs directly out of Avid, they looked and played very good and the menus worked excellent, as I haven´t so much needs for many subtitle tracks, I am concentrating my bd creation to this app now, Sonic might lose me as a customer because of that the app never gets updated.

While there a a certain elegance to authoring in DVDit, having to encode separate images for BD and BD-RE is a royal pain. TmpGe AW4 is really strong with encode options .ie 2pass VBR, very high quality audio capability (pcm audio up to 96kbs)

We have been left quite alone here since Scott left, traffic is virtually non-existant.

Hi

I am planning to move to Apple soon, since it is apparent that Roxio has abandoned DVDit!!!

NBK

I was one of the first starting to use Dvdit Pro HD for bluray editing I think, it has served me well and I have said many good things about the app on several forums.
But as media edting tech changes, it is called evaluation I think, and Roxio doesn´t seem to have any thoughts of evaluate the app, it is time to evaluate myself by using a new app that is more evaluated.

Thinking of Apple too but since there is no Bluray support, I was wondering if anyone has used any of the other Bluray authoring programs with success. I never had much luck with consistently being able to burn BD's with DVDit Pro. At the price of those discs, I'd like to be ALOT closer to 100% burn success that DVDit Pro ever got me.

...I do wish Apple had a solution...

It is still around - look here: http://www.sonic.com/products/Professional...ion/screen.aspx

Look at the screenshot for "Professional Blu-ray Disc and DVD-Video Authoring" - Familiar???

They have probably upgraded - added some bells and whistles and probably are charging a whole lot more.

And then I found this (odd coincidence - it was just announced yesterday) and look at that price!!!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressReleas...009+PRN20090904

Yes, I could write lots about that I think, I payed 1500 $ for my Upgrade to Media Composer, in that package was included Dvdit Pro Hd, Sorensen Squeeze, Boris Red, Boris Continoum and Sonic Fire Pro.
As we already have the possibilities to create video and audio streams that are very good, it´s actually all about creating a nice menu to be able to navigate the disc in the correct way.

A 2,500 $ app for creating nice menus and this on a specialized dedicated edit station with the very old windows XP as OS and a 1920 x 1200 widescreen connected to it seems not to fit my investement plans for the nearest future.

I also doubt that my customers are willing to pay that more for just beeing able to get a nicer menu than the ones I already creates, they are mainly interested in the media stream I think, I create very good media streams using the apps that I already have, this on my standard editing systems.

If you really look closely this is just DVDit ProHD repackaged with probably some new menu templates added (which would be useless to me - I usually use motion bakground, motion chapter buttons from the particular video I am authoring). Also, they don't mention a thing about BD-J - popup menus or transitions between menus (not slideshows) so it looks like the same ol, same ol.

It is!
no more, no less!

they just bundled the (small) encoder and the QC-tool with it together. that´s all.

not worse the price.

danny

If you all take the blinkers off you will see that Sonic BD Powerstation is not an "upgraded" DVDitProHD.

BDPS is a relation to Sonic Scenarist.
I have never had the 5,000 usd to buy Scenarist.
But I have seen it in action and I was totally impressed by the terrible non-intuitive interface.
The different parts of Scenarist and the clunkiness were unbelievable to me.

In one of Sonic's pressreleases you can read:

"Hollywood Proven Player Compatibility
The BD PowerStation shares the same Hollywood proven core as Sonic's high-end DVD and BD production system, Sonic Scenarist. Scenarist has produced more DVD and BD titles than all other systems combined, making it the proven standard for professional production and ensuring your titles will be free from playback problems."

What they have done with BDPS is use the same core as Scenarist and added a reasonably user friendly interface (which looks a bit like DVDitProHD)
Also the pricing is getting a bit closer to my budget.

BDPS is a professional tool for professionals.

As to teo of the others out there. Adobe Encore and TMPGEnc Authoring Works 4. I have tried them and I think the interfaces are extemely user friendly. But for my workflow they have a lot of problems that have not beed addressed yet.

I have a feeling that DVDitProHD may be reaching the end of its "sell by date".
That BDPS is one way to go forward........... or if you don't need the price tag......... look at some of the more prosumer/consumer solutions.

Regards,
Douglas

If we skip all this "professional" talk , who are the pros anyhow, let´s just wait and see what it can do, some important demands regarding bd menus has already been pointed out in this thread I think.

If it cannot do bd popup menus, the big brother to it could as well have costed 10,000 dollars, it is worthless to me anyhow.

Ooops sorry, I got the pricing wrong.
Here is from a press release on Scenarist (not BDPS) today:

"For full-service authoring facilities, Scenarist BD Professional (new MSRP $19,999) provides all the industry-leading capabilities of Scenarist BD Studio with additional authoring and emulation support for Blu-ray's advanced interactive BD-J specification, including BD-J debugging using Scenarist QC Professional."


Not me and not you, Tomas.

Regards,
Douglas






If you really need BD-J at this time, why not buy this?


Click here!

I believe that you have the CS3 Suite.

Regards,
Douglas

If anyone is interested in the prices of the existing Sonic PROFESSIONAL products - to be able to compare the prices with DVDitProHD HERE IS A PDF PRICELIST!

Regards,
Douglas

Well, Douglas, I think it might be up to other people to have an opinion about wether another user is a pro or not, I haven´t seen enough projects created by you to have an opinion about your skill., I do however have a feeling that I am rather good at this myself.

If, however, I would have to buy me a 20,000 dollars app to be called a pro, I would, for sure, never become that.

If you read the posts in this thread, you will notice that I already are creating bd discs with popup menus, it works and looks so well that I also are redoing some of my old projects, a very fast and easy task as I always are creating ready encoded files out of my editing projects, redoing those projects with popup menus in a new app takes less that 30 minutes, physical burning time to bd media not included.

About the link you posted for Adobe CS3 , that is for popup menus in flashfiles, we are discussing creating of bd discs here, aren´t we?

As I said I am not a Pro.
But since you brought the question of projects up here is a link to one of my pages of shorter videos.
You can choose to watch in a Higher or Lower resolution.

Click here to get to a page with some of my smaller projects!


Now, please post a link to some of your rather good projects, so that anyone who is interested (myself included) can compare our work!




Buy whatever you want. Having a piece of software or hardware does not make anyone a Pro.
Unfortunately the word, "Professional" has changed its meaning over the years.
It is very difficult to define what the word actually means nowadays. It means different things to different people.
So actually discussing what is or is not "Professsional" is a waste of time.

I am looking forward to viewing some of your projects so I can see your editing skills in reality.

Regards,
Douglas

With all the respect Douglas, you really surprise me now, you are bringing up a very newbee question, I feels like brought back 10 years in time or so.
To compare edited video nowadays, with all the very good apps that are able to get on the market, would be a competition between cams, good or bad tripods, light conditions and what apps you have used, even what kind of server solution you have for publishing your edited media.

The reality we live in today, is that a customer is coming to us with 12 - 14 hours of tape, shot with different cams and, maybe also mixed framerates and mixed progressive - interlaced video because he forgot / didn´t know.

He expect that to become a 2 hour bluray production looking very good and he is willing to pay for that.

The clips that are of most importance for the movie are of course those that are looking less good, you´ll have to use a lot of filters like antistabilizing - CC - degrain etc etc etc , this after having used some timewarp filters to get it all in the same speed and same il - progressive mode.

There are no possibilities to remake any source media, wait a day or two for better light conditions or get home to get a better tripod, you have what you have and are expected to do miracles with it.

That is todays editing reality, not a net competition, even youtube clips are beginning to look much nicer than a couple of years ago.

Also, an internet video file quality competition is not a subject for this forum and this thread is / was about new apps and have also became a bd popup menu thread and other things that we think should be in the new app released from Sonic.

You seem to have rather good connections with Roxio, maybe there is a chance for you to try the new app and tell us what it can do, and also, of course, what it cannot do, it has to be really good for those money and only working on a 10 year old 32 bits OS.

That, Tomas, was a very amateurish attempt at a side step!

You have said that you cannot judge my editing as you have had no chance to see any..... so I have posted a link to some of my older projects. Done with Pinnacle Liquid.
I was hoping that you would have the courtesy to post a link to some of your editing work.

Over to you.

Douglas

Well,
Scenarist BD Professional will be delivered for 15k€ from this week on, that is half the price that it was distributed before....

I have been thinking about buying scenarist BD because DVDitHD is crap, but Sonic Powerstation BD is bundled software! DVDitHD, QC and Cinevision MPEG2. I have been on the IBC on friday and had a look at this product. it´s not worse to talk about, if we are talking about professional BD-solutions, and I know what I´m talking about, because I´m a senior DVD/BD-author. I have worked with scenarist BD pro and this is exactly what I need, when I have to create professional BDs for my customer!

just my 2 (EURO) cent

danny

Thanks a lot for the info Danny, some useful info at last regarding powerstation

Danny, Thank you for a first hand report on BDPS.
I have only been able to refer to press releases etc. up until now.
I am also looking at this new product with interest.

It may be that Sonic are following a similar path to Avid and Media Composer.
MC was once a very expensive product, but becasue of the changing world of NLEs Avid have dropped the price considerably over the past few years.
Maybe Sonic Scenarist and the new BDPS are following .......... I hope

When I mentioned it on the Avid Forum on the 5th (just over a week ago) Mjolnarn brushed it off as being pretty much useless because of the price and its specifications as to OS etc.
He doesn't seem to know that professionals who edit for a living tend to use OS's etc. that are stable and proven.

If you have any more information about BDPS please drop me an email at douglas@gaijin-eyes.com

Regards,
Douglas







1. I thought that you had the connections, Tomas.
Your first few posts on this thread were all about how you were waiting for a copy of the new DVDitProHD to test!!!

2. As to the 10year old 32 bit OS - that just goes to show that Sonic is indeed looking to the Professional market.
No professional, who depends on his skills to survive, is updating his equipment to the latest beta versions of a new OS. No professional who depends on his computers is using them to experiment with new motherboards etc.

3. No professional is afraid to put up a link to his demo-reels so that others can see and comment on his work.

Regards,
Douglas

I'd say from his position description, Danny fits the description of professional. My defination would be "anyone who derives most or all or their income from use of the the software.

Funny, perusing the Pinnacle Studio forums, people are constantly flipping graphics cards in and out, debating whether or not to install an OS release candidate, etc.

Can you imagine a taxi cab driver tinkering with his engine Sunday night installing non oem parts which may or may not work better?

"Hey boss, I have to replace my engine, a piece of one of these newfangled sparkplugs broke off and cracked a piston."

Good points, John

I would also add to my definition of professional that "professional" implies, not only the money involved, but a certain high standard of quality.
That does not mean that consumers cannot produce a high standard of quality. Sometimes they can produce very high quality.
So "professional" can also be used like this: When I saw the result of his editing I was surprised at the professional quality of his technique"

By the way, as you mentioned Pinnacle, I think it would be correct to say the following:

Pinnacle is related to Avid in the same way that Roxio is related to Sonic.
Liquid is the high-end of the Pinnacle group and DVDitProHD is the high-end of the Roxio Group.
Avid and Sonic have their own professional tools, that have been around a long time before either Pinnacle or Roxio were acquired.

Regards,
Douglas

Copied and pasted from the Avid forum, just to refresh Douglas memory, pretty much like what I have said on this forum I believe.

Reading the specs and demands for this new app, it seems only to be working with XP SP3, Vista is not mentioned and might not work as DX 9 is especially mentioned, also notice the minimum screen resolution.

Windows® XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32-bit
Microsoft Direct X 9.0c
Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 or later
Apple QuickTime 7 or later
3GHz processor (multi-core processor recommended)
Monitor with minimum 1600x1200 screen resolution (1920x1200 recommended) and 32-bit color support

Edited.. And no BD avchd output, only Mpeg 2 and VC1

Danny, to get back to the subject, how about BD popup menus, transitions between menus and other stuff, did you see anything about that, I suppose that when you are saying " it isn´t worse it " that you mean " it isn´t worth it " and that would mean that you don´t think that it is worth the cost for it, is that correct?

Tomas,
I have a certain respect for you and people like you who enjoy pushing the limits and testing all the new stuff that is thrown at us by computer developers.
But your pioneering world and the world of serious bread and butter computer use are 2 very different worlds.

The fact that the new offering from Sonic is "certified" for these much older specs that are in today, shows me that it is designed for the professsional who probably has invested millions in setting up and maintaining a studio.

The professional may have a machine on the side where he can tinker and experiment, but for the most I should think they are too busy with the real world of creative wditing that they have little or no time for that.


By the way, I am surprised that after I posted a link to some of my projects - when you said you couldn't judge my abilities as you had not seen very many - you have not yet visited that page to check out my work.
I have had visits from Germany, Belgium, Holland, UK, USA but none from Sweden.

Also I take it that as you have not had the courtesy to provide any link to your work that you have nothing to offer.

Until I have seen some of your editing abilities, I am unable to assess your skill level in editing.
So I draw a line here. If the need arises I will respond to you, but I hope it will not be necessary.
Back to reality for me.....................

Regards,
Douglas

hi,
your absolutly right! I wouldn´t spend any money on this bundle - because it is just 2 more application. there are no changes on DVDitHD. no popups, no transitions. transitions beetween titles are DVD-styled things that you wont use for professional BDs, because of it´s popup-menus. it´s a complete different way of creating menus and titles and their connections.

you need to think different (yes, I´m a mac-user )

cheers
danny

Thanks a lot for telling Danny, guess I will have to stick with my 100 dollar app for now to create popups, works well with preencoded files and the customers like the result, I like the price of it

I just attended a Webinar with Sonic)\(UK) and watched a presentation of Sonic BD Powerstation.

For those wondering about the future of DVDitProHD I was told that the DVDitProHD included in Sonic BDPS is a newer version than the 6.4 most of us have here.
I also heard that the newer version will be made available to present owners of DVDitHDPro. Upgrade? Update? Free? Fee? I don:t know
I have no idea when this will happen, and I have no information about what is changed in the newer version.

What was most impressive was the Cinevision encoder that is included in the Sonic BDPS, as well as the Quality Control programme.

Regards,
Douglas

Hi Douglas,

What is Sonic BDPS?

Thanks
NBK

BDPS= Blu-ray Disk Power Station!

= bundled DVDitHD6.4, sonic QC and Cinevison Encoder MPEG2!!

not worth the price!

danny

thanks danny,

I will not buy either! I am moving onto the Macintosh platform...

NBK