Roxio DVDit Pro HD Bell CA

Disc-authoring package offers creative versatility; but it's pricey for the average user, and underpowered for pros.

Local Companies

Hobokenwest
(213)534-3134
1081 W. Temple st. Suite T-202
Los Angeles, CA
DVD Duplication Speedlight
(818) 727-0264
Wilshire Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Custom Video Prod.
310-543-4901
707 Torrance Blvd. Ste. 105
Redondo Beach, CA
BurnSmart
714-447-9181
1201 S State College Blvd
Fullerton, CA
Simple Solution the
(408) 295-9200
1052 N 5th St
San Jose, CA
Trinity Worldwide Reprographics
(562) 567-2050
10410 Pioneer Blvd., Unit 2
Glendale, CA
BJ's Printing Emporium
(818) 551-7840
323 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA
Custom Video
(310) 543-4901
707 Torrance Blvd. #105
Redondo Beach, CA
Custom Video HD
310 543-4901
707 Torrance Blvd. Suite 105
Redondo Beach, CA
The Document Center, Inc.
(818) 541-0901
3908 Foothill Blvd.
Glendale, CA

Roxio's DVDit Pro HD disc-authoring program impresses me: It's easy to use, and it offers fine control over the look and feel of menus. At $500 it's not for the average user, but it is currently the only option for editing menus on BD-AV (Blu-ray) discs unless you want to step up to Sonic's $5000 Scenarist, a program aimed at professional editors.

DVDit Pro HD provides a number of advanced features unavailable in low-end editors: It lets you add content protection, using the Advanced Access Content System (AACS), to Blu-ray Disc projects (and Content Scrambling System, or CSS, protection to DVDs); create high-def slide shows with PCM audio on Blu-ray Discs; encode video to 1080p, 1080i, and 720p; and create DLT (DVD) and CMF (Blu-ray) masters for duplication houses. Unfortunately, DVDit Pro HD lacks Scenarist's support for interactive Blu-ray disc menus and HD DVD discs, which is especially unfortunate since HD DVD burners should be available soon. These shortcomings are deal-killers for some pros.

The program's interface, easy to learn and use, is borrowed largely from Scenarist, to great effect. Unlike "beginner-friendly" approaches, the interface doesn't force you into a workflow. You can tweak any part of your creation at any time. You can create menus with the included templates, use your own images to make custom templates, or create a menu in Adobe Photoshop and import it. The interface is less obtuse than that of Adobe's Premiere and Encore DVD (neither of which currently supports Blu-ray), yet it still allows you complete control over the placement of menu components. A handy project window lets you easily track menus, video, and playlists, and a simulation window allows you to preview your project before burning it. The interface has some oddities, such as the inability to select multiple titles in a project for deletion, but by and large the authoring process doesn't get much more efficient.

Don't go near this program with anything less than a top-of-the-line CPU and 1GB of memory, though: DVDit Pro HD is a memory hog that takes its time with everything--forget multitasking while this program is processing video. For some reason it also redrew my XP desktop with each element it loaded at startup; I also managed to crash the program once by simply editing the text of a menu item.

At the moment DVDit Pro HD is the only remotely affordable option for video authors who need Blu-ray Disc menu editing (the $299 DVDit Pro writes DVD masters). Despite its lack of interactive menus and HD DVD authoring, DVDit Pro HD works well. As a $199 upgrade from eligible versions of MyDVD or Easy Media Creator, it's an attractive step up, but most users will be fine with the rudimentary BD-AV menus and DVD authoring of cheaper products such as Roxio's own Easy Media Creator or Ulead's DVD MovieFactory.

Jon L. Jacobi

Featured Local Company

Trinity Worldwide Reprographics

(562) 567-2050
10410 Pioneer Blvd., Unit 2
Glendale, CA

Related Articles
- Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 Deluxe Suite Bell CA
Easy Media Creator still has room for improvement. We'd like to see online photo album and online backup facilities, and the video-editing program could be better. However, we can't fault the sheer quantity of features, and ease of use is extremely high. If you need analogue video capture, the Deluxe Suite is perfect, if a little pricey.
- Ahead Nero 7 Premium Reloaded Bell CA
- Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 Bell CA
- Roxio Easy Media Creator 10 Suite Bell CA
- Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite 10 Bell CA
- Sonic Solutions DVDit Pro 6 Bell CA
- Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 Suite Bell CA
- Roxio MyDVD 8 Premier Bell CA
- Roxio MyDVD 10 Premier Bell CA
- Burning CD-R Discs Using Toast Titanium Bell CA
Related Articles
- Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 Deluxe Suite Bell CA
Easy Media Creator still has room for improvement. We'd like to see online photo album and online backup facilities, and the video-editing program could be better. However, we can't fault the sheer quantity of features, and ease of use is extremely high. If you need analogue video capture, the Deluxe Suite is perfect, if a little pricey.
- Ahead Nero 7 Premium Reloaded Bell CA
- Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 Bell CA
- Roxio Easy Media Creator 10 Suite Bell CA
- Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite 10 Bell CA
- Sonic Solutions DVDit Pro 6 Bell CA
- Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 Suite Bell CA
- Roxio MyDVD 8 Premier Bell CA
- Roxio MyDVD 10 Premier Bell CA
- Burning CD-R Discs Using Toast Titanium Bell CA

Topics: 
Accounting Entertainment Home Services Pets
Advertising Environmental Industrial Goods & Services Plumbing
Auto Financing Family Insurance Printing Services
Banking Fashion Interior Design Real Estate Resources
Bankruptcy Services Financial Planning Internet Retail & Consumer Services
Business Coaching Financial Services Investment Services Roof & Gutter
Business Services Flooring Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Security Services
Career Food & Beverage Landscaping Software
Cars Franchise Legal Storage
Cleaning Health Lighting Tax Services
Computer Hardware Health Insurance Loans Technology
Construction Heating & Cooling Miscellaneous Telecommunications
Credit & Debt Services Holidays Mortgages Third Party Logistics
Decks, Porches, & Gazebos Home Appliances Office Equipment & Supplies Trade Shows
Drywall & Wallpaper Home Electronics Online Database Travel
Education Home Improvement Tools Painting Weddings
Electrical Home Remodeling Pest Control Windows & Doors