Ulead Systems DVD Workshop 2

by Ulead

Product Features

• Powerful and intuitive authoring software for professional DVD creation
• Design dynamic DVDs with the extensive set of built-in tools
• Straightforward workflow; visually intuitive storyboard interface
• Add multiple subtitle and audio tracks like Dolby Digital AC-3 audio
• Preview in real-time; enhanced input and output options

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00019JGWI
• Item model number: A25-420-111-0A0000
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 31, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,364 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Ulead DVD Workshop 2 is a powerful and intuitive authoring software for professional DVD creation. The straightforward workflow and design-centric interface guides you through the steps needed to create dynamic DVDs. It offers sophisticated tools for complex menu navigation, multiple subtitles, and multiple audio tracks with Dolby Digital AC-3. DVD Workshop 2 guarantees creative professionals a maximum return on investment, with a minimal learning curve.

DVD Authoring for the Creative Professional:

• Innovative workflow: Work more productively with the visually intuitive storyboard interface. Follow the guided workflow to create professional DVDs in half the time.
• Design-centric approach: Design dynamic DVDs with the extensive set of built-in tools. Create and modify text, menu layouts, and titles--all in the same application.
• Professional technology: Add multiple subtitle and audio tracks, including Dolby Digital AC-3 audio. Import assets from a variety of formats and output to DVD, DLT, or DVD-9 with encryption and region coding.
• Enhanced creativity: You'll be impressed. PowerMenus offer three levels of design, so you don't need to spend time with external applications. Use powerful compositing and layout tools. Map out the exact navigation of your DVD assets with Playlists. Preview in real-time in the Edit and Finish steps.
• Enhanced input options: DVD Workshop 2 supports Dolby Digital audio files, multi-layered PSD and UFO images, text file import for subtitles, and WMV video import, among others.
• Enhanced output options: DVD Workshop 2 supports Copy Protection, Region Coding, 16:9 Widescreen video, and Multiple Video Title Sets. Even output to DVD-9 and DLT.

Product Description

Ulead DVD Workshop 2 is powerful and intuitive authoring software that keeps your creative needs in mind. The straightforward workflow and design-centric interface guides you through the steps needed to create dynamic DVDs. It's perfect for people who want to create sophisticated DVDs without having to learn a completely new system inside and out! DVD Workshop 2 guarantees creative professionals a maximum return on investment, with a minimal learning curve. Use powerful compositing and layout tools - Map out the exact navigation of your DVD assets with Playlists DVD Workshop 2 supports Dolby Digital audio files, multi-layered PSD and UFO images, text file import for subtitles, and WMV video import, among others Supports Copy Protection, Region Coding, 16 - 9 Widescreen video, and Multiple Video Title Sets. Even output to DVD-9 and DLT

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes professional-looking DVDs with minimal effort, August 14, 2004

By 

Tom Trails "Tom Trails" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ulead Systems DVD Workshop 2 (CD-ROM)

This is a really nice package. I created a very professional-looking DVD painlessly, complete with musical and motion-enhanced menus, 2nd audio track for commentary, custom chapter start points, etc. What I thought would be a lot of work was really easy, and looks fanstastic. I can't wait to try it on other projects.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very impressive but not without its faults, August 20, 2006

By 

paulg_dc "Paul" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ulead Systems DVD Workshop 2 (CD-ROM)

For a product marketed at mid-level users, DVD Workshop 2 really shines. A lot of thought was put into the user interface, which kind of "wizards" users through a painless step-by-step creation of the DVD. More advanced features and customizations are available should you need them, however. This allowed me to be comfortable with the product first before I started to need or want to play with more advanced options. End result was, this product is very easy to learn, not at all as intimidating as some of the competitors or more high-end products, with a plethora of information, buttons and options on-screen at any one point leading me to wonder "Where do I begin".

The menus DVD WS 2 creates are truly impressive, and what I'd consider terrific even for DVDs created for mass distribution and public consumption. I see this as the ideal product for use by individuals, families, or companies where "professional" video isn't the normal part of the work day. A non-video-techies is relatively painlessly able to get up to speed quickly with a good end-result product.

Now, the drawbacks:

1. The program is to say the least a bit quirky and "sensitive", and crashes (for me) have been quite common. I was about to write it off as "beta software that hadn't finished the QA cycle", and was wondering how competitive the video software field must be for this have been released to the public, until I figured out that one repetitive crash was caused by the DIVX codec, and after updating that codec have not seen a repeat crash! So while AVIs may play well on every other player on your computer, if it's got a problem at all (you can discover if so by using the free GSpot Codec Appliance) chances are DVD Workshop 2 will have a serious issue with it and simply crash.

2. The encoder used by DVD WS 2 is SLOW. Still, a minor quibble, as users can modify the encoder used, something a bit more technical than I am comfortable with. I start burning my project at night before bed, and check the result the next day. (For me any errors or crashes have occured in the first 5 seconds of hitting the "burn now" button, or immediately upon adding the AVI file to the project.

3. Support doesn't seem to be great (the Ulead site doesn't even reference the issue about the program crashing, yet user forums constantly mention people having this issue).

4. The DVD menus, though beautiful and brilliant on-screen, somehow turn "fuzzy" and lose resolution after encoding. I don't really get that, as the encoding of video using the built-in decoders produces terrific results. Mostly noticeable with smaller text, though, such as captions for movie chapters.

While my list of issues may seem extensive, I cannot stress enough how much I love this product. For me, it's the perfect mix of features to be included in a mid-end product, and the bugs and issues I have can usually be worked around by re-encoding media using another more forgiving product such as Nero (whose options specifically as related to DVD menu creation look like they were designed by a 12-year old, compared to the polish of DVD WS 2).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars yes you can author 'pro' quality DVDs, June 18, 2005

By 

Bob from the Midwest (The Middle of No Where) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ulead Systems DVD Workshop 2 (CD-ROM)

This program comes as close to 'fool proof' as possible. When combined with Uleads Photoimpact XL you can edit menus, setup subtitles, chapters, & burn DVDs even with no prior experience.