How do I convert camcorder and VHS video to DVD?

If you're unfamiliar with the process, here's what it takes to get your videos from camcorder to DVD:
1) Capture analog video (or transfer digital video) from camcorder to computer (usually as an AVI file).
2) Edit the footage to add titles, cut out boring stuff and white noise, correct color, adjust volume, etc.
3) Render (convert) the edited file (still AVI) as an MPG file.
4) Convert the MPG to the format the DVD player needs (e.g., IFO, NFO, VOB files).
5) Burn the files from step 4 to a DVD.

The TMPGEnc DVD Author package will let you do #3 (DVD Source Creator), #4 (DVD Author), and #5 (DVD Writing Tool) above. You'll need something else for steps #1 (digital camcorder or a graphics card that accepts analog video from a camcorder) & #2 (Sony Vegas, Pinnacle Studio, etc.)

The whole DVD creating process is still a bit complicated for novices but after trying several other applications out there, TMPGEnc DVD Author has been the best for my needs. If you're a real novice and don't want to spend some time figuring things out by trial and error, you might be better off using Pinnacle Studio or another application that walks you through the whole process (with limited flexibility, though).

DVD Author has some pretty cool DVD menu options -- each chapter can have its own little 30-second (time is adjustable) preview, so when you put the DVD in your player the first thing that pops up is 6 (also adjustable) little TV screens showing you a moving preview of what's in each chapter on the DVD. There aren't a whole lot of templates (colors, buttons, etc.) but I'm satisfied with the default template anyway and you can design your own.

Another feature I like is that you can do some last-minute editing of MPG files before creating your DVD. This works great for all the home videos I'm doing. Example: I have a bunch of MPG files on my hard drive ("christmas 97.mpg", "birthday party.mpg"). With this tool, I can make a DVD for my mother-in-law where I cut "christmas 97.mpg" down to just the part where we're at her house. Then, without modifying the original MPG file, I can make another DVD for my brother with just the part of the video he's interested in. This saves a lot of time versus rendering a whole new file of just the footage I want in each DVD compilation.

See also:
videohelp.com
DVD Demystified

How do I make video slide shows

We used to have a little business (Forget-Me-Not Videos) making video slide shows for folks, but it ended up taking too much time. If you'd like to make your own video slideshows, here's what you'll need:

• A photo scanner to get your prints onto the computer - shop for scanners at Amazon.
• Software to extract music from your CDs to the computer - recommend CDex (free!)
• Software (WAV editor) to manipulate the music (create fade-ins, put songs in order, etc.)
• Either an adapter to connect your computer to your TV or a video card that does the same
• A VCR (for VHS tape)
  • or CD burner (for Video CD [VCD] or Super Video CD [SVCD] to play on your DVD player)
  • or DVD burner.
• Software to create the slideshow - we used to use Gizmos! by Play, but the company has gone out of business. Check out Adobe Photoshop Elements (or Vegas if you want to get all fancy). If you have Windows XP, try out Photo Story (part of Plus! Digital Media Edition).
• Software to edit the images - recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements or Jasc Paint Shop Pro. See also hillfamily.net digital photo guide.