video editing

I would recommend Toast 6 over any other burning app on the Mac (yes, the finder included). I can make PC compatible discs for sharing with my friends, burn straight out of iphoto, itunes, use iMovie projects without having to export them (which takes forever). Toast 6 works great with my Lacie FireWire 106 drive and my G5.

Toast 6 also came with CD Spin Doctor 2 (very nice!) Discus (label maker program) and Motion Pictures (easier than iPhoto + ken burns effects).

If you haven't, purhcase this product, it does not get simpler than this.

Working with RoxioÕs Toast 6.0

I use QuickTime Pro for editing my movies with sound clips. ToastÕs CD Spin Doctor 2.0 allows me to bring in sound from my turntableÕs LP (Long Playing) records. CD Spin Doctor 2.0 takes out the hisses and jumps from the LP records. I then import the LP recordsÕ AAF sounds into QuickTime Pro and lay down the new sound track. I appreciate CD Spin Doctor 2.0 utility that makes it easier for me to digitize LP records and cassettes. Within Toast's Audio tab, QuickTime formats (AAC, AIFF, MP3, WAV) is easily converted when you burn your audio CDs.

Toast Motion Pictures give you the opportunity to bring in your photos and create Òmovie motion.Ó Then, you can save them as QuickTime movies.

You can make several movies to SVCD (Super Video CD) and with Roxio Toast you can burn the SVCDs. Each SVCD screen shows three photo buttons with right-hand arrows. I have already saved nine QuickTime movies to an SVCD disk.

RoxioÕs Toast Rules

The standard rates for burning: High VCD with 60 min., SVCD with 20 min. and DVD for 60 min. My computer projects dictate which Toast selection that I use.

Burning Mac/Window CDs are excellent for QuickTime movies, PDFs (Portable Document Format), text documents and photographs. This works well for items that will be used on Mac and Windows platforms.

Super VCDs. What works for me is using SVCD exclusively for QuickTime movies that play on most new DVD players. The quality is fair to good on standard CD burners.

I can burn my movies from good to better quality when using my new Pioneer DVD burner. You can use large size photos to capture quality photos for editing in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

DVD. Quality blank DVDs for DVD-R cost about $1.50 per DVD. The viewing quality is excellent and looks great on DVD players hooked to large screen televisions. Also, I can play my one-time recorded DVD-R in my computerÕs DVD/CD drive.

Pro Reaction

Roxio's Web site provides an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and a searchable database of support articles. ToastÕs hard copy manual is informative and has good illustrations. Toast is intuitive and easy to use. It pays to study the Toast manualÊÊand learn the expert qualities of RoxioÕs Toast.

I appreciate the new compression and 128-bit encryption options for Mac computer DVDs and CDs. Also, Toast can import footage directly from your DV camcorder with the simple Plug and Burn feature. Toast handles the hard, tedious work of importing, converting, and encoding content for burning to CDs or DVDs.

Con Reaction

Toast burning is slow on Mac G3 computers and can take all night for copying my DVD movies. Recommend a Mac G4 or G5 computer for faster Toast burning.

Final Remarks

Toast 6.0 gives you the ability to make quality CDs, SVCDs and DVDs. The Roxio Toast program is an excellent buy for your computer dollar.

I own Toast 6 with two upgrades. (6.0.5) Using OS X 3.4 I needed a software update for my LaCie Burner.
The Technical Help is quick and fast at Toast/Roxio. They told me to download it and gave me the link.
Last night I Toasted some CD-ROM's for training Case Managers. I burned Six CD and Printed Labels and Jewel Case Inserts and Tray liner in a half hour.

The extra $20 to upgrade to Discus 3.0.4 is well worth the Time and Money. (Newer Software and Full artwork) Real Pro looking Artwork and Label from a great Library. You can use any brand of Paper (Avery, Neato, Memorex etc.) and even nudge 0.5 mm adjustment if necessary. Memorex tray liners got an adjustment and it work for all futures use of that paper. This software lets you import for iTunes and Toast what you are Toasting for a list of software or Song Lists etc. Software so easy, I did NOT read the directions. Just do what you want to do the MAC way. I Like the Neato Jewel case booklets for Training instructions (Music Album Notes) and Memorex tray liners. I have one software and Four brand of paper
You can even print business cards on which I ton of good comments. "What a Beautiful Card."
Spin Doctor takes out the starches on old LP's for converting to CD's.
I was so happy with the Toast 6 package I did not take the rebate offer. I also used Toast 5 Lite that came with my LaCie.
A New feature lets you Toast to a burner over the internet which are great for Training DVD's to people 15 miles away.

Give the Package Bundle five stars