Have recently built a custom machine for video editing and DVD production.
AMD Athlon 2.1Ghz mainboard, 1 Gb RAM, three Ultra-SCSI 1000RPM HDDS, Asus 9950 video card, Canopus ACEDVio capture card. Sony Vegas 4,. for editing, Sony DVD Architect for DVD authoring, Plextor 708A DVD burner, use Nero for burning DVDS.
Works well. Using Windows XP at moment.
After editing with Vegas, render edited production to MPEG file. The import MPEG file into DVD architect, convert into . IFO. BUP and .VOB files in VIDEO_TS directory, then use Nero to burn VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directories onto DVD...and note the AUDIO_TS directory is always empty.
Now the crunch. Most domestic DVD players have firmware code to stop them playing any video DVD burnt on a computer...to prevent you playing pirated DVDs.
The solution? I bought the cheapest DVD player I could find...and it plays anything that will physically fit into the loading tray.
Currently using Princo DVD-R A-Grade 4X blank DVDs...failure rate about 2%.
Generally pleased with results. I am now archiving a thousand freefall camera jumps on S-VHS compact tape. A long job ahead of me.