Mac users: The Toast alternative reviewed

archon.thelawgiver · **Mac users: The Toast alternative reviewed -** 08-06-2008, 04:36 AM

I’ve been using Toast to create audio cds and to convert various video files into dvds since the dim dark days of Toast 5x. As time went on Toast improved and by the time of version 6 it was a half-way decent application.

Personally, I really believe that version 7 was the peak for Toast and from there it’s been all downhill. The next version had some real problems and the latest one (version 9) is to put it mildly, a work in progress. OK, so many mac users might disagree with me on that score but the one thing that has been niggling me is that when Toast does it’s encoding there is a degree of video degradation. So then I got to thinking as to whether there was an alternative in creating dvds.

As far as dvd ripping applications go there are applications that will rip a dvd and leave it at that. Mactheripper (MTR) at RipDifferent is the only credible Mac dvd ripping application. However you must use the latest version and pay for it via donationware to get decent results.

I also tried Fairmount from Metakine - DVDRemaster and although it does have some good points it does fall over when confronted by some of the newer dvds. I also tried Dvdripper and I won’t even give you a link for that application because it’s just sooo bad. For example when you try to access the preferences it crashes badly. Also it takes over the desktop and strangles your processor. Likewise, it takes forever to do it’s stuff. For cryin’ out loud, I’ve got an Intel Core 2 Duo iMac and that application just dominates everything.

So assuming you’ve used MTR you’re then left with a dvd file that you want to turn into a dvd. And legally speaking you should only use MTR for archiving your dvd collection. So what do you do with the file? Well you could use Toast but I honestly believe that you should use Visualhub from VisualHub: The Universal Video Converter for Mac.. Now I know this application has been mentioned before but no-one on this site has done a review. Well let me tell you that this little application absolutely rocks. It’s easy to use, doesn’t throttle your processor, it doesn’t degrade the video output and it costs under $US25.00.

The manual is peppered with humour and is targeted towards the non-geek users of this world and the preferences are minimalist. Hell you can even go for low processor useage with this application. And this is how it works:

VisualHub works on the assumption that you know what file you already have so the interface works under the “To” principle. It has a number of codec options that you can convert your video file into. The options include : iTunes, PSP, DV, DVD, AVI, Flash etc. Got an .MKV file VisualHub will convert a two gig file in under an hour. Toast has troubles with these files. Degradation problems are virtually non-existent.

So when you have a video file of some kind drag the file into the VisualHub window and then decide what you want to convert it into. For example if you have the .mkv file just drop it into the window. You may wish to convert it into a dvd file and then you can also chose NTSC or Pal. This application will also burn the contents to dvd but will only allow you to use your internal dvd burner. If you’ve got an external burner then you should use this instead. Internal drives are adequate for most people but external drives are superior and provide users with less error messages.

The next thing to do is to go to the advanced settings. Now the VisualHub people have inserted some humour into this option by putting in bold letters “Don’t! You’ll screw it all up.” That shouldn’t stop a persistent machead. Down at the bottom left-hand side of the Advanced Settings window you’ll see a check box next to the word “Force”. Click on that and then chose your dvd and screen type. I normally go for 16:9 but you can also chose 4:3 as well. Next to that is the chapters box on the lower right-hand side and you should choose how often you want chapters. I usually go for ten minute chapters. From this point I wouldn’t change anything else because you may screw things up. Then you can either save the settings or load pre-exiting ones. Then you press the “Start” button and walk away.

Now this little application isn’t perfect. Linking two or more video files (like .avi files) loses information. And every time you use the application you have to load or save the settings. Also, if you want nice little animated chapters then go elsewhere. However if you want a little application that doesn’t degrade the video (and I’m not talking about compression degradation) then VisualHub absolutely rocks.

When the process is finished I usually send the file (after I’ve extracted the Video TS file) to DVD2oneX2 from DVD2one.com :: About. This will pick up any errors and it has the best burning speeds of any mac application. You can also choose which burner you wish to use. (If I have the time I’ll review this application as well.)

So there you have it, there is an alternative to Toast. I’ve used VisualHub about 30 times in the last two months and I’ve completely stopped using Toast. If anyone has any questions I’m more than happy to help out. As for Toast I reckon it’s Toasted bloatware.

vikulenka · 08-06-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archon.thelawgiver

I’ve been using Toast to create audio cds and to convert various video files into dvds since the dim dark days of Toast 5x. As time went on Toast improved and by the time of version 6 it was a half-way decent application.

Personally, I really believe that version 7 was the peak for Toast and from there it’s been all downhill. The next version had some real problems and the latest one (version 9) is to put it mildly, a work in progress. OK, so many mac users might disagree with me on that score but the one thing that has been niggling me is that when Toast does it’s encoding there is a degree of video degradation. So then I got to thinking as to whether there was an alternative in creating dvds.

As far as dvd ripping applications go there are applications that will rip a dvd and leave it at that. Mactheripper (MTR) at RipDifferent is the only credible Mac dvd ripping application. However you must use the latest version and pay for it via donationware to get decent results.

I also tried Fairmount from Metakine - DVDRemaster and although it does have some good points it does fall over when confronted by some of the newer dvds. I also tried Dvdripper and I won’t even give you a link for that application because it’s just sooo bad. For example when you try to access the preferences it crashes badly. Also it takes over the desktop and strangles your processor. Likewise, it takes forever to do it’s stuff. For cryin’ out loud, I’ve got an Intel Core 2 Duo iMac and that application just dominates everything.

So assuming you’ve used MTR you’re then left with a dvd file that you want to turn into a dvd. And legally speaking you should only use MTR for archiving your dvd collection. So what do you do with the file? Well you could use Toast but I honestly believe that you should use Visualhub from VisualHub: The Universal Video Converter for Mac.. Now I know this application has been mentioned before but no-one on this site has done a review. Well let me tell you that this little application absolutely rocks. It’s easy to use, doesn’t throttle your processor, it doesn’t degrade the video output and it costs under $US25.00.

The manual is peppered with humour and is targeted towards the non-geek users of this world and the preferences are minimalist. Hell you can even go for low processor useage with this application. And this is how it works:

VisualHub works on the assumption that you know what file you already have so the interface works under the “To” principle. It has a number of codec options that you can convert your video file into. The options include : iTunes, PSP, DV, DVD, AVI, Flash etc. Got an .MKV file VisualHub will convert a two gig file in under an hour. Toast has troubles with these files. Degradation problems are virtually non-existent.

So when you have a video file of some kind drag the file into the VisualHub window and then decide what you want to convert it into. For example if you have the .mkv file just drop it into the window. You may wish to convert it into a dvd file and then you can also chose NTSC or Pal. This application will also burn the contents to dvd but will only allow you to use your internal dvd burner. If you’ve got an external burner then you should use this instead. Internal drives are adequate for most people but external drives are superior and provide users with less error messages.

The next thing to do is to go to the advanced settings. Now the VisualHub people have inserted some humour into this option by putting in bold letters “Don’t! You’ll screw it all up.” That shouldn’t stop a persistent machead. Down at the bottom left-hand side of the Advanced Settings window you’ll see a check box next to the word “Force”. Click on that and then chose your dvd and screen type. I normally go for 16:9 but you can also chose 4:3 as well. Next to that is the chapters box on the lower right-hand side and you should choose how often you want chapters. I usually go for ten minute chapters. From this point I wouldn’t change anything else because you may screw things up. Then you can either save the settings or load pre-exiting ones. Then you press the “Start” button and walk away.

Now this little application isn’t perfect. Linking two or more video files (like .avi files) loses information. And every time you use the application you have to load or save the settings. Also, if you want nice little animated chapters then go elsewhere. However if you want a little application that doesn’t degrade the video (and I’m not talking about compression degradation) then VisualHub absolutely rocks.

When the process is finished I usually send the file (after I’ve extracted the Video TS file) to DVD2oneX2 from DVD2one.com :: About. This will pick up any errors and it has the best burning speeds of any mac application. You can also choose which burner you wish to use. (If I have the time I’ll review this application as well.)

So there you have it, there is an alternative to Toast. I’ve used VisualHub about 30 times in the last two months and I’ve completely stopped using Toast. If anyone has any questions I’m more than happy to help out. As for Toast I reckon it’s Toasted bloatware.

Great review! MacTheRipper+VisualHub+DVD2oneX2 are my DVD ripping alternative of choice

Wren · 08-06-2008, 09:50 AM

thanks for this review !
i will try this one

viracocha · **It sure sounds laborious -** 08-06-2008, 11:18 PM

Man, in this particular case I'm really pleased I have a PC and not a MAC

It takes 15-20 minutes to rip a full DVD into a 4.7 GB image file (.vob) AND then burn this to a new disc, when using Slysoft CloneDVD/AnyDVD on a single core processor PC (AMD Athlon 64 4000+)

1½ hour movie (menus, trailers, copy warnings

etc removed) = approximately 15 minutes (ripped AND burned)

2½ hour movie (menus, trailers, copy warnings

etc removed) = approximately 20 minutes (ripped AND burned)

vikulenka · 08-06-2008, 11:20 PM