Converting mpegs and avis to DVD

[Glassback]

Hi
This might be a complicated question, I dunno.
This really isn't my field and I've never tried doing this and don't even know if it can be done in the first place.

Over the years, I've downloaded tons of mpegs and avi's of one sort or another. Generally only a few minutes long each and everything from bits of odd comedy to whole tracks of percussionists playing household instruments and so on and so on...

I need to have a bit of a clear-up on my HD and I know I can back them up as data on a CD or DVD which will still be playable on my pc but is there any way to get them to play on a normal DVD player?
I've done a test one but got some warnings before burning that it might not play properly.
I found it DID play on my DVD player, but was everso slightly jerky.
The same disc didn't play at all on my mates PS2.

Looking at the warning screen, it looks like there's a number that doesn't meet the criteria so I'm guessing some conversion is necessary?

Any hints here would be greatly appreciated. Please don't try to blind me with science as moving-imagery is totally new territory to me - so I haven't got a clue, just trying to learn.

Are conversion apps free? What's the best? If not free, what's the best value for money?
What do I need to do once I have the app (assuming that that's the solution)?

Thanks people, from a keen but ignorant DVD compiler.

[josevin2000]

Hi Glassback.. me too got th exact same question.. Juts like to add .. Will the file sizes be maintained in the resulting dvd video disc? i mean when we convert mp3 file to audio cd format, when burning an audio cd, the file size becomes that of a pcm 44/16 wave file..so will have avi/mpeg files be converted into huge dvd video files, or is there any way to maintain the original file size.. i hope i have framed my question properly...

also hope someone's got answers.. Cheers..

[mn]

I need to have a bit of a clear-up on my HD and I know I can back them up as data on a CD or DVD which will still be playable on my pc but is there any way to get them to play on a normal DVD player? I've done a test one but got some warnings before burning that it might not play properly. I found it DID play on my DVD player, but was everso slightly jerky. The same disc didn't play at all on my mates PS2.

Looking at the warning screen, it looks like there's a number that doesn't meet the criteria so I'm guessing some conversion is necessary?

By and large here are the rules of thumb:

1) to play video on a DVD player on a DVD disc (as opposed to a Video CD VCD, etc) you must make an honest to goodness DVD out of it. Because the firmware of most DVD players refuse to recognize a DVD disc as anything other than DVD Video or DVD Audio (ie not a data disc).

2) to make that honest to goodness DVD you (or the software) must do two things: a) convert all the source video to DVD-compatible format which is MPEG2 720x480 (for NSTC) and a few other things like compatible audio stream, appropriate bitrate and b) do what they call transcoding the resulting MPEG2 files, which basically means combine all the alternate audio streams, alternate angles, etc, into one file called a VOB (video object). This VOB is technically the only thing that is in true DVD compatible format.

3) These VOB files are then the basis of what is called authoring which basically is sort of like mixing, I guess. You're defining all the menus, how they interact, what happens when you press button X on screen Y.


So you must do this yourself, or the software does it for you. There are dozens of ways to do it, and probably some good freeware, but I'd recommend one of three things:

1) Get the full Nero suite (Ultimate?). It contains all the tools, video editing, DVD authoring, audio editing, CD/DVD burning, and it's under (or around) $100USD usually. It will be fairly painless as it will do pretty much everything.

2) Look at the Tsunami stuff (TMPGenc). It used to be just a standalone converter to go to DVD comaptible MPEG-2 and has a good reputation, but they've branched out into authoring, video editing, etc.

3) Barring all of that, just got something idiot proof like MyDVD. Least flexible, but it will be a no-brainer in operation.

Bear in mind that in almost all cases, converting video to MPEG2 will take "real time". That is, an hour of video will usually take at least an hour to convert to MPEG2.

edit: oh, and DVD goes by time, not file size per se. The bitrate of the MPEG2 file determines its' size, but the length of the video files determine the "capacity" of your DVD. Pretty much like audio CD, it's based on time.

[Rozzer]

In order for a DVD to play properly, you really should convert the video to a DVD compliant MPEG2 format (which can then be burn to DVD). This WILL increase the filesize (much like mp3 > wav).

There's about a million ways you can do this, and I doubt any one of them is perfect. It largely depends on what source format you have (ie AVI, WMV, MOV etc).

Try starting here: http://www.videohelp.com/convert for various free guides and software recommendations. Unfortunately there don't seem to be many freeware MPEG2 convertors/encoders, so you might have to search about. I'd suggest starting with TMPGEnc for any AVI files you have, as it has a free 30 day trial of its MPEG2 plugin.

[SSL]

Guys, don't be that stupid. Just buy a DECENT set-top player able to play XviD, WMV, etc. etc. correctly.

That will save you TONS of encoding and authoring shit *hours* and of course plenty of DVD-R media too.

[Rangtangtang]

.


Doese anyone know of any program that can convert all video and audio formats to what ever you choose?

I came across a very good and simple inexpensive converter, but I lost the link. Iv got Magix Movie Edit Pro installed at the moment, and I must say its quite good, a good price and worth a try.

Can anyone help?


.

[Rozzer]

Guys, don't be that stupid. Just buy a DECENT set-top player able to play XviD, WMV, etc. etc. correctly.

There are WAY too many formats and codecs out there for any one set-top player to play them all. Alot play Divx and Xvid now. Some might play WMV, but most AVI, Quicktime, RealMedia etc. codecs will just barf on these players. Plus you can't exactly give your mate a disk this way, which is what I believe Glassback wanted to do.

Don't get me wrong, set-top players that support Divx etc are great, but they won't play every random bit of video you download from the net.

[Rozzer]

For $58 I think you could do alot worse than TMPGEnc XPress (an upgraded version of the free TMPGEnc) which will convert most formats to MPEG2 ready to be burnt to DVD.

[Kriminal]

http://www.afterdawn.com/

[fake]

Try these links.

http://www.winmpg.com/download.html

Allows the fist 5 mins to be encoded.


http://www.blazemp.com/downloads.html

15 day free trial... Seems to do every thing and looks very good. $50

I did try one but forgot which. I wanted to convert avi to divx, started it and...13 hours later.....
No joke either!

Another related question...does it matter what type of dvd it gets burnt to, + or - r?

fake

just thought, if you haxe xp i think you can do it with something I think is called "video maker" or summat. That may be with xp pro though.

[Glassback]

Thanks for the tips everybody!


mn - a really helpful post telling me what to look for and stuff. I found it really useful, thanks a lot!

Rozzer - same again. Helped a lot, thanks.

SSL - even if such a thing existed, erm, let's see. Cost of conversion tool over cost of new DVD player... and new DVD player for most people I know... nope, I'll stick to a low-priced conversion tool. Thanks all the same, though.

Rangtangtang - can't decide if you're being sarcastic or serious. But while we're on the subject, is there an app that converts .wavs into animated .gifs?

Kriminal - interesting page. Bookmarked, thanks for the link.

fake - and again, thanks for the links.


Spent a good part of yesterday exploring my options given to me in this thread. Working out which is the best solution for me, personally.
I think I may have cracked it, but need to check if the burn-off works in other computers, not least of all the PS2. If it plays in that (I don't own one to test it), it'll play in anything and I can get on with the job in hand.

mn - I see what you mean about conversion time!
Pretty much locks my computer up as well cos it's grabbing all the resources it can. In real time! Tedious job, this, so won't want to be making a habit of it.


Once again, thanks all.

[Raven]

SSL - even if such a thing existed, erm, let's see. Cost of conversion tool over cost of new DVD player... and new DVD player for most people I know... nope, I'll stick to a low-priced conversion tool. Thanks all the same, though.

They do exist and are really cheap , Aldi had them for £29 a couple of weeks ago , just burn a data disk
with your video files on and you can select the file name on the TV screen and press play

[Glassback]

£29

I just paid more than that for a convertor!



Ah well, but I already got a pretty good DVD/Video combi, multi-regional jobbie.
Also - £29. There's a bit of the old 'you get what you pay for', maybe?
Ne' mind.
The point is though that not everybody has a multi-regional.
Mine plays most discs fine, but not everywhere I visit can say the same.
Easier to make a disc that plays on anything than expect people to rush out and buy a second (cheap) player just so they can play a disc I've given 'em, eh?
Thanks anyway.

[Raven]

The point is though that not everybody has a multi-regional.

Most players have a region free hack though >>
http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?s=3&p=all

[Glassback]

grrrr....