Can I burn onto a DVD-R without a DVD burner?

[Vom]

I'm pretty new to all this, so bear with me if this is a silly question, please.

I'd like to know if I can burn onto a DVD-R if I don't have a DVD burner, or what format I should use if I'd like to make better quality VCD's. 700mb just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. Is there a disc out there that can hold more than 700mb that doesn't require a DVD burner?


Thanks!

[jimmalenko]

Unfortunately no, you can't burn to a DVD-R without a DVD burner.

[tweedledee]

I might change my signature soon.

[rcb]

vom - if you haven't already, look at svcd . It's not dvd quality/capacity, but it's a definite cut above cvd.

Look here:https://www.videohelp.com/svcd

[Vom]

Unfortunately no, you can't burn to a DVD-R without a DVD burner.

Damn. So seeing's how I'm stuck with VCD for now, is AVI to VCD the best format? Is 700mb the only size disc available for burning VCD's?

[Vom]

vom - if you haven't already, look at svcd . It's not dvd quality/capacity, but it's a definite cut above cvd.

Look here:https://www.videohelp.com/svcd

I've had a problem with S-VCD's not working on all players, while VCD seems to be universal.

A quick look at the S-VCD article, and my brame started hurting again...I just started getting the hang of editing, and now I have to figure out what how to "burn a BIN/CUE"?

Ouch.

Basically, what I want to do, is send a friend the highest quality possible copy of an avi I made, but I don't have a DVD burner.

Thanks again for the help. I'll read it and come back a little less foolish.

[jimmalenko]

VCDs must be in MPEG-1. Your best bet is to use Eazy VCD if you are converting straight from DVD and make an XVCD. This will adjust the bitrates so that any movie can fit on 1 CD. Not all players will play these and the quality may be pretty ordinary for any movie over 90mins long.

You can use the same program to span VCDs or SVCDs over 2-5 discs but then you are faced with having to change the CD a couple of times throughout the movie. Your quality can be much better though.

What is more important to you - quality or convenience ?

[Sifaga]

You cant just send him the AVI file

[jimmalenko]

What is the duration of the AVI ?
Does your friend have a computer ?

[Vom]

What is the duration of the AVI ?

Each AVI is approximately 20 minutes. I've been making VCD's using Pinnacle Studio 8, which, I guess renders it to mpeg-1 first? If I could send him the AVI, I would, but each file is about 4.8gb. That's why I was wondering if I could record the files onto a DVD-R disc (which are what...4.9gb?)

Does your friend have a computer ?

Yep. I don't know how good it is, though. I've also made some wmv files that will fit onto a 700mb CD-R, but my main concern is getting something that will play on a DVD player.

I'll do the S-VCD tutorials and see how that works. Thanks again.

[scootzilla]

i would use dvd/svcd or something like that

[jimmalenko]

You pretty much read my mind.

WMV with the setting High Quality Broadband (Large) would have been my choice if you knew your friend's computer could handle it. If your films are 20 minutes I would try XSVCD - his player might not play it but it will definitely be the best quality because you can jack up the bitrate. Use the bitrate here to work it out.

[smearbrick1]

I have a bernz o matic that burns dvd-r's quite nicely, and without the need for a pesky dvd burner.

[gmatov]

Vom,

Get DVDx2.2, and try that. It works with DVD rips, don't know if it will work with an .avi file. It will allow you to set the bitrate to fill one or two, or three disks if necessary.

It will go to about 800 meg to a CD, which, in video, is the actual capacity.

Kids here are getting too smartypants, as they're from DVD generation. VCD, CVD, SVCD, X?, what the hell are they?

I have converted 3 hours + onto 2 CDs and the movie was fanf'intastic. You can do the same.

Cheers,

George

[Cannonball888]

Some DVD players that will not play SVCD initially can play them if you multiplex the SVCD with a VCD (mpeg-1) header:

http://www.geocities.com/evbq64a/vcdtrick.htm

Also they do make CD-Rs that are 99min (870MB) but not all drives will recognize these because the extra recording material in the center can throw them off. But you can get them here and try them:

http://www.runtechmedia.net/product.asp?sku=Ritek99m16x100

[lacywest]

hmmm do you have a DVD reader ??? ... you can convert DVDs to SVCDs

Using DVD2SVCD ... it does have an option now ... that can convert AVI videos to SVCD

Before I graduated to burning DVDs ... I made SVCDs with DVD2SVCD

You only need a normal CD burner.