My first experience with DVD Burning (OR ...

[jchristl]

... how Anachronox got me into burning dvd's)

I read about the machinima.com awards, and I wanted to see this Anachronox movie that was soo groundbreaking in the whole machinima-thing. For the un-initiated, read about it here http://www.machinima.com/displayarticle2.php?article=322

Anyway, I downloaded all the parts and tried watching it on my PC. Did anybody else know this thing is over 2 hours long? Horrendous to be watching it on a pc (at least mine). On the machinima forums I read about someone wanting to burn it to a dvd to watch it that way. So I decided to purchase a burner. I saw a pacific digital 8x at Sams Club. I read a review on it, and picked it up.

So I come into dvdrhelp.com and research what tools I may need. Starting with DVDLab, I start importing each file (13 of them). It tells me that each file is mpeg1. It says that can be ignored, so I continue. I then see it wants to demux each file. Okay works for me. However when importing the mpa files, it says that they aren't 48kbs, but recomends converting them, so I choose each one to convert. For some reason, dvdlab started complaining about one of the mpa's, and recomended converting it to a PCM wav file. Fine no problem. I'm easy to get along with.

Now I am one of those guys that likes things to be neat and in order. Since one was in PCM WAV i had to convert all to PCM WAV. That's just me. However, the 2nd video file was showing to be "NTSC" compliant, and the rest of them were showing up as "other". All but clip 2 was 640x480, clip 2 was 720x480. I now feel like I should convert the 13 other files to 720x480.

To be honest, I downloaded all the clips from one of the machinima servers, but the second one from a third party server. I suspect all of the ones on there were 720x480. I contemplated going back and re-downloading all the other clips again, but I am still on dialup here, and didn't want to go through that hassle.

So off I go back to dvdrhelp.com searching for something that would convert the files to 720x480. TMPGen Plus (I believe) was what I found. Unless I configured the program wrong (which could be quite close to the truth) the file outputs were way up to 500M, whereas the files start at 60-to-90M. With all the other stuff I got on my harddrive, I don't have anymore space for 12 files at 500M each.

I now sit and fret for hours on end as to what I should do. I then read that dvdlab says it isn't a multi-aspect program, but dvdlab pro is. Grrr.

Screw it! What could go wrong? I decide to run with what I got, and if it doesn't work, then I chalk it up to a learning experience. Best Buy had some Fugifilm dvd-r's at $50.00, so I purchase some. Again dvdrhelp.com was instrumental at this decision.

I construct my own little menu, and go with each clip as a chapter. I string each RET for each clip to return to the next clip, hoping that things go well for transition from clip-1 to clip-2 to clip-3. I compile it, and burn it with Nero 6.

Lemme tell you, the thing looks fine. The sound is Phenomenal!! And it's much easier to watch when it is all strung together, while I lay on my couch!

A couple of learning experiences:

1. Need to remember to put a <back> button on the second menu

2. For some reason, the program pauses at the 7th second on my roommates dvd (a Pioneer DV333). However simply fast forwarding lets it continue fine. And there are no other pauses in the film.

3. The second clip is clearly the better ratio, as it fills the screen better than the others, but the others are fine the way they are. I'm glad I didn't go about re-converting the other 12 clips. Whew...

4. I needed a NEW dvd player. DVD-R's don't play on my Toshiba 3108. Upon reading (at dvdrhelp.com) *nothing* plays on the Toshiba. So I went out to purchase a JVC xv50bk. Thin.

So, why did I write this? I don't know, I guess I'm kinda exited about this new sub-class hobby of the computer (It's, in a way, a melding of two hobbies of mine). And I guess I wonder if any of you have similar experiences and/or advice for me.

Thanks for listening,
Joe

[jimmalenko]

Kudos to you, my friend.

I read in amazement that someone has taken it upon themselves to teach themselves the fundamentals through research and trial and error. Many people would not be patient enough to do this and would have hit the forums with questions that have answered 100,000 times before. You did more research and used a blend of intuition and research to sort out any problems you stumbled across, so my hat goes off to you.

Welcome to DVD Land !

[DeleriumMDK]

I think this is the finest first post I've ever seen in any forum. Congratulations on your success with this JC. Its nice to hear someone looked into stuff on their own without asking fifty million questions, and found answers either by reading posts or guides. I frequently have to troubleshoot stuff like this for people and its refreshing to see someone did it themselves. Have fun with your new hobby