TMPGEnc DVD Author won't combine 2 MPEG files

[dastott]

I am using TMPGEnc DVD Author v1.5 to put 2 mpeg DVD files (each around 4.3gigs in size) onto 1 DVD. My plan is to get the DVD structure written then use DVD Shrink to make it the correct size to fit onto DVD-R. However, each time I do this in TMPGEnc DVD Author v1.5 I get errors at 67%. I am using a simple menu with the 2 files as the only 2 chapters. The files were originally .avi (which I still have) and are both around 90 minutes long. I encoded them using Mainconcept as the TMPGEnc encoder gave me a much bigger file size and length when I tried it.

What can I do to make this DVD? I'm a newbie. Thanks...

[hech54]

I believe there is a 9gig limit in TDA....if those files are 4.3gigs EACH....that may be your problem.

[jimmalenko]

OK, OK, OK .....

What message does TDA give you ?

What bitrate did you encode the MPEG files at ?

What are the stats of the originial AVIs ?

[dastott]

Thanks for the replies. Appreciate it. I will give you the answers to those questions on Wednesday when I get back to the office PC where these files are stored. I do remember something about the files having slightly different stats despite being from the same ripper and same original DVD. I did try joining both the DVD MPEG and the original AVIs in both EO Video and AVI Joiner and got errors each time. Going to try Nero Vision Express next on a recommendation...

[rkr1958]

I do remember something about the files having slightly different stats despite being from the same ripper and same original DVD. I did try joining both the DVD MPEG and the original AVIs in both EO Video and AVI Joiner and got errors each time. Going to try Nero Vision Express next on a recommendation...

I'm confused here? Why don't you just open the ripped DVD in TMPGEnc DVD Author and insert the two titles? Or more simply, since the two titles are from the same DVD you could use Titlesetblanker (freeware ==> check to the left) to blank out the titles that you don't want and then shrink what's left with DVDShrink.

[dastott]

Because I don't have the original DVD. I only have the 2. avi files ripped from it, from which I made 2 DVD MPEG files using Mainconcept.

[Baldrick]

Lower the bitrate when you encode, www.videohelp.com/calc .

[dastott]

Thanks for all the help. I did finally manage to burn the DVD. After a lot of trial and error, my final process was this: joined the .AVI files with Easy Video Joiner. Opened TMPGEnc Plus and changed the audio settings and prioritised direct show to remove the annoying error messages. Then I simply re-encoded the 3 hour joined .AVI. After that, I used TMPGEnc DVD Author and finally Nero v 6.3 to burn it.

Unfortunately, although it plays fine on my PC, it won't play cleanly on one of my DVD players. The other DVD player I have yet to try. Fingers crossed...

Baldrick, thanks for the tip about the Bitrate Calculator. I couldn't install Java on this PC - it just hung when copying the files - so I couldn't use it, but it seems like a nice tool, having viewed it on another PC...