.avi->DivXDrII->ffmpegX- Sizzle->Popcorn->DVD

[Grand Cannon]

I've searched and read, searched and read....all I do is get more confused because I'm a weekend-DVD creating-wannabe and the more I read the more I get very discouraged.

Could someone - anyone - please set me straight in the most basic of terms? I'll trying to be as informative as I can with what I'm doing....er...not doing.....

Intent - Create TV-watchable DVDs containing multiple .avi's that are currently in my Mac.

What I have done/attempted so far:

• * Run the .avis through DivX Doctor II in order to be heard through QuickTime. This creates "QuickTime movies" with the extension ".m 1".

• * Drop the .m 1s into ffmpegX, which calls it a MOV.

• * Select DVD mpeg2enc because attempts at DVD ffmpeg do not produce anything. After I select this format (mpeg2enc), I DO NOT touch any of the sub-settings. Then hit ENCODE.

• * The results are: an .m 1.ff.ac3, an .m 1.ff.m2v, an .m 1.ff.mpg, and an .m 1.ff.mpg.DVD folder that contains the AUDIO/VIDEO_TS subfolders.

Problem #1 - While this VIDEO_TS folder plays in the Mac's DVD Player, Popcorn doesn't even recognize the folder at all....not even an error message!

Problem #2 - I cannot for the life of me figure out how to use Sizzle with these new files. I’m trying to join 2+ together, but I am VERY confused!

What I have done/attempted so far:

• * ADD TITLE and choose the .m2v. I then add the audio .ac3 when the lovely warning comes up satting “Audio in "blah-blah.m 1.ff.ac3" is not 48 KHz. It is not a valid DVD stream. The stream will be added, but DVD players may be unable to play it. It may also cause audio sync problems.” Huh? How do I avoid this? Or is it on eof thoase 'false errors'?

• * ADD TITLE again as above and then try to SAVE DISC IMAGE as I’ve read, but then everything looks foreign!!

If anyone can help, it would be amazingly appreciated!! I would very much like to get into creating these DVDs, but I am getting discouraged by the minute.....

[sjk]

This other thread may be helpful.

[Grand Cannon]

Yeah, that was posted while I was typing mine, thanks.

I guess my problem is Popcorn being fussy.

I'll go back and try the tutorials on Sizzle and see if I can 'trick' Popcorn into accepting a joined file from there......

[thoughton]

I've had trouble with ffmpegX-generated video_ts folders in the past, so I dont really trust them anymore. I'd use sizzle to make the video_ts and then use popcorn on that video_ts instead (actually I'd dvd2oneX, in my opinion an app that has been doing this for years has got to be better than one thats been doing it for a few months).

[Grand Cannon]

I've had trouble with ffmpegX-generated video_ts folders in the past, so I dont really trust them anymore. I'd use sizzle to make the video_ts and then use popcorn on that video_ts instead (actually I'd dvd2oneX, in my opinion an app that has been doing this for years has got to be better than one thats been doing it for a few months).

Yeah, being completely new to this, we grabbed Popcorn. I then have read many places that DTOX would probably be better....but oh well.

I've finally got the video_ts folders through sizzle, but when played in DVD Player the audio is out of sync. Continuing to try other methods right now.

As I convert the raw .avi files to .movs in order to hear them properly in the DVD Player, I'm going to attempt to use them and see if I can hear them in the video_ts file....guess we'll see.
UPDATE--No deal on the .avis, there's still no audio at all. Will have to use the DivX Doctor II .movs

It's frustrating because the Tutorials I've looked over never have the combo I'm using and using bits and pieces have yet to work.

[thoughton]

Your sync problem could be to do with the ac3 not being 48KHz. It may be worth converting it to 48 using ffmpegX and then using sizzle again. Worth a try anyway!

[Grand Cannon]

I'm going to need help with that one.
The sampling parameter under .ac3 says 48000Hz already....
Should I be adjusting something else?

[thoughton]

Drop the resultant ac3 back onto ffmpegX, does it say it is actually 48Khz?

If that doesn't reveal anything, I would try from the beginning but without the divx doctor step. Just process the avis directly with ffmpegX, and use the DVD (ffmpegX) preset instead of mpeg2enc.

PS What version of ffmpegX are you using? And does your avi input file have more than 2 channels of sound? I'm asking because although ffmpegX used to default to ac3 even if you had a stereo source, recent versions have defaulted to mp2 sound.

PPS Have you tried watching the .mpg file that ffmpegX produced? Is that in sync? If so you can use that in Sizzle instead of the m2v and ac3, just change the Sizzle drop-down menu to use program streams instead of elementary streams.

[Grand Cannon]

I ran ffmpegX twice as follows on 1) Doctored .mov and 2) original .avi. Both times I unchecked "Author as DVD". (Was that correct?)

Specs from ffmpegX are as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------
1) Source: MOV
Video: 3ivx D4 4.5.1, 640x480, 23.98 fps
Audio: mp2, 48000 Hz, stereo

Target: DVD (DVD ffmpeg)
Video: ffmpeg mpeg2, 720x480, 4000 kbps, 23.976 fps, no crop
Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 448 kbps, normalize

Resulted in 3 files: .mpg (unplayable in QT - says it doesn't understand), .mpv, and .ac3(states ac3, 48000 Hz, 5:1, 448 kb/s when back in ffmegX)

When run through Sizzle from .mpv & .ac3, audio out of sync.
When run through from .mpg, audio out of sync.

--------------------------------------------------------

2) Source: AVI
Video: mpeg4, 640x480, 23.98 fps
Audio: mp3, 48000 Hz, stereo, 128 kb/s

Target: DVD (DVD ffmpeg)
Video: ffmpeg mpeg2, 720x480, 4000 kbps, 23.976 fps, no crop
Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 448 kbps, normalize

Resulted in 1 files: .mpg (unplayable in QT - says it doesn't understand)

When run through Sizzle from, audio sounds like it's under water and video skips and then stops.

Drop the resultant ac3 back onto ffmpegX, does it say it is actually 48Khz?

From .mov yes, there was no .ac3 from .avi.

If that doesn't reveal anything, I would try from the beginning but without the divx doctor step. Just process the avis directly with ffmpegX, and use the DVD (ffmpegX) preset instead of mpeg2enc.

See above.

PS What version of ffmpegX are you using? And does your avi input file have more than 2 channels of sound? I'm asking because although ffmpegX used to default to ac3 even if you had a stereo source, recent versions have defaulted to mp2 sound.

ffmpegX v0.0.9s 2 channels? It defaults to the .ac3 when I've seen it.

PPS Have you tried watching the .mpg file that ffmpegX produced? Is that in sync? If so you can use that in Sizzle instead of the m2v and ac3, just change the Sizzle drop-down menu to use program streams instead of elementary streams.

.mpgs didn't work. Where are these drop-down menus in Sizzle that give that option? I have Sizzle version 0.5 (v0.5.0b2) and do not see the option?[/b]

[sjk]

Have you tried dropping the original AVI files into Toast and letting it do the transcoding and DVD-Video creation?

[Grand Cannon]

Therein lies the problem, I do not have Toast 6.

[sjk]

I have no idea how well or poorly Toast transcodes DivX/AVI to MPEG-2/VOB but thought it would certainly be easier than what you've tried up until now (an impressive effort it's been ). I silently guessed you didn't have it since you'd never mentioned it, only Popcorn. I'm barely familiar with ffmpegX and Sizzle so someone else is certainly better qualified to help you with them.

[Grand Cannon]

Thank you for your help, and to thoughton too!

After checking out a bunch of posts, how-tos, and FAQs....then DLing the freeware......

I never would have thought getting these .avis onto a DVD would have been such a trial.

My luck I guess.

[sjk]

Not sure I've helped as much as learned.

The DivX AVI files I have play fine through EyeHome so I'll keep them in that native format if/when I burn 'em to DVD. After buying EyeHome last month I lost interest (for now) in the possibility of getting a DivX-compatible DVD player. More streaming, less burning.

[thoughton]

Unchecking 'author as DVD' is fine, that just means ffmpegX wont waste half an hour at the end making a video_ts folder.

If you haven't already done it you need to make sure that 'Decode with Quicktime' is checked (especially if you try and convert the mov). This usually helps with sync problems.

Also, unless you want a simple menu, I would avoid using Sizzle 0.5 altogether. 0.1 was much more reliable (but cannot make menus). Conversely 0.1 can make DVDs which start playing as soon as you insert the disc, whereas Sizzle 0.5 demands you put in a menu. As far as I recall there are also differences in what audio formats each version likes and dislikes.

PS Go and download a copy of VLC and see if that mpg file you have is in sync. If, like me, you have a slower Mac you might want to use VLC 0.5.3. The latest VLC (0.8.1) is a massive processor hog which won't even play video on my PB G4 667Mhz, only audio.

[Grand Cannon]

YES!!! I'm in!
Sizzle 0.1, Decode w/ QT = happy camper!

It's working great!

Thanks, thoughton!! Greatly appreciate the time and posts, you've helped immensely(sp?)!

GC

[thoughton]

Glad to hear it's working!