more than 1 divx avi. files to dvd with chapter separation?

[vampirefan]

i'm hoping someone can help me out here.

i have some fansub divx avi files that i would like to transfer over to dvd to be played on my dvd player. the files do work on my computer, but i would much rather sit in my living room on my comfy couch and watch the episodes.

i am trying to do this with all free software (but have come to the point that i am willing to pay for software if that's what it takes).

so far i have tried two different methods and have had limited success, with instructions found here at videohelp.com:

method 1
i downloaded DivxToDVD, DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter.
-- first, i selected 5 consecutive episode .avi in DivxToDVD and had the resulting files output to a destination folder. The resulting files were: a folder named VIDEO_TS containing 6 each of .vob, .bup and .ifo files.
-- i then used DVD Shrink to convert the .vob, .bup and .ifo files into an .iso file (no actual shrinking occurred 'cause the files only were enough to fill up about 1/2 a blank dvd according to DVD Shrink)
-- lastly, i used DVD Decrypter to burn the .iso file to a blank dvd.

the resulting dvd plays beautifully on my dvd player - but i have a problem. there are 5 "chapters" but the 5 "chapter" breaks all occurr in the *first* episode. in other words, when i press "next track/next chapter" on my dvd remote, i go to five different breaks all within the first episode. needless to say, this is not fun if because i would have to *fast forward* to get to the next actual episode.

method 2

i tried using avi2dvd with DVD Decrypter.

--first, i renamed the 5 .avi files per avi2dvd instructions so that the program would join them into one movie. (Matrix CD1.avi, Matrix CD2.avi, etc)
--then, i chose one of the encoders offered (can't remember which one).
--there is an option to have chapter breaks every x amount of minutes or you could specify where the chapter breaks are by inputting the number of seconds (ie: 0,200,500,800,1200,2000) i figued out how many seconds long each episode was by using a minutes-to-seconds converter then added the amounts up.
-- the above resulted in an .iso file that i was able to burn using DVD Decrypter

i then played the dvd in my dvd player and the chapter breaks, while they did not result in breaks at exactly the beginning of each episode, were close enough to satisfy me - that is, until i realized that the sound was screwed up. i think the sound file ended up being slightly faster than the video and therefore is completely gone by the time you get towards the last two episodes.

therefore, my question, after all that is: does someone know how to transfer multiple avi files to a dvd to be playable on a dvd player (region 1) with chapter breaks at least at the beginning of each episode and the corresponding sound being synced, with free or very inexpensive software - and in a fairly uncomplicated manner? the quality of the image did not seem to suffer with the above methods because i don't plan on cramming a bunch of episodes on one dvd. i'm willing to leave blank space on a dvd.

i am using a pc with windows xp.

thank you!

eta: also, not sure if it makes a difference. i am using a dvd+r burner

[vampirefan]

(edited to remove the double post)

[DarrellS]

You need to use an authoring program like TDA to make menus with chapters for each episode.

[vampirefan]

thank you so much!

laura

[civuck]

therefore, my question, after all that is: does someone know how to transfer multiple avi files to a dvd to be playable on a dvd player (region 1) with chapter breaks at least at the beginning of each episode and the corresponding sound being synced, with free or very inexpensive software - and in a fairly uncomplicated manner? the quality of the image did not seem to suffer with the above methods because i don't plan on cramming a bunch of episodes on one dvd. i'm willing to leave blank space on a dvd.r

NeroVision Express 3 is very good for what you are after.

C.

[guns1inger]

DivxtoDVD is creating chapters for each title, however unless explicitly author your disk so that next jumps titles, you need to ensure that an extra chapter stop goes on the last (or near as dammit to) frame of eachtitle so you can hit next and then immediately move on to the next title.

I would use DivxtoDVD to do your conversions because it is fast, free and works. Load the results into TDA to create the extra chapter stops at the end of each title, then author (menu optional) to get the results you are after.

[vampirefan]

civuck, that software looks easy to use! the $100 price tag though is a bit steep - but, if i find i'm going to be doing this stuff pretty often, then it would be worth it!

guns1inger, after you mentioned the "titles" thing, i went to my dvd player and checked the titles, and i can forward to the next title using the dvd options button! i'm going to try doing what you said, especially since all the software is free (well, in the case of TDA it's free for a month, time enough to do my authoring)

thanks!

laura

[vampirefan]

i have spent most of the weekend trying get my .avi converted.

i tried doing what guns1inger suggested, but TDA gives me an error when i try to add a VIDEO_TS folder. can't tell you what the error is 'cause it is comprised of strange charachters and therefore, i have not clue as to what the problem actually is. i'm going to post a screencap a little later tonight so y'all can see what i mean.

i then tried converting the .avi into .mpg files using gui4ffmpeg. i then am able to add the resulting files to TDA (i can even preview the video and add chapter breaks to each track). i then convert the files using TDA and get the resulting VIDEO_TS file. i have converted that folder's files into an .iso file using both TDA's tool and DVD Shrink (DVD Shrink allows me to preview the video, so i know the TDA VIDEO_TS output is good), but then when i burned the resulting .iso file using DVD Decryter and the TDA burn tool, my dvd player says it can't play it.

i'll try to post more details tonight.

[accountwiz]

I put my avi files onto DVD with SVCD2DVD because it can create a menu item for each episode, and it produces very nice output.

[vampirefan]

first of all, i apologize for not posting the screencap of the strange error, as i had promised. what i ended up doing last night is uninstalling and reinstalling TDA. after the reinstallation, the program did recognize my VIDEO_TS folder!

yay!...i thought... grrr! i was able to create new tracks and created some chapter breaks, all looked fine and dandy... i created the .iso with TDA and then used the TDA burn tool... and another coaster...

i'm going to try using another software to create the .iso and burn.

i really have no clue as to why i'm having the problem. as stated originally, i was able to convert and burn some .avi successfully, but withouth chapter breaks. it's only after i added TDA to the equation that the problem happens.

i am also going to try the software that accountwiz suggested.

probably have gone through about 10 failed burns and have about 20 blanks left... time to start looking for blank dvd sales!

thanks!

laura