Quick Advice Please - 3 AVIs to 1 DVD with Menu

[nuyork]

Hi all,

I'm sort of a newbie to all this. I've read through alot of the tutorials on this site, but just wanted some quick advice on something.

I've got 13 AVI files which are about 48 minutes each. I want to put at least 3 AVI files on a DVD format disc (with a simply menu system) which will play on stand alone DVD players. Is this possible?

I just wanted to find out which tutorial I should be reading to do this?

3 AVI files to convert to fit on 1 standard 4.7GB DVD with a simple menu.

At the moment I'm downloading a trial version of VSO DivXToDVD, as I read somewhere that I can just add all my AVI files and convert them to a DVD format file, and I can author it afterwards with a simple menu system.

But if there is an easier way and a simple tutorial I can use to do this, that would be great.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you,

:L:

[INFRATOM]

You need to give more info, up to 90 min is ok on dvd. If it is your own movies. The easiest way is to get a software that does eveything like Ulead products. You can do with free SW but you need so many SW and steps and tutorials. Give more info on what are the AVI's the answer could be as simple as using one DVD authoring program.

[redwudz]

You won't find much easier way than VSO DivxToDVD.

For better quality and more flexibility, I use VirtualDub Mod to edit and filter, then frameserve that to TMPGEnc Plus encoder, then author with TMPGEnc DVD Author. You can use other encoder and authoring programs, they work similarly.

How much fits on a DVD depends on the bitrate and the length of the video. TMPGEnc can figure bitrate, or there are some good bitrate calculators in the 'Tools' to the left. <<<

Lower bitrate, more video on the DVD at lower quality. Higher bitrate, more quality, less video.

[jimmalenko]

http://members.dodo.net.au/~jimmalenko/AVI2DVD.htm might help.

[Mister Flonk-Flonk]

How much different is the latest version of VSO DivxToDVD? I've got the older free version and you can't make any menus with it. I don't think you can have more than one video file either, unless you merge them with something like VirtualDub first.

[freebird73717]

How much different is the latest version of VSO DivxToDVD? I've got the older free version and you can't make any menus with it. I don't think you can have more than one video file either, unless you merge them with something like VirtualDub first.

Actually you can load more than one avi file in divxtodvd. I pulled this from the user comments of divxtodvd.

* USEFUL TIP * the docs say it converts single files only but I find that you can queue several avi clips and it handles them together no probs, creating one file with separate chapters. When selecting the input file, click on the LAST file then shift-click on the FIRST (if you do first then last the chapters appear in the order CAB instead of ABC etc...)

Basically name your files in numerical order link movie 01, movie 02, movie 03 and so on then click on the last file movie 03 press and hold shift key and click movie 01. It should automatically que the movies in the order movie 01, movie 02, movie 03....

However I don't think it will produce menus though...

[jimmalenko]

Neither the old freeware version nor the new trialware version will produce menus ..... yet.

It's listed as high priority on the developer's to do list though:

http://www.vso-software.fr/divxtodvd/divxtodvd_todo_list.htm

[Mister Flonk-Flonk]

Well that sounds like a nifty trick if it works. I'll try it some time and see how it goes. Right now the only thing I really use that program for is putting the occasional downloaded movie on DVD for set top viewing but mostly it's a handy tool for those times when you've got a major rush job to get your camcorder DV footage on a DVD so people can watch it STAT. I use other methods for doing that stuff right and making something I'd not be ashamed to put my name on, but for the impulse get it on DVD as fast as you can type stuff it's just fantastic for that.

[jimmalenko]

The "Multiple files" trick does work, but I'm pretty sure it creates a new title for each file, and not a new chapter, as reported above.

[DereX888]

Quick advice?
$50 dvd player capable of playing divx/xvid AVI files will save lots of time and frustration with encoding and software quirks...

[guns1inger]

Quick advice?
$50 dvd player capable of playing divx/xvid AVI files will save lots of time and frustration with encoding and software quirks...

If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, there are too many variations on ways to encode divx/xvid that won't play on standalone players. At least a DVD is a DVD is a DVD.

Yes, DivxtoDVD creates a new titleset for each new title. You don't get menus, but it's not hard to create them with TDA and just attach the titles to them. It is probably the simplest way to get 3 episodes to a disk, as the method it uses to encode so quickly often gives surprisingly small file sizes.

[nuyork]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Just to answer a few questions and give a little more info.

These AVIs are standard TV episodes downloaded off the internet (those HD-TV widescreen captures), and I want to put them on a DVD for a friend. She doesn't have a DVD player that can play DivX files, or else I would do that.

Each file is about 350MB each and about 45 min each. Quality is not a major issue, as long as you can see what is going on. So I was thinking 3 episodes on 1 DVD.

I thought I could use VSO DivXToDVD to convert the files to a DVD format, to create one large MPEG2 file of the 3 AVIs. Then use another program to author the file and create a simple menu system.

I'll read through each of those guides that you suggested and see which one best suites my needs, but I'll play around with VSO DivXToDVD tonight and see what I come up with.

Thanks again for the help, and if there is anything extra that you can advise on, post away.

:L:

[DereX888]

Quick advice?
$50 dvd player capable of playing divx/xvid AVI files will save lots of time and frustration with encoding and software quirks...

If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, there are too many variations on ways to encode divx/xvid that won't play on standalone players. At least a DVD is a DVD is a DVD.

Yes, DivxtoDVD creates a new titleset for each new title. You don't get menus, but it's not hard to create them with TDA and just attach the titles to them. It is probably the simplest way to get 3 episodes to a disk, as the method it uses to encode so quickly often gives surprisingly small file sizes.

I believe it is that simple.
I don't believe anyone is encoding their own captures to divx/xvid (for what? obviously its easier, faster and give way better results to do your own stuff in dvd-video instead).
The only reason for need to encode divx to dvd are *downloaded* AVI files, and those are almost all made according to MPEG-4 specs of divx/xvid AVIs, hence they all play on standalone divx players.
I have probably downloaded terabytes of divx/xvid files and there were very very rare cases when file wasn't playable on standalone divx player.

And lets not forget the fact that DivXToDVD produces very often horribly distorted DVD-Videos out of not bad quality DivXes.
As a matter of fact I won't recommend DivXToDVD to anyone, because in my opinion it is piece of crap.
It will produce great quality DVD-Video only out of the 100% MPEG-4 compliant divx AVIs - therefore these files could have been played without any problem on a standalone divx player without the need to encode them to dvd-video. It will not create dvd-video from any other codec AVIs. It will have a problems with any non-standard MPEG-4 divx AVIs (i.e. those with patched resolution, the old ones with certain Microsoft codec, etc), so what is the point to use it if it only does good job on files that are already playable on standalone divx players? I'll say it again: spend as little as $50 and spare yourself from encoding! And if you spend little more you'll get standalone player capable of playing more "variations" of divx/xvid/other than this DivXToDVD is capable at all!

[lordsmurf]

MPEG-4 doesn't have set specs.
That's the point guns1inger was making.

[DereX888]

MPEG-4 doesn't have set specs.
That's the point guns1inger was making.

by set specs I meant DivX Networks' MPEG-4 "Home Theater" specifications.
After all divx is their 'format' and others - i.e. xvid coders - follow them as well as much as it is possible

[nuyork]

Hey VideoBuddies,

I just tried VSO DivXToDVD and it works like a charm. Only one small problem, I'm not sure if it's something I am imagining, or if it is a real problem.

After VSO has encoded and I check the VOB files with PowerDVD, it feels as if the audio and video are EVER SO SLIGHTLY out of sync? Is there anyway to check this? Like a CRC check or a timestamp check? Or some sort of video/audio syncing test? As I said, it could be just me, as I woke up at 5am in the morning and checked the VOB files, so I could have still been sleeping.

Also another problem I am having. I wanted to create a menu system with TMPGEnc DVD Author. So I start it up and go new project and then click Add DVD Video, and then select the folder (VIDEO_TS) to where VSO created the VOB files, but then it gives me an error. Just a stop error, with no message just a bunch of weird characters and then I click OK and nothing happens. Anyone come across this before?

Is there an other software that I can try out to create a simple menu system with the created VOB files?

BTW, I'm using 1.5.20.62 of TDA, if that's any help.

Thanks,
:L:

[DereX888]

Hey VideoBuddies,

I just tried VSO DivXToDVD and it works like a charm. Only one small problem, I'm not sure if it's something I am imagining, or if it is a real problem.

After VSO has encoded and I check the VOB files with PowerDVD, it feels as if the audio and video are EVER SO SLIGHTLY out of sync? Is there anyway to check this? Like a CRC check or a timestamp check? Or some sort of video/audio syncing test? As I said, it could be just me, as I woke up at 5am in the morning and checked the VOB files, so I could have still been sleeping.

Also another problem I am having. I wanted to create a menu system with TMPGEnc DVD Author. So I start it up and go new project and then click Add DVD Video, and then select the folder (VIDEO_TS) to where VSO created the VOB files, but then it gives me an error. Just a stop error, with no message just a bunch of weird characters and then I click OK and nothing happens. Anyone come across this before?

Is there an other software that I can try out to create a simple menu system with the created VOB files?

BTW, I'm using 1.5.20.62 of TDA, if that's any help.

Thanks,
:L:

I warned ya about DivxToDVD
If you really must encode divx to dvd, why not download i.e. TMPG Encoder, and do it the right way? It is really simple to do so, and there is tons of great guides available here if you still aren't sure what and where to select... And did I mentioned you'll have almost full control over the way it is being encoded, unlike some other progs with just one option (encode or cancel) ? It is bound to be dvd-video compliant, unlike some other software using "guessestimation"...


My guess is that DivxToDVD didn't create dvd-compliant file, and thats why TDA errors out... (ofcoz there may be tons of other reasons, but knowing this POS by VSO, Im rather sure of it). As I said before - if the divx file is not 100% compliant with divx standalones, DivXToDVD most likely won't encode it to a dvd-compliant files, and there may be tons of reasons.

Your audio is out of synch because most likely your divx file had VBR audio (variable bitrate) and thats another thing this POS software don't like...

BTW - care to elaborate on how exactly did it work "like a charm"?

[pdekerillis]

nuyork,

i know some people may disagree but i have been using SVCD2DVD for my hi definition TV rips. It allows you to make a menu screen and it is very simple to use. For example, I was able to put 4 episodes (1 hour episode becomes 42 min without commercials) on each dvd and put the entire season on 7 DVD5's. I have had friends try to do the same thing with Nero for example or even myself with Sony Vegas 5.0 and the major problem is that these programs significantly increase the size of the original hidef divx file thus making it impossible to put even 3 episodes on one!!
Additionally, I also believe that the video quality is pretty much the same and i can not notice much of a loss of quality. The only downside is the basic menu which doesnt allow for screen shots but that doesnt bother me since the movies look so good. it also works for vcd or svcd conversion.
It is probably the best 20 dollars i've ever spent when it comes to basic tv episodes to dvd encoding. it is fast, easy and will do exactly what you want. Let me know how it goes.
Pdek

[DereX888]

nuyork,

i know some people may disagree but i have been using SVCD2DVD for my hi definition TV rips. It allows you to make a menu screen and it is very simple to use. For example, I was able to put 4 episodes (1 hour episode becomes 42 min without commercials) on each dvd and put the entire season on 7 DVD5's. I have had friends try to do the same thing with Nero for example or even myself with Sony Vegas 5.0 and the major problem is that these programs significantly increase the size of the original hidef divx file thus making it impossible to put even 3 episodes on one!!
Additionally, I also believe that the video quality is pretty much the same and i can not notice much of a loss of quality. The only downside is the basic menu which doesnt allow for screen shots but that doesnt bother me since the movies look so good. it also works for vcd or svcd conversion.
It is probably the best 20 dollars i've ever spent when it comes to basic tv episodes to dvd encoding. it is fast, easy and will do exactly what you want. Let me know how it goes.
Pdek

There you go nuyork
DVD2SVCD with CCE is actually the best way (from simple ones) to do it.
Certainly i.e. you won't have sync issues because it detects VBR audio, you won't have a/r problem because you manually set it up there (and i.e. black bars for anamorphic widescreen dvds are added automatically - unlike in that POS by VSO...) and many many other options...


BTW: despite its name, DVD2SVCD does AVI>VCD, AVI>SVCD, AVI>DVD, DVD>VCD, DVD>SVCD, DVD>DVD (DVD9 to DVD5), and few more (i.e. DVB transort streams to VCD/SVCD/.DVD).
And it can create DVD image for you (if you do 1 movie on a disc) or you can use its output VOBs with TDA if you need to put few movies/episodes on 1 disc.

Give it a try!

[nuyork]

After a shower, I went back to check the VOB files again and they were in sync. I must have been half asleep and it felt as if the audio was coming out like a milli-second before their mouth open. But all is good now.

DereX888: What I meant by "worked like a charm" is that it was easy to use and did EXACT what I needed it to do, which was to take multiple AVI files and compress them to fit on 1 DVD. Plus the quality was better than I expected it to be, so that's a bonus.

I opened up Nero Vision Express to try and create the menus, and Vision Express opened them up just perfectly. So I created the most basic of menus with just a front page and three selection boxes for the menus.

I'll write a copy when I get home tonight and see how the DVD turns out. Maybe it will be riddled with errors and weird artifacts, but while I was testing it in Vision Express it seemed to play perfectly.

For future reference, I'll take note of the other programs you guys mentioned, but I doubt I'll be doing this again any time soon, let alone doing it professionally. This was just a quick once off thing that I needed to do for a friend.

Thanks again for all your help. If I have problems with Vision Express, I'll try the other programs you mentioned and come back here if I need some help.

Kind regards,
:L: