AVI and MPG to DVD w/ OSX

[longhorn89]

I have some small (50 mg) AVI and mpg files that I would like to combine and put onto DVD or VCD. It would be great if each episode were a new chapter, but I'm not going to bother if it's a hassle.

I have OSX 10.3.9 on iMac w/ Superdrive, Quicktime Pro 7.0.4, Toast Titanium 6, Popcorn, VLC, DVD2oneX.

Please advise.

Thanks.

Don

[Frobozz]

This thread may help: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=291348

[pianoman719]

The thread Frobozz pointed to is excellent. To help get organized, you might like to make a complete list of the files you want to burn, including name, filesize, video bitrate, audio format, etc.

What is the total filesize for all the files? If it's under 4.4. GB, you may be able fit everything on 1 DVD. This is preferable to using a shrink utility like Pocorn or DVD2One, where there would be some loss in quality from re-encoding.

If the files use different bitrates and formats, I suggest you not try to join them. See if Toast can burn them as separate titles on one DVD. As Frobozz said in the linked thread, "Having separate Titles and checking the Play All Items Continuously box in Toast will get you continuous play from one title to the next as well as the ability to select the start of each title. I think you should do that rather than join the segments."

Between Toast, Popcorn, DVD2One, and QuickTime Pro, you probably have enough commercial software to do the job.

-Pianoman

[longhorn89]

Thanks very much for the info and input. I'll look at the linked discussion to try to figure it out.

Quick question: am I able to drag multiple .mpg and .avi files (some of each) into Toast in order to burn the DVD?


Do I do this under the Video tab, or the Data Tab?
If Video tab, what do I select under the Advanced buttom? Video CD? Super Video CD? or DVD-Video?

Side question: when I use MTR and Toast to make a DVD backup, I burn a UDF under the Data tab. Why don't I use DVD from VIDEO_TS? No big deal, just curious.

Thanks.

-Don

[Frobozz]

Quick question: am I able to drag multiple .mpg and .avi files (some of each) into Toast in order to burn the DVD?

Yes you can have multiple types of videos and drag them into any order you want. There is a limit to how much will fit after being re-encoded and authored to a video DVD. Typically, you can get about 90 minutes on a DVD when Toast 6 encodes the MPEGs or maybe 3+ hours when Toast 7 encodes the MPEGs.

Do I do this under the Video tab, or the Data Tab?

The Video tab. That is where Toast can format video files to meet the VCD, SVCD or DVD specs.

If Video tab, what do I select under the Advanced buttom? Video CD? Super Video CD? or DVD-Video?

A Video CD fits about 60 minutes of ugly video quality to a CD. A Super Video CD fits about 35 minutes of okay-looking video to a CD. You know what a DVD video is. Choose the format you want.

Side question: when I use MTR and Toast to make a DVD backup, I burn a UDF under the Data tab. Why don't I use DVD from VIDEO_TS?

There was a time when Toast did not have a DVD video from VIDEO_TS option so it had to be done in the Data window. Later updates added this option because it made more sense to people. It doesn't matter which way you choose to do it.

[longhorn89]

Thank you so much for the info and quick responses. I really appreciate it. And my 2 year-old will appreciate it, too, when he's watching Thomas the Tank Engine shorts ad nauseum.

Thanks again.

-Don

[Frobozz]

Thank you so much for the info and quick responses. I really appreciate it. And my 2 year-old will appreciate it, too, when he's watching Thomas the Tank Engine shorts ad nauseum.

Thanks again.

-Don

Wait until he sees Bob the Builder. My nearly 3-year-old grandson can't get enough of that although Thomas is a favorite too.