Best way to encode multiple episodes

[perdomot]

I've noticed that some DVDs have a small number of episodes per DVD(say4) and that if I rip the dvd and encode it, I can get more eps per dvd and save some cash and space. My question is what is the best way to prepare and encode the files to get the best image quality when I make a DVD with Nero Vision Express? Thanks.

[Baldrick]

please post dvd to dvd here.

[HatchetMan]

final destination - single layer or dual?

What I've been doing is converting/authoring with Nero Vision, letting it think I will be using a dual layer disc, adding video files until approx. 6.5~7GB, then choosing to save output to hard disk folder. Then I take that result and load it into DVD-RB and compress to fit single layer dvd encoding with HC or CCE, while applying Undot().Deen() filters to Avisynth, outputting to iso image and burn with ImgBurn. If you already have VOB files and want to add menus, TDA is good too. You didn't mention the length/size of your original files, 30min or 60min, 2 channel or 6 channel audio. 2 channel 30min eps, I fit 6-7 eps per disc no prob. 60 min 5.1 audio eps I do 4 max. But, that's just my way, there are several others.

[perdomot]

What I am doing is ripping the VOB files to one folder per episode, encoding to either divx, mpeg1 or 2 and then importing the files to Nero to make a DVD that plays in a regular player. Problem is that Nero encodes the files again causing loss of quality. If possible, I'd like to find a way to frameserve the vob files directly to nero or some other authoring program to avoid the second encoding. Anything like that out there?

[guns1inger]

Nero is certainly part of your problem, but encoding to Divx in the first place is a bad move. If you must go down this path I would look at DVD Shrink in reauthor mode if you don't want menus, or TDA if you do.

Shrink - Re-author mode. Load in all the menus you want, making sure compression is set to 'No Compression'. Output to a HDD folder, igonoring the oversize warning. Use DVD Rebuilder to reduce down to single layer size.

TDA - Add Video function to load all the episodes, create simple menus, write to HDD folder. Use DVD Rebuilder to reduce to single layer size.

Either of these will give you substantially better quality than your current method of needlessly compressing video multiple times.

[mikiem]

"...save some cash.... get the best image quality when I make a DVD"

FWIW, with blank media so very cheap most places, if you want quality why not put 2 episodes per DVD with no re-encoding? The time it takes you to re-encode is probably worth more then the extra disc. But that's just me & MHO anyway...

Otherwise, you're giving Nero video that's off DVD spec, which it's going to re-encode to DVD spec., so you're lessening quality with no benefit. I'd say do as gunslinger suggested, or go to Divx or Xvid, leave them like that, and get a DVD player that will play them (they are out there for $50 US or less).

[whitejremiah]

nero is garbage as far as reencoding anyways..........honestly though, just split it up to more discs and retain original quality......i can get a 50 pack of blank dvdr for something like 15 dollars or so..thats NOT a lot of cash and NOT worth worrying about spending the money on discs...at least in my opionion..or if you absolutely need everyting intact, spend a few more dollars and throw it onto a dual layer disc....

[perdomot]

The cost of the discs isnt a big issue to me. Its having that many discs in my collection that bothers me. I do use DVD Shrink with 1 movie DVDs but not with discs that feature eps from old TV shows like the Twilight Zone. I do have a DVD player that handles Divx and have a couple of thing on divx DVDs but can you create entry points on these kinds of discs so you can jump to certain points in the movie?

[mikiem]

"I do have a DVD player that handles Divx and have a couple of thing on divx DVDs but can you create entry points on these kinds of discs so you can jump to certain points in the movie?"

AFAIK, no. Only way I'm aware of with any format is to either encode shorter titles, or use separate file(s) besides the video, like with wmv or DVD. No real solution for lots of discs besides something like this I guess:
http://dealnews.com/deals/400-Disc-CD-DVD-Mega-DJ-Case-for-35-shipped/109994.html

[nomad311]

why anyone would be attached to nero for dvd authoring is weird ...even more when you encode elsewhere. any way my vote is ditch nero there are plenty of other authoring tools that beat nero into the ground:
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=2#2

ne way i did try to put a fully dvd complient mpg file into nero and it still 'transcodes' it ...to what i dunno but i dont think you can give it anything that it wont do something to

i have only made dvds with episodes of my cartoons this far but i usually put 6-8 25 min eps on each cd and get great quality.

...and i dont get why no one else seems to think putting multiple epsidoes on a dvd is a good idea ...eventually i intend to go back and put all 95 episodes of kenshin on dvd ...at 2 a disc ill have to use a whole spindle to hold that series!! obsurd!!!

just my thoughts
-nomad311

[perdomot]

nomad, what tools are you using to author your anime onto dvd and is there a guide somewhere? BTW, I've got the first 27 eps of Rurouni Kenshin and its an awesome series. Thanks

[superpotts]

Something else you can try is similar to what gunslinger suggested. It's a three step process:

1. Rip all your dvds to your HDD with DVDFabDecrypter.

2. Author your discs with TDA, putting as many or as little episodes on each disc as you want. Do this by selecting just the VOB file of the corresponding episode as your video source in TDA. Create a new track for each episode. Create your menu, then let it do its authoring thing. Don't worry about the file size.

3. Use DVD Shrink to get the resulting dvd down to a burnable size. This is assuming that you didn't add so many episodes that it is beyond DVD Shrink's shrinking capabilities. As a reference, it can get 29 gigs down to about 7.7 gigs, so it also depends on whether you're burning to single or dual-layer.