Single ".wmv" movie to a single DVD. How?

[f4m45]

Hi, I'm new to video stuff. I read a thread about this, but it was oriented to vcd, while I want a dvd. So I decided to make a new thread.

I have a 1 hr 40 mnt movie in wmv format. I have Sonic Digital Media LE v7 that comes with my laptop. So I use the Sonic to burn the movie, but it says that the file won't fit into a single DVD. I have a Maxell DVD+R, on it there is marking "2Hrs SP mode" but why won't it fit a 1 hr 40 mnt movie on Standard Play mode?

How can I do this? I mean to burn a wmv movie into a single DVD without destroying the resolution and other good stuff of my 720x576pixels, 25fps movie?

I've searched in internet for this issue, but seems to not satisfy me.

Thank you!

[Baldrick]

convertxtodvd.

[TBoneit]

Are you sure you want to keep it a PAL format here in NTSC land? I suggest setting Baldrick's suggestion to NTSC standard so it'll play on most anything here in the USA.

[Cornucopia]

Assuming you actually want to keep it as PAL (in your stated NTSC-land),

This is what I'd do:

1. Open WMV in WMM. Export as DV-AVI (PAL). will be type1.
2. Open type1AVI in DVDate and convert type1 to type2.
3. Open type2AVI in TMPGEnc, Mainconcept, etc and encode to MPEG2-n-AC3 at optimal VBR rates for your length (still in PAL).
4. Author in your app of choice and Burn the DVD.

More steps, but the quality should be great (assuming the original was already great).

Scott

[mats.hogberg]

Yup. That's how I managed that feat. My first try was loading the wmv with DirectShowSource with avisynth, but that produced way out of sync A/V. Should have worked fine, but didn't.

/Mats

[f4m45]

The original was in PAL..... Yes, I noticed that NTSC is way better here, but I tried to convert it to NTSC and the result was horrible.. there's lag!! the movement is not smooth every like half-second due to the convertion of 25 to 30 fps meaning that there has to be a frame to be repeated in 4:5 ratio.. that's why I stick with PAL. I have no clue if PAL movie would play in average DVD player here, since I rarely use DVD player, I use computer for almost every single thing. So what do you think? Would it play fine?

Just for reference, what's the best author app do you think?

I'll try to do this tonight since I have class in 10 minutes, I'd better get going.

Thanks!

Cornucopia, I forgot to ask if it would fit into a single DVD?

[edDV]

The original was in PAL.....

since I rarely use DVD player, I use computer for almost every single thing. So what do you think? Would it play fine?

So why are you trying to author to DVD? Just copy the file as data to a DVDR and play it with your favorite wmv player.

If you wait for HD/BD DVDR you might be able to fit or convert your wmv movie into a playable VC-1 format (without the drastic conversion).

[f4m45]

I still have the need to LEARN something new.... and also I need to put it on a DVD so I can bring it with me to my friend's apartment and watch it together..

[TBoneit]

Keep in mind that if you create a PAL standard DVD it most likely won't play in many DVD players. Sony for example won't play PAL. Many Divx Players will play PAL & NTSC. of course if your friend has a divx player then why convert.

[Cornucopia]

I forgot to ask if it would fit into a single DVD?

1hr40min.=100min=6000sec

4.37GB=4474.88MB=35,799.04Mb

To make it fit, make sure the total (V+A+overhead) averages just less than:

35799.04 / 6000 = 5.96Mbps

It could be higher if you used a DL disc instead of SL.

It's possible to convert PAL --> NTSC with OK quality, but you have to go through many steps (not easy for n00bies).

Of course, depending upon the program content, usually just the video needs to be converted, not the audio.

Scott

[f4m45]

So, how exactly do you do it? I assume this is the 4th step of your previous step-by-step reply, right?

Oh, I think you put the wrong number up there.. shouldn't the last one be in "KB"? and why 4.37 GB??? a DVD is 4.7 GB, not 4.37 GB! I'm using a DVD+R, not DVD-R, if that makes difference. I am confused with the math too. 1 GB = 1024 MB, 1 MB = 1024, so on. So 4.37 GB is supposed to be 4 582 277.12 KB!

Sorry, lots of question..... I really need the help

Thanks!

[TBoneit]

a DVD is 4.7Gb the same way Hard drivs are sized. In 1000 = 1K versus 1024 = 1K in windows.

Thus content that displays as larger than 4.37Gb in windows will not fit.

Secondly the video is not the only thing on a authored DVD. There is space used for the actual DVD structure. Every Thumbnail in a mane or submenu will use space. menus use space. The files used by the player for navigation use space. And so on. Motion menus use even more space than static menus. You need to leave some room for the autoring process.

[Cornucopia]

So, how exactly do you do it? I assume this is the 4th step of your previous step-by-step reply, right?

Oh, I think you put the wrong number up there.. shouldn't the last one be in "KB"? and why 4.37 GB??? a DVD is 4.7 GB, not 4.37 GB! I'm using a DVD+R, not DVD-R, if that makes difference. I am confused with the math too. 1 GB = 1024 MB, 1 MB = 1024, so on. So 4.37 GB is supposed to be 4 582 277.12 KB!

Sorry, lots of question..... I really need the help

Thanks!

You're playing fast and loose with the terminology and units, and it's going to get you into trouble.

If one follows the tech notation (not marketing-speak), a unit is 1024 x it's preceding unit.
So

1 GB = 1024 MB. 1 MB = 1024KB. etc.

Also B=Bytes, b=bits. 1 Byte = 8 bits.

4.37 GB is = 4,582,277.12KB! But we don't want to know what KB it is, we want to know what Mb it is, as that's what most encoders have as their settings choices.

For steps on converting video from PAL to NTSC system, you should read many of the guides (to the left <--), as they go into more detail (some with pictures) that would make sense to repeat here. But for starters, determine if the program you have is a FILM-based source or a VIDEO-based source. If it's film-based, it probably was telecine converted 2:2 and sped up from 24fps to 25fps (with a corresponding 4% time compression in the audio as well). This will be easier to convert, because you should 4% TimeExpand the audio, and slow down the video back to 24fps and re-combine the fields into full frames, and THEN do a normal FILM-to-NTSC 3:2 telecine to get the standard 29.97fps Interlaced program.

If it's video-based, you have a much harder time. I prefer going the VERY SLOW but better quality route of framerate supersampling (in this case to 300fps) with motion-based interpolation, and then FR downconverting. Looks pretty darn smooth.

Scott

[f4m45]

So, how exactly do you do it? I assume this is the 4th step of your previous step-by-step reply, right?

Oh, I think you put the wrong number up there.. shouldn't the last one be in "KB"? and why 4.37 GB??? a DVD is 4.7 GB, not 4.37 GB! I'm using a DVD+R, not DVD-R, if that makes difference. I am confused with the math too. 1 GB = 1024 MB, 1 MB = 1024, so on. So 4.37 GB is supposed to be 4 582 277.12 KB!

Sorry, lots of question..... I really need the help

Thanks!

You're playing fast and loose with the terminology and units, and it's going to get you into trouble.

If one follows the tech notation (not marketing-speak), a unit is 1024 x it's preceding unit.
So

1 GB = 1024 MB. 1 MB = 1024KB. etc.

Also B=Bytes, b=bits. 1 Byte = 8 bits.

4.37 GB is = 4,582,277.12KB! But we don't want to know what KB it is, we want to know what Mb it is, as that's what most encoders have as their settings choices.

For steps on converting video from PAL to NTSC system, you should read many of the guides (to the left <--), as they go into more detail (some with pictures) that would make sense to repeat here. But for starters, determine if the program you have is a FILM-based source or a VIDEO-based source. If it's film-based, it probably was telecine converted 2:2 and sped up from 24fps to 25fps (with a corresponding 4% time compression in the audio as well). This will be easier to convert, because you should 4% TimeExpand the audio, and slow down the video back to 24fps and re-combine the fields into full frames, and THEN do a normal FILM-to-NTSC 3:2 telecine to get the standard 29.97fps Interlaced program.

If it's video-based, you have a much harder time. I prefer going the VERY SLOW but better quality route of framerate supersampling (in this case to 300fps) with motion-based interpolation, and then FR downconverting. Looks pretty darn smooth.

Scott

Yes, I had read PAL-NTSC articles before I made this thread. It took me literally half a day to understand the process. I downloaded some software for that too, such as Mainconcept (that people praise).

And yes again, you refresh my memory on how things are different with computer bytes.

Anyhow, what's the best authoring software you use?

to TBoneit: roughly how much space does the DVD structure use up?

[Cornucopia]

For converting PAL->NTSC, my favorite would probably be Adobe AfterEffects (as you can greatly tweak the interpolation, etc and it fully understands fields processing), but you could do well with AVISynth or Virtualdub also.

Once the PAL AVI is converted to an NTSC AVI, then encode to MPEG with Mainconcept, TMPGEnc, etc.

Once the NTSC MPG is encoded, author with any good authoring app (depends on how fancy/complex you want to get)--DVDLabPro, DVDArchitect, Ulead, TDA, etc would be good mid-level apps to try. (Me, I like DVDArchitect or DVDMaestro)

I would greatly stress using only apps best suited for that particular purpose, not ALL-IN-ONE stuff.

Also, DVD structure overhead rule-of-thumb (for me) is ~5%.

Scott

[f4m45]

Nice, thanks for all the answers. I'll try to figure out which program is best for my purpose.

As soon as I'm done with tests, papers, and concert-performance, I'll get this video thing going since I bet it'll take lots of time!

Again, thanks for all the info.. Really useful!