TMPGEnc created .m2v and .wav files. Now what for DVD creation?

[27am_dot_com]

DVD authoring does not seem like a simple task. Trying to get a video (avi) onto DVD. I browsed on here and learned I need to first convert it so I grabbed TMPGEnc which I remember using for a differnet project over a year ago (it was recommended to me on this forum)... but now for the life of me, I don't know what to do with the .m2v files.

I have Cyberlink Producer... I figured that would do the trick but it's not cutting it. Any recommendations on what the next steps should be?

[redwudz]

You apparently have it encoded to MPEG-2 video and WAV audio. I would drop the WAV audio into ffmpeggui and convert to AC3 if you want to save a lot of space. TMPGEnc could also have converted the audio to MPEG-1 Layer2 audio.

Then you need to author it to the DVD format. Easy is TMPGEnc DVD Author. It will accept separate video and audio streams. Or for freeware, DVDAuthorgui or GUI for dvdauthor. Then you burn it. I would use ImgBurn for that.

[27am_dot_com]

Thanks for the tip.

I forgot that PCM was the Wav file (ie: uncompressed) so I just left it as that. According to TMPGEnc it will all still fit onto a DVD.

I'm at the DVDAuthorgui page and it certainly doesn't make any sense to me. I'll download and run it and see if it pulls in my streams.

But I'm a bit surprised... isn't there a simpler "plug and play" way to create a DVD burn? I mean this is very much all over the board. It seems to me that at least one software company would have been intelligent enough to capitalize on this by making a software that walks you through each step (conversion, img creation, burn).. running around for 4 different mickey mouse pieces of software seems a bit silly.

For example, can't I just convert an AVI to MPG2 or some format that allows Cyberlink Producer to then just burn it all from there? This is very impractical.

[Scorpion King]

You can get quite a few 1-click dvd creation software titles now days but you will also be hard pressed to find one that does what it claims, imo. I have tried a few but I don't use them. The one that comes to mind that has 'come a long way' over the years is Ulead VideoStudio v10. I own v5, 6, 7, and now 10. V10 by far is their best offering to date (imo) and I have had very good results with the program.

If I were looking for a so called 1-click solution that would be my first choice, but I can still get better quality results by using my normal multiple step programs like VirtualDubMOD, Tmpgenc, etc.

Good luck.

[dewaynespaw]

I agree with you. It does seem to be a lot of work when it seems as though someone would come out with a good all in one that wasn't too expensive. There are a few program that will do it all but they are either very expensive or they give you a lower quality finished product. Pinnacle Studio and ULead Video Studio are some of the simpler and cheaper ones. They do a pretty good job and I use them every once in a while myself, however the video quality is a little more pixely. The MPG2 conversion part of the program is not as accurate, thus you loose quality. They do OK for some jobs. But when I want to author a high quality product, it is hard to beat TMPGEnc, especially for the price. Now my version of TMPGEnc DVD Author allows you to either write it to AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS Folders, and then burn it with the DVD authoring tool (it comes with it) or you can write it as an ISO file. I like the ISO file because I can then use DVD Decrypter to burn multiple copies. I'm hoping TMPGEnc will come out with a version that includes all the tools in one packaged product for a reasonable price. (I haven't looked lately, maybe they already have) If the video quality is not all that important to you, then look into Pinnacle Studio. It is a pretty easy one to use and has all the tools in one package. Hope this helps you some.

[mats.hogberg]

For simple AVI to DVD see no further than convertx2dvd. As much a nobrainer as it's likely to get.

/Mats

[Jim44]

I'm at the DVDAuthorgui page and it certainly doesn't make any sense to me. I'll download and run it and see if it pulls in my streams.

I've been using DVDAuthorGUI for a couple of years now to make very simple DVDs, and it works just fine. It'll take in your streams no problem - well, I'm not sure if it'll do WAV audio, but for sure it will take in MP2 and AC3. It has the ability to make basic menus (if you need that functionality) - I've made very simple ones in the past. Basically, you just load in the vid & aud streams and author.

My main use for it is making DVDs of IPTV shows that I watch (DL.TV, Lab Rats, etc) - it's much more comfortable to watch from the sofa

Hope that helps,
Jim

[MysticE]

Seeing as when most say AVI they mean Xvid/Divx, ConvertXtoDVD (as was mentioned) is by far the easiest and most foolproof method of conversion. And the end results are surprisingly good.

[Capmaster]

Seeing as when most say AVI they mean Xvid/Divx

I have to disagree. AVI is not a true format, but rather a container extension. There are many different formats that have been called ".AVI"

[Captain Satellite]

A few years back when I was trying to learn DVD authoring, I found TDA to give me the speed, ease and quality I was looking for. There are programs that can give slightly better results, but for a newb, I wouldn't recommend anything else. I STILL use it!

[MysticE]

Seeing as when most say AVI they mean Xvid/Divx

I have to disagree. AVI is not a true format, but rather a container extension. There are many different formats that have been called ".AVI"

I understand your point, but I repeat, that most who mention AVI and ask about conversion to DVD these days are talking about Xvid (and sometimes Dvix) movies that they have downloaded from various places.