Burnig issues for making MTV styled CD/DVD. Looking for help.

[Andretti]

My apologies if this has been covered, but I could not find anything on this.

My situation:

I have been downloading music videos off the net for quite some time. Most, if not all are typically *.mpg format. I used Roxio 6 for quite awhile, but started having problems with it and eventually switched over to using Nero 6.

Over the years, the video encoding from capturing has changed obviously. Originally, the place I went to download the videos seemed to typically have them in this format:

Media Format: VCD system, XVCD, SVCD (typically)
Video Bit Rate: 1,5XX,XXX range (meaning it varies pretty much each video, but most are semi close)
Video Frame Rate: 29.970
Total Frames: varies due to legnth
Media Size: 352X240 typically
Aspect Ratio: 4X3
Video Compression:
Video Standard: NTSC
Audio Rate:
Audio Channels: 2
Audio Compression: 3289421 typically
Audio Bit Rate: 224000

(I got this info by pulling up roxio and mousing over a few videos). When I put them in the menu of Nero 6 Ultra or Roxio 6, typically, I could burn it and it played fine in my stand alone sony DVD player (upstairs with the surrond sound). In the last year or so, I have gotten more and more videos that download with a slightly different format that I'm assuming is just considered "better" these days. Typically, the format looks like this (when viewing info in roxio 6 like before):


Media Format: MPEG-2 System ***
Video Bit Rate: 15,XX,XXX range (notice now 15 million verses 1.5 million)
Video Frame Rate: 29.970
Total Frames: varies due to legnth
Media Size: 720X480 typically
Aspect Ratio: 4X3
Video Compression: seems to be typically near or same as other version downloads
Video Standard: NTSC
Audio Rate: generally around the same numbers as before
Audio Channels: 2
Audio Compression: 3289421 typically
Audio Bit Rate: 384000 (verses 224000) before

When I put any of the newer files into Nero or Roxio, I either get a message saying it doesnt support MPEG-2 (roxio) or telling me it doesnt support MPEG-2 and I can recode it (nero). What I have found is that even when I do recode it, it plays, but with NO sound what so ever.

What I'm trying to determine is if I still want to have and make my own personal MTV style disks, what would be the suggestion as far as programming is concerned? I am not opposed to purchasing what ever might work the best, but Ive read horror stories about Roxio, and Nero is almost $100. I'd like to have a bit more "certainty" that I can do what I have been doing for all these past years. The idea is my own personal MTV. I make a disk, with multiple chapters with videos of songs I enjoy listening to and viewing as I'm working around the house. With chapters installed, I can forward from one song to another if I'm tired of listening to a particular one that I burned in that particular compilation.

It appears by reading the faq of Nero 8 Ultra it supports Mpeg-1 and Mpeg-2 as well as MP4 (which would be nice since I have alot of videos for my iPod already converted). In look at the roxio site, I'm not even sure what program they suggest using to do this, much less what it supports.

What would be your suggestions between these two or even something different?

Your suggestions and advice are greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Andretti

[jman98]

Avoid Roxio.

Nero is not a great program for anything except making audio CDs and data discs. I don't recommend it for anything else, but if you must use it because it's simple, then you live with its limitations.

The video bit rate you are seeing on these problem files is too high for normal DVD. Someone is either capturing straight from a cable box using CapDVHS or getting a high def capture and encoding it back down to standard definition video and keeping the video bit rate too high for DVD.
Nero should be able to deal with this.

You could try to re-encode the videos using the free HCenc. It has an option for producing DVD compatible output. That might get you something that Nero won't barf on. Nero should really be able to give you audio output on what it encodes, but I seem to recall that they sell some sort of AC3 plugin and if you don't have that, that may be why they are silent. Just another way to squeeze more money out of you. There is no need for this as it seems that your audio is really AC3 anyway and Nero could just not touch the audio and use it with the re-encoded video and not require you to buy anything else.

The process for using HCenc is rather involved, now that I think about it. A simpler tool might be better for you at this time. Why don't you try FAVC? It's free and although I have never used it, it is supposed to be able to produce DVD as output. It might be just what you are looking for.

I have to say that for a new member, your post really had a lot of helpful details. Good job! A typical new member with your problem would usually post something like this:
"I used to be able to make MTV style CD/DVDs but now I can't. Why?"
You can imagine what kind of help that kind of message gets. Please do always give lots of details in your posts as the more we know about what you did, the more we can help you. A lot of new people think that the less they say, the better, and that's not correct, so it's good that you aren't like that.

[nic2k4]

If you have Nero Recode, you should also have Nero Vision Express. Just use that to make a DVD of your video clips.

[Andretti]

Nero Express didnt work either. As soon as I try to add the first video, it locks up. I just got a suggestion from a friend to try "Ashampoo Burning Studio", so I'm gonna give that a try too.

Thanks for the suggestions. I really like being able to download and make my own Music Video CD's, so I'm not giving up till I find something that works.

Thanks

Andretti

[jman98]

Good luck with that Ashampoo thing. All I ever see around here are posts about how it doesn't work.

I suggest you try FAVC, which is what I mentioned in my reply.

[Andretti]

Good luck with that Ashampoo thing. All I ever see around here are posts about how it doesn't work.

I suggest you try FAVC, which is what I mentioned in my reply.

You are correct, it didnt work either. I am looking into FAVC at the moment.

Thanks again.

Andretti

[Andretti]

I have to say that for a new member, your post really had a lot of helpful details. Good job! A typical new member with your problem would usually post something like this:
"I used to be able to make MTV style CD/DVDs but now I can't. Why?"
You can imagine what kind of help that kind of message gets. Please do always give lots of details in your posts as the more we know about what you did, the more we can help you. A lot of new people think that the less they say, the better, and that's not correct, so it's good that you aren't like that.

Thanks by the way...I just figure I talk too much.

Oh, and btw...I did download FAVC, and in the process of messing with it...not too positive that it will work, but thanks for the suggestions.

Andretti

[nic2k4]

Nero Express didnt work either. As soon as I try to add the first video, it locks up. I just got a suggestion from a friend to try "Ashampoo Burning Studio", so I'm gonna give that a try too.

Thanks for the suggestions. I really like being able to download and make my own Music Video CD's, so I'm not giving up till I find something that works.

Thanks

Andretti

Nero express is not the same as Nero Vision Express. The first is a burning program the other is a video editing program. I've had good results with NVE, it would load videos that other programs would barf on. If you have it, it should be under Nero Digital in the Windows start menu or look through the applications in Nero's Smart Start menu.

[LJB]

Try the Ulead DVD MovieFactory demo or, better yet, the Sony DVD Architect demo to author, and then use imgburn (freeware) to burn the dvd.

[Andretti]

I actually got what I needed to do by trying a demo version of Nero Ultra 8. I will probably now go out and buy a copy since it seems to let me make the dvds/cds like I was before.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help.

Much appreciated.

Andretti