Dvdflick vs. avstodvd

[Psco2007]

I have been using Dvdflickto convert avi when there are subtitles involved.
Lately, Dvdflick has been hit-and-miss ( works sometimes,sometimes not.)

Many people suggest using Avstodvd, which I could not get to work on my XP computer.

Just got a new one - Windows 7 and downloaded it.
It does not recognize srt files, but Dvdflick does.

Any ideas?

[poisondeathray]

Do srt subs render in WMP or MPCHC on this new system?

Do you have directvobsub and/or vsfilter installed ?

[Psco2007]

Didn't know I had to install other plug-ins.
I thought that when it downloaded, it would put in appropriate programs.

I'll try your suggestions.

Thanks,

Paul

[hello_hello]

Try MPC-HC rather than WMP (if the problem is viewing subtitles on the PC when playing the original video). Aside from being a better player it's fairly self contained. It'll play most video formats without the need for additional plugins and it'll handle most subtitle formats. It has an option to load subtitles automatically (as long as they're correctly named they can be separate subtitle files or it'll load subtitles stored within the video container) or you can enable/disable them through the "Play" menu or through the right click menu. SRT subtitles are basically just text files. You should be able to open them with Notepad.

I've no idea why AVStoDVD doesn't recognize SRT subtitles. I've never used it but it seems fairly self contained. Although according to this page "Subtitles encoding using SubtitlesCreator". http://sites.google.com/site/avstodvdmain/home
No idea how that works but maybe SubtitlesCreator needs to be installed?

[Hoser Rob]

I'm not 100% sure what this has to do with dvd flick or avstodvd but ... mpc-hc may be better than wmp (what isn't?) but "fairly self contained" is not self contained. If you want a self contained media player try smplayer (my favorite) or vlc.

Avstodvd is not self contained, though it does load all the stuff it needs to run, including ffdshow and haali media splitter. In the process of installation it takes over your whole computer. Anything that originally went through the normal microsoft directx video and audio system doesn't anymore. mpc-hc does the same thing.

While this does have one benefit I can think of ... wmp will suddenly be able to play flac audio ... it is not self contained at all. It's not a good idea to use non microsoft codecs in windows 7. Microsoft tech support specifically says so since they can really cause system conflicts. I uninstalled mpc and avstodvd and used codec tweak tool to make sure everything is using the system codecs/filters.

I didn't like dvdflick that much but it definitely has its adherents here, and many of them seem to know what they're talking about. The one thing avstodvd has is that it works with files made with those same wonky non microsoft codecs you shouldn't use in windows. I never had much problem with srt files, but there are a lot of wonky subtitle files floating around out there too.

Maybe you should post on the avstodvd support thread?

I actually don't know of any really good dvd authoring programs ... avstodvd was the only really useable one I tried but I won't use those codecs anymore and it's hacky. At some point the cost of dvd blanks and the aggravation adds up. It's not hard nowadays to hook up your computer to a tv or larger monitor, and doesn't cost more than all those dvds and dvd cases do.

I haven't burnt dvd to video for a while but if I were to do so now I'd use dvdstyler as the authoring program ... it doesn't encode as well but it is self contained ... and convert to dvd compatible mpeg with avidemux or xmedia recode.

[_MrC_]

Many people suggest using Avstodvd, which I could not get to work on my XP computer.

Just got a new one - Windows 7 and downloaded it.
It does not recognize srt files, but Dvdflick does.

What do you mean by "AVStoDVD does not recognize srt file"?

If the srt file has same filename as source video file, when you add the video file, then AVStoDVD will automatically load the srt too. If the filename is different, you can add manually the srt file.



Bye

[_MrC_]

Avstodvd is not self contained, though it does load all the stuff it needs to run, including ffdshow and haali media splitter. In the process of installation it takes over your whole computer. Anything that originally went through the normal microsoft directx video and audio system doesn't anymore.

As I told you before, please give up to write untruth about how AVStoDVD works.

1. For A/V encoding, AVStoDVD relies on the directshow codecs that finds on the system, if you are satisfied with W7 built-in codecs, and do not install any other codecs, AVStoDVD will use W7 original ones.

2. AVStoDVD does not include ffdshow in the installer package. I usually suggest to install ffdshow separately, because IMO it is a very good codecs suite, but I do not force anybody to do that.

3. AVStoDVD does not automatically install Haali Media Splitter: during installation the user is given the possibility to install haali. If you do not want to install it, you can skip that step. AVStoDVD will work anyway, probably you will have some issues in processing matroska containers (I don't know if W7 has a built-in matroska splitter).

4. AVStoDVD is distributed also in a NoInstall (zipped portable) package version. If you are afraid of installations routine, that can use it. No 3rd part sw will be prompted to be installed.

I hope to have closed these items once and for all.



Bye

[Hoser Rob]

Why were ffdshow/haali installed by default then?

Look, I don't even care about any of these programs. I was just trying to suggest alternatives. The whole process is a pain in the ass and rather unnecessary these days. I don't burn dvd to video anymore and no one I know does anymore either.

And for the record, I think suggesting users manually edit the windows registry in your tech support thread completely irresponsible.

[chowmein]

I for one don't burn DVD to video anymore.

[_MrC_]

Why were ffdshow/haali installed by default then?

(for the 2nd time)
- ffdshow is NOT included in AVStoDVD package, it cannot be installed by AVStoDVD
- haali is installed if you agree during installation phase. You can skip.

I don't burn dvd to video anymore and no one I know does anymore either.

I partially agree with you: DVDs are going to expire soon. BTW some users still need to. We should help them to perform this task in the more easy, effective and robust way, without writing wrongness or being superficial.

And for the record, I think suggesting users manually edit the windows registry in your tech support thread completely irresponsible.

Recorded. Probably a more "open-minded" user may disagree. BTW not relevant for the topic.



Bye

[Psco2007]

Many people suggest using Avstodvd, which I could not get to work on my XP computer.

Just got a new one - Windows 7 and downloaded it.
It does not recognize srt files, but Dvdflick does.

What do you mean by "AVStoDVD does not recognize srt file"?

If the srt file has same filename as source video file, when you add the video file, then AVStoDVD will automatically load the srt too. If the filename is different, you can add manually the srt file



Bye

When I tried to convert an avi file using avstodvd, and tried to include subs - it did not bring upt srt file - dvdflick did.

[hello_hello]

I'm not 100% sure what this has to do with dvd flick or avstodvd but ... mpc-hc may be better than wmp (what isn't?) but "fairly self contained" is not self contained. If you want a self contained media player try smplayer (my favorite) or vlc.

Well if you want to argue semantics, MPC-HC is completely self contained. It'll play all the common video/audio types "out of the box" without the need for system codecs or splitters. Unlike some other players though, it'll happily use system codecs if you disable it's internal ones. In fact they don't even have to be the system codecs with the highest merit (the ones used by default) You can tell MPC-HC specifically which codecs you'd prefer it to use. MPC-HC doesn't install any system codecs. The only time you'll get system codecs installing with MPC-HC is if you install it with a codec pack such as CCCP.

It's not a good idea to use non microsoft codecs in windows 7. Microsoft tech support specifically says so since they can really cause system conflicts. I uninstalled mpc and avstodvd and used codec tweak tool to make sure everything is using the system codecs/filters.

It's fine to use non-Microsoft codecs in Windows 7. Microsoft tech support will tell you whatever they think you're silly enough to believe. I assume you're referring to "system" codecs though, unless you think a media player such as smplayer can play formats which aren't natively supported by Windows 7 using magic. I don't use Windows 7 but to the best of my knowledge the problem is Microsoft are trying to do away with the "merit system" of preferred system codecs, and made changing the merits of system codecs a bit harder with Windows 7 while telling you you're a naughty boy if you try to use codecs other then the ones which come with Windows, hence the reason for tools such as Win7DSFilterTweaker.

I didn't like dvdflick that much but it definitely has its adherents here, and many of them seem to know what they're talking about. The one thing avstodvd has is that it works with files made with those same wonky non microsoft codecs you shouldn't use in windows. I never had much problem with srt files, but there are a lot of wonky subtitle files floating around out there too.

Sounds like your definition of "wonky non-Microsoft codecs" is similar to your definition of "wonky subtitle files". You just don't understand them.

[Psco2007]

Many people suggest using Avstodvd, which I could not get to work on my XP computer.

Just got a new one - Windows 7 and downloaded it.
It does not recognize srt files, but Dvdflick does.

What do you mean by "AVStoDVD does not recognize srt file"?

If the srt file has same filename as source video file, when you add the video file, then AVStoDVD will automatically load the srt too. If the filename is different, you can add manually the srt file.





Bye

When trying to encode an avi file using avstodvd, it did not show srt file when I wanted to include it in the conversion process. Dvdflick had no problem.
I realize now that I should have installed additional plug-ins as stated above.

[_MrC_]

When trying to encode an avi file using avstodvd, it did not show srt file when I wanted to include it in the conversion process. Dvdflick had no problem.
I realize now that I should have installed additional plug-ins as stated above.

1. Were you able to add the srt subtitle file in the main window?
2. Have you completed the AVStoDVD project? If yes, may you post here the log file?
3. Have you tried to play the resulting DVD, enabling the subtitles using the remote controller?

To be 100% clear (too much confusion in this thread), AVStoDVD does not need additional plugins to encode and author any kind of subtitles (sub, sup, srt, ass, ssa). Encoding is done by SubtitleCreator and authoring by Muxman (both of them are included in every AVStoDVD package).

I would suggest to reset what was written so far and start a serious troubleshooting from this post.



Bye

[usually_quiet]

I have had them installed for a while now and as far as I can tell, AVStoDVD and MPCHC have not screwed up my system.

I'm still burning DVDs. I have a DVD recorder for recording standard definition cable, and much of the over-the-air broadcast TV I record using my PC is standard definition too. I don't have a BD burner or Blu-Ray player. I don't have a dedicated media player either, although my TV can play the kind of media files I record. With the current high price of large hard drives, a DVD is still a good choice if I want to save something.

[jagabo]

Microsoft tech support will tell you whatever they think you're silly enough to believe.

If Microsoft had their way nobody would use anything but WMA and WMV.

[olyteddy]

Microsoft tech support will tell you whatever they think you're silly enough to believe.

If Microsoft had their way nobody would use anything but WMA and WMV.

Not MOV or RM????