The run down on burning dvds!!!!!!!!!

[MrDilemma]

I converted a standard mpeg-1 file to a mpeg-2 movie file using the instructions from this site. The original size on the mpeg-1 was about 400 megs and after the conversion it became about 1.5 gigs. hmmmmmm. I then tries burning the movie to cd-r using Spruceup again from the instructions on this site. After hours of importing and compiling it then said that the task will not be completed. I figured it was because of the file size on the movie. First, i have read alot of the message postings but could not find a way the downsize the movie into mpeg-2 format and still have a good chance of playing it on a standalone dvd player. Basically what i want to know is this: Can someone give me the full run down on getting a mpeg-1 movie, converting it to mpeg-2, and then burning it to cd-r(w) and be pretty sure it is going to play on MOST standalone dvd players without having a dvd writer. And by this a mean REALISTICLY. For instance, yeh you have Ntsc and Pal but what is most common, Cdr-w or Cdr, what bitrate will allow me to have a file that is no bigger than 650 megs and still be able to play it on most standalone dvd player. I am still a newbie at this so if someone can please be as specific as possible it would be greatly appreciated. Again, I must stress the word REALISTIC, for instance, I know someone is going to tell me "Go and check the F.A.Q sheet on DVD player compatibility but if most people goto Walmart or Radio Shack or something and by a standalone dvd player there are most likely going to get..................I would really appreciate someones help on this! tHaNkS iN aDvAnCe!!!!!!


-Dilemma

[Kdiddy]

Ok man you got several issues going on here that need to be address...First this mpeg-1 file, what is the type of originating source?? What encoder are using to "convert" this file, what bitrate, # of passes etc. are you using..basically to get SPECIFIC help, you need to give SPECIFIC info what you are doing.....now off hand it sounds like you want to make a miniDVD, because thats the only reason I see for using SpruceUp, and if you are doing a miniDVD, I hope a regular DVD is your originating source, and if that is your orginating source, then why are you making a mpeg-1 file first??...the only advantage of using SpruceUP would be to make a miniDVD copy from the original DVD...any other source, and you are better off making VCDs/SVCDs...now I say this because 97% of standalone players will NOT PLAY the miniDVD format you are trying to make...so of course, yes you need to check the capability list to see if yours is on there....hope this is a step in the right direction

[AntnyMD]

Also, if you're using a cracked copy of SpruceUp, it becomes very sensitive (although I hear the legal version is a bit buggy also).

Here's what I've found with my copy of SpruceUp:
* It occasionally accepts VCD-resolution MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 files, but not consistently.
* SpruceUp prefers all video to be full resolution -- so make sure your vertical resolution is either 480 or 576, and your horizontal resolution is at least 352; the horizontal resolution of 480 is not allowed as it is not a part of the DVD specification
* If you are using a program stream that was originally intended for VCD, make sure your re-sample your audio to 48kHz (VCD is 44.1kHZ) -- 44.1kHz audio is not supported in the DVD spec
* Lastly, no matter what, SpruceUp prefers your video and audio be separate files -- so when you "add new media asset" in Spruce, load your m1v or your m2v file first, and if your audio file (ac3 or mpeg audio) has the exact same name as your video source (example, movie.m2v and movie.ac3) then SpruceUp will automatically select the correct audio source for your video and multiplex them during the compile stage

I hope some or all of that helped.

[MrDilemma]

Thanks alot Kdiddy and AntnyMD for getting back to me so quickly. The originating source of my movie was a Mpeg-1 (downloaded VCD). To tell you exactly what i did would be too long so i'll tell you that i followed the instructions in this site (http://www.vcdhelp.com/tmpgencdvd.htm) exactly. I did nothing more or nothing less. I used Tmpgenc to encode the mpeg-1 file to a mpeg-2 file. So if you look at the screenshot on the referenced htm, that is exactly what i saw. Aspect ratio, frame rate..........i kept everything the same. I used the dvd (ntsc) template. Also,
1.) ok so i guess my best bet is to make a vcd........Do i still use mpeg-2?
2.) Will a vcd with just the right specifications play on most standalone dvd players that most people have? And if so, what are those specifications?
3.) What do i do about the file size that i referenced in the previuos post.<---------sorry about the spelling!
4.) The Mpeg-1 to MPEG-2 conversion took 10 hours............is this normal for a celeron 633mhz?
I cant think of any more information to give. Like i said I followed the instruction exactly. Also, I didn't realize that it mattered what the source file was. So, why does this site only give one set of instructions for converting to mpeg-2. By saying this I'm assuming the DVDs for the most part can only play Mpeg-2 or that's what I read somewhere. I don't mean to be pain but i'm a baby when it comes to all this.......but i'm getting a little closer. Thanks again!

[T-rad]

not only did you increase the framesize to 720x480 from 352x240, but you increased the bitrate from 1150kb/s to 7000kb/s basically increasing the movie size by 4x

a rough translation:
vcd = 10mb / min
svcd = 15mb / min
dvd = 30mb / min

[MrDilemma]

Yeh but i thought the framesize HAD to be 720x480 and the bitrate HAD to be 7000kb/s for it to be able to play on a standalone dvd player. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[MrDilemma]

Alright Ya'll............Dilemma is a true idiot! I didn't realize that most standalones can play vcds. But can someone please tell me what the vcd specs should be........bitrate, framesize, etc. Please help me I'm so close! tHaNkS iN aDvAnCe!

[Beretta]

Why not take advantage of the great resources this site offers, and look up that information.

http://www.vcdhelp.com/vcd.htm <-- start with that.

[Zalk]

I wouldn't try to make a dvd. Just burn a vcd using your mpeg-1 file and nero. It'll work fine in most standalone dvd players (have to support vcd which most new ones do).