Are DVDRs not that useful?

[LoopyWolf]

I got a DVDR this past xmas, and I wish I'd gone for the PS2...

I got it in the hopes I could encode my videotapes onto DVD, take all the video I have which is vieable only on computer, and a few other things, and I've not succeeded yet in anybut but video-to-DVD capture..

I'm very frustrated. Am I doing something horribly wrong, or are DVDRs simply not that useful?

[Treebeard]

you need to explain your steps more, your post is rather vague and we cant help you. list your current setup & process of creating a dvd.

[whomacuddy]

Indeed your post does not specify any particular problem that you are having , for instance difficulty converting formats or audio-video syncing problems or simply quality issues.

[LoopyWolf]

A large part of that intiail post was mere venting, and to see if the people on this board were the types to tune in and see if they could help..

There are two things I want to do:

1. Capture TV shows onto DVD. I am using Roxio DVD Builder to capture and video-edit. This works very well, as long as I can find the tapes and episodes. The only problem here is in fitting 2 hours (4 half-hour episodes) onto 1 DVD. By always burning to image, and fiddling with "auto" vs. "no" compression settings, I can usually get it to around 4.1 or 4.3 estimates and that will burn, so any helpful tips there are desired. I burn the images to an .ISO and I'd love to find something that would shrink ISO's to fit 1 DVD.. but DVD Shrink doesn't seem to take .ISO files.. despite all the webpages that say so.

2. I have a number of videos, such as Invader Zim and Vampire Hunter D, that I want to make viewable. They are only computer-viewable, not DVD vieweable and it's inconvenient. The problem with them is they are NOT in NTSC format.. they are in AVIs ASFs and MPEGs and I need something that will reformat them to the correct size so Roxio will take them, and something to convert the ASFs to AVIs.. something that is not trivial.

Any help you can offer on this topic, or other possible uses for the DVDR to make it worth it, would be well appreciated. It's not nearly as useful as I'd hoped.

[Treebeard]

okay, to run shrink on an iso you could get daemon tools and just mount the iso file, then run shrink and point to that virtual drive its mounted on.

as far as changing avi, asf, mpg to dvd compliant files, that is a time consuming process and lots of reading to be done start by clicking over <---- there on the guides section, then select what format going from (avi, asf, vcd, etcc.. ) to DVD.

Have fun. and I hope I was a helpful board member.

[GreyDeath]

Hey Loopy,

Yes, capturing and burning to DVD can be enormously fustrating when you're starting out (and even when you think you have it down pat ) It requires, patience and a lot of testing to see what works for you.

I do the same things you want to do, I put alot of anime and animations that I like to DVD. Once you get the process down, it shouldn't take long for encoding. I'm doing Samurai Jack now (no menus, too much of a pain for me) and I have it down to about 90 minutes for capturing to computer, editing out the commercials, and encoding. And that's really about 15 minutes of me actually sitting at the computer.

My process is as follows:
1. Capture to computer using a Canopus ADVC-100 (DV Codec).
2. Edit the show using Video Vegas 4 (Excellent and Easy Non-linear Editing program), tweaking for color and volume.
3. Encode to mpeg-2 (Average Bitrate 4500k)

When I get 5 shows together...
4. Split mpeg video and audio using Tmpgenc's Mpeg Tools
5. Import split files into DVD Complete (Simple and Average Authoring program)
6. Set Chapters
7. Build and Burn

Granted most of the fustration that I'm faced with now is being a stickler for quality and trying to remove video noise from some not-so-great sources such as old tapes and LD's. But the encoding is a breeze now.

If you like to archive stuff, then learn the process, you won't be sorry.

PS. I wouldn't bother with Zim, they're coming out with DVD sets this year. I can't wait!

[LoopyWolf]

Ah yes, but I'm a full-time caregiver and have no money

[kenmo]

I was there...I too was frustrated but once mastered, it is very rewarding...

There are many on this forum that assisted me... Also there are many good guides here and at Doom9...

[LoopyWolf]

Apart from capturing from television to DVD, what other things have you been able to do with your DVD-R?

[Richard_G]

I capture from TV, camcorder, VHS, videodisc, observation camera, backup commercial DVDs, back my hard drives (or the important bits anyway), use them to store digital images, music, etc. Some people backup ps2 games and the like. A DVDR is a writable storage medium, what would you expect to be able to use it for? They aren't only used for video.

[Hardcoreruss]

Apart from capturing from television to DVD, what other things have you been able to do with your DVD-R?

Backup PS2 games
X box games
DVD's
Capture home movies and or vhs

I would not swap ten ps2's for my dvd-r

[LoopyWolf]

What did you mean by "DVDs?"

Did you ever manage to put computer video files onto DVDs? That's real hard for some reason :/

[LoopyWolf]

I capture from TV, camcorder, VHS, videodisc, observation camera, backup commercial DVDs, back my hard drives (or the important bits anyway), use them to store digital images, music, etc. Some people backup ps2 games and the like. A DVDR is a writable storage medium, what would you expect to be able to use it for? They aren't only used for video.

I expected to be able to: write DVDs of the "tvs hows" I've got on my computer in video files like "Invader Zim"
Capture video and make DVDs of precious TV shows I cannot replace,
and in the fullness of time, copy PS2 games if I ever get a PS2

[Hardcoreruss]

All of this is possible however it is not possible to be a master at it instantly like anything in life. I started learning this time last year and I am still not 100% at it I would rate myself as a 7 or 8 out of ten.

Capturing is not my forte but I know some basics. This forum is a great knowledge base and has taught me everything I know along with questions on this forum when I get stuck.

Instead of griping about your lack of ps2 I would invest some time in reading the guides on the left and after a while you will realise that your dvd-r was an excellent present and you are glad you did not get that stanking ps2.

Russ

[Richard_G]

I expected to be able to: write DVDs of the "tvs hows" I've got on my computer in video files like "Invader Zim"
Capture video and make DVDs of precious TV shows I cannot replace,
and in the fullness of time, copy PS2 games if I ever get a PS2

So why can't you? What format are the video files of "Invader Zim" (excuse my ignorance, but what is "Invader Zim"?). You can capture video, assuming you have some sort of capture device, and turn that captured video into DVDs. You can copy ps2 games (if a game, or anything else for that matter, comes on a DVD disk, it can be copied).

What is the problem?

[LoopyWolf]

I have been able to capture video to DVD..
the files I have of Zim and D are in funny formats like ASF which won't work..

My chief difficulty right now is that some ZIMs and Vampire HUnter D are in ASF and I cannot convert them into a format that will write to DVD and I have tried and tried I've tried VirtualDub, I've tried Premiere, I've tried VideoConverter..

[Craig Tucker]

The current versions of virtualdub do not support ASF files, support for these files was removed by the author due to legal reasons. There is a version which does support it which I believe is 1.3. Virtualdub will not convert to mpeg2 though which is what you want if you are going to create DVD compliant files, although you could frameserve it from virtualdub to an mpeg encoder, I would recommend TMPGEnc. Have you tried TMPGEnc.

If you have got a video, you can get it onto DVD, its just that in most cases it is not a simple point and click process. It requires research on your part on what combination of software to use and then some reading of guides on how to use said software.

[LoopyWolf]

I have tried VirtualDub and numerous others, but unfortunately, they explode on these files and/or crash. They *are* ASF and they will play in Media Player but I cannot convert them successfully to a format that is writeable to DVD.. bummer

Virtual Dub always says "Cannot get decompressor for format WMV2"

[Craig Tucker]

Did you try virtualdub 1.3c, like I said the later versions wont open asf files.

If you still have no luck, try this

http://pub40.ezboard.com/fvcdgearbugreports.showMessage?topicID=52.topic

[Melkor]

Some things require a little study and other things (Mc Donalds hamburgers, etc) are instant. Learning to burn isn't one of those "fast food" kinda things... as with just about anything worthwhile, it takes time and study. I don't mean to sound like a horses butt, but I don't think you're that dedicated to making it work.

I'm probably wrong though.
If that's the case then you can do a number of things to make your DVD-thing a reality....

1) As I understand it (I don't use this encoder)... you can use TMPGEnc and have it convert the .asf files to .avi, then go from there. Simple.
You need an enoder anyways, so why not the most popular one around? Lots of support in going with what's popular.
By the way... what are you using now?

2) Use V-dub 1.3 as Craig suggested. You'll need the mpg4 codec and either v6.4 or 7.1 of Windows Media Player to make it work.

3)Search Google and/or this site for "asf to avi conversion".

I'm a newbie at this stuff too (~4 weeks now) and I haven't had a problem yet that I couldn't find an answer to. No bad DVD burns yet either (knock on wood).
Just takes time, patience and research.

Good luck!

[LoopyWolf]

Did you try virtualdub 1.3c, like I said the later versions wont open asf files.

If you still have no luck, try this

http://pub40.ezboard.com/fvcdgearbugreports.showMessage?topicID=52.topic

Ya, I've tried 1.3c - it explodes

[LoopyWolf]

Some things require a little study and other things (Mc Donalds hamburgers, etc) are instant. Learning to burn isn't one of those "fast food" kinda things... as with just about anything worthwhile, it takes time and study. I don't mean to sound like a horses butt, but I don't think you're that dedicated to making it work.

I'm probably wrong though.
If that's the case then you can do a number of things to make your DVD-thing a reality....

1) As I understand it (I don't use this encoder)... you can use TMPGEnc and have it convert the .asf files to .avi, then go from there. Simple.
You need an enoder anyways, so why not the most popular one around? Lots of support in going with what's popular.
By the way... what are you using now?

2) Use V-dub 1.3 as Craig suggested. You'll need the mpg4 codec and either v6.4 or 7.1 of Windows Media Player to make it work.

3)Search Google and/or this site for "asf to avi conversion".

I'm a newbie at this stuff too (~4 weeks now) and I haven't had a problem yet that I couldn't find an answer to. No bad DVD burns yet either (knock on wood).
Just takes time, patience and research.

Good luck!

CAN TEMPGEnc convert from ASF? Whenevr I load it it says: Insert the disk??

[Craig Tucker]

Did you try virtualdub 1.3c, like I said the later versions wont open asf files.

If you still have no luck, try this

http://pub40.ezboard.com/fvcdgearbugreports.showMessage?topicID=52.topic

Ya, I've tried 1.3c - it explodes

Have you read the link I provided.

[LoopyWolf]

I'm checking it now.. The file I had was originally listed as an AVI but I got errors. I had THOUGHT it was an ASF but are the link you sent me suggests could it be a WMV file?

NUTS I followed that link with great difficulty, and got as far as VFAPI but then it exploded on the .tpr file

[Craig Tucker]

Good luck

[lacywest]

okay, to run shrink on an iso you could get daemon tools and just mount the iso file, then run shrink and point to that virtual drive its mounted on.

as far as changing avi, asf, mpg to dvd compliant files, that is a time consuming process and lots of reading to be done start by clicking over <---- there on the guides section, then select what format going from (avi, asf, vcd, etcc.. ) to DVD.

Have fun. and I hope I was a helpful board member.

InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 ... will open ... avi, asf, mpg, wmv ... etc ... etc ...

1.) and convert them directly to DVD format.

2.) Or you can convert to DVD Compliant Mpg-2 files/videos and then use TMPGEnc DVD Author to create your "VIDEO_TS" folder for buning to DVDs.

I like the number #2 option ... I then use DVDShrink to shrink my project so it will fit on a DVD-R.

InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 ... is also the program I use for Video Capture. Audio choices are ... lpcm ... mpeg audio and AC-3 audio.

Check my details ... works with both of my video capture cards.

[Melkor]

MGI Videowave will too...

Loopy,
Which "Guides" are you following to do your conversions?

Thanks.

[lacywest]

Using InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 ...

It will accept asf or wmv videos ... but dont expect good results if ...

one video is 512x384 ... and in the same session mix in a 320x240 ... eh ... not a good idea.

Instead ... do each one separate. Use same output setting.

Your results will be a bunch of files with all the same characteristics. If you chose Mpg-2 DVD compliant ... these files can then be processed with TMPGEnc DVD Author.

If TMPGEnc DVD Author complains that the project will be to big ... process anyway and use DVDShrink to shrink down to fit on a DVDR.

Use this Guide for help in converting ASF or WMV videos to Mpg-2 files.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=771894#771894

[LoopyWolf]

MGI Videowave will too...

Loopy,
Which "Guides" are you following to do your conversions?

Thanks.

The ones Craig gave me above

[LoopyWolf]

MGI Videowave will too...

Loopy,
Which "Guides" are you following to do your conversions?

Thanks.

The ones Craig gave me above

The TMPEngc that I have expects a disk.. How do you all get it to act on a file?