Making NTSC DVDs with PAL avis.......

[Dead Reckoning]

I am trying to convert, oh, about 24 .avi files to mpegs, so I can load them into DVDLab PRO and make some dvd's of them, with menus etc.

So, I used DIKO Gold first. Took about 26 hours. 26 hours later, load them into DVDLAB pro. REALLY CHOPPY. almost slow motion.

I am going to give you the specs on these videos, using AVIcodec.

23 of them are as follows.

File size : various. Around 100 megs each, except the first file, which is 279 megs.

Anyway, on to the important stuff.

Video : between 560-590 kbps, depending on the video.
25.0 FPS (all of them, except the last, which I will go to later)
432*320 (some 324) (4:3)
All of them DIV3 = DivX v3 wink.gif MPEG-4 (Low-Motion)

Audio: 14.34 MB (various, but around there for each video)
96 Kbps and up to 111kbps
48000 Hz OR 44100
2 channels
0x55 MPEG Layer-3, Supported

Now, the final video is different. it is as follows.

Video: 84 MB, 605 Kbps, 29.970 fps, 352*238 (4:3), DIV3 = DivX v3 wink.gif MPEG-4 (Low-Motion), Supported

Audio: 13.39 MB, 95 Kbps, 44100 Hz, 2 channels, 0x55 = MPEG Layer-3, Supported

Now. I am losing hope. I want to be able to turn these into dvds (I know it will take a couple) WITHOUT losing jerkiness, or quality, or sound mixups (like slower sound than video, etc)

I have a NTSC TV and DVD player.

I am a COMPLETE noob on all of this. I usually just make backups with DVDShrink. I made one video using DIKO, and that turned out great. Of course, it was NTSC.

So, can anyone help me here. Point me towards a guide that will cover everything I need. I am sorry for the trouble, but I really want to make a dvds of these videos.

[Baldrick]

tro other converters, like thefilmmachine,avi2dvd

[Dead Reckoning]

Sorry Baldrick, I posted this one in the wrong forum. And since my question was totally different from this one (this topic being about the last video) then I made another one.

So I apologize for the trouble. I will edit my above message with the other post.

[BJ_M]

try other converters, like thefilmmachine, avi2dvd - which can convert

[Dead Reckoning]

tro other converters, like thefilmmachine,avi2dvd

I have Avi2DVD. Will I be able to encode all 24 episodes at once with it, and turn them into files that are reconizable by DVDLabPro? And also retain the quality and sound without any problems?

I have filmmachine, but never used it. So the above question applys to it aswell.

If yes, could you point me to a guide that anwsers and follows me thru this?

I looked thru the guides, but I am so confused. I am a total noob on all of this.

[Dead Reckoning]

I decided that this guide might work for me:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=273886

Think this will work? BTW, I will be using Cinema Craft Encoder SP this time.

Will it convert all my files with good quality (almost same as the videos, but it doesn't have to be exact or perfect) and be usable in DVDLabPro?

[BJ_M]

you purchased a $2000 encoder but don't know if it will work?

I dont know if that program you mention in the guide above will work - it seems to be able to .. but i know TheFilmMachine works great

[Dead Reckoning]

Umm.

Anyway, I decided to go with the film machine. It's encoding the first one now. I will report how it turns out.

And no, I did not purchase a 2000 dollar encoder. I love trail editions.

[Dead Reckoning]

Oh , and one problem I have run into with Film Machine.

It seems if the files are not exactly the same, I can't encode them at the same time. I have to do them one by one.

Unless I am doing something wrong...

[Dead Reckoning]

AH CRAP!!!!! NOOO!

Well, here is an update. Two more problems for you great problem solvers out there(btw, thanks for helping a total newb)

So, I used TheFilmMaker. Encoded with CCE SP.

Well, I tried dragging 24 .avis, but it gave me an error.

"You have to choose Avi-files with the same videocodec, framerate, resolution, audio codec, audiosamplingrate and audio channels. If the properties are not the same they cannot be merged"

So, I decided, screw it, I will do one at a time.

Well, I did one. BAH, the file itself is only 223 mbs, but now it's over one gig. That's great and all, but a jump from 223 to over ONE GIG! Jesus!

All I want is to encode 8 or so at a time, convert them to .mpeg (hopefull as SEPERATE files for menu purposes) and of course, add some custom menus. Just a basic play all and Episode list.

That is all I want. Hell, the encode worked GREAT. Perfect audio and framerate. Just, didn't expect the file size to jump to a gig.

I am pretty sure I could go thru and change everything, so I can do 8 at a time, but that sounds like SO much trouble. This is all so confusing!

And just to make sure, the other 23 or files are hovering 98-110 mbs each. Right around there.

Any more help will be appreciated guys!

[Dead Reckoning]

Oh, and would tmpgenc be better for what I am trying to do, will it allow multiple encodes with different bits rates etc.

[BJ_M]

the "avi" file you are using is more compressed than mpeg2 is .. so the file size will be larger in conversion ..

you can adjust the bitrate , but you will lose quality..

doesnt mater the encoder

[the * dude]

finally you came to your senses & turned to the dark side...(tmpeg)

load up a ntsc dvd template (29.97 fps) using wizard if you please.... with the pal avis use the unlock template and change the fps to 25 (same as avi!) & encode (seperatly as a m2v (video) & mp2 (audio))...

ok now you need a free prog called DGpulldown, load up ur m2v and change the frame rates from 25-->29.97...

you don't have to adjust the audio simply use these with dvdauthor... or re-mux the new file with the audio to make a mpg! 8) via tmpeg mpegtools :P

[Dead Reckoning]

I think I have come to the conclusion that I have two options.

Encode each file seperatly with TheFilmMachine(which besides the file size, worked well).

OR

I use DIKO GOLD and encode about 6-8 at a time.

When I try and use DIKO Gold, it only encodes the audio for some reason, and it's not giving me any .mpeg files. I could should you a log, but it is rather large.

**********************************
03:18:20 - * Initiating prediction phase... *
03:18:20 - **********************************
03:18:20 - Encoding with maximmum Q factor: 40
03:18:30 - Sample for Movie 0 (using templates\cce\dvd-p.tem). Filesize: 0.000000 Mb
03:18:30 -
03:18:42 - Sample for Movie 1 (using templates\cce\dvd-p.tem). Filesize: 0.000000 Mb
03:18:42 -
03:18:53 - Sample for Movie 2 (using templates\cce\dvd-p.tem). Filesize: 0.000000 Mb
03:18:53 -
03:19:05 - Sample for Movie 3 (using templates\cce\dvd-p.tem). Filesize: 0.000000 Mb
03:19:05 -
03:19:16 - Sample for Movie 4 (using templates\cce\dvd-p.tem). Filesize: 0.000000 Mb
03:19:16 -
03:19:27 - Sample for Movie 5 (using templates\cce\dvd-p.tem). Filesize: 0.000000 Mb
03:19:27 -
03:19:37 - Total Resulting Filesize for this QFactor: 0.000000 Mb
03:19:37 - QFactor Already found, no need for prediction again.
03:19:37 - Final Q factor: 0
03:19:38 - *********************
03:19:38 - * Encoding Video... *
03:19:38 - *********************
03:19:38 - Re-Creating movies scripts without sampler for Full Encode
03:19:38 - Encoding... Please Wait this can take many hours depending on your processor.
03:19:38 - Processing Movie 0:C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\My Documents\Justice League Season 1\justice001.avi+
03:19:39 - Enabling pulldown flag... Command-line:
03:19:39 - pulldown.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\movie0.mpv" "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\pd_movie0.mpv"
03:19:39 -

03:19:39 - Pulldown returned an error flag.
03:19:39 - Pulldown Sucessfull. Deleting original file and renaming the pulled-down one.
03:19:59 - Processing Movie 1:C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\My Documents\Justice League Season 1\justice002.avi+
03:20:01 - Enabling pulldown flag... Command-line:
03:20:01 - pulldown.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\movie1.mpv" "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\pd_movie1.mpv"
03:20:01 -

03:20:01 - Pulldown returned an error flag.
03:20:01 - Pulldown Sucessfull. Deleting original file and renaming the pulled-down one.
03:20:21 - Processing Movie 2:C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\My Documents\Justice League Season 1\justice003.avi+
03:20:22 - Enabling pulldown flag... Command-line:
03:20:22 - pulldown.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\movie2.mpv" "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\pd_movie2.mpv"
03:20:22 -

03:20:22 - Pulldown returned an error flag.
03:20:22 - Pulldown Sucessfull. Deleting original file and renaming the pulled-down one.
03:20:42 - Processing Movie 3:C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\My Documents\Justice League Season 1\justice004.avi+
03:20:44 - Enabling pulldown flag... Command-line:
03:20:44 - pulldown.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\movie3.mpv" "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\pd_movie3.mpv"
03:20:44 -

03:20:44 - Pulldown returned an error flag.
03:20:44 - Pulldown Sucessfull. Deleting original file and renaming the pulled-down one.
03:21:04 - Processing Movie 4:C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\My Documents\Justice League Season 1\justice005.avi+
03:21:05 - Enabling pulldown flag... Command-line:
03:21:05 - pulldown.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\movie4.mpv" "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\pd_movie4.mpv"
03:21:05 -

03:21:05 - Pulldown returned an error flag.
03:21:05 - Pulldown Sucessfull. Deleting original file and renaming the pulled-down one.
03:21:25 - Processing Movie 5:C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\My Documents\Justice League Season 1\justice006.avi+
03:21:27 - Enabling pulldown flag... Command-line:
03:21:27 - pulldown.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\movie5.mpv" "C:\Documents and Settings\Dead Reckoning\Desktop\Justice League\pd_movie5.mpv"
03:21:27 -

03:21:27 - Pulldown returned an error flag.
03:21:27 - Pulldown Sucessfull. Deleting original file and renaming the pulled-down one.

Now, I know damn well something is wrong here, as I only am on a 733 processor and 300 ram. It should take at least least over an hours with each file. After that, it goes straight to re-encoding the audio, which works fine.

So I think I am screwing something up in the options, or something is happening. I wish there was a guide for DIKO gold on this site, but there is not, so I can't find a document covering the extra options.

And the dude, I didn't understand any of that LOL.

[TBoneit]

You want to hear the truth as I see it, If you liked everything except the file size then I'd just say screw it, I'll go this route. To me that file size could be right for anything over 15 minutes of video depending on the bitrate. at the cost of media so what if you use several extra discs? I paid 9.94 + tax for 30 Fuji made in japan last week so If I use a extra dollars worth of discs but keep the quality up it is worth it to me.

On the other hand if you want easy use and able to do several files at a time with output to one file or individual files then I myself use TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress. Easy to use, it'll set the bitrate depending on how long (Time) and destination size (DVD-5 or DVD-9) for example. Sometimes I use TMPGEnc Plus but am going more and more to Xpress for ease of use and with the AC3 plug-in AC3 audio.

Good luck

[Dead Reckoning]

^

Thank you for the response.

I think I am going to just use The Film Machine and encode them one at a time. The first file is actually just Three Episodes combined, so it's right at one hour long. That turned over one gig.

The rest of the files are 20-22 minutes long each, so I am hoping they will be smaller in size. The bitrate for the first file in film machine was like 9000. I guess that is why it is over one gig.

[rumplestiltskin]

If it were my problem, I'd use DivxToDVD from VSO to convert the AVIs over to DVD. It usually does permit multiple AVIs at once -but- then there's no menu. So I'd convert one at a time. Then I'd use TDA to import the DVD Video of each converted VIDEO_TS folder of VOBs and let TDA create my menu using the title names I'd provide.

Obviously, you'd have to limit how many of these "DVDs" you'd combine in order to maintain a certain quality level.

[Dead Reckoning]

^

I am hoping 6 videos per DVD5, that's would mean 4 dvds for all 24.

[jimmalenko]

DivxToDVD might be worth a look - use the free version found here. Make sure you select "Force NTSC" in the Standard dropdown. There's also a guide here, for which you only needs Steps 1 & 2. To select multiple files, click on the LAST file in the series, then hold SHIFT down and click on the first. This will collate the files in the correct order.

... either that or try to find "Justice League Season 1" on DVD - I would imagine that given the number of related DVDs @ amazon.com, that the entire first series will be made into a DVD at some point

[rumplestiltskin]

...To select multiple files, click on the LAST file in the series, then hold SHIFT down and click on the first. This will collate the files in the correct order.

Will this provide some sort of menu? I've only done one at a a time with this tool.

[jimmalenko]

...To select multiple files, click on the LAST file in the series, then hold SHIFT down and click on the first. This will collate the files in the correct order.

Will this provide some sort of menu? I've only done one at a a time with this tool.

Unfortunately no, but it isn't that hard to THEN import into TDA as you suggested. All you need to do is keep importing the same VIDEO_TS folder, but just choose a different title each time. DivxToDVD makes each file it's own title, so it makes this kind of operation pretty simple, with the added benefit of "batch" processing, as it were

[Dead Reckoning]

Ok, I will try DivxtoDvd right now.

[Dead Reckoning]

Update.

Well, since Film Machine worked well, I am using it.

First file, one gig. Second file (20 miuntes avi) 371 mb. Excelllent.


Just one question. Will I be able to load these up into DVD-Lab Pro...

I haven't worked with Audio_TS and Video_Ts before.

Oh, and also, is it normal for no files no be in the Audio_TS folder? I mean, if I play the .mpeg file from the video_ts folder with Interplay WinDVD, it plays fine, with sound. So, will that pose a problem in DVD-Lab Pro ( last time I used it I loaded a video and audio file.)

As you can see I am still learning. Oh and one more thing, evertime film machine makes one pass on the video, it attempts to make another pass but does not, says something about searching for a file... I have it set to 4 passes with CCE.

Any replys and help appreciated, and a big thank you for everyones help.

[rumplestiltskin]

All you need to do is keep importing the same VIDEO_TS folder, but just choose a different title each time.

A-ha! (sound of me slapping my forehead) Thanks.

[BJ_M]

the demo version of CCe you are using may not support ECL , in which case you would have to use an outside ECL support program for CCE (EclCCE.exe)

[Dead Reckoning]

Well, I think I got the hang of it. Just wanted to thank all of you guys that responded and helped a noob like me. Appreciate it.