large wmv file to DVD

[JoeS99]

I have a .wmv file that runs about two and a half hours. File size is about 2 GB.
I want to convert to DVD format so it will play on my TV. The first program I tried
was Nerovision Express 3, because I'm most familiar with it and I can set chapter marks.
It warned me the resulting file would be too big (13GB), but I proceeded anyway figuring I
could use DVD Shrink or something on it later. It processed the file for almost 2 hours and
then errored out. I didn't bother to look at the error log file (was getting late).

Next day, I tried WinAVI. What do you know, it seems to have done the job in a little over
an hour! It produced about 3.3GB of VOB and other files.

Now, I am wondering if I should feed the result into Nerovision Express so I can set chapter
marks where I want them. How do I know if Nerovision re-encodes the data? It always seems to take it's time when I've used other VOB files.

I guess I'm not certain what Nerovision does when you add VOB files.

I have a number of other conversion programs I can try, but it's a time-consuming process.
Would I get noticeable quality improvement using something like SUPER?

[Baldrick]

Use/learn something else for reauthoring/adding chapters, like tmpgenc dvd author.

[redwudz]

Not a lot of programs do WMV conversions well. I would try TMPGEnc encoder. SUPER will do the video part, but I don't know if it can do the audio. I haven't tried that lately. It may also depend on what format of WMV you have.

And I'll go along with Baldrick, for authoring, use a real authoring program. Especially if you want more control over the final product. If you want freeware authoring, try DVDAuthorgui.

And welcome to our forums.

[JoeS99]

Thanks, I'll try some of the programs you recommended, although it may be a while before I have the time to spend on them. Seems like every project is an experiment.

[Cornucopia]

(Assuming no DRM)

I'd:

1. Open in WMM. Save as DV-AVI file (will be type1 -- ) Will be L-A-R-G-E!
2. Open in DVDDate. Convert to type2 DV-AVI file. Will also be L-A-R-G-E.
3. Use TMPGEnc (or others) to convert video to MPEG2. VH's Bitratecalc says your 2.5 hour file should have a bitrate of 3869kbps avg.(9603kbps max)--best to use 2passVBR. Filesize should be 4151MB.
4. Encode audio. AC3 is preferred (don't know what app you've got), but you could use TMPGEnc to make an MP2 in a pinch. 192kbps gives filesize of 210MB.
5. Author (adding chapters) and burn with your app of choice.

If you have a DL burner, that would ease up your bitrate requirements alot (7211kbps avg. for 7736MB).

You'll have to have a large enough harddrive, but who doesn't these days...
But that should clear up any probs with sync, etc.

Scott

[guns1inger]

I guess I'm not certain what Nerovision does when you add VOB files.

Probably re-encodes them like it does everything else. If you give it compliant material - mpeg or VOB, and it takes more than 15 minutes to produce an output, then it is re-encoding.

If you encode to DV first, as suggested in the post above, then L-A-R-G-E = 33GB of disk space.

Don't be surprised if, when you add your WinAVI output to Tmpgenc DVD Author, you get errors or other issues afterwards. WinAVI is not known for it's compliant output.