multiple movies in one dvd

[paraman]

I hope this is in the right section. I tried searching the forum first but got overwhelmed with the various guides, so finally I am posting my question here.

I have a bunch of movies in avi file format on my hard disk. They are encoded with different codecs, have different pixel sizes.

I have recently installed a dvd writer (Sony 820A). I wish to burn about 3-4 movies to one dvd so that I can view them on my standalone dvd player (also Sony). I would like to have a menu structure at the beginning which will allow me to choose which movie I want to view.

Please direct me to a step-by step guide which will help me accomplish this.

Thanks in advance.

[Baldrick]

Nope, not right section. Use the general section if you don't know where to post. MOving you.

Begin with all-in-one dvd converter tools,
https://www.videohelp.com/convert#4;62 and https://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=35#35
many supports a basic menu.

My favorite is ConvertXtoDVD, supports many video formats, good video quality, fast and a basic menu.

[paraman]

Thanks, Baldrick.

I began encoding and for 2 movies it showed estimated time as 2 hrs. Boy, this is going to take very long!

[mats.hogberg]

Not knowing your computer specs, 2 hours for 2 movies AVI to DVD seems really fast if anything....

/Mats

[paraman]

You can now see my pc specifications. The new C2D from Intel does seem to be fast.

[v-sharp]

Here's how I fit two or three movies in a dvd 4.3gb disk with menu to select which movie to play;

1. rip movie with DVD Decrypter or DVDShrink
2. use DVDx 2.3 to convert ripped dvd movie to mpeg1
2a. tweak Output Settings->MPEG specific->Video Bitrate Kbits/s to output file size not larger than 1.2gb for each movie.
2b. also tweak Output Settings->Volume don't exceed->Settings to output one whole file size.
2c. don't forget to click on Output Settings->Max Frame->Whole to convert the whole mpeg2 movie file to mpeg1
3. author the mpeg1 movies to dvd with menu using Ulead moviefactory2 SE.
4. burn with nero 6.6.0.13
5. play movie with my sony dvd player
6. use remote control to select movie to play.

the above method works for me

[manono]

An excellent guide I'm sure, but for someone else. His source is AVI.

[v-sharp]

Convert the avi files to mpeg2 then proceed with the suggested method.

[paraman]

So many replies have been posted but I am not getting any emails informing me of the replies. Is there any problem with the forum?

[manono]

Convert the avi files to mpeg2 then proceed with the suggested method.

AVI->MPEG-2->MPEG-1? Surely you jest. MPEG-2 can be low-res, 352 x 240 for NTSC, or 352 x 288 for PAL.

[paraman]

ConvertxtoDVD created about 4.25gb of data from 2 avi files about 1.5gb in size. The avi files are about 86min and 101min each.

Can I create a dvd where 4-5 avi files are copied as they are to the dvd and I can select which file to play from a menu? I dont want the avi files to be converted to vob format. Will such a dvd be played on my pc using typical software such as WMP, PowerDVD etc?

Which software should I use to create such a DVD?

[mats.hogberg]

Can I create a dvd where 4-5 avi files are copied as they are to the dvd and I can select which file to play from a menu?

Well, sort of, but it wont be a std video DVD - just a regular data DVD with data files (AVI files in this case) on it. What menu you'll get is dependent on the playback device/software you use. For most standalone DVD/DivX players, this is a simple file list.
For the computer, it will be Windows explorer, or you could do some autorun menu system to pick the AVI you'd like to play.
There's no standard for this like for Video DVD.
Only "standard" is DivX new DivX container (not video codec) format, which can provide Video DVD-like menus, chapter point & cetera, but the hardware/software support is slim.

/Mats