Xvid.avi to DVD

[hockeytown_rox]

I have a video file that's in.avi format and was encoded using Xvid. My problem is that it's in an odd resolution and aspect ratio. I want to burn this to DVD to watch in a standalone player, but I've been having trouble converting the file to DVD.

The file is 608x256 resolution with a 19:8 aspect ratio and 25fps. When opening this in some good editing software applications, it tells me it's encoded both in NTSC and PAL which is really strange. I see that the 25fps might mean it's PAL...but I need this in NTSC since I'm in the US.

I've tried four different programs to create a DVD...some blow up the screen so that the image is very pixelated and horrible...others convert the file size way beyond the 4GB limit for DVD and I can't even burn it. The original file size is under 1GB. Even using TMPGEnc...it appears I can use a 1:1 VGA and "Full screen (keep aspect ratio)" but still the only way I can get a file size under 4GB is to use MPGII for the audio and adjust the audio bitrate to the lowest setting, 64 which is pretty low.

My question is...how can I simply create a DVD capable 720x480 movie...while keeping this movie file's original aspect ratio? I guess I need to know the best way to keep the aspect ratio (to preserve the quality) but also keeping it under 4 GB. And preserving audio would help too.

[cdubya]

Have you tried AVItoDVD?

[redwudz]

What conversion programs have you used? I use ConvertXToDVD most of the time as it's easy and handles most PAL>NTSC conversions fairly well. You have a widescreen video and a odd aspect ratio and some programs may have problems with that. Throw in the PAL>NTSC conversion and it can get complex.

The misreading of the format may be because of the framesize. It may have been converted badly to Xvid. But try ConvertX if you haven't. There is also an older freeware version, DivxToDVD that is still available.

As far as the size after encoding to MPEG-2, that depends almost entirely on the running time of the video and the bitrate used. Lower bitrate=smaller size. There are bitrate calculators for that. If the running time is under two hours, you should be able to fit it on one DVD. The Xvid filesize has very little relationship to the MPEG-2 filesize.

[jagabo]

Even using TMPGEnc...it appears I can use a 1:1 VGA and "Full screen (keep aspect ratio)" but still the only way I can get a file size under 4GB is to use MPGII for the audio and adjust the audio bitrate to the lowest setting, 64 which is pretty low.

Just set the video bitrate lower in TMPGEnc. As redwudz suggested, use a bitrate calculator to determine the correct bitrate for the video's running time.

https://www.videohelp.com/calc.htm

[FulciLives]

TMPGEnc does not like VBR MP3 so that might be the issue here.

If the XviD AVI has MP3 audio then I suggest you load the AVI into GOLDWAVE then save the audio to a 16-bit 48k Stereo PCM WAV audio file.

You can then use ffmpegGUI to convert that to AC-3 format using a bitrate of 192, 224 or 256 with 256 being "best" quality wise.

As for the video it is best handled with AviSynth.

This would be a sample script:

AVISource("C:\MOVIES\movie.avi", false)
LanczosResize(688,352,0,0,608,256)
AddBorders(16,64,16,64)

That will properly resize the XviD AVI to a 16x9 WS anamorphic NTSC video.

I suggest using HCenc as it is free and better quality ... plus faster ... than TMPGEnc Plus.

Encode as if you are encoding a PAL DVD video. Use PAL GOP (12-2) and you will end up with a MPEG-2 video with a NTSC resolution of 720x480 (16x9 WS anamorphic) but with a PAL 25fps running length.

Now run the file through DGPulldown and use the built-in "25fps ---> 29.970fps" option.

You now have a compliant NTSC DVD video file that matches your AC-3 audio file.

To figure out the bitrate to use see the VIDEOHELP.COM BITRATE CALCULATOR as already indicated.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[hockeytown_rox]

Thanks for the tips. I did try using the bitrate calculator for TMPGEnc but even at a 1:35 total time for the movie, the calculator suggested a 6199 bit rate...but TMPGEnc was only using 2000. So that increased the file size even more, this wasn't feasible.

The culprit is probably the fact that I did check and the AVI is using MP3 for its audio. I am trying the instructions that FUlciLives has outlined, but I'm unsure what to do with the AC3 audio file? If I'm encoding this AVI to burn to DVD...how is the DVD going to know what audio to use...the AVI's audio encoding or this AC3 I captured using Goldwave?

[hockeytown_rox]

Ok disregard the AC3 issue...just did more reading and discovered I know nothing about DVD or video formats. Sheesh. So basically an authoring program will ask me for my video and audio files. Going to try and burn the DVD and see how it comes out. Wish I knew a bit more about this topic! Especially how to use HCenc and the ins and outs of encoding, bit rates, GOP, etc.