Need help with coverting files and speeding up DVD recording

[NewJak]

Hey Guys, I am fairly new to this whole DVD burning and video converting thing so any and all help would be appreciated with the following problems..First off let Me give You My system specs..I am using an I/O Magic Internal DVD+RW/+R 16X Dual Format/Double Layer Burner, My DVD making program is Nero Express 2SE, My Video Converter is WinAVI version 7.7, and I am using Maxell DVD+R 8X DVD's. Now for My questions..Yesterday I converted three 20 minute cartoons from AVI files to WMV files and burned them onto a DVD. The whole process took nine hours and left me thinking i did something wrong. Could someone please let me know if this is normal and if not how to speed up the recording process? Also, Can someone please tell me how to set up the system controls on WinAVI to give Me the highest quality recordings? Thanks so much in advance.

[steveryan]

Which CPU do you have?

[NewJak]

I am using a Compaq Presario computer with a Windows 98ME operating system

[NewJak]

Can someone help me with this pleeeeease? Thanks

[redwudz]

Where to begin....... I would not use WinAVI for starts. It's a poor program for about any use. There are many freeware programs that would do a better job. With your computer specifications, it's going to take a long time no matter what you use.

Try DivxToDVD. It's freeware and will work much better than WinAVI. Or better would be the newer ConvertXToDVD, but it's payware. If you want to spend a few dollars, I would definitely upgrade your RAM. 63MB isn't enough to run even W98E properly. 128 or better, 256MB, would help a lot.

I don't know why you are converting to WMV if you want to produce a DVD Convert to MPEG-2 instead of WMV if you want a DVD. See 'WHAT IS' DVD to the upper left for the DVD specification.

Adding more memory will speed up the encoding process somewhat, but the CPU speed itself is mainly what determines encoding speed. Faster CPU=faster encoding.

What program are you using to burn the DVD? An 8X DVD shouldn't take more that 15-20 minutes to burn with about any system. If you are using Nero and it's unnecessarily re-encoding the whole file, that will take a long time. If you have a compliant DVD file produced by a program like DivxToDVD, use the freeware ImgBurn. It won't re-encode the video if it's already DVD compliant. Nero won't re-encode either if the file is properly converted into the DVD format in a VIDEO-TS folder.

[guns1inger]

You computer is crap, your software is crap, your operating system is crap.

Encoding speed comes down to grunt, pure and simple. You need a good core2duo CPU running Windows XP SP2 in 1 GB ram and lots of HDD space, a good quality encoder and a good authoring program.

[NewJak]

Thanks for the advice Redwudz, I've downloaded DivxToDVD and I'll download ImgBurn next. I'll let You know how it goes, thanks Buddy!

[NewJak]

You computer is crap, your software is crap, your operating system is crap.

Encoding speed comes down to grunt, pure and simple. You need a good core2duo CPU running Windows XP SP2 in 1 GB ram and lots of HDD space, a good quality encoder and a good authoring program.

Thanks for the tough Love Gunsl1nger. Unfortunately I'm to poor to afford anything new as of now, so i'l have to do the best with what I've got for now, unless you can recommend some good freeware.

[guns1inger]

Freeware AVI -> DVD conversion

FitCD - to produce avisynth scripts to resize to DVD spec
Avisynth - to resize, filter and frameserve video to your encoder
HCenc/Qenc - to encode video to mpeg 2
Virtualdubmod - to demux audio if necessary
ffmpeggui - to convert audio to AC3 2.0
DVDAuthorGui or GuiforDVDAthor - to author your finished DVD

I would also throw in VideoCalc (vcalc) for offline bitrate calculations, and gimp for still image work for menus. All free as well.

The other big advantage of going down this path is that you will learn how the process actually works, and quickly gain new skills that will help you improve the quality of what you are doing. It also makes it a lot easier to work out what is wrong when you know how a thing works. Programs like ConvertXtoDVD (and to a much lesser degree, WinAVI) have a place for a quick and nasty job, but you sacrifice all control and a lot of quality fo this small luxury.

The only thing that might hamper your progress with some of these tools is WinME. You might have to consider updating to at least 2000, if not XP.

[FulciLives]

I wouldn't run WinXP without at least 256MB RAM. Anything less would be problematic if you ask me.

I did once run WinXP on a P3 650Mhz with 256MB RAM and it ran very well ... better than Win98SE which is what that computer originally came installed with (I went straight from Win98SE to WinXP).

I would suggest this person buy a new computer ... even a very "cheap" computer. I've seen computer's for around $400 US Dollars at places like BEST BUY, CIRCUIT CITY and CompUSA that would have more umph than what he has and be "good enough" for DVD stuff.

Here is just one example ---> CLICK HERE

This computer is only $434.99 and yet it has everything you need in a computer now-a-days except for FIREWIRE IEEE-1394 which can be easily added via a PCI card if needed. All you really need with this computer in order to get going is a monitor. A fantastic deal for someone on a budget and while not the fastest computer it is more than "good enough" for encoding MPEG-2 DVD video stuff as well as DivX and XviD encoding etc.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[NewJak]

I've managed to convert my AVI files to DVD and am ready to burn them onto a disc, but before that i need an easy to use program to make menus for my DVD. Can anyone reccomend a good DVD authoring software for newbies that also burns the DVD? Thanks
Sorry Gunsl1nger I tried DVD Author like You recommended but found it a bit to hard to use. Besides that, thanks for your other helpful info

[FulciLives]

You could try MUXMAN which is freeware and should work with your computer.

Normally I would say to go with TMPGEnc DVD Author but your computer does not meet the required specs to run it.

Another popular option is Ulead DVD MovieFactory but again your computer does not meet the required specs to run it.

If you plan on keeping the computer you have you should:

1.) Upgrade to WinXP (the Home version is good enough)
2.) Install new RAM for a total of 512MB RAM

Unfortunately that will not be cheap. I think the WinXP Home Upgrade is $90 or $100 and then the RAM can be expensive depending on what type you need. I'm guessing at least $50 if not more for the RAM upgrade.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CogoSWSDS]

If DVDAuthorGUI (what I use) or GuiForDVDAuthor doesn't work for you, most folks on this forum like TMPGEnc DVD Author. It's not free though, it's commercial software.

CogoSWSDS