Converting .AVI to DVD player (can't do it)

[barclay17]

I have several .avi files and i wish to put them onto several DVD-R's to play on my DVD player.

Problem is i wrote a few to a DVD-R and put it in my DVD player and they came up unknown.

Questions:

1. What format do they have to be in to work on a DVD player?

2. What (free)software would i need to do this, and how?

I also have a MAC so no windows guides please.

THANKS!

[Baldrick]

1. DVD-Video, www.videohelp.com/dvd#tech
2. I don't know. Moving you to our MAC section.

[barclay17]

so the .AVI's have to be converted to MPEG1 or MPEG2?

(MPEG2>MPEG1?)

[mats.hogberg]

If your player doesn't play AVIs, they have to be reencoded to mpg2, and authored as DVD, yes.
The free software (any) market for Macs is pretty limited. Toast is a commercial offering, but then, a player that plays AVI is cheaper.

/Mats

[rumplestiltskin]

Open source solution: Burn (that's its name). May be found here:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30120

Edit: Burn doesn't create proper UDF volumes. I tried a DVD Burn had created in my Samsung DVD player (which is somewhat picky); it reported that the disc wasn't able to be loaded. Burning with Toast or Burnz (note the "z") yields compatible DVDs. Burnz is excellent software for about $12.50. Burnz may be found here:

http://www.thinkertons.com/

[terryj]

if you can import the avi's into iMovie (free),
then you can create dvds from iMovie using iDVD (free).

But if you can't, then your only options are pay:
Toast 8: $50 to $80
VisualHub: $24 ( then burn in finder)
ffmpegx: $15 ( then burn in finder)

[barclay17]

thanks guys really helpful

great forum