MPEG-2 to DvD with "minimal" transcoding.

[PuzZLeR]

I'd like to make DvD images out of certain MPEG-2 files. I currently use NeroVision and ConvertXtoDvD.

If I have files that are in DivX, Xvid, AVC, QT, etc. or any other non-compliant DvD format, then I can understand if there's an encoding process involved to get them to MPEG-2, and eventually DvD format. In fact, ConvertXtoDvD is the best at that IMHO.

However, I also have files that are in MPEG-2 already, and have AC3 audio and conform to all the compliant specifics of DvD. I know this because many of them were copied from playable DvDs that my DVR burned.

Is there any app, free or not, or any setting, that actually recognizes this and does NOT do any re-encoding/transcoding of these files? It would just add the necessary structure and divide them if they're over 1GB, etc., but no further encoding. Even though ConvertXtoDvD is amazing, and I don't "notice" any difference after it encodes them, I know that in theory it's a lossy process that may hurt me later when I get my big screen HDTV.

Although the speedier process would be nice, it's really a quality issue that interests me.

Thanks for any advice!

[AlanHK]

Try Rejig.

First in File mode: select your MPEGs and demux. There is an option to compress here, but you don't want to do that.

Then in DVD Author mode, select the separate video and audio files you made, an output (folder) and click "create".

No menus this method.

If you want menus, use the demuxed files in an authoring app that doesn't screw with the input unnecessarily. Eg, GuiForDVDAuthor.

[mats.hogberg]

TMPGEnc DVD Author, GUI for DVDAuthor, DVD-Lab Pro - basically any authoring app that doesn't also double as editor/encoder.

/Mats

[jagabo]

Ulead DVD Moviefactory also has a "don't reencode DVD compliant MPEG files" option.

[mats.hogberg]

Ulead DVD Moviefactory also has a "don't reencode DVD compliant MPEG files" option.

I'd stay away from apps that even can reencode - the view on what's compliant and not should be up to me, not what the creators of the app define.
I think even Nero has an option not to reencode compliant files - but it has a very narrow definition of what's compliant and not, and basically reencodes everything anyway.

/Mats

[PuzZLeR]

Bingo!

Both Rejig and TMPGEnc did it for me. Thanks guys!

Now I have 4 DvD author apps that all have a very special function each for me.

Some feedback in case anybody's interested:

I use/love Ulead VideoStudio for all my editing, but unfortunately never liked their DvD author package. I don't trust it as it created some corrupted video for me in the past. Maybe it's my system, maybe it's the app, I don't know. It's just not for me, but thanks for the tip.

I guess sometimes there's no such thing as an "all-in-one" solution from one company it seems.

I'm also in agreement with mats.hogberg. Yes, if it has an encoder somewhere "under the hood" then it quite likely is itching to encode your clips, whether you want the app to do so or not. And about Nero, yes, even when you tell it not to encode, it still "pretends" it doesn't encode by working at some faster pace, but it still encodes your video nevertheless during the transcoding process. There's no way around it.

Thanks for all your help folks!

[guns1inger]

All-in-one packages are like those Swiss Army Knife knock-offs with the fork and spoon at one end, and the knife at the other. Yes, you can cut your meal and eat with it, but it is a less than satisfactory experience. Compare this to using a dedicated knife and fork, and you the results speak for themselves. Yes, it can take a little longer to master, and there are often more steps involved, but no one-click-wonder will ever come close to what can be done by using the right specialist tools for each stage of the process.

[PuzZLeR]

guns1inger,

I agree fully with you. It's also a question of focus too. A company that comes out with a great encoder doesn't necessarily have the skills for a good burning app. They've been focusing too long on their encoding that the burning part may just be a token offering to complete a solution of some sort.

All-in-one, 1-click, solutions, although make someone like you and I suspicious, do however have one advantage: for those that may be rushed, or couldn't bother reading forums, and such, and may not be picky either. These "solutions" are for the people that wouldn't "take a little longer to master" and are turned off by the "often more steps involved" that you mentioned.

They're not like us who take this seriously. They just want their DvD, or whatever, and that's it. They just want to be one of the "happy people" on the box holding their "home movie".

To each his/her own I guess.