Burning .avi files

[pilgrim02]

Hi,

Apologies for posting a topic that's very similar to previous posts here, but despite doing a search in this forum, I still couldn't find an exact response and therefore a solution to what I'm really looking for.

I've quite a few .avi files that I would like to burn on to DVD-R's. I'm not a fan of using iDVD in order to do that, so I've scrapped that idea as an option. I use Disk Imager, but that only accepts VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS folders.

My main question would be how can I go about burning those .avi files on to DVD-R's (without using iDVD) by using a FREE program to do so? (Sorry folks for not embracing Toast and other Toast-like paid software, but affordability and desire ranges as far as a free program

I've tried to use ffmpegx to convert, but it doesn't accept .avi files, and has no option to convert to .img either, so the program itself becomes useless.

I'm starting to pull my hair out, and really need some assistance. iDVD's getting on my nerves, and Disk Imager can only be used with other files!

Argh!



Thank you!

[redwudz]

I haven't used my Mac in a couple of years, but with about any system, burning AVIs is the same as burning a data disc, and you shouldn't need any special software for that. Just use the native burning program that comes with the computer, the same as you would burn any other data disc.

But others may have better suggestions.

And welcome to our forums.

[terryj]

Burning avi's to a DATA disc can be done easy on a mac,
using the native Burn app on a mac, redwuz.
Perhaps that's what your thinking about.

But to TRANSCODE an avi to m2v/ac3 and then muxing to create
viable DVD .VOBs, will require paid software. And for the record,
@ the OP, ffmepgx is PAID software, not free.

I can't wait until the day that Major makes a run like GB did
and all the people who think ffmpegx is FREE wake up
and actually read the webpage where it says it isn't.
Major's already crippled the program somewhat because people don't pay.
What if, from 1.0 forward, you have to pay up front
to even use it?

What you want to do is transcode files from one format to a finalized format.
That finalized format costs the software makers a licensing fee,
as MPEG licenses aren't cheap.
Somebody has to pay that cost, and rightly so it''s passed to the consumer.

You want to do it for free with the iLife suite?
It's possible but it requires enough free HD space,
a fast processor, and decent ram, and yes you might have to spend
a little cash.

You want drag and drop, in and out, sorry you got to pay for it.
*shrugs*
not everything can be FREE, but it can be had for cheap if you just look around.
here, I'll throw you a bone.

[redwudz]

terryj said:

Perhaps that's what your thinking about.

True, I assumed in a quick read that the OP wanted just to burn a AVI type data file to a DVD.

[terryj]

no problem my friend.

[Frobozz]

You seem to be confused, pilgrim02, about AVIs and video DVDs. But rather than try to clear that up I'll suggest that you should continue to enjoy your AVIs on your Mac and not bother making them into video DVDs. It's a big hassle and the results won't impress you.

If you must watch these AVIs on a TV then buy a cheap DVD player that has DivX playback capability. The AVIs that are compatible can be burned to CD-R or DVD-R as data discs and played in those DVD players.

terryj, I love your stand on "free."

[rumplestiltskin]

I'll suggest a few other options (though none are free):

iPod - Use MPEG Streamclip to convert the AVI's to H264. Drop the resulting file into your iPod through iTunes. Buy the $20 iPod-to-TV cable (red/white/yellow phono plugs). This works great.

AppleTV - Again, use MPEG Streamclip but don't even bother syncing (if you don't mind leaving your Mac on with iTunes running). Just drop the file into iTunes after the conversion. (Many formats that can play on the Mac can be converted directly from within iTunes but it's much slower than MPEG Streamclip.) This option assumes you have at least an "enhanced definition" TV with component inputs.

[pilgrim02]

Thanks for all the responses, but what I can't get over is the fact that way back when when I was a Windows user (*shivers*) when I wanted to burn, say, a CD, I was presented with 2 options - that of creating a Data one or an Audio one. And it was FREE! The reason why I'm annoyed with the Mac system regarding this issue is that in order to get to either of those options, particularly make a CD/DVD that can play in a DVD Player separate to that of the computer, PAID software has to be used. So Windows users get this for free, and we pay for it?! Not happy!

I've got tonnes of .avi's that I don't want sitting on the PC and taking up space, hence my desire to whack them onto DVD's. So to do that, the option I have now is using iDVD (free) which I just don't like for this purpose precisely (limited options there for what I want, or rather, too many options there for what I want, and none suitable to my needs), or use Disk Imager, which only seems to like VIDEO_TS folders (and that ain't .avi files!)

Annoyed and frustrated!

[tomlee59]

Some free possibilities: Use VLC to transcode into mpeg-2. Then use, eg, MMT-EZ to author as DVD. IIRC, it has its own burning engine. If not, there are other free options, like firestarter.

If you've bought the QT MPEG-2 component, you can also use MPEG Streamclip to do the transcoding.

Others will likely suggest their own favorite free methods, but I thought I'd try to get the ball rolling...

[terryj]

basically it comes down to paying SOMETHING.
Mpeg-2 component for QT is $20.
That aint free...

[terryj]

and last time I looked on a PC,
yesterday infact, you can't burn a
vaild DVD-VIDEO disc without sometype
of paid for third party software.

You can burn a data disc or an audio cd,
which is the same on a mac.
You create a burn folder, you drag in files,
and you can select to burn Data or an MP3 CD in the Mac's Finder.

But to TRANSCODE, please say that over and over
so it sinks in, TRANSCODE from an AVI to
a muxed format like MPEG-2, it COSTS SOMETHING
DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF MPEG LICENSING!!!!

On the PC, you have to buy NERO, or EASY CD/DVD,
or someother widget/doohickey that costs something.
TRUST ME, if MPEG LICENSING was FREE, it would be
announced like when we dropped a bomb on Hiroshima
in WWII. IT would be BIG NEWS.

[pilgrim02]

I suppose so, Terry, but still not happy

Guess I'm stuck with iDVD for now for burning .avi files.

Such is life when you're cruising for free

Thanks for all the responses, anyway!

[Frobozz]

Free: burn the AVIs as Data discs using the Finder burn or Disk Utility. They no longer take up space on your hard drive and are still playable on your Mac (or PC).

Cost: buy cheap DVD player that supports DivX playback to play those data discs on a TV if that is something you want to do.

[tomlee59]

and last time I looked on a PC,
yesterday infact, you can't burn a
vaild DVD-VIDEO disc without sometype
of paid for third party software.

You can burn a data disc or an audio cd,
which is the same on a mac.
You create a burn folder, you drag in files,
and you can select to burn Data or an MP3 CD in the Mac's Finder.

But to TRANSCODE, please say that over and over
so it sinks in, TRANSCODE from an AVI to
a muxed format like MPEG-2, it COSTS SOMETHING
DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF MPEG LICENSING!!!!

On the PC, you have to buy NERO, or EASY CD/DVD,
or someother widget/doohickey that costs something.
TRUST ME, if MPEG LICENSING was FREE, it would be
announced like when we dropped a bomb on Hiroshima
in WWII. IT would be BIG NEWS.

Well, google just turned up several possibilities on Windows. Example: http://protectedsoft.com/descr_fb.php

Although I've never used it.

To the OP: Try something like the workflow I suggested (VLC + MMT-EZ). That's free. However, I have not actually tried it, so the licensing issue that terryj alluded to may be a show stopper. That said, the VLC documentation doesn't mention the need for any additional modules to enable MPEG2 output, so there's a ray of hope there.

In short: Give it a try. Can't hurt.