Does DivXToDVD's "back-up" function copy or re-encode or both?

[moviebuff2]

Hi everyone

When DivXToDVD "re-author" a +2-GB video for a single-layer DVD (hence, no compression), does it copy or re-encode the source?

I notice that to back-up a video that exceeds the capacity of a disc (single-layer or double-layer), a compression is required, the encoding window appears after you click the "back-up" button.

But, the same window appears even if the video source is less than the capacity of a disc. This just doen't make sense since there is no need to compress the source. Why can't DivXToDVD just copy the source and re-author it, without encoding it again?

Thanks

[guns1inger]

Because DivxtoDVD is beta software, and old beta software at that. It was designed to convert video and author it to DVD, not author compliant video. If you have compliant mpeg source, use GUIforDVDAuthor or DVDAuthorGUI to author it for DVD.

In short, use the right tool for the job.

[moviebuff2]

Oops! Oops! Oops!

Very very sorry . I meant DVDShrink. I don't think DivXToDVD has any buttons called "back up" or "re-author".

I don't know what made me type DivXToDVD while I was thinking of DVDShrink.

Too many softwares and I became confused?!

So, please let me briefly restate my question:

DVDShrink appears to encode everything even if the video source is small enough to fit a DVD disc. Why?

Thank you, guns1inger. Once again, sorry for my mistake.

[guns1inger]

It doesn't, but it does use confusing terminology. If you re-author, for example, and the video is small enough to fit on a single layer disc, Shrink says Encoding when it really means authoring. That is, it is extracting the video you have selected from the original VOB files, and is creating a new set of VOB files to reflect the new DVD structure. You will notice that when Shrink is actually shrinking a video to fit, it only has two modes : Analysis, and Encoding. Encoding, in Shrink speak, means encoding and authoring, or just authoring. It doesn't distinguish between the two tasks.

Unfortunately, given that Shrink will never be altered again, we just have to live with the momentary confusion. A simple test - if it is just authoring, it will only take a few minutes. If it is encoding then it will take substantially longer.

[moviebuff2]

Thanks, guns1inger.