Burning AVI problems. Software Recommendation?

[sj022698]

Ok, historically I just used Nero 6 and loved it. I don't do editing, etc...so it was just a simple way to burn from shrink. I'm going back and burning so old video files and they are .AVI format. I tried using a few of the freeware programs on here without any luck.

Avi2Dvd- Not sure I know what I'm doing on this one. Had issues

DVD Flick- This one I believe is working but I stopped the encoding after 3 hours and it had done about 7gb. I have a total of about 45gb. Maybe this is normal but seemed long

FAVC- Get and error exception and just keeps shutting down.

I run Vista and I'm just looking for a basic burning software for the .AVI files and I'm assuming there has to be some kind of compression in there. Can anyone help with some suggestions or recommendations. I don't mind buying software but again I don't need all the extreme editing features.

Thanks!

[Baldrick]

AVStodvd or Convertxtodvd($50).


Or if your dvd player supports divx then just burn the avi in data mode. No conversion.

[yoda313]

If you just want to burn the .avi file as it is use imgburn. It will burn to the disc.

If you want to make a dvd with video_ts folder that can run on a regular dvd player you need to convert it first. Use something like avstodvd or multiavchd. Those will give you the most flexibility in your output in my opinion - plus they are freeware.

Then after you make the video_ts folder burn that with imgburn.

If you want to do something else with the file let us know.

Also you can use gspot to open the file and see if it was an xvid or divx file or whatever. Avi is just a container not a format.

[sj022698]

AVStodvd or Convertxtodvd($50).


Or if your dvd player supports divx then just burn the avi in data mode. No conversion.

While that would be nice, I want it to be able to play on any dvd player.

[yoda313]

AVStodvd or Convertxtodvd($50).


Or if your dvd player supports divx then just burn the avi in data mode. No conversion.

While that would be nice, I want it to be able to play on any dvd player.

Then re-read this:

If you want to make a dvd with video_ts folder that can run on a regular dvd player you need to convert it first. Use something like avstodvd or multiavchd. Those will give you the most flexibility in your output in my opinion - plus they are freeware.

Edit - and at least avstodvd in baldricks original post does make a useable dvd. I have never used convertxtodvd but I assume the "todvd" part means it makes a regular dvd.

[sj022698]

If you just want to burn the .avi file as it is use imgburn. It will burn to the disc.

If you want to make a dvd with video_ts folder that can run on a regular dvd player you need to convert it first. Use something like avstodvd or multiavchd. Those will give you the most flexibility in your output in my opinion - plus they are freeware.

Then after you make the video_ts folder burn that with imgburn.

If you want to do something else with the file let us know.

Also you can use gspot to open the file and see if it was an xvid or divx file or whatever. Avi is just a container not a format.

So, you're saying if using imgburn, it will basically just be a data dvd, correct? I have several programs I use for that feature but none burn dvds.

So are avstodvd and multiavchd just convertors. How long should it take to convert a 7.5gb file approx. Since I'll be using standard discs, do I need to then run it through dvd shrink prior to burning it as a dvd since it's almost twice the size?

Also, regarding xvid or divx, will it matter which it is?

I'm really sorry for all the newbie questions but I appreciate the help!

[sj022698]

AVStodvd or Convertxtodvd($50).


Or if your dvd player supports divx then just burn the avi in data mode. No conversion.

While that would be nice, I want it to be able to play on any dvd player.

Then re-read this:

If you want to make a dvd with video_ts folder that can run on a regular dvd player you need to convert it first. Use something like avstodvd or multiavchd. Those will give you the most flexibility in your output in my opinion - plus they are freeware.

Edit - and at least avstodvd in baldricks original post does make a useable dvd. I have never used convertxtodvd but I assume the "todvd" part means it makes a regular dvd.

Sorry, I do thank you for the above links. I didn't mean for it to come across that way. I will check those out. In addition, I would love for the divx to be an option. Quick question about the divx even though I won't be using that. If a video is 5.5gb and I would normally compress that for a dvd. If I'm burning that as just a data file, would I have to use two discs or can you compress the data format also?

[yoda313]

Imgburn just burns. If you have a video_ts folder with the vob files then it burns it to the correct mode for a dvd to be played as a dvd. It doesn't convert at all.

How long it takes to convert with avstodvd and multiavchd depends on your computer. The faster the computer the faster the conversion.

Yes you have to lower the quality setting to fit a single layer disc. There are presets in both programs to tell it to conform to a single layer disc.

It really doesn't matter if you use a computer regarding xvid or divx. If you want it for a dvd player that plays divx files it may or may not play xvid files. You'd have to research your particular model to see what it can play. Computers will play either (assuming you have the codec installed of course - or use vlc or mpchc to play it if you haven't already installled them).

Edit - you can split the divx file with something like virtualdub and just burn the two chunks to different single layer discs.

Otherwise you'll have to reencode the file to fit a sl disc if you want it to be a single file that will run all the way through.

edit 2 - also if these are dvd files already (a video_ts folder with .vob files in it) you can use dvd shrink right now to make it fit a single layer disc and burn that new folder with imgburn.

Otherwise if they are .avi files you have to convert to dvd format first than burn. And if these are large 8gb avi files you convert to a single layer dvd first. Don't shrink it after you make the dvd folder - that will worsen the quality moreso. Make it fit the disc the first time. But be aware these conversion will affect the quality to some degree.

edit 3 - also when I say convert to dvd and burn I mean create a video_ts folder on your harddrive first. The software will convert the original file into the proper dvd structure. It consists of a video_ts file with .vob files and various other files that make up a dvd. From there after the folder is created you would burn that folder to dvd with imgburn. You would drag and drop the video_ts folder and make that the root directory (nothing above it just drop the folder into the blank spot in imgburn in the "write files/folders to disc" mode in imgburn).