Which option in Nero should I use

[burna3000]

Hi, I'm just about to put around 4Gb of stuff on to DVD-R [20 simpsons episodes to be precise]

Before i do, i was wondering if you could clarify which option i would use to burn onto a DVD-R with Nero

When i do the same w/ CD-R, i use video Cd option, and that works fine, although due to the size limit, i can only get 3 episodes per disk
If i try to use the DVD version of this, ie Video DVD, it says the files have to be' DVD compatibe VOB , IFO, BUP DVD files
The files are Mpeg

I'm guessing I shouldn't use this option?
If not which one?- the only other choice is a 'data dvd', which doesn't specify the file type needed.

I may be being over cautious, its just that i want to make sure i do the right thing, and not endin up w/a £2 coaster!

Thanks in advance

[lechtin]

burn,

You're trying to skip a step here. Once you have mpeg files, you need to go through a step called DVD authoring which will take your files and generate the .vob, .bup, and .ifo files. Once you have those you can burn a video-dvd in Nero (make sure you version is above 5.5.9.17 as the previous ones did not burn video-dvd properly - actually, try the latest version.) DVD authoring is the process of converting the files to be DVD-video compliant if necessary, adding menus, chapter points, that your current mpeg files do not have.

To author DVD, try the guides on this site or an easy to use piece of software that will do this is ulead dvd movie factory. A demo is available at www.ulead.com

Now your might run into the problems of having the right mpeg format/bitrate/resolution for DVD. If you get that, look through the guides for help.

Good luck,

[overloaded_ide]

That's right, and I don't see them mentioned as much as they should probably be.

You can't burn mpg files as a dvd, though I have tried and the settop player did play a disk making it's own menu of each little 30 minute mpg once. But's its not reliable and not all players may do that.

I tried one of uleads dvd programs and got nothing but but 1 disk and tons of trash. Could be a problem/conflict with my system, but this other program has no problem.

I just found Tmpengc DVD author about a week ago, and every disk is great, much faster too! Follow the link in the tools section for tmpengc plus to the site. It works fully for 30 days and if you buy it cost about $60-$70. Only thing I found I could get to work consitantly so far.

Start the program, add file, you can edit if you want. Cut out parts, clip dead space at start and end and set chapters. So far I been doing just one long movie at a time, but you can open more files than just one. So you should be able to put many in there. If you got comercails you can cut them out ect..
When done with any extras you want click save or create or something and it makes the nessasary files on your hard drive for you. Video_ts folder and all the .VOB .IFO .BUP files and an audio_ts folder. Then open nero, close wizzard, select DVD UFD 1.02. change dates and label info if you want and click new. Drag your video_ts and audio_ts folders over to to the nero window and burn.

I have a toshiba 5002 -r/-rw burner and that's how I just did 10 -r disks since last week, after spending the last few months getting garbage with other stuff. Not a coaster one now either!

I tried several programs like Uleads, some claim to do everthing including capturing and/or burning, but nothing ever worked the way they claimed and I got tons of garbage and only one good disk, one so so. DVD Author does not capture or burn, but it does work!! And for me it is working very well, I am even thinking of buying this one
Myself, I have been trying to capture mpg files that will fit the DVD disks so I don't have to resize or do all the other stuff with other programs.
I'm pretty sure DVD author will handle other types files, but all I use are mpg myself.

Just how are you going to fit 20 simpsons on 1 4gig disk though? Ain't that like about 10 hrs or so? I also am a newbie, but for reall movies I am getting about 2hrs at 352x (240 or 480 forgot which) at 4000 - 5,000 bits
mpg1, stereo 44,100. I am still playing with my settings to find the right ones for the best quality and longest times. So far I think 2-2 1/2hrs is the longest I got with VHS quality. No since going above that since the source is VHS, but I don't want to go under it!

Or did you mean 20 onto 5 disks?

[burna3000]

Lechtin, thanks for the reply, i assumed that you could immediately burn from Nero....
That kinda clarifies a few things that i was confused about
It may not be as good as Ulead, but i have a copy of Studio 8 that i use for editing- would this be OK?
How much can i fit on one DVD-r disk, i'm guessing that once i've authored it, fitting all 20 episodes on is out of the question?

Burna3000

[burna3000]

overloaded_ide- didn't read your reply then, have now!

Yep, i realise now that the 20 eps will be spread over a couple of disks, i just got kinda confused with 700 mb cd-r and 4.5 gb dvd-r
I've created several CD-r's w/ nero, fittting 3eps on each, i'm guessing the quality will be much better w/ DVD?

[overloaded_ide]

Don't know what studio 8 is, is that Uleads Video studio 7 newset version

If it works and authors DVD files, creates your video_ts folder and .vob, .ifo, .bup files that's what you need.

As for size, using the tmpngc dvd program the files are nearly the same size as the source mpg. So if I start out with a 4gig mpg then I have 4 gigs of DVD files. Not much size added, maybe a few bytes for menues and chapters, but nothing I noticed. So I think you should be able to just add up the size of all the mpg files you want to add till it gets to about 4gig.

You can go over 4 gig some, but I try to stay at or under 4 gigs. One thing is I have cheap disks, no problems so far, but if read some of the cheapies get errors near the edge if you write a full disk. Plus I like a little extra room in case I mis figure size and go a little over my mark I don't have to start over or resize.

[Proud Dad]

Burn,

You can also use Nero Vision Express to author ...

"Every Nero 5.5 user will get NeroVision Express, our new video authoring software, for free. Additionally all users, who already own NeroVision Express, can purchase our MPEG-2/DVD encoder in our webshop. The MPEG-2/DVD plug-in combined with NeroVision Express, makes it possible to encode video files in DVD/SVCD format and to encode SVCD in Nero"

The MPEG2 encoder costs an additional $24.

I've used it with no problems.

[overloaded_ide]

Quality will depend on several things.

One how is your source file recorded? If you first recorded to the size you have now you will have the same quality. You can lose quality by down sizing, but I don't think you can gain quality by upsizing.

If you have your mpg files recorded at high quality and use those to author a new dvd then you should have better quality. If you had to crunch them down alot to fit the vcds you lost alot. But if you recorded them that way to begin with, to fit the cds, then of course that's what you'll have on DVD also. That's what I did when I made some Vcds, I recorded the mpgs to fit about 1 hour per cd, so now when I make the DVDs I will either have the vcd quality or have to re-record! Though most the Vcds were cartoons and not that bad.

I was thinking about Veggie Tales vcd I made the kid. I got fairly decent quality with about an hour on a vcd, 2 30 minute tapes. Cartoon type shows may do better at lower bit rates than real action type movies. I have a little blockiness or blurr on those, but not alot, and mostly only where there is alot of movement fast. Action movies I could never get to work very well, like Leathal Weapons series.

Also I think I noticed you mentioned just dragging the mpg files into nero to make Vcds. I've done that and it worked well as I remember, been awhile. Nero has something for DVDs (might be nero express) That you do the same thing, though you have to buy it seperately. A friend had it and while visiting him I tried it, I was not impressed!
Could be the way I had my files recorded or his computer or something, but it did not work well, wanted to re-encode my files to dvd standards, took forever, and I don't think I got any decent disks.

I hate tapes, they go bad, always rewinding, take up space, ect.. but I have 100's going all the way back to beta's!
I still buy tapes because almost everyone has a VCR, I know many people that do not have DVD players and I travel alot. So I take tapes with me, but at home I don't want the tape hassles or I want to watch em on computer with 6 channel surround sound Even old stero VHS sounds better on 5.1.

[overloaded_ide]

Proud dad,

Just saw your post after posting mine, we crossed paths

How are you recording your mpgs? I posted I tried nero express on a friends system with poor results for me. Course we all record different and every computer has a mind of it's own! I don't have it myself.

My captures can only go up to 44,100 audio. Nero express did not like my mpeg1s and always had to re-encode them. Very time consuming and the results were poor (when I got results) in my opion using decent mpeg1 type files. I have an ATI AIW and use the capture software with it and my mp2 files it creates nothing ever wants to use except the ATI player. SO nero would never even open those. I don't know if that was a header problem or because the audio is 44'100 instead of the 48,000 it's supposed to be.

This other program I mentioned is more money, but seems to be less picky about the source file.

[lechtin]

Burn,

I'll assume what you have is Pinnacle Systems Studio 8. It's good, some people even prefer it to Ulead. It has all you need to author DVDs. Just read your manual or download it a www.pinnaclesys.com if you don't have it. The only thing might be that it seems to run into problems depending on the hardware people have. Anyway, give it a try since you have it.

[vance43211]

Proud Dad
u sound like u work for nero

i paid for svcd encoder last year

now it is the dvd, svcd encoder

i how can i get it without paying twice for almost the same product?

[burna3000]

Thanks for ya help guys- decided to use TMPGEnc as you advised, and found it straight forward to use Apparently the source of the eps that i used is VCD quality, and i was able to fit 18/22 on one disk, although if i had use Pinnacle studio 8, i would have only got 5 on....
Burnt it OK w/ Nero, only slight niggle is that it only plays on 'kids player, and not mine- well that's just the way it is I 'spose....

[overloaded_ide]

I been reading about compatibilities, but only been able to test my disks in my Norcent DP300 and 2 computers, both with Lite-on DVD 16x drives.
And of course the toshiba burner that made the disk, almost forgot it.

My disks are -r and -rw, but so far they all have played well, or at least as well as recorded. I did turn out a few ify ones, they play but my quality was bad!

How many hours is that on that disk? I geuss if you cut comercails out and credits, maybe the opening lead in, each episode might only be 15-20 minutes? And who really needs the opening or credits 18 times on one disk anyway

How was the quality of the picture? Even clipped, that sounds like close to 5 hrs? I'll be putting the kids cartoons series on DVD also. Chip-n-dale resque rangers, Veggie tales, ect... Mostly all 15 - 30 minute stuff. Bunch of tapes! Would be nice to have just one or two good disks!

I'll be giving those a shot soon.

[burna3000]

Unfortunately, I've run into a little prob....
started to watch a couple of the eps, when i got to the 3rd one, about 1/4 way through, the audio & annimation came out or sync.- audio lags behind annimation by a couple of secs- kinda makes them unwatchable, but the downloaded footage plays fine
So somethin went wrong, probly by me, but any idea what?
Best to start from scratch, authoring the DVD?

[overloaded_ide]

Lot's of things can go wrong at times

I just found my -r disks would not work on the new neighbours Phillips DVD player. Said they just got an error message. Worked fine in all my stuff though.

I thinkl it best to start from scratch. I capture the mpeg1, I am using the demo of tempenc dvd author, and burn with nero butning rom.

So far I haven't had any audio sync problems the way i am doing it now. I had them with other programs, and tons of other problems too.

I do have to check now and see what I can find for why theu donm't work on phillips players. Is it the player or something I did wrong? My are -r disks, so maybe the player only does +r? Maybe it's to old to play anytihing? Later I'll find out what model it is.

[burna3000]

overloaded- done it all again, captured it into tmpgenc and converted the files and burnt with nero, no different
I'm gonna start a new thread to see if anyone has any ideas....