One last try then I QUIT!!!

[J Tinsby]

For the last few weeks I have been trying to convert one, yes ONE DivX .avi to a format I can author to a DVD to use on a stand alone player. So far all I have have done is waste time. Yes I have read the topics at the left and I still can't find a viable answer as to how to do this correctly.

I have the following programs:

TMPGenc
Ulead Movie Factory ( a joke as far as I can see)
DVD Shrink
Virtual Dub
ImgTool
GSpot
Nero

I have let TMPGenc encode the file 3 times using various methods, I either end up with a huge .avi that I can't burn using anything or an m2v file, again with no way to burn it that I see OR I get an mpeg file that I CAN burn to a DVD as a UDF but it won't play on my player only my DVD drive.

It seems like no matter what I choose as the output from TMPGenc, I end up with something I can't burn! If only I could get .VOB.IFO etc from that Divx avi I'd be all set ! When I see those files I know I can use them

If someone can take the time to give me some pointers on where I am going wrong I'd really appreciate it. Right now it seems that getting files from the internet and converting them to play on a stand alone player is an impossiblility, at least for me.

Doesn't anyone else do what I am trying to do?


Thanks in advance to all who reply.

J T

[matneaves]

ok, have a look at

http://mpegencoding.proboards20.com/index.cgi

goto s/vcd encoding part and download the word doc

should help

[housepig]

sounds like you have a few different issues going on.

if the Divx file will load into TMPGenc, convert to a dvd-compliant mpeg, combined audio & video stream. Make sure it's not set to output individual streams (that should be one of the last checkboxes if you use the wizard).

Make sure you set your bitrate low enough so the resulting file will fit on a dvd-r.

Once you have the mpeg file, you need to load it into an authoring software of some sort. If you don't like Movie Factory, try DVD Lab, it's got a 30 day free trial. Once you have authored your disc, burn the output.

Check the DVD Players section and make sure you are burning the right media for your player, and that your player can play burned discs. If it can play -R for example, and you are using -R, try using a different brand of disc.

The fact that you can play it in your computer's dvd-rom but not your standalone makes me think that either a) you aren't authoring it properly or b) your standalone doesn't like your discs.

[steptoe]

Right,

For starters, does the DivX movie play using either DivX Player or MS MediaPlayer, without ANY problems, if this is okay, then you should be able to convert it to a DVD format pretty simply, if not, use AVICodec, and open that movie to see what codec is used

I have AVICodec set-up to list the following, which tells me all I need to know, in the fields that AVICodec supports (all these can be set simply by clicking on options, and choosing the following fileds, video freq., audio 1 codec name, video resol, video time):

Filename, v.freq, a1 codec name, v. resol, time

Run VirtualDub, and load the AVI file, then extract and save the audio stream to where you want as a WAV, this will avoid most sync errors, plus if there were any errors in the audio stream, this should cure them


Run AVICodec, and select the AVI file to get what FPS the DivX file is encoded at, so you know if its PAL or NTSC/NTSC film


Next, using TMPGenc, let it start using the wizard, I find that a lot easier, especially if I'm doing a batch overnight)

Assuming you intend to put just one movie on a DVD, and also assuming that you're DVD player can play NTSC and PAL, if AVICodec gave the v.freq as either 23.976or 29.97 the select NTSC (DVD) or if it gave 25 as the v.freq select PAL (DVD) from the wizard so that TMPGenc knows what format to output the movie as

Now, select where the AVI movie is, and then select where the extracted WAV audio stream is. Leave the aspect raio set at 1:1 VGA, if its a DivX movie

Now select the source range, I always do this, as it avoids any possible problems with TMPGenc Plus now knowing exactly where the movie starts and finishes (simple click 'move to start frame' and click 'set start frame', then select 'move to end frame' and click 'set end frame'). Click OK

Now, select 'Other Settings', and choose video. Change the bitrate to CBR (thats what I use, have yet to play with VBR, but just to get you going), set the bit rate to 6000, assuming the movie is around 1hr 30 (use the excellant bitrate calculator in the tools section to estimate the exact CBR rate)

Change the 'DC Component Precision' to 10, it gives a better quality output. Change 'Motion search precison' to either 'Normal' or 'Highest Quality' depending how long you want to wait. The higher the setting, the more time spent searching for duplicate images, and the better the output

Select OK, and double check that the settings are ok, should be 720x480 for NTSC, and 720x576 for PAL. Also, make SURE that the bar at the bottom is within the small red line, or it won't fit on a single DVD-R, or you can simple change the percentage, up with give a better bitrate, but take up more space on the DVD, less will reduce the bitrate, but take up less room on the DVD

NEVER go about 97-98%, otherwise you will get a warning saying it may not fit on a DVD, about 95% is okay, to leave room for any menus you create with teh DVD software

Click OK, and you should be asked if you want to create the files, and start encoding, depending on your computers processor/memory, etc, this could take a couple of hours to overnight

Once finished, simple import the resulting files into your authoring software. Thats it !!


One thing I forgot, make sure MPEG2 is selected, and that you have it set-up to output seperate audio and video streams. Assuming you are using TMPGenc Plus that is ...............



Any problems let me know, I've had loads of time wasted testing various encoders, and authoring software, and for my simpe needs found TMPGenc Plus, and TMPGenc DVD Author do what I want, but I also use Nero to burn the final output onto DVD

I've been doing this for about 2-3 months, and most of that was spent banging my head against a wall/table, wondering what I was doing wrong, so learnt from absolute scratch and a total novice

[marvel2020]

Well apart from Movie Factory, you haven't used any other DVD Authoring software.

As far as encoding go's, Extract the audio from your avi to a .wav using VirtualDub.

Startup TMPGEnc, load the avi as your video source and the .wav as your audio source, select the correct DVD template either NTSC or PAL using the load button, then set your encoding speed to SLow or Very Slow and let TMPGEnc do it's thing.

Doing it this way you can't go wrong because it's the standard encoding method using TMPGEnc.

Of course you can always frameserve using Vdub to TMPGEnc but either way will give you the a proper MPEG2 file.

I would also suggest that you use a different DVD Authoring software say like DVDLAB, and also use a different recording software like STOMP RECORD NOW MAX.

Nero in my opinion is the worst software there is for burning to DVD, i'm sure i'll get flame for saying that but if you do a search you will find more problems with Nero's burning than any other.

And no matter how many times they update it and fix 1 problem. another 1 arise's.

So forget NERO and use STOMP.

[TBoneit]

Well, and I only Use Nero for Video DVDs, Never a problem. I do use record now DX for Cds though.

By doing it this way I can make my data CDs in recordNowDX and DVDs in Nero and I can leave nero set to DVD video.

I do have a (1) DVD coaster (Knock Wood) that was a result of something I did whilest burning that Locked up the Computer.

I blame my lack of coasters on Nero (Used for a long time with Data & VCDs) on CD_RW drive. and since December 2002 with Sony 500a. In fact My first Spindle of Verbatims I bought with the drive were used with no coasters, In no small part due to reading this site thoroughly first. And of course using brand name media, mostly Verbatim, TDK, a few Maxell, and a Few Memorex, and of course for short term use some Princo 1X and am getting ready to try a 10pack of Princo 2X from one of our vendors.

And last but not least, Brand name parts in the Computer... Retail pack (Warranty 3Yrs) P4, Western Digital And Seagate, Not those Problematic Maxtor Drives, We won't sell em. Liteon DVD Rom & CD-RW. Sony Burner & Floppy. ATI Video AIW. SoundBlaster, Lian Li Case (Very Nice Aluminum) Especially since I upgrade a lot. And of course reliable motherboard. Not Abit or Ecs, Biostar or other cheap brands for example we tried em and had to many warranty problems. We've had the least problems with Asus & DFI Mbs. Asus being for the people willing to pay for quality. APC UPS 500Va. And I never, repeat never overclock.

And I Run it around the clock many times doing encoding. I Cruise the internet, Use Ngs, Download & Read E-Mail, Author or Burn a DVD at the same time.

However as others have pointed out YMMV

Good Luck
Roger

[J Tinsby]

Right,

For starters, does the DivX movie play using either DivX Player or MS MediaPlayer, without ANY problems, if this is okay, then you should be able to convert it to a DVD format pretty simply, if not, use AVICodec, and open that movie to see what codec is used

Hi Steptoe,

Yes the Dvix plays fine in WMP but the G spot program tells me its 25fps or PAL. I am in the USA and haven't a clue if my player will play PAL but I am going to take the chance and encode it that way, the worst it can do its not play at all ( I'm used to that by now!) If it doesn't work as PAL I will try to encode it as NTSC and see what I get.

I have tried to follow your instructions and I got DVD Lab too to try.

Am I correct that DVD Lab won't actually burn the DVD, all it does is add the fancy stuff to the mpg2 file? Or will it burn the finished product too?

I am curious as to why I need to have two streams to work with, doesn't that complicate matters further?

I will let you know fo my success, the others were kind enough to give me many options, I;m sure one of them is right for me.

Thank you for your time I'll keep you posted, it's being encoded now.

J T

[housepig]

two things -

DVD Lab does have some burning capability, but I just use Nero (and the only coasters I've burned were my mistake, not the program).

I would highly suggest you get a couple of rewritable discs, so you're not burning coaster after coaster after coaster.

I have a feeling that your player is not going to like a PAL disc if you're in the U.S.A....

[deadeyedickx]

Both of my set top players will play pal and ntsc format dvd's of course I had to look very hard to find one that would do that but I had pal dvd's
that I wanted to play on there check on the left your make and model dvd player to see uif it will play.

I convert avi to dvd with:

Vdub
veedub mp3 freeze
AC3 Machine to convert wave to .ac3 this may be your problem dvd should be pcm or ac3 sound.
tmpgenc to convert to .mv2 Click here for help setting up this part http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html
Tmpgenc DVD Author to mux and make my menu
Nero to burn as DVD Video

If you have ac3 sound on your avi file you will need besweet and besplit

here is the guide I used to start doing this and it seems to work for me very well. http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/avi2dvdr.htm

The DVD's I authored using IFOedit will work on my apex a500W but not on my Daewoo DVD S150

[J Tinsby]

Thanks to everyone who posted in reply to my rant, I DID get the movie converted from DivX to DVD and it plays fine I'm amazed that it looks as good as it does on my HD TV!

I used TMPGenc, making a separate audio and video streams, then I put it all back together with DVDLab ( I think this program is GREAT! )

Now that I've seen how to do it, I have the idea, knock on wood!

Thanks again!
'
J T