AVI to ?

[john_doe]

Ok two quick questions....

I have AVI movie files that I want to convert into ??? so that I can burn it onto a DVD-R and watch it on my standalone DVD player.

1) What do I need to convert these AVI files to VCD, SVCD, DVD, MPEG, VOB, etc, so I can watch it on a standalone DVD player?

2) Which is the best guide for step by step instructions for the whole process?

Thanks!

[Tommyknocker]

The process is called encoding. Ergo, one needs an encoder. To convert to another format, look in the Convert section at left. Browse the guides, and find the easiest tool you think you can use. Then go to the Tools section and download it if you do not have it already. I know you are looking for a short, possibly a one word answer, but you will see it is not that simple. You have to find what works for you.

[Craig Tucker]

Just to get you started, tools you will find invaluable.

Virtualdub, for removing bad frames, editing and saving the audio stream uncompressed (A necessary step if you have VBR encoded audio and want to keep the audio in sync when you encode). This is just the tip of the iceberg of what this great free tool can do.

TMPGEnc, probrably the best all round encoder available.

AC3fix, needed to repair the file header when saving an ac3 stream with virtualdub.

Headac3he, Convert AC3 audio to PCM wav

Nero, Good burning application, also good for authoring simple VCD's and SVCD's

DVDlab or TMPGEnc DVD Author, good simple DVD authoring applications.

And the best bit of advise, set some time aside to learn and to read some of the great guides on this site. All the information is there for you, you just need to look for it.

After all that this forum is here to help you for when you get stuck.

[Rookie64]

I want to convert into ???

MPEG-2 for SVCD or DVD

MPEG-1 for VCD

1) What do I need to convert these AVI files to VCD, SVCD, DVD,

Use TMPGEnc Plus to convert (if you just want to make a VCD, you can use the free version of TMPGEnc)

VOB, etc, so I can watch it on a standalone DVD player?

Use TMPGEnc DVD Author - IMO, this is easy enough for anyone just getting started. That'll get your VOB files.

You can move on to something flashier after you get the feel of Authoring.


I use Nero to burn, but you could do that with TMPGEnc DVD Author also.

2) Which is the best guide for step by step instructions for the whole process?

Use the Tool section and User Guides on the forum to find step by step instructions for the above...or use the Search feature.


Try the Tools Section if you want to try other programs


From your Profile, it's possible you may encounter some audio sync problems.
Make sure you have the latest drivers for your soundcard before you convert.

[john_doe]

Thanks for all the great advice...

But I still don't know what format (ie. VCD, SVCD, DVD, etc.) do I need to convert my AVI files so I can watch it on a standalone DVD player? What's the difference, is there a big difference?

Just to let you know I have a DVD burner. Just in case there is a difference between having a CD burner.

Thanks again!

[Tommyknocker]

Well, according to your fellow DVD player owners, you have your pick. I would say go ahead and learn to burn DVDs, because the image quality is better, and you can put more video on a single disk.

[Craig Tucker]

VCD (mpeg1) is the quickest and easiest to produce. Lower bitrate means lower encoding time. Encoding is what takes up the majority of the time in this game. It will also offer the lowest quality picture (althogh it can still be very acceptable with a good source). Bitrate is set at 1150kbps

SVCD (mpeg2) somewhere in between VCD and DVD. Can look very good with a good quality source. Bitrate upto 2520kbps

DVD (mpeg2) can take a long time to encode if you really crank up the bitrate, but you will acheive the best possible results (again quality source required). Bitrate upto 9810kbps.

Basically if your source is of poor quality, there is little point in investing a lot of time in creating a high bitrate DVD, you are just wasting your time. If you have a very good quality source then to maintain as much of the quality as possible from that source go with a high bitrate DVD.

[john_doe]

Thanks for the answers... Couple more quick questions..

Ok I understand now, but how do I know whether the quality is good enough to convert into VCD, SVCD, or DVD? I really don't have that good of an eye to notice the difference of the quality in the AVI file. Is there an easy way to figure this out? I hope I'm explaining this correctly.

And are these the only formats that I can convert the AVI to watch on a standalone DVD player? Just wondering.

Thanks again!

[Craig Tucker]

Thanks for the answers... Couple more quick questions..

Ok I understand now, but how do I know whether the quality is good enough to convert into VCD, SVCD, or DVD? I really don't have that good of an eye to notice the difference of the quality in the AVI file. Is there an easy way to figure this out? I hope I'm explaining this correctly.

Nope, just do a few short test encodes and see for yourself.

And are these the only formats that I can convert the AVI to watch on a standalone DVD player? Just wondering.
Thanks again!

No, but others are basically variations of these formats, and are likely to be less compatible than standard formats.
There are non standard formats such as XVCD, XSVCD
You also have K(S)VCD, and KDVD these are templates made by a guy named kwag (www.kvcd.net) and are basically versions of the X non standard format. You also have CVD and 1/2 DVD.

[ZippyP.]

Ok I understand now, but how do I know whether the quality is good enough to convert into VCD, SVCD, or DVD?

One way is to look at the resolution of the source file. There's a number of ways to get that, even right clicking and selecting properties>summary will give you it. Rule of thumb: Don't try and convert your source to a higher resolution, at least not by too much. It causes macroblocking and poor quality. So select the format that most closely matches your source.
VCD=350x240, SVCD=480x480, DVD=350x240 or 350x480 or 720x480.
Hope that helps.

BTW, just go to the guides section and select avi to dvd for a list of guides. Baldrick has a good basic guide, here.