Are DVDRs not that useful?

[b1tchm4gn3t]

Like many people on here I have a dvd burner AND a ps2. I like them both but I have to say...I like my burner WAYYYYY more than my ps2! Like has been said...spend the time to learn, through trial and error, and the benefits will far outway the headaches trying to learn.

[LoopyWolf]

I tried the WinDVD burner.. Was mightily impressed that it understood the ASF and I used it to make an image file.. However, it says it can't find any writer anywhere (and there's 2 on the system) so I cna't burn with it and there is no audio either..

It created an AUDIO-TS and a VIDEO-TS, but the AUDIO-TS is empty (bummer) .. I have the audio extracted to a WAV but.. Also the video TS is only 300 M so that can't be right.. sigh

I swear, I have tried this 10 different ways, with 10 different things, and each path I take I am completely blocked..

[Richard_G]

The AUDIO_TS folder will be empty, it should be. It's only there for the benefit of some DVD players which get offended if it isn't. The audio isn't actually in it though, it is in the .vob files in the VIDEO_TS folder. The VIDEO_TS folder should have a number of files with.ifo, .bup and .vob file extensions. If this is the case, you have a DVD.

If the whole folder is only 300 M though, the video is either very short or you have encoded it at a ridiculously low bitrate so the quality will be horrible.

Rather than trying to do the same thing 10 different ways and failing each time, I suggest you decide on what software can cope with the files you have and then work at that until you understand what it is you are trying to do and the mechanics behind it. Read the guides and if you don't understand them, read them again until you do.

[LoopyWolf]

Well I have been, and I usually get to a certain time.. but then I reach a point where I cannot get further, i.e., when I try to drag ASF files into Roxio (can't work.) I will see if I can choose a better bitrate...

AWWW NUTS..!!! I used WinDVD to create a VIDEO-TS and AUDIO-TS .. Was able to then burn it to DVD with Ahead Nero. It WORKED .. but when I played it.. there was no audio

[LoopyWolf]

The AUDIO_TS folder will be empty, it should be. It's only there for the benefit of some DVD players which get offended if it isn't. The audio isn't actually in it though, it is in the .vob files in the VIDEO_TS folder. The VIDEO_TS folder should have a number of files with.ifo, .bup and .vob file extensions. If this is the case, you have a DVD.

If the whole folder is only 300 M though, the video is either very short or you have encoded it at a ridiculously low bitrate so the quality will be horrible.

Rather than trying to do the same thing 10 different ways and failing each time, I suggest you decide on what software can cope with the files you have and then work at that until you understand what it is you are trying to do and the mechanics behind it. Read the guides and if you don't understand them, read them again until you do.

The guides are sometimes tricky because they don't match the software. For example, there is a guide on how to do a 3-step procedure to turn an ASF into an MPEG or DVD with VirtualDub, but the filters it lists and the steps it states are not possible.. YOu have to kind of guess..

I'm really sorry if my stupidity is getting irritating for people.. I am trying but everything I try is not working..

See?! Here is a case in point. I went to Dr. Dude's page (found on this board) about how to convert an ASF to an MPG. http://ts3kprod.randomvariable.net/WMV2MPEG%20guide.html

I followed it religiously, it says.. bla bla.. take your ASF, take your WAV, then say output file.. but where I should be able to select an MPEG you have to put an MPV and a WAV as your outputs.. what THEN? The guide no longer matches the software...

[lacywest]

Okay ... forget about using Virtualdub 1.3c ... yes yes ... we all used it back when Microsoft made simple ASF files ... but Microsoft has pretty much made it impossible to get VirtualDub 1.3c to work.

But InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 ... is what I use to convert WMV videos to mpg-2 videos.

WMV = Windows Media Video

They are just about the same as ASF files ... both are for creating Videos that can be streamed down from a Internet Website for someone to watch on their computer. But MicroSoft doesn't want you to edit those videos so they have built in anti-editing precautions ... NOW dont quote me on what I said just now ... but it's basically true.

Yes ... you can download and install Windows Media Encoder and open those videos and re-encode them with the Mpg-4 codecs from a couple of years ago. And then VirtualDub 1.3c ... should be able to edit them but ... why bother ... Just use InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2.

No audio ... okay before wasting another DVD ... use PowerDVD to open the movie ... use the "open" button and select the folder you created ... the ... VIDEO_TS ... folder. PowerDvd will play it just like as if it was a DVD in your DVD Drive.

We're explaining the best we can without using pictures. That will be next ... if you cant figure it out.

PowerDVD is made by Cyberlink ... it's a very popular program.

Also to mention ... You should be able to double-click on one of the "vob" files and hear audio too ... I guess that depends on what video players you have installed.

The old Windows Media Player is still available just look in Programs Files/Windows Media Player ... Folder. It's called ... mplayer2.exe

Make a shortcut to it and copy and paste it in a few areas where you can find it.

I have a feeling you don't have alot of stuff on your computer ... like us old timers do.

[LoopyWolf]

I do not know WHAT ALL needed to be installed, however, I followed this:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=771894#771894

I exported from that program to MPEG-2 and then used ROXIO to write to disk, after checking for sound. It's a gross waste of space on the DVD (low quality) BUT it will play on any DVD player.. so that's great.

Er, thought it was.. in fact the sound was out of sync and only a few minutes of the movie were encoded.. Hellfire trumped again

[darksurge]

if your computer is 2ghz or more use videostudio 7. i use it in conjuction with the input on my tv card. you can capture dvd compliant mpeg2. you can edit and output with no extra encoding ready to use in your favorate authoring program

[lacywest]

I do not know WHAT ALL needed to be installed, however, I followed this:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=771894#771894

I exported from that program to MPEG-2 and then used ROXIO to write to disk, after checking for sound. It's a gross waste of space on the DVD (low quality) BUT it will play on any DVD player.. so that's great.

Er, thought it was.. in fact the sound was out of sync and only a few minutes of the movie were encoded.. Hellfire trumped again

Why ?? Roxio ... only recently did Roxio say they could make compliant DVDs ... Nero is the one I use for creating DVD video ... DVDs.

Spend more time on explaining details ... how long is the movie your trying to encode ... and how long is " only a few minutes of the movie is encoded"

When you encoded with WinDVD Creator 2 ... what audio format did you use. Mpeg audio ... LPCM audio ... or AC-3 audio.

After making the dvd compliant mpg-2 file ... another program is needed to create the VIDEO_TS folder.

TMPGEnc DVD Author ... will accept the mpg-2 file and convert it to a dvd file format structure ... inside a folder called Video_TS.

Use windows explorer and look at a store bought DVD .. you will see the Video_TS folder there inside the DVD structure.

Are you using windows explorer ... or are you trying to do everything with "start" button ... on the lower left of the desktop ???

You then fire up Nero ... to burn this Video_TS folder to a DVD disk.

Maybe you need to read a quide on how to use Nero to burn DVDs.

Do you only have one Drive ?? ... 120 GB .... another harddrive would be useful ... alot of action is taking place on just one drive.

With another harddrive ... the writing can be sent to the other drive and not put so much pressure on your single drive having to shuffle ... a read and write process.

Unfortunately ... In this forum .... I can't direct you to sites where these programs are available with just the click of the mouse.

But at this site and Doom9 are guides ... explaining how to create DVD videos ... maybe a understanding of the basics first will help you get started.

Your trying to convert DVDs from a type of video that is usually hard enuff by itself to mess around with and edit.

Get some rewritable DVDs ... and some simple AVI videos ... and experiment with them.

ASF and WMV videos ... can become corrupt really easy. They might play correctly ... but the encoder will stop encoding when it reaches the corrupt area.

Your whole problem might be your trying to convert a video that is corrupt.

[npaulie2000]

Try Stoik video convertor for .asf to .avi conversion....very simple program but it works.....

[dafoe]

If you are just recording TV shows and transferring VHS I would get a set top DVD recorder with a hard drive. That would be a million times easier.

[Craig Tucker]

If you are just recording TV shows and transferring VHS I would get a set top DVD recorder with a hard drive. That would be a million times easier.

But nowhere near as much fun

[LoopyWolf]

I downloaded Stoik for ASF - AVI but it doesn't seem to take ASFs as input, so I think somebody missed something..

Recording shows to VHS then to VCD is good, yes, and I'm doing it.. but some things i don't have on VHS, only on the computer

[npaulie2000]

Stoik does convert .asf files. I have done it many times. Go to the input file from the browser and go to "all files" then select the .asf file you want to convert. Peace

[lacywest]

Try Stoik video convertor for .asf to .avi conversion....very simple program but it works.....

"If I'd known my computer was going to live this long I would have taken better care of it..."

I know a girl who can say the same thing ... but not her computer ... her body.

She did and became everything a woman shouldn't have done. She is all tore up.

But when she was younger ... oh wow ... she was a lot of fun

[lacywest]

If you are just recording TV shows and transferring VHS I would get a set top DVD recorder with a hard drive. That would be a million times easier.

Or one that uses DVD-RAM