mpeg-1 to DVD - numerous problems, desperate!

[grette22]

I have several episodes of a show in mpg that I'd like to put on a DVD. I used GSpot to get the info. Stat says it's an mpeg. When I render, video and audio are both MPEG-1. I 've had numerous problems, and any advice would be much appreciated. For your info, I have an I/O Magic DVD+R/+RW 2.4x writer and I've tried the CompUSA brand media (returned them) and now have the much talked about TDK +R's 4x. I have an IBM ThinkPad Celeron 2.0 GHz, 640 RAM, Windows XP. Most of the setting I used below are based on the guides from dvdrhelp.com. Thank you so much for your help!

1. I tried to encode to MPEG-2 using TMPGEnc, but it takes a while. A 40-minute video was taking 6+ hours, and I have 8 episodes. I used YMPEG through Virtual Dub, and it produces a .vid file. I used TMPGEnc Author, but the vid file had no sound. I have also tried burning using CopytoDVD, but my system freezes once the estimated time goes up to 2 hrs. I waited 5 hrs. one time, but at the end, it still said 2 hrs. Another time, it gave me an I/O device error. I also used SVCD2DVDMPG using these settings: SVCD, MPG -> PS, Horizontal Res Patch Value is 352, Entire file. I got some files, but they had no sound when I play them in Windows Media Player, and DVD-Lab does not recognize the new files as available assets.


2. I tried authoring the original mpg (MPEG-1) files using TMPGEnc Author, and I got all the way to getting the VIDEO_TS files, but when I burn to a DVD (still using TMPGEnc Author), I get an "invalid unit" error. I have disabled my CD-ROM drive so that I only have the external dvd writer enabled (as suggested in another thread), but I still get the same error.

3. I have also tried authoring the original mpg (MPEG-1) files using DVD-LAB, but I'm getting a critical error with the audio. Something about it's maybe an AC3?

4. My writer came with Cyberlink's Disc Wizard, and if I use burn a DVD option, it goes all the way to about 98% (six hours later) and then encounters an "internal error." If I use VCD option, it gives me an error pretty early in the process, and I'm left with a 10-minute video on a VCD.

[FuzzyLemming]

Try burning your VIDEO_TS folder to a DVD-Video with Nero. and try playing it directly (as a test) with Power DVD. search the forums, there's lots of info on this. my sony burner and TDA don't get along either

[northcat_8]

Speed wise everything kind of depends on your original video files. Although 6 hours seems WAY too long. Typically MPEG-1 files are not 720x480 frame size, you might want to check on that. AND depending on the codec they might not be at a 29.97 fps frame rate. Those 2 things would explain some extra length in your conversion process.

If you have a VIDEO_TS file, I would try using IMGtools to create an image file of it and then burn it with DVD Decrypter. Like the other post suggested, I would open the folder in WinDVD or PowerDVD and play the DVD from the folder first before creating the image and burning it.

How did you get 640 MB of ram? 2 - 256 sticks, and a 128 stick? You should have more RAM but 640 should be enough to do what you are wanting. Not doubting you, just not a RAM number you see very often.

[Vejita-sama]

There's also a max supported bitrate for MPEG1 video on DVD (forget what but it's fairly low <4000kbit/s IIRC). The DVD standard supports 352x240 MPEG1 video (VCD) so it shouldn't be a problem.

It soulds like either an authoring or burning problem actually.

[grette22]

Thanks for all your input. I did realize that one of the problems may be I need to only have one mpg file per one VIDEO_TS? I played the ifo files in PowerDVD, and what I have are six copies of the first episode. What I did when I authored in TMPGEnc Author is add six tracks, which were the six episodes. I guess my problem is more complicated than I thought. Sorry about that. Any advice on this? I'd like to get all six episodes in one DVD. Do I need to merge all the files into one, or can I just have 6 clips in one track in [url=https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=1#comments]TMPGEncAuthor. Any help will be awesome!

About my RAM, my laptop had set specs and had 128 when I got it, and I only had the option of adding a 256 or a 512. I chose the 512, and that's why I have 640. I only had to pay for the upgrades, so I really can't complain! =)

[northcat_8]

I would suggest you use a different authoring software. I would download Ulead's DVD Workshop and I would just drop the clips on the time line, throw up a menu with the 6 thumbnails on it and let it do the work for you.

[gab2001uk]

I agree with northcat_8. I used Ulead DVDWorkshop 1.3 to produce a 7 hour DVD using MPEG1 files. It automatically changes the audio from 44kHz to 48kHz, and did not have any synch issues. I used around 20 MPEG1 files captured from satellite via a hardware MPEG encoder, and produced a multi-layer menu.