Avi file - but TMPGenc will not open, or message unsupported

[venomm]

Hi, I have a movie file which I presumed was/is an avi file (it is a 698MB Winamp Media file so the "properties" tells me) - and it plays equally well in both Winamp and Windows Media. However when I try to convert it to a DVD using TMPGenc or Mainconcept MPEG Encoder I keep getting the message "....avi cannot open, or unsupported".
How can I use either of the above programmes to change it to a DVD format, please - or do I need another programme entirely to sort out the mess I find myself in?
Do the messages mean it is not an avi file, if so, how may I find out what it is, please? I am very lost at the moment and quite frustrated, since it has taken me 2 days to download the movie and nearly as long trying to convert it to a DVD-format.

[teegee420]

First use G-spot to find out which codec your movie uses.

[venomm]

Hi, thanks for replying so soon. The info I now have from G-Spot (cool programme, by the way) is:

Audio Format:
Code: 0x0055
Name: WAVE_FORMAT_MPEGLAYER3 (MP3)
Vendor: ISO/MPEG

I see an XVid codec in the video section, but I have no idea what this is, and under that it says this:

"GSpot was unable to find a suitable codec installed, indicating that this media file not likely playable on this O/S at this time. To be able to play this media file, attempt to locate a suitable codec based on the Format and 4CC given above. Install the codec and then test again with GSpot after the codec has been installed."

Plus this in the file length section:

"This is a valid AVI file. The filesize is 698 MB (or 715,520 KB or 732,692,480 bytes). Of that, roughly 581 MB (83%) is video data; the remaining 117 MB (17%) is audio."

What do I do with this information now, please, teegee420? I am really at sea here. Sorry - still learning.

[bugster]

Download and install the xvid codec.

[teegee420]

Same as above. If you are still having problems opening the movie with your encoders install FFDSHOW. Another word of advice, decompress your avi's audio to pcm wav to help avoid a/v sync problems when re-encoding to mpeg. Do this by opening the avi with Virtualdub. If you get a VBR error message click ok, go to the audio menu and select "Full Processing Mode", then go to file and select "Save WAV". Use the wav file as your audio source in your mpeg encoder. Also, don't be surprised if the wav file is roughly twice the size of your movie.

[venomm]

Thanks, bugster - I now have xvid programme installed. The question now is: how do I use this to make the Movie accessible for TMPEGenc to change to a format that I can use to write the film to a DVD. Sorry to be out of it, but this is totally new territory for me. You should have see how long it took me to walk!! LOL

[teegee420]

Once you convert the avi to DVD compliant mpeg you will need to author to DVD using something like TMPGEnc DVD Author or DVD Lab. Click on the green "Author" button for guides. You can find lots of other helpful info in the guides section too.

[venomm]

FORGET THAT LAST STUPID QUESTION!! I have loaded up TMPEGEnc again and it can now read the file, whooopee!! It did it automatically, brilliant. Thanks guys, I'll let you know how things progress and if I can now manage to convert the lot to a DVD. Fantastic help. Cheers, V

[venomm]

I did try, very hard, but the DVD file created when converted from avi to MPEG was too large to burn, and now TMPEGEnc DVD Author cannot reduce the size to fit on a DVD. The new file size is 4.9 GB and I don't seem to be able to get this down to 99% in order to cram it onto a DVD - i did try editing the start/finsih frames but it had little effect on the overall size.
Have you guys any more ideas for me , please?

[jtommyj]

You need to lower the bitrate in Tmpgenc. It is icluded in the guides how to do this or you can use the wizard in Tmpgenc which will automatically do it for you.

T

[andyp1]

No problem - Author it , then use DVD Shrink to get it to fit on a DVD-R - No need to reencode.

[jtommyj]

No problem - Author it , then use DVD Shrink to get it to fit on a DVD-R - No need to reencode.

I've done it that way also.

[venomm]

Do I take it that I just use TMPGEncDVDAuthor to "Author" my new file, then use "Shrink" after that and I can get the size of the file down to less than 4.4-ishGB which is OK to burn to a DVD without an appreciable lack of film quality deterioration? Sorry to keep asking questions, but the technical details kinda lose me at this stage. I have dld files, converted and burnt so far, but this one has me stumped so far!

[jtommyj]

Yes, exactly as you just said. TMPGEnc Author will give you a warning about the size being too large. Ignore it and author the folder. Once the VIDEO_TS folder is made just direct DVD Shrink to it and let it rip.

[venomm]

Success!! At 2.30am the disc was burnt - Excellent, thanks you lot. Oversized files were reduced by Shrink after Authoring, then burnt. I guess it's a matter of knowing which programmes to use for which problem - identifying what the initial problem is takes some doing though! That must come with experience - I hope I don't have to get this much "experience" again, though!! LOL
Once more, thanks for all the help you've freely given, I couldn't have done it without you.