Avi to DVD

[jspady]

O.K. Guys and Gals...I need some help....I have read more guides on here than you can shake a stick at and I am STILL LOST.
I am trying to convert from avi to dvd.
I have done this successfully using winavi but the audio sync goes out.
I started out with two avi files and then join with vdub to get one ...load that into winavi and out pops dvd compliant files that I burn with Nero...NO problems...

I figured out that the sync was out right where the first avi clip ends...
HERE IS MY SOLUTION:
I want to convert EACH avi over to dvd compliant files using winavi and then join those two groups of dvd compliant files using SOMETHING?
My problem is I cant seem to get any programs to do this....most of them are NOT for windows 98. When I use tmpgenc dvd author I get some sort of error message that I can't read because it appears to be written in ASCII text or something?
I know that there is a way to do this...What I have seen before is a dvd that has menus where you could put two movies on a dvd and select what you want to watch....What do I do ??? Help me out please

[daamon]

Hi jspady,

We'll need some additional info:

1. What type of AVIs do you have? Dv / Divx / Xvid / Uncompressed etc. Use AVICodec or GSpot to get the info and post that here (audio and video details).

I'm gonna guess that they're either Dix or Xvid with VBR MP3 audio - that's the usual culprit with something like this.

2. More detail on the audio going out of synch - Is it in both files? Is it out by the same amount all the way through, or oes it get progressively worse as time goes on?

3. Update your "Computer Details" in your profile - you mention Win98 - I'm gonna assume that you're running that OS on your PC...

As for joining the files once they've been encoded, you can use the "Add file" (or something like that) button in TMPGEnc DVD Author (TDA). It'll load additional MPEGs and treat them as one continuous file in one track.

Or, you can load one file into it's own track - effectively having two movies on one disc, accessible individually from the menu.

Not sure about your ASCII error message - I've not used TDA on a Win98 machine.

Hope that helps...

[jspady]

Thanks for the reply and the offer to help out.

I am running windows 98 on my computer as my operating system.

Here is what avicodec says:



Video : 0.0 B, 0 Kbps, 24.0 fps, 352*176 (2.0:1), MP43 = MS MPEG4 V3, Supported

Audio : 0.0 B, 128 Kbps, 44100 Hz, 2 channels, 0x55 = MPEG Layer-3, Supported

so yes it is mpeg layer 3

the audio in the original avi file is PERFECT... If I do nothing other than join with vdub the audio where the 2nd part would begin it goes out of sync.
If I convert the original avi using winavi everything is FINE...I just need to know what I can do in order to get these files converted and joined onto a dvd with a menu where I can add the 2 parts of one movie and maybe another 2 part movie to a dvd disk.

thanks again

[tompallc]

Try the tool the filmMachine.

[mats.hogberg]

Just encode each AVI to DVD specs. I suggest CCe, MainConcept or TMPGEnc for this. Make sure each plays fine and in sync. Author with TMPGEnc DVD Author, making part 1 & part 2 two parts of the same title.
And I urge you to seriously consider upgrading your OS...

/Mats

[jspady]

what do you mean encode to dvd specs?
What version of tmpgenc do I need for that....
Then I guess I author the files created by tmpgenc with tmpgenc dvd author?
I can add menus with dvd author?

[mats.hogberg]

what do you mean encode to dvd specs?

In effect, using the DVD template of your encoder. (TMPGEnc)

What version of tmpgenc do I need for that....

Any. Trial <1 month old, or registered.

Then I guess I author the files created by tmpgenc with tmpgenc dvd author?

Correct.

I can add menus with dvd author?

Yes, even if I find creating menus for "one movie only" DVDs a bit superflous...

/Mats

[jspady]

Thanks for the help...I can see much clearer now that I have gotten all of this help from you guys!! Thanks

I want there to be actually 2 movies on a dvd with a menu to select which one I want to watch....Each movie is in 2 parts so pretty much in tmpgenc dvd author I would add 4 parts with 2 menus...Am I correct?

[mats.hogberg]

One menu with two options: title 1 and title 2. Each title is made from 2 mpegs (in turn created from 2 AVIs).
That's how I'd lay it out, at least...

/Mats

[daamon]

Hi jspady,

I'd go with everthing mats.hobgerg has said.

All I'd add is that if you encounter problems encoding the audio (for example, TMPGEnc doesn't like VBR audio) or the audio is out of synch after encoding try the following:

1. Load the AVI in to VirtualDub.

2. Use VirtualDub to extract the audio to a WAV file.

3. Load the WAV file into ffmpeggui and encode to either AC3 (OK for PAL and NTSC) or MP2 (OK for PAL, probably OK for NTSC but not in the specs).

Use 128kbps for either - any more is a waste as the MP3 is at 128kbps.

Good luck...

[jspady]

Alright ... I got it to work out for me.
I used the dvd template in tmpgenc to convert to a mpg file.
then I can load it into tmpgenc dvd author to create my menus and even chapters if I want to.....

How want to put 2 full movies on one dvd HOWEVER with the template I used tmpgenc wanted to make the output file sizes 3gb large...how much can I change the bitrate to without suffering quality?

It took right at 10 hours to do each one....If I converf over to a vcd compliant mpg it wont take as long...but will tmpgenc dvd author still recognized that file and author it as a dvd?

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, TMPGEnc DVD Author takes a VCD mpeg as source, no prob. The reason is that VCD video is valid as DVD mpeg, only the audio fq is different, but TDA takes care of that for you.
At full DVD resolution, I'd not go below 4000 kbps, you could try 1/2 D1 352*480/576 (NTSC/PAL) @3000 kbps if you're tight on disc space...

/Mats

[jimmalenko]

Work out the total running time of the 4 segments. If it's two full movies then it should be about 3-4 hours. Input this into VideoHelp.com's Bitrate Calculator, making sure you select the correct audio bitrate you are using. This then tells you what bitrate you need to use for the video (I call it ave further down). I normally subtract 50 kbps from whatever this tells me to use to allow space for the menu.

Sometimes the bitrate determines what frame size we should use, other times the source. It is best to choose the nearest resolution to your source, always rounding down where possible. Choose between 352 * 240/288, 352 * 480/576, or 720 * 480/576 (there may be times when you have a resolution smaller than 352 * 240 - that is OK, you'll just have to use 352 * 240). Your source's frame size is the first half of the Aspect value in the picture above from GSpot.

Given a perfect (DVD quality 720 * 480/576) source, I use the following:

If ave is < 2000kbps, I'd use 352 * 240/288 ave CBR
If ave is > 2000kbps & < 5000, I'd use 352 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 1000 ave ave max 5000)
If ave is > 5000kbps & < 7500, I'd use 720 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 1000 ave ave max 9000)
If ave is > 7500kbps, I'd use 720 * 480/576 ave CBR

If a resolution is "forced" because of the source, keep this in mind when perusing the above chart (ie. if your nearest resolution is 352 * 240/288, there is no point using a bitrate > 2000kbps).

With your source only being 352 * 176, I'd use 352 * 240/288 ave CBR. There is no point using any other frame size IMO as you will only make it look worse, regardless of the bitrate you use.

[daamon]

Just on a side note and for future reference, as a very very rough guide (assuming a DVD-Quality source):
If ave is < 2000kbps, I'd use 352 * 240/288 ave CBR
If ave is > 2000kbps & < 5000, I'd use 352 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 2000 ave ave max 5000)
If ave is > 5000kbps & < 6500, I'd use 720 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 2000 ave ave max 8500)
If ave is > 6500kbps, I'd use 720 * 480/576 ave CBR

VERY handy - nice one jimmalenko. I'd never really thought of where the boundaries are when considering bitrate, resolution and whether to use VBR or CBR. I suppose it's because I've never needed it! But it'll sure come in handy...

[jimmalenko]

Just on a side note and for future reference, as a very very rough guide (assuming a DVD-Quality source):
If ave is < 2000kbps, I'd use 352 * 240/288 ave CBR
If ave is > 2000kbps & < 5000, I'd use 352 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 2000 ave ave max 5000)
If ave is > 5000kbps & < 6500, I'd use 720 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 2000 ave ave max 8500)
If ave is > 6500kbps, I'd use 720 * 480/576 ave CBR

VERY handy - nice one jimmalenko. I'd never really thought of where the boundaries are when considering bitrate, resolution and whether to use VBR or CBR. I suppose it's because I've never needed it! But it'll sure come in handy...

I'm sure different people will have different opinions, but I find the above a good guide to produce the results I desire. ...And after all, sharing's caring

[jspady]

Many thanks to all!!!!!!!

Going to watch tv!