New to burning, confused as which route to go (avi -> dvd

[jmanv2]

I just recently started burning, and pretty much have DVD copying down. It's the AVI to DVD conversion that I have trouble with. At first I just used divx2dvd and just converted then burnt, which worked pretty well until one movies audio would go out of sync with the video if i skipped chapters. So then I tried using virtual dub to rip the audio, TMPGenc Plus to put the audio and video back together into a 4gig mpg, then TMPGenc DVDAuthor and made the VIDEO_TS folder with the files. Here are the questions

*The TMPGenc/virtualdub process takes a good 2-3 hours longer, and comes out about 2 gigs bigger, is this really worth it?

*When i watched the huge mpg that was made from TMPGenc Plus, it looks really bad like theres rectangles everywhere and just like a corrupted video, but I use DVD author and it comes out pretty good, but there is still some defects in the final DVD when i watch it, is there anyway to prevent this?

*In the end, i basically just want a good way to convert my avi's to dvd's and watch them on home dvd players. If theres a procedure you think is better, please fill me in.

[thecoalman]

Depends on the AVI type... look to the right and do search under guides. Under conversion format ick the format you in and the one you want to go to.

[dewaynespaw]

jmanv2,
That's right, it does depend on the format of AVI that your are starting with.

One thing I have learned is this. I have been using Pinnacle Studio 9 Plus now for a couple of months and if you are starting with DV-AVI files, the Pinnacle software will convert the DV-AVI files to MPEG2 and burn them to a DVD just as well or better than TMPGEnc and saves a few steps in the process. I downloaded TMPGEnc a few weeks ago due to all the talk on VideoHelp.com about it, thinking that I was not getting the best quality video on my DVD's. So I went through the whole process, converted using TMPGEnc, and used TMPEnc DVD Author to author them and the end result was very disappointing.
Starting with DV AVI files, converting at the best possible quality using TMPGEnc and burning at the best possible quality settings in TMPGEnc DVD Author, the ones burned using Pinnacle Studio 9 Plus looked just as good and some clips, even better than the ones I worked so long on with TMPGEnc. In my opinion, Pinnacle is the best software to use to author DVD's, especially if it is footage that you have shot yourself or have had someone shoot for you on a digital camera. Plus you get moving menus, moving thumbnails, an unlimited number of menus, it can be customized very easily, and in the end give you a very professional looking product (which is very important to me). In addition to that, Pinnacle offers higher grades of software that you can upgrade to and their support is excellent. I think my next move will be to upgrade to Pinnacle Liquid Edition and get their best DVD authoring program. ( I can't remember what it is called right now-brain fart) I have tried other programs like Ulead, and Sonic and they absolutely butcher the video files when converting, but Pinnacle does not. To my surprise, I do not see much talk on this site about Pinnacle products and I absolutely love them. You may want to give them a try!

[thecoalman]

DV-AVI files to MPEG2 and burn them to a DVD just as well or better than TMPGEnc and saves a few steps in the process.

The thing about software such as TMPGenc and there authoring program and other similar programs is control over what your doing. In the right hands those apps will blow away anything that Studio can make.

and their support is excellent.

Having been there I can say that statement is laughable, at least from my experience.

I think my next move will be to upgrade to Pinnacle Liquid Edition and get their best DVD authoring program. ( I can't remember what it is called right now-brain fart)

Whatever floats your boat but let me state there are many people on this forum that have been doing this for a long time. Some of them such as me started with pinnacle. I can't think of a single one of them who's advice I would trust that uses any pinnacle for anything.... Just something to ponder.

[dewaynespaw]

The only thing I can say is I personally do not want to waste twice as much time to produce a DVD that, in the end, is of inferior quality. Not to mention I have to use two or three programs to do what one program SHOULD do.

After downloading TMPGEnc, I went to a site that was linked by this forum,
http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html
and followed these settings to the tee, thinking I must have made a mistake with the quality settings, and the end result as I said before was very disappointing. Using TMPEnc and TMPEnc DVD Author mind you.

So once again, if you want to be able to burn DVD's for your personal pleasure, and have an easy user interface, have a lot of nice options to make your menus, etc look more professional, then I would suggest Pinnacle Studio 9 Plus. The end results will be just as good or better than what coalman and his beloved TMPGEnc can produce. Good luck.

[dewaynespaw]

In addition to my last statement, if all these so called video gurus were not trying to illegally copy commercial movies, they wouldn't have to worry about how much compression they would have to put on a two hour, and twenty minute movie to make it fit on one single layer DVD-R. I don't burn illegal copies of the movies I want to see, I simply buy them.

[jimmalenko]

In addition to my last statement, if all these so called video gurus were not trying to illegally copy commercial movies, they wouldn't have to worry about how much compression they would have to put on a two hour, and twenty minute movie to make it fit on one single layer DVD-R. I don't burn illegal copies of the movies I want to see, I simply buy them.

For starters, you'd be amazed as to how many people here are encoding their own home movie footage such as holidays, or those who do videotaping and/or file conversions commercially, such as a VHS -> DVD conversion service, or wedding videography. This site does not revolve around DVD backup (far from it), so I think you should think very carefully before making sweeping generalisations like the one above

Now that I've got that outta the way, the next topic to address is this - IMO dedicated tools will provide superior results, due to a number of all-in-one tools lacking the options and flexibility of most dedicated tools. That's not to say that an all-in-one won't give satisfactory if not undistinguishable results, just that for a lot of custom jobs, a number of people need to be able to set whatever bitrate they please and there's a couple of other settings, particular at the authoring phase, that a number of all-in-ones struggle with, such as fully customisable menus or custom chapter points for example.

http://members.dodo.net.au/~jimmalenko/AVI2DVD.htm is the method I use, and while some may think it's too hard and will take a lot longer than a mindless one-click app, they're right. BUT, it's worked for me, and for a number of other people so far, not to mention the other AVI to DVD guides as thecoalman pointed out.

[thecoalman]

The only thing I can say is I personally do not want to waste twice as much time to produce a DVD that, in the end, is of inferior quality. Not to mention I have to use two or three programs to do what one program SHOULD do.

That's an awfully bold statement for someone who has just started doing this. I'm sorry your experience with other products produced inferior results but I've personally used both Pinnacle and TMPGenc and can tell you it is afar better product than Pinnacle. The trouble with Pinnacle and other products in there bracket is that they have far few choices for someone such as me who knows how to exploit the options you get with product such as TMPGenc. When I use something I need options, Pinnacle although nice for the beginner is a very limited product which makes it useless to me

[b]After downloading TMPGEnc, I went to a site that was linked by this forum,
http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html
and followed these settings to the tee, thinking I must have made a mistake with the quality settings, and the end result as I said before was very disappointing.

I've looked at your link and that does provide a good overview of what the settings are for but it really doesn't tell you what you should choose does it? I think I'll have to agree with you that the problem lies between the keyboard and the chair.

So once again, if you want to be able to burn DVD's for your personal pleasure, and have an easy user interface, have a lot of nice options to make your menus, etc look more professional, then I would suggest Pinnacle Studio 9 Plus. The end results will be just as good or better than what coalman and his beloved TMPGEnc can produce.

Easy, nice and limited, BTW I don't use TMPGenc I use Media Studio Pro for editing and DVD Workshop for Authoring.

In addition to my last statement, if all these so called video gurus were not trying to illegally copy commercial movies, they wouldn't have to worry about how much compression they would have to put on a two hour, and twenty minute movie to make it fit on one single layer DVD-R. I don't burn illegal copies of the movies I want to see, I simply buy them.

Again your being very naive, there's anyone of many programs specifically made for copying and transcoding discs. Also that's very disrespectful to the majority of the longtime members here because that is not why we are here newb.

[jdizzy40]

Reach in your wallet and pull some serious money out if you want the best in one program. How about $1.500 to $3,000. Or you could spend under $1,000.00 and get about 4 to 5 seperate programs and have the best, flexablilty. Please. Two words to never mention to me in the same sentence "Dazzle" and "Pinnacle"!

[dewaynespaw]

well, well. It seems as though I stepped on some toes. You tech geeks get all bent out of shape when someone don't agree with you, but I still say for the money and ease of use, Pinnacle is a great program to use. No, it may not give you all the extra, advanced options, but I would put my end product up against yours anytime, and would not see any difference at all.
The guy who asked the original question was looking for something and I quote,

"In the end, i basically just want a good way to convert my avi's to dvd's and watch them on home dvd players. If theres a procedure you think is better, please fill me in."

That is exactly what I did and I do believe Pinnacle is better than going through all of the steps to do it with TMPGEnc products. And I really don't care if you agree or not!

[thecoalman]

No, it may not give you all the extra, advanced options, but I would put my end product up against yours anytime, and would not see any difference at all.

I hope you have cable as this will be interesting , here's your source file: www.nepadigital.com/temp/avisample1.avi 320mb 1min30secs Will keep the rules for conversion simple, just one: It has to be 720x480 3000 VBR.

I do believe Pinnacle is better than going through all of the steps to do it with TMPGEnc products. And I really don't care if you agree or not!

Like I said before whatever floats your boat, if that's the way that you want to do it that's your choice. But don't assume that just because it works for you that it is the best way to do it or because you couldn't get advaced applications to work properly that they are garbage.

[bazooka]

You tech geeks get all bent out of shape when someone don't agree with you.

Not really

Your username is my first name.

Sorry for the threadjack.

[dewaynespaw]

well, I do not have cable so I will not be downloading a 300 meg file anytime soon, besides you may have a virus attached to it for all I know. My question is this, why would you want to convert it to 3000 VBR. That is not the quality of video I use, no matter what program is used to convert it. I create HIGH quality MPEGs for distribution of music videos.

I sent a letter to Pinnacle that included our comments in this forum. It would be interesting to see what they have to say about this. You are right, I don't know a lot about video converting, but they do and I am sure they can squash any claims you may have. Who knows, they may not even respond, but if they do, you will be the first to know.

Other than that, I will continue to use their products and if anyone asks an opinion, I will be sure to give mine and tell them what I think. I promise you this much, I will not be asking your permission to do so! The last time I checked, I live in a free country that gives me freedom of speech and even freedom to use and recommend any video editing, converting and authoring program I want to. I will also be sure to tell them that thecoalman highly recommends Pinnacle products.

[thecoalman]

besides you may have a virus attached to it for all I know.

Yes, I'm going to post a link to virus on my website on public forum. Besides it's a data file.....

My question is this, why would you want to convert it to 3000 VBR.

So I could show you the limitations of Studio, that's why.

I sent a letter to Pinnacle that included our comments in this forum. It would be interesting to see what they have to say about this.

Excellent, don't hold your breath though I'm still waiting for response from the e-mail I sent them a year and half ago.

Other than that, I will continue to use their products and if anyone asks an opinion, I will be sure to give mine and tell them what I think. I promise you this much, I will not be asking your permission to do so! The last time I checked, I live in a free country that gives me freedom of speech and even freedom to use and recommend any video editing, converting and authoring program I want to.

Yes it does, I've never stated you don't. Just that your ascertion that it is better than others is incorrect. At best it's a good product if you want fast and easy with decent quality.

[ZippyP.]

... freedom to use and recommend any video editing, converting and authoring program I want to.

I see it like this...

You are free to recommend any program you wish and you are free to recommend any program as the best for you.

Where you run into trouble is when you try to promote it as the best for everyone. Of course you will get people that will dispute that. What else do you expect?

And then on top of that to throw out an insult to all of the members of the forum. Bad form, get some tact.

[thecoalman]

Where you run into trouble is when you try to promote it as the best for everyone.

He's still trying to figure out what VBR means :P

And then on top of that to throw out an insult to all of the members of the forum. Bad form, get some tact.

You want to know a really funny thing? I don't have a single commercial DVD either legitimate or pirated.