Please End the Nightmare!!!!!

[oberon_black]

I have read maybe 12 different guides been working on this for about a week as of today with all of the merging and encoding and ripping audio and demuxing and reencoding. I just need as simple an answer as possible and the tools to go along with the answer.

I have about 300 cd video files varing from avi, mpg, divx, and so on I have even discovered that some are pal encoded. I want to convert all of these movies over to DVD format so that I can use them on a standard standalone dvd player. I want to place 2 to 3 movies on each DVD and have a menu to choose which movie I would like to watch and submenus for each movie that I select. Can anyone tell me how to get this done.

Again I have 300 cd video files varing from avi, mpg, divx, and some pal.
1. I need to jion most of these films and convert all of them to a standard that a DVD Authoring tool can work with.

2. I want to place 2 to 3 of these converted and properly playing films on to a DVD with a menu to select the desired movie and submenu for the selected movie.

3. I would like to accomplish this few as few steps as possible and maintain the highest film quality possible.

4. Please provide complete help on how to accomplish is from tools to detailed step by step instructions (if guide make sure it is dummy proof and totally complete...again dummy proof)

Ihave printed and read several guides that are list on the site, but oviously have not read the right guide. Please, Please, Please someone, anyone, heck everyone help me end this nightmare.

I just want to backup my stuff into a usable storage format.

HELP A NEWBIE>>>>>!!!!!!

[mats.hogberg]

All info you need is provided in the Convert section. It's unlikely anyone is going to spoon feed you.
Nothing is dummy proof, so you better get ready to leave the dummy stage. But in general:
Make sure your source material is error free, and using codecs your system can handle.
Encode source to DVD specs using "any" encoder (TMPGEnc, MainConcept, ProCoder)
Author with "any" authoring app (TMPGEnc DVD Author most dummy proof)

/Mats

[redwudz]

Sorry, no easy answer. Your final product needs to be DVD compliant, and be authored to DVD. Other than that, different formats require different methods.

I suggest you separate the videos by types and tackle the easy ones first. PAL videos add a few extra problems. Some videos are probably different resolutions and framerate, and likely different audio formats.

I know it can be a nightmare, but a week is not long to spend working with odd videos.

Get a few tools: Virtualdub Mod can do a lot. Then a decent encoder, I like TMPGEnc. Also a few audio tools, such as Audacity or Goldwave. Use AVIcodec and Gspot to identify the formats.

I wish it was easy, but I have rarely found it so.

[gll99]

I don't want to discourage you too much but from the info you gave it doesn't sound like captured these videos yourself. That means that they will be in various resolutions, framerates and encoded with who knows what type of video and audio codecs. Just saying it's an avi, divx or mpeg doesn't tell us much about the individual specs of the video. You need to know that information about each clip before you can plan any type of joining or converting.

There is no "one size fits all" solution to your problem. What works with one clip may produce garbage with another.

Start by separating your avi and divx and use gspot to identify the resolution and video/audio codecs used.
Joining videos isn't always necessary prior to making a DVD it can often be done during conversion or authoring.

I don't think anyone will give you a step by step approach with the mixed bag of files you have and so little information.

Think smaller. Try a few files with similar attributes, ask specific questions here to help you along and then test on rewritable media until you are satisfied. That's how you will gain experience.

Recommending mpeg2 encoders and authoring tools is dependant on what you can afford. Just check the tools section on this site.

What's your budget?

[lordsmurf]

Please pick a topic that matches the question, not something random like "end the nightmare". Thanks.

[SatStorm]

If you can, buy a cheap DVD player capable to playback mpeg 1, 2 & 4 files
That way just transfer your CDs to DVDs and watch them as files. For VCDs, CVDs, SVCDs, x(S)VCDs, DivX & XviD files (not earlier versions) you won't have a problem that way (and it is faster than try to convert your stuff to DVD Video Discs

[jtoolman2000]

4. Please provide complete help on how to accomplish is from tools to detailed step by step instructions (if guide make sure it is dummy proof and totally complete...again dummy proof)

What the F**k do you think this is. A service center?

1st of all why in the hell do you want to same all that downloaded crap to DVD anyway. Buy the DVDs and back them up!

Oh yeah and by the way, pay your dues first. It took us a few years of "Nightmares" to get to where some of us are.

Don't mean to be a prick, but your #four request is a bit demanding don't you think? Almost like you think you deserve it?

Now to answer your ?
NO there is not an easy way to convert all those different formats, resolutions in one easy process.

One at a time baby.

I'll be done backing 5 on my dvds for the time it will take you to convert just one of your Divx, Xvid, Pal, NTSC and whatever else you have.

Let me put it to you bluntly,,, It just isn't worth it.

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning.
If you have nothing constructive to say, keep quiet.
/ Moderator bugster

[jimmalenko]

WoW !

We're all a helpful bunch tonight, aren't we ?

1. I need to jion most of these films and convert all of them to a standard that a DVD Authoring tool can work with.

I'd convert all of them to DVD-compliant files first, then let your authoring software join them for you. For most files, this guide should be able to help you. A word of warning though - check out each file in Gspot 2.52 beta, and if you have VBR MP3 audio, extract it to a WAV then use the WAV file as your audio source. The most important thing IMO is to choose resolutions/bitrates that are appropriate for your sources. There's a few pointers in my guide to help you though.

2. I want to place 2 to 3 of these converted and properly playing films on to a DVD with a menu to select the desired movie and submenu for the selected movie.

No problem. I use TMPEGEnc DVD Author for this, and I use a separate track for each movie, so that the track menu becomes each individual movie's menu, and the main menu controls navigation inbetween the movies' menus.

3. I would like to accomplish this few as few steps as possible and maintain the highest film quality possible.

unfortunately this is called "having your cake and eating it too" in the world of video. You need to do the work required if you want the quality, simple as that. There are no shortcuts in achieving excellence, after all.

4. Please provide complete help on how to accomplish is from tools to detailed step by step instructions (if guide make sure it is dummy proof and totally complete...again dummy proof)

It's somewhat of a copout, but all the information you require is already here, you just need to know where to look. I'd start with software such as TMPGEnc and TMPGEnc DVD Author, mainly because they're reasonably user-friendly and because they're covered by the most guides.

Remember too that we were all where you are right now - we didn't just "inherit" all this knowledge overnight. I know I learnt from this wonderful resource called videohelp.com, and from reading, reading, reading .......... and then reading some more. It might be an idea to break down what you need to do into separate steps, then of you have any issues with any particular step, post back with specific details such as the specs of the file that's giving you trouble, what you're trying to do with the file, the software you're using, and what you want it to turn out like, as opposed to a general, all-in-one query that would require pages and pages of guides to show you. Also, if you show you can help yourself, people here will help you on the way


So, to summarise:

1. Convert each clip to DVD-compliant MPEG-1 or MPEG-2. Remember that to retain quality you need to choose suitable settings. This is where you control your quality.

2. Author. Your authoring software can join those files that need to be joined, and can go a long way in helping you achieve the layouts and functionality you desire from the end product.

[Sabro]

Or you could.... use a product like All Video Joiner http://www.zealotsoft.net/ and combine the different video formats and set the output file to mpeg DVD NTSC / DVD PAL.

Then you can use your favorite Encoder then burn to your dvds.

Works for me, but as normal your mileage may vary..

For step by step help, I suggest you contact the manufactor(s) of the applications you are attempting to use, who knows their products better then them? well....you know heh

Sabro

[oberon_black]

I would like to thank you all for some for the help and some for the insults. I did/do not want to sound demanding or ungrateful, because I now that without this site and its guides and forums I would not even be where I am now. As for the comments made by jtoolman2000 "....pay your dues...." well bro I am starting to do just that and I would like to thank you for being the first one to pay cause it true no question is a dumb one but as we all can see you may get your a$$ kicked to get the answer.

Again thanks all I will now go back to the drawing board and try some of the tips and techs offered especially the one about read, read, and then read some more.

THX

[stillmars321]

try placing all the files you want in the program DVDSanta. Process them into dvd files. Then use tmpegauthor or your favorite dvd authoring program to make your menus.

[dcsos]

Maybe Santa
can stop this nightmare!
Imagine DVDSanta sliding down yer chimney:-)