divx to DVD

[loopyloops]

Does a program like divx to dvd make it possible to watch divx files on a norml DVD player? If so, do the files stay as small? Do they lose quality?

[yoda313]

Nope you either have to buy a divx capable player that will play the actual divx files or convert it to mpeg2 and author the dvd.

There are plenty of guides on the left of the screen

[jimmalenko]

Does a program like divx to dvd make it possible to watch divx files on a norml DVD player?

Sort-of, but they don't stay as divx files.

In effect, yes, in that it converts divx or xvid (as well as a few other formats) to DVD-compliant MPEG-2.

If so, do the files stay as small?

No. It normally takes somewhere between 2x-4x the bitrate of an MPEG-4 video to achieve a similar quality when encoding to MPEG-2. As such, you can expect the filesize to jump by a similar factor.

Do they lose quality?

DivxtoDVD is pretty good in this regard IMO, but it is hard to give a straight answer to this without a few considerations, such as the quality of your source to begin with, and the device you'll be viewing these on. For example, you may have a 512 x 384 Divx that looks immaculate when watched on your PC at that size, but if you were to encode to MPEG-2 and then watch on a projector, there's every chance it's not going to look anywhere near as good.

[loopyloops]

Thanks folks - so, I'll give that a shot. What's the best/simplest program to do that with?

[guns1inger]

umm. . . . DivxtoDVD ?

[loopyloops]

umm. . . . DivxtoDVD ?

Just checkin' in case there's a better one

[guns1inger]

That is the most reliable of the one-click-wonders as far as I have seen, although to be honest I have only tried a couple. I like it for a number of reasons. First, I have never had it lose sync when the source is MP3 VBR. Many do. Second, it is fast. Generally better than real time on my slightly aged box. And third, it's method for transcoding means your output is usually as good (perhaps slightly softer) than the source, in a small amount of space. You can often fit up to 3 hours (2 films, half a series) on a single disk at the same quality as the source Divx files.

That said, I also know that I can get much higher quality if I use the right tool for each stage of the process. This means avisynth or virtualdub for filtering, resizing an frameserving, CCE for encoding (in my case - use whatever encoder you prefer), and DVD Lab Pro for authoring (occassionally TDA for quick menus for series disks). With the right set of filters the output can in fact exceed the quality of the source. The cost, of course, if time. Aside from the fact the encoding might be only .6 of real time, it will also go through 2 - 3 passes, so a movie doesn't give much change out of seven or eight hours. Contrast this with DivxtoDVD, which might do the same movie in 70 - 80 minutes or less. It depends on what you want to get out the other end.

[loopyloops]

That is the most reliable of the one-click-wonders as far as I have seen, although to be honest I have only tried a couple. I like it for a number of reasons. First, I have never had it lose sync when the source is MP3 VBR. Many do. Second, it is fast. Generally better than real time on my slightly aged box. And third, it's method for transcoding means your output is usually as good (perhaps slightly softer) than the source, in a small amount of space. You can often fit up to 3 hours (2 films, half a series) on a single disk at the same quality as the source Divx files.

That said, I also know that I can get much higher quality if I use the right tool for each stage of the process. This means avisynth or virtualdub for filtering, resizing an frameserving, CCE for encoding (in my case - use whatever encoder you prefer), and DVD Lab Pro for authoring (occassionally TDA for quick menus for series disks). With the right set of filters the output can in fact exceed the quality of the source. The cost, of course, if time. Aside from the fact the encoding might be only .6 of real time, it will also go through 2 - 3 passes, so a movie doesn't give much change out of seven or eight hours. Contrast this with DivxtoDVD, which might do the same movie in 70 - 80 minutes or less. It depends on what you want to get out the other end.

So it's worth the 30 bucks?

[Jeremiah58]

You have 2 versions of DivxToDVD.
First, a freeware version, which is enough if you do not need a subtitle support. This is official download link:

http://www.download.com/VSO-DivXtoDVD-Converter/3000-7970_4-10376028.html?tag=lst-0-1

If the link doesn't work, try copy-paste the entire line into your browser.

Second is DivxToDVD 2, which is much enhanced version of that program with multi subtitle support, multi audio support etc. which IMHO is worth the 30 bucks.
I would suggest to download a freeware, see what it does, then download a trial version 2 to compare if it would suit your needs.

[loopyloops]

You have 2 versions of DivxToDVD.
First, a freeware version, which is enough if you do not need a subtitle support. This is official download link:

http://www.download.com/VSO-DivXtoDVD-Converter/3000-7970_4-10376028.html?tag=lst-0-1

If the link doesn't work, try copy-paste the entire line into your browser.

Second is DivxToDVD 2, which is much enhanced version of that program with multi subtitle support, multi audio support etc. which IMHO is worth the 30 bucks.
I would suggest to download a freeware, see what it does, then download a trial version 2 to compare if it would suit your needs.

Thanks. That link gets me to a version you can try and then buy - where's the free one?

[loopyloops]

Ok, sorry, for some reason, only part of the link worked which to me to the pay one - I'm good now - will give it a go

[loopyloops]

Ok, sorry, for some reason, only part of the link worked which to me to the pay one - I'm good now - will give it a go

Wow, works well. No chance it looks beter than the divx file, it there? Made my 700mb file 2.2gb.

[Jeremiah58]

Welcome to the club and enjoy!
No, it can not look better than the source file.

[loopyloops]

Welcome to the club and enjoy!
No, it can not look better than the source file.

Thought so - didn't do a side by side but was surprised it looked so good. Love these simple tools!!!! Really lovin't Fair Use Wizard these days as well....

[TBoneit]

Just for the heck of I'm trying DivxToDVD just for the heck of it...

Always looking for other alternate ways to do things. Strangely or maybe not strangely it is running about 47% CPU usage. I say maybe not strange as it may not support Hyperthreading on a P4 w/HT. This makes it handy if the output looks good to run while doing other things.

Feedback later