Combine/Convert AVI to DVD

[djtech2k7]

Ok, I have a season of a tv show stored in AVI. Each episode is an AVI file. I want to be able to watch it on my DVD player (sony DVP-NS425P). I have the software winaviconverter and powerdirector, so I can easily convert AVI to DVD. Where I need help is to combine these things and then convert them to dvd. If I convert them, I will have to burn a DVD for each episode. I would like to put them all in DVD format and have them on 1 DVD.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[Baldrick]

Add all episodes in ConvertXtoDVD or DVD Flick and convert to one dvd.

But don't put too many minutes/DVD as it may not work or it will look like crap.

[djtech2k7]

ok, I have not tried that yet, BUT I do have nero suite which has nero vision in it. It will do it, but if I input just 1 episode, which is an avi around 300mb, it is over 3GB in DVD format. At that pace I can only get 1 episode per dvd.

What is a normal number of 1 hour episodes that go on a DVD? I want normal quality and can use more than 1 dvd, but I do not want to have to use 1 DVD per 1 hour show.

[Baldrick]

You should be able to get 4 hours/DVD with decent quality. What happens if you add 4 hours in nerovision? If it can't reduce to one dvd try something else like ConvertXtoDVD. If it's still too big you could output the dvd to your HDD and then use DVD Shrink to make it to fit on one DVD.

[djtech2k7]

Ok. I will look further. I also found that winavivideoconverter will also do it and it allows me to change the quality of the DVD for size. I also have anydavd and clonedvd if that helps.

What is the normal quality setting and how is it measured for a dvd? Is it FPS? Or something else? And what is something that wont be grainy or fuzzy?

[guns1inger]

WinAVI will also most likely give you non-compliant output, out of sync audio, and crash a lot. It really isn't a very good program.

Quality is really a subjective thing. It is influenced by a number of factors, including bitrate, but also how the video has been processed, and how many times it has been compressed before, and how. I am guessing that your avis are around 350 MB for a 45 minute episode. You should put no more than 4 to a single layer disc if you want them to look close to what they do now.

You also have to remember that your avi files will have to be resized up, which will make any flaws they have now look worse. As well as that, the gamma values on a TV are very different to those on your PC, so all the blockiness and shimmering that you don't see on your PC monitor will stand out on your TV.

In short, have realistic expectations. Do not expect DVD or even near-DVD quality. If you want DVD quality, buy the DVD. If you start with avi source, especially downloaded compressed avi source, you have to set the bar a lot lower.

[guardsred]

OK i am a complete novice and need some help as simple as possible please ,
after downloading a film from ares how do i copy this to a DVD
thanks for any help

i have Nero and DVD fab are these any help to me , remember i am an old fart

once again thanks for any help

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. Please don't hijack topics.
/ Moderator Baldrick

[theewizard]

a 350meg avi can look pretty good on the PC, but 'not so great' when converted to DVD

try this take one episode and convert to DVD and burn on a RW disc so you can erase it

take the same episode and convert to svcd and burn to CD

and test both in your dvd player

because the hardware in the player does a better upconvert than many of the softwares available, the SVCD might look as good OR better than the software converted DVD

it just a test, and CD's are cheaper than DVDs and you might get surprised

4 episodes on one dvd = 1gig =1000meg per 704*480

1 episode on one cd = 650-700meg per 352*480 , half the number of pixels . but 66-70% of the file size, this is more image data PER PIXEL and less blockiness in the file, how good it will look on the TV depends on the up conversion in your DVD player, but most players will play SVCD, and a good SVCD will look good on the screen, SVCD is still very popular in Europe while we americans think everything must be on DVD, look at the file resolutions of many downloads and you will see , they are sized for SVCD, NOT DVD, these file sizes are NOT bandwidth related, as much of UK & eurpoe has hi-speed internet, they are sized this way to placed on SVCD

quality of the display is what your after, and testing is always a good Idea

NERO is NOT the best to use for this project, there is better software like convertXdvd

or tempgenc dvd author or tempgenc plus

I like covertX it's much faster, and to my eyes the out put looks the same

I know tempgenc can be tweaked more, and likely will output a superior DVD , for somebody that will make the effort, but it's an allnight ( 6 hrs or more ) encode for a 2hr movie to DVD

convertX will do it in 2-3 hrs

now i admit I prefer 2hr movies on DVD, but 42 minute TV episodes look very good on SVCD at one episdoe per CD