Super Guide

[DVDdummy]

So i am about 4 days into the SUPER program i have tried about 8 different ways of converting the same AVI video. There seems to be so many possible combinations of how to convert a video, i guess i don't know what to pick to accurately create the file i need. There seems to be no detailed guide on every selection and what every selection means. I have seen the basic guide by gunslinger, but it is too basic. I do like the guide but i need the " this is why you pick this" and "this is why you pick that" Is there anyone willing to help me step by painful step how to select the correct combination of choices to create the file i need? Some things i understand with the SUPER program, some things i don't.

[Baldrick]

https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?guideid=942#942

[DVDdummy]

I appreciate a response but .... that IS the guide that is too basic. Anything more indepth is what i think i need. There are just way too many choices, i need detailed guides, not overall basic guides. Thanks.

[guns1inger]

Yes, it is basic. It was written to be used by teenage girls converting low quality mobile phone and still camera footage to something WMM can load.

SUPER covers a very wide range of codecs and situations, so writing a guie in the vain you suggest would be a mammoth task. Most of what you really want to know - under what circumstances do I choose what codec etc. - comes from experience, and is usually made with all sorts of caveats and exceptions anyway.

Better you start with some specific questions to get through your current project, and build your knowledge that way.

[theewizard]

download gspot, use it to get specific info about your source file

give us that info and tell us what it us you wish to do with that file

put it on your ipod, convert to DVD and burn to disc ?

convert to dviX and burn to data disc ?

[DVDdummy]

Thanks for the help !!
This is the situation... I am trying to burn 2 AVI files on to a DVD using Ulead DVD Movie Factory suite deluxe 3.5 (got the program free when i bought a DVD Pioneer burner. The files are movies. Up to this point i have had little trouble burning AVI movies with this program. But with these two files, they turn out having no audio. So ... i looked into the SUPER program thinking maybe if i convert an AVI file to a AVI file with different audio settings it will fix the problem, but to no avail. I am not sure where along the process things are getting messed up. The files play just fine on Windows Media Player, Real, and Movie Factory. I am not sure what EXACT settings i should have to accomplish this easy task. The end product with other movies have usually been fine, without adjusting anything and i am able to play it on a home DVD player no problem. I guess the starting questions would be the settings for 1, 2, and 3 and then the encoder ...ffmpeg, MEncoder, ffmpeg2theora, producer? and the meanings behind each setting. Thanks in advance for the help. and i would love to get the experience in converting without blowing thru a 100 spindle of DVDs trying different settings!

[redwudz]

If you are primarily converting AVI type format to burn as DVDs, you might try ConvertXToDVD instead. There is also a older freeware version, DivxToDVD available.

You still never mentioned the AVI and audio formats. I suspect Xvids with either AC3 audio or maybe even Ogg. Probably neither of which Ulead can handle. I don't know if SUPER can either. I just use SUPER to convert to or from odd formats. Xvid to DVD is not really what it does that well.

For information about those other tools you mentioned, look on our tool page for each program. There are usually available guides to the bottom of each page.

[theewizard]

to redwuz, yes super handles AC3, I sometimes use it to extract & convert NON- compliant AC3, that is encoded at 128k 41000hz sampling instead of the usual 384k 48000hz

avidemux2 will extract the AC3 stream as is with out correcting it and muxman gives me a warning when i try to use it

so I extract to 192k-48000hz using Super and muxman accepts that stream with no errors

[DVDdummy]

So here is the breakdown of one of the files as per Super analysis:
General #0
Count : 177
Count of stream of this kind : 1
Kind of stream : General
StreamKindID : 0
Count of video streams : 1
Count of audio streams : 1
Count of text streams : 0
Count of chapter streams : 0
Codecs Video : MPEG-1 Video
Audio codecs : MPEG-1 Audio layer 2
File extension : avi
Format : MPEG-1PS
Format : MPEG-1 Program
Format/Family : MPEG-1
Format/Extensions : mpeg mpg
Codec : MPEG-1PS
Codec : MPEG-1 Program
Codec/Family : MPEG-1
Codec/Extensions : mpeg mpg
File size : 816711594
File size : 779 MiB
File size : 779 MiB
File size : 779 MiB
File size : 779 MiB
File size : 778.9 MiB
PlayTime : 4685208
PlayTime : 1h 18mn
PlayTime : 1h 18mn 5s 208ms
PlayTime : 1h 18mn
PlayTime : 01:18:05.208
Bit rate : 1394536
Bit rate : 1395 Kbps

Video #0
Count : 74
Count of stream of this kind : 1
Kind of stream : Video
StreamKindID : 0
Codec : MPEG-1V
Codec : MPEG-1 Video
Codec settings : CustomMatrix
Codec settings/Matrix : Custom
PlayTime : 294134
PlayTime : 4mn 54s
PlayTime : 4mn 54s 134ms
PlayTime : 4mn 54s
PlayTime : 00:04:54.134
Bit rate : 1150000
Bit rate : 1150 Kbps
Bit rate mode : CBR
Width : 352
Width : 352 pixels
Height : 240
Height : 240 pixels
Aspect ratio : 1.602
Aspect ratio : 1.602
Frame rate : 29.970
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
FrameCount : 8815
Interlacement : PPF
Interlacement : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.454
Delay : 797
Delay : 797ms
Delay : 797ms
Delay : 797ms
Delay : 00:00:00.797

Audio #0
Count : 59
Count of stream of this kind : 1
Kind of stream : Audio
StreamKindID : 0
Codec : MPEG-1A L2
Codec : MPEG-1 Audio layer 2
PlayTime : 4685208
PlayTime : 1h 18mn
PlayTime : 1h 18mn 5s 208ms
PlayTime : 1h 18mn
PlayTime : 01:18:05.208
Bit rate : 224000
Bit rate : 224 Kbps
Bit rate mode : CBR
Channel(s) : 2
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44100
Sampling rate : 44 KHz
SamplingCount : 206617672
Resolution : 16
Resolution : 16 bits
Delay : 637
Delay : 637ms
Delay : 637ms
Delay : 637ms
Delay : 00:00:00.637
Video0 delay : -160
Video0 delay : -160ms
Video0 delay : -160ms
Video0 delay : -160ms
Video0 delay : -00:00:00.160

So with that info ... how can i get this file to behave so i can burn it properly? Or is there something else i can try?

[DVDdummy]

Here is the other file i am having trouble with.

General #0
Count : 177
Count of stream of this kind : 1
Kind of stream : General
StreamKindID : 0
Count of video streams : 1
Count of audio streams : 1
Count of text streams : 0
Count of chapter streams : 0
Codecs Video : DivX 3 Low
Audio codecs : MPEG-1 Audio layer 3
File extension : avi
Format : AVI
Format : AVI
Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave
Format/Family : RIFF
Format/Extensions : avi
Codec : AVI
Codec : AVI
Codec/Info : Audio Video Interleave
Codec/Family : RIFF
Codec/Extensions : avi
File size : 729910782
File size : 696 MiB
File size : 696 MiB
File size : 696 MiB
File size : 696 MiB
File size : 696.1 MiB
PlayTime : 6062869
PlayTime : 1h 41mn
PlayTime : 1h 41mn 2s 869ms
PlayTime : 1h 41mn
PlayTime : 01:41:02.869
Bit rate : 954372
Bit rate : 954 Kbps

Video #0
Count : 74
Count of stream of this kind : 1
Kind of stream : Video
StreamKindID : 0
ID : 0
Codec : DIV3
Codec : DivX 3 Low
Codec/Family : MPEG-4
Codec/Url : http://www.divx.com
Codec/CC : DIV3
Codec settings/PacketBitStream : No
PlayTime : 6062869.000
PlayTime : 1h 41mn
PlayTime : 1h 41mn 2s 869ms
PlayTime : 1h 41mn
PlayTime : 01:41:02.869
Bit rate : 813372
Bit rate : 813 Kbps
Width : 640
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 480
Height : 480 pixels
Aspect ratio : 1.333
Aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 29.971
Frame rate : 29.971 fps
FrameCount : 181708
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.088

Audio #0
Count : 60
Count of stream of this kind : 1
Kind of stream : Audio
StreamKindID : 0
ID : 1
Codec : MPEG-1A L3
Codec : MPEG-1 Audio layer 3
Codec/CC : 55
Codec profile : Joint stereo
Bit rate : 128000
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Bit rate mode : CBR
Channel(s) : 2
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44100
Sampling rate : 44 KHz
SamplingCount : 267372522
Resolution : 16
Resolution : 16 bits
Coherency/PlayTime : 14506

So is there any hope in getting these two files to a DVD?

[redwudz]

I'm likely missing something with just a quick look, but it appears you have two VCD type files and two Divx 3 files:

General #0 Appears to be a VCD MPEG-1 video, actually a XVCD as the bitrate is higher than the VCD standard of 1150kbps. You should be able to just convert the audio to 48khz for DVD. You can leave the video as is. It's out of spec for VCD, but should work fine in a DVD format.

Video #0 Is the is standard VCD format, just 4.5 minutes long. Change the audio and it should be DVD compliant.

Audio #0 Appears to be just a audio file. No video, unless it is part of another video. It's also VCD format audio at 44.1khz.

General #0 (2) Appears to be a low motion Divx 3 video. That does need conversion. I don't see if it has MP3 VBR audio, but if so, you may have sync problems when you convert.

Video #0 (2) Is another low motion Divx 3.

Audio #0 (2) Appears to be a audio file, unless it is part of another video. Standard VCD audio. You would need to convert the rate to 48khz.

All the videos appear to be NTSC format, so no framerate conversions needed. That saves some time. It looks like you just need to re-encode the Divx videos, then change the audio rate on the others and you should be able to burn them to DVD. I didn't see any MP3 VBR audio, so that helps.

Again, I may be missing something. SUPER should have handled all that without any major problems. Set your output as MPEG-2 for the Divx videos and just convert the audio for the VCD MPEG-1 videos. I don't know if they will all fit on one DVD, but they appear to be a mixed selection anyway.

[theewizard]

for number 2

try using these settings , then put it thru your authoring program

also i think XvidtoDVD is still availble to dl its the free ver of convertX and should be able to convert both of those files direct to DVD/video_ts ready to burn

[DVDdummy]

First ... Thanks for the response i have gotten so far.
I have a few questions though. REDWUDZ ... i am confused by your statement "but it appears you have two VCD type files and two Divx 3 files"

I only cut and pasted the results of the SUPER analysis for 2 movies. One in each posting. So with that being said what should i do to the 2 movies to get 2 files i can burn to a DVD with Ulead Movie Factory suite 3.5? Or are the files itself not something i can convert and use?

THEWIZARD .... Sorry, but somethings i understand and somethings i don't, when it comes to DVD burning and file converting .... when you say "then put it thru your authoring program"
Do you mean burn the file to a DVD using Ulead Movie Factory 3.5? Also, why wouldn't i want the output container to be an AVI file? Why chose ffmpeg over mencoder? Why not chose NO CHANGE for the video scale size? And why chose 4080 for the Bitrate kbps?

Again, thanks for this support and guidance. I will eventually get it, just right now confusion is fighting me, and it wins sometimes.

[theewizard]

THEWIZARD .... Sorry, but somethings i understand and somethings i don't, when it comes to DVD burning and file converting .... when you say "then put it thru your authoring program"
Do you mean burn the file to a DVD using Ulead Movie Factory 3.5? Also, why wouldn't i want the output container to be an AVI file? Why chose ffmpeg over mencoder? Why not chose NO CHANGE for the video scale size? And why chose 4080 for the Bitrate kbps?

many things in video conversion are 'subjective'

the results i like may not be what somebody else likes

i use ffmeg because it works and i've had no reason to change from that, as it is the default choice for avi

I said avi because at 352*240 you are already at 1/4 dvd resolution and converting to avi without changing resolution will reduce / prevent the introduction of mpeg artifacts cause by resizing to mpeg2 at 720*480

if I have to resize up i prefer to do it with a better encoder like CCE or convertXtodvd

you could change to 352*240 mpg with mp3 audio and author in movie factory

no matter which way you convert the files, everybody has their own preferences

I use super for a lot of things, I like it, but it is nOT my first choice for converting AVIs to DVD

4000 bitrate is 1/2 of the 8000 for dvd and twice the needed bitrate for a 1/4 dvd resolution file wheter its avi or mpeg

vlc or mpc players will list the bitrate for your source as a lot less than that

i was just jiving you a starting point, work your way in or out from that point

try it and see what the results look like

[DVDdummy]

Thewizard ...
I tried those settings you posted, i got pretty good results, i viewed them with windows media player. I went to burn the results on to a DVD with Ulead movie Factory 3.5. When i tried bring in the files, and error popped up saying the file "contains Dolby Digital audio tracks. DVD MovieFactory does not support this audio format"
Now what can i do?
I am getting closer but still no luck!

Thanks for all the help from anyone and everyone.

[redwudz]

If you have converted the video to DVD compliant MPEG-2, then all you need to do is author and burn to disc.

Not familiar with DVD Movie factory, but you can use most any authoring program with AC3 audio. I encode my video separately, then combine the AC3 audio with it in the authoring program. If your program can't use AC3, then you would have to extract the audio and convert it to a format your program does understand.

If your video is DVD compliant, then you might try DVDAuthorgui or GUI for dvdauthor for the authoring process or for payware, TMPGEnc DVD Author. Both should handle AC3 audio with no problems.

[DVDdummy]

Thanks for the response redwudz....

I am lost after converting my files, and DVD movie factory not able to use them due to dolby digital. I don't know what "authoring" is. I've never "authored" a file, (at least not on purpose) I don't know what it means. I don't know if that is what movie factory does when it tries to create a DVD. Like i was saying earlier, up to this point i have had little to no problem with movie factory. These 2 files are giving me trouble, and now with converting them to mpeg-2. they still are, as far as not accepting the audio in movie factory. Do i use a different output audio codec selection in the SUPER program? i just don't know what to do here. It seems i am close. Then again i don't know if once movie factory accepts these files (hopefully) that they turn out correctly!

[theewizard]

this a fault with early versions of movie factory

run super onthe source again, BUT for the audio setting choose either mp3 with a cbr of 128k ( constant bit rate ), or PCM sound ( windows audio mode )

movie factory will create the dvd with mpeg layer 2 sound track

[DVDdummy]

thewizard...
Thanks for responding and helping to try to work thru this issue.
I took the source files and changed the audio ouput container to mp3 with a bitrate kbps of 128. There was no cbr selection, and there was no PCM sound selection. I keep everything else the same from the last time. After SUPER was done converting, I tested them out on 2 different media players (WMP, and REAL) and there is no sound to the files.
Now what can i do?
It seems i am close, but still no luck.
If i can't convert these files correctly, is there another DVD burning program i can try that may accept these files?
I have Folder2ISO, DVD decrypter, DVD shrink, and AVI to DVD.
I would prefer using Movie Factory like i've been, but if i can't then so be it.
Thanks again for any help.

[Abond]

The creation of a DVD is a multistep procedure. Ulead DVD movie factory obviously is doing all the steps one after another in one "click". The steps are:
1. Converting the video elementary stream to format suitable for DVD.
2. Converting the audio elementary stream to format suitable for DVD.
To see what in your files is not DVD compliant, you need to know what file types are required for DVD creation. You can read about it here:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvd#tech
3. Authoring. Read here:
https://www.videohelp.com/glossary?A#Author
and here:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvd#struct
4. Burning
There are programs which can accomplish every single step in the procedure. For example Super can convert the video and audio to DVD compliant streams. Then you need a program that would multiplex the streams, create the DVD file structure, create menu and add navigation and commands in a couple of service files which are understandable to a DVD player. This is authoring.
Burning is only re-alocation of these DVD files on the media using special disc format and the physical process of burning itself.
Let try to make all the steps required for creation of a DVD with the files you have.
First file contain mpeg1 video with resolution 352x240 and framerate of 29.97 frames per second (fps). This stream is DVD compliant. Therefore it doesn't need convertion, it can be used as is.
The audio stream is mpeg1 layer 2 with samplerate of 44100 Hz. DVD require 48000 Hz, therefore the file must be converted (resampled) to mpeg1 layer 2 48000 Hz file.
Weird is that Super analysis shows wrong duration of the video stream.
Second file has video stream of mpeg4 DivX 3 implementation at 29.97 fps with 640x480 pixels resolution. This is not suitable for DVD creation therefore it must be converted to 704x480 pixels mpeg2 29.97 fps 4:3 file (you want probably ask me why - ok 704x480 AFAIK is exactly what 640x480 is in not square pixels for TV, mpeg2 is required for DVD).
The audio is mpeg1 layer 3 at 44100 Hz. It must be converted to mpeg1 layer 2 or ac3 DD file 48000Hz.
Hopefuly now the settings used by theewizard make sense to you. Well, about ffmpeg and mencoder - this is realy personal preference as both are using the same encoding engine - libavcodec.

[DVDdummy]

Thanks for the continued help ...
Is mp2 (in the audio output setting)the same as mpeg1 layer2?
THEWIZARD said to use mpeg (mpegll) for the video output container in a previous post, on my files.
ABOND says my first file the video is mpeg1 and doesn't need converting. Which is correct, or in someway is both ways correct? If so which is the better way to go if i have a choice?

[Abond]

https://www.videohelp.com/dvd#tech
It is written here, if you care to read it.

[DVDdummy]

ABOND ... thanks for the help your giving.
Your last response although informative, didn't answer my last set of questions.
I hope someone can help with them. Thanks.

Thanks for the continued help ...
Is mp2 (in the audio output setting)the same as mpeg1 layer2?
THEWIZARD said to use mpeg (mpegll) for the video output container in a previous post, on my files.
ABOND says my first file the video is mpeg1 and doesn't need converting. Which is correct, or in someway is both ways correct? If so which is the better way to go if i have a choice?

[theewizard]

yes mp2 is mpeg layer 2 audio

yes meg1 can be converted to dvd without re-szing reencdoing, as long s the authoring software has that option,

but 2 or more videos being combined onto one DVD usually means everything is going to get converted to a common res/codec some where along the line either in the pre-stages or the final stage by the authoring app

you started out asking about one avi, it should be converted to DVD res/meg2, NOT mpg1

if you have an mpg1 that is going to go onto a DVD by itself , and not combined with other videos then just run it thru the authoring program ( ulead ) no reason to convert it before that

posting the super log listings of 2 different files instead of posting Gspot screen shots has caused some confusion of the issues and , what you are trying to accomplish

you need to post A gspot screen shots of the ONE source file, then tell us what it is you want to do with that file , convert to dvd ? convert to Dvix for a standalone dvix player, convert to mpeg2 to be merged with other clips for DVD ?

bottom line AFAIK ulead is not going to accept (2) different file formats some how before you get to ulead both files need to be the coded the same way as mpeg 2 or mpeg1, with the same audio mpeg2 layer 2 or 3, and the same frame rate

you can covert the avi to match the mpg1 specs and give both files too ulead OR you can convert BOTH files to MPEG2 specs

OR am i mis-understanding waht you are trying to do ?

[DVDdummy]

Ok i finally after 4 tries with each file, i was able to burn them on a DVD and it worked. Here is what i did.

First file... kept it as a video mpeg1, but change the audio to mp2 at 48000, at 192 bitrate kbps. kept the video scale size to NO CHANGE, at 4080 bitrate kbps.

Second file ... converted to video mpeg2, 704x480 video scale size, 4:3, 4080 bitrate kbps. Audio ... 48000, 192 bitrate kbps.

Used ffmpeg encoder and 29.97 fps on both files. I then took both results and brought them into Movie Factory, Squeezed them into a 4.7 GB DVD using the software in Movie Factory. They came out fine. Of course not the best digital quality, but the goal of getting these on to a DVD that my player will read was reached! Thanks so much for the help from everyone. Beleive it or not you all have taught me a little something about this technology i didn't understand before. Yes alot still confuses me, so i'm sure i'll be back again.

PS ... i thought the files were originally AVI files but it turns out they were mpeg files all along. is that correct? or am i still confused? Thanks again!!!!

[budwzr]

Hey DVDdummy,

Your system codecs might be broken.

Try downloading ACE Mega Codec Pack (Google It) and do a full install, and you will have everything but the kitchen sink. If you don't have room for the full install, then do a standard or minmal install. AMCP will cleanup your registry and leave you ready to render.

Bud

[Abond]

Hey DVDdummy,

Your system codecs might be broken.

Try downloading ACE Mega Codec Pack (Google It) and do a full install, and you will have everything but the kitchen sink. If you don't have room for the full install, then do a standard or minmal install. AMCP will cleanup your registry and leave you ready to render.

Bud

You have no idea what you talking about.

@DVDDummy
Do NOT install codec packs they will screw your system.

[DVDdummy]

Thank you ABOND .... i didn't install them.

[Abond]

Ok i finally after 4 tries with each file, i was able to burn them on a DVD and it worked. Here is what i did.

First file... kept it as a video mpeg1, but change the audio to mp2 at 48000, at 192 bitrate kbps. kept the video scale size to NO CHANGE, at 4080 bitrate kbps.

Second file ... converted to video mpeg2, 704x480 video scale size, 4:3, 4080 bitrate kbps. Audio ... 48000, 192 bitrate kbps.

Used ffmpeg encoder and 29.97 fps on both files. I then took both results and brought them into Movie Factory, Squeezed them into a 4.7 GB DVD using the software in Movie Factory. They came out fine. Of course not the best digital quality, but the goal of getting these on to a DVD that my player will read was reached! Thanks so much for the help from everyone. Beleive it or not you all have taught me a little something about this technology i didn't understand before. Yes alot still confuses me, so i'm sure i'll be back again.

PS ... i thought the files were originally AVI files but it turns out they were mpeg files all along. is that correct? or am i still confused? Thanks again!!!!

Reading again about how you have done it, I think we have taught you not in the best way. Well, you need to understand that every reencoding of the source file will lead to decreasing the quality. Now you have reencode your files TWICE (once through super and second time through Ulead machinery) and this is not acceptable (for me anyway) moreover that your first file is already very low quality. That is probably why the result you obtained is

Of course not the best digital quality

Here I would like to describe how I would do this conversion.
Now I understand that you are biased to use Ulead application, probably because it comes with a device you bought and in this sense it is free for you. To make it easy from this point of view all aplications which I gonna use in my explanation are free (at least for what I am using them)
Firstly I would demultiplex the mpeg1 file (if you have extension .avi, rename it .mpg) with TMPG mpeg tools (File - mpeg tools - simple demultiplex) to elementary video m1v and audio mp2 files. Then I would load the mp2 file in super and set it to output ac3 192 kbps 48000 hz file. Then i would leave them as they are - a m1v and ac3 (for now).
Now I would use a bitrate calculator to determine what bitrate I need to encode the second file in order to have both files in one DVD. The first file I would assume is roughly 800 MB. A single layer DVD would have about 4480 MB. So I have around 3680 MB for the second file. In my calculations you need a bitrate for the video around 4600 kbps and 192 kbps for the audio. Then I would set super to encode the video of the second DivX3 640x480 file to mpeg2 704x480 4600 kbps 29.97 fps and the audio to 192 kbps ac3 48000 hz everything with ffmpeg.
Now I would use GUI for DVDauthor, setted upon start up (General settings I think) to Use Titlesets and to NTSC. Here I would load the video for the first file and in the dialog -the audio for it. The I would load the second file (should be already mpg) and edit (maybe) the text and activation appearance (this is the menu creation). Click Create DVD. Once the Video_ts forlder is there I would test it in MPC (drag and drop the folder)
At the end I would burn the VIDEO_TS folder with Imgburn (Build Mode)
And that's it. Hopefuly it will help you get "better digital quality"

[theewizard]

GFD does not accept mpg1 or mpg2 files

the second file would need to be converted with 'audio disable"

then a second run of that file with video disable createing only the audio file

then rename the video file from mpg2 to m2v and hope GFD accepted it

the alternative would be to use another program to convert the m2v from the source file