Converting AVI to Video TS using mac

[DonRay]

First post, dont really know what Im doing. Im looking to convert my AVI files to VideoTS folders in order to burn them to DVD to enable viewing on stand alone non-divX DVD players. - From what I have read this is quite simple using PC specific programs, im looking for mac friendly, universal is possible programs.
thanks
DRV~

[Baldrick]

Moving you to our mac section.

[Frobozz]

Roxio's Toast is commonly used for this purpose. It creates the VIDEO_TS folder as part of authoring a video DVD either as a disc image or burning to disc. You may also need to install the Perian codec depending on the kind of audio that's in the AVI.

Roxio recently released Popcorn 3 which now has this capability as well.

[SERBIAN]

You can also check on Versiontracker.com and Macupdate.com for lot other shareware and commercial apps which can do the thing you want and lot more.

[DonRay]

thanks for the help - i tried toast but cannot get it to convert my AVI into video TS -

[terryj]

Does the AVI play in Quicktime or VLC.
If so, then open the Information window
in either app, and post back what it says about
the video stream ( stream 1) and the audio stream
(stream 2).

From there, we can point you in the right direction.

[Frobozz]

thanks for the help - i tried toast but cannot get it to convert my AVI into video TS -

Toast does not have an option to save a VIDEO_TS folder. Instead it can Save as Disc Image (from the File menu). Mount the disc image and drag the enclosed VIDEO_TS folder to your hard drive. Why do you want a VIDEO_TS folder except to burn it to DVD?

[pixel zombie]

do NOT use toast to convert video to different formats, it's very slow and it doesn't always work...use mpeg2works or ffmpeg to make dvd compliant files and use toast only to burn the disk, the nice thing about mpeg2works is it can make a disc image which allows you to check your results with DVD Player before wasting time or blank media...also, if you can't watch the avi in QT you won't be able to convert it...

[terryj]

do NOT use toast to convert video to different formats, it's very slow and it doesn't always work...use mpeg2works or ffmpeg to make dvd compliant files .....

for that matter, also MPEGStreamclip ( with QT Mpeg-2 option) or even QT Pro itself.

to the OP: Can the avi play in QT? VLC? what does the info window, in either app, say about the file?

[avery123]

Hi.
Then, is it true that there is no program at all, that can convert AVI to VIDEO_TS, without going through the entire process with the film having to be burnt onto a Disc?

I too am looking for a program that can create a VIDEO_TS folder from other movie files.

Thanks for reading *

[pixel zombie]

Visualhub also does conversions but it has been discontinued

[myDVDEdit]

try MovieGate.

[pixel zombie]

moviegate looks interesting but it appears to be only for 10.5

[Herve]

Search the web for a 2.67 version (the last one before the version 3.xx) this one was compatible Tiger

bye

[rumplestiltskin]

[quote="avery123"]Hi.
Then, is it true that there is no program at all, that can convert AVI to VIDEO_TS, without going through the entire process with the film having to be burnt onto a Disc? {snip}quote]
Toast will do this. ffmpegX will also do this.

Not sure why one would want a VIDEO_TS except to burn it to a DVD.

Why not forget about discs and convert the AVIs to MPEG4/H264? Then you can drop it into an AppleTV. Or get the WD TV Media Player as it plays AVIs without conversion.

[avery123]

Hi there rumplestiltskin... Thank you for you input

The reason I want VIDEO_TS is, when I try to create a DVD in Toast. And I am using 4 AVI files, it takes 9 hours to Encode, and then just a few minutes to burn - in One action. This means I just have to keep my computer turned on for over 9 hours straight.

If I could create a VIDEO_TS from one of those AVI files, I could break the process down, only having to have my computer turned on for a quarter of that time.

[Frobozz]

Hi there rumplestiltskin... Thank you for you input

The reason I want VIDEO_TS is, when I try to create a DVD in Toast. And I am using 4 AVI files, it takes 9 hours to Encode, and then just a few minutes to burn - in One action. This means I just have to keep my computer turned on for over 9 hours straight.

If I could create a VIDEO_TS from one of those AVI files, I could break the process down, only having to have my computer turned on for a quarter of that time.

If you choose Save as Disc Image in Toast instead of clicking the burn button then Toast will do all the encoding and formatting for the video DVD and you don't need to put a disc in the drive. So you can let Toast do that overnight. When you are ready to burn the encoded video DVD just choose the .toast disc image file using the Image File setting in the Toast Copy window and burn as many as you like. The mounted disc image contains the VIDEO_TS folder.

If you are trying to avoid the need to encode AVI's to the MPEG 2 format required for a video DVD consider creating a DivX disc instead. There are many DVD players (especially the cheaper ones) that can play DivX discs and many downloaded AVIs are already in DivX format. Toast 8 and 9 can create DivX discs in the Video window. Toast 10 does not have a DivX encoder but you can burn a DivX disc in the Data window as long as all your AVIs are already in DivX format.