AVI files are too small when copied to a DVD

[lmcnlcy]

Hi,
I have a strange issue here and wondering if someone could point me in the direction of a (quick) fix:
a) Previously I had backed up my digital video files (Digital8) by capturing the files using Adobe Premiere and using SizeMe to create .iso files and burn them to DVDs. Worked like a charm for 2 years.
b) Recently I tried my to backup some 8mm analog tapes by playing the tapes on an analog camcorder and passed the video through my Digital8 camcorder and used WinDV to capture the resultant stream (as DV-2) coming in over my firewire cable. Quality seemed fine when I was viewed it in WinDV preview screen.
c) Next I played the AVI files and they play fine in Windows Media Player, files are about 4GB (settings in WinDV were designed to give me files just the right size to fit on a DVD).
d) Used SizeMe and it created 7 .iso files as expected, burned them and found that the video on the .iso is corrupted (so says VLC) and gives the video file a size of roughly 78 MBs (even though you can see that the DVD is filled up).

Any suggestions? I'd ideally like to start by seeing if the AVI files are in the correct format? Is there a tool that will check them to see if the files were created correctly (and fix them if they are broken)? Then if that is OK then I have to suspect SizeMe which has worked fine all of this time.

Note that I used my pass through A->D conversion on my Digital8 camera since my heads seem damaged and the end result is bad video quality. Hence I used the original analog Hi8 camcorder to play the tapes.
/thanks,
lmcnlcy

[redwudz]

You can check the format and more of the DVs with Gspot.

I'm not clear on your steps. If WinDV sized the captures at 4GB and you are putting them on a DVD as data, why are you splitting or resizing them?

You could just burn the 4GB files as data with a program like ImgBurn in 'Build' mode, then you don't need the ISO container.

For DV, you could use the Cedocida DV Codec or the Panasonic DV codec and open the DV-2 files with VirtualDub Mod or the regular VD and possibly fix the problems and save them out again as DV.

[lmcnlcy]

Hi,
WinDV splits them in 4GB files while capturing (primary goal is to back the raw video onto DVDs). Next step is to create a .iso file (I use SizeMe to do this for a whole directory full of 4 GB files). However when I look at any of those .iso files (I mount them as virtual DVDs using DAEMON) I discover the the AVI file is only 78 MB or so (but the .iso file is 4GB).
Hence, I believe, the two (unlikely) options are:
a) WinDV creates a file that for some reason is not 100% to standard.
b) SizeMe corrupts the files when it is creating a .iso file.

Does GSpot read the whole AVI file so that I know that the file is correct (or just the header). If I copy the file in VirtualDub (Direct Stream Copy) does that "rebuild" somehow the indexes?
/lmcnlcy

[redwudz]

VD can sometimes clear up index problems with Direct stream copy. Give it a try. It can also check for some errors. Use 'File>Open video file', Then check the box at the bottom of the page, 'Ask for extended options after this dialog'. Then select and load the file. You will see the re-derive keyframe flags option on the next page. That's more useful when the file has been badly edited. You can also scan for bad frames under the video menu after the file opens.

Gspot will just tell you the length, size, format, and other data. It will show some structure errors, but mostly it just gives you information.

WinDV doesn't create files, it's just a data transfer program. But it could be cutting them wrong. If you set the discontinuity wrong, it could cut at a scene change instead of the 4GB mark. But that would be obvious when you preview the file.

[guns1inger]

I would ditch the SizeMe step and simply use Imgburn in build mode. You gain nothing by creating an ISO first.