Need to place DVD on website for download...question

[hka505]

I am working on a project...I have a DVD that I need to place on a website and have available to download (this DVD is a fitness DVD that was created/developed by my client). I've done a lot of online searching looking for information and am still not exactly sure how to go about doing this.

I copied the DVD to my computer so I have two folders: AUDIO_TS (with no files in it--not sure why it's empty) and VIDEO_TS (with the .vob, .ifo, and .bup files). From searching on this forum, I do have a better understanding of these files. I think the next step is to compress the information in these folders into a single file (avi or mpeg??) and then upload that file to the server. If that's the case, can you recommend a specific type of software and what type of file is generally used. If that's not the case, could you help steer me in the right direction.

Thanks for any insight that you can provide.

[Nitemare]

Is this for "download"" from a website or for "viewing" from the website?

[lordsmurf]

ISO if for download, with instructions on how to use ImgBurn.

H.264 if for web viewing (plays in Flash 10), using a good encoder (MainConcept Reference) and not some freeware/junkware stuff.

You might want to consider outsourcing this, since it's for business, and you've not done this kind of work before. This would be a very inexpensive project, if I did it for a client (conversion of video, upload to site). One disc won't cost much at all. It might be better than you trying to learn something new, potentially mess up, have to buy software, etc.

[hka505]

nitemare:
The user will purchase the DVD and then be able to "download" the file to their computer (this is not for web viewing).

lordsmurf:
So I understand... I use ImgBurn to convert the .vob, .ifo, and .bup files into a single .iso file. That file I then upload and make available for download (along with the instructions about how to burn the .iso file to DVD using ImgBurn)? (I'm doing this project for a friend, so he understands that there is a learning curve; but I will take your advice to outsource if necessary.)

[yoda313]

So I understand... I use ImgBurn to convert the .vob, .ifo, and .bup files into a single .iso file. That file I then upload and make available for download (along with the instructions about how to burn the .iso file to DVD using ImgBurn)?

Yes that is exactly what you will need to do. That is probably the simplest approach for keeping the original dvd intact for downloading.

[hka505]

Thanks for the assistance. I converted the DVD files to an ISO file using ImgBurn (and as a test also burned the ISO file to a DVD...worked perfectly). The ISO file is about 4 GB. Should this file then be compressed so the end user doesn't have to wait for a 4 GB file to download or should I just leave it as is? (I did already inquire with the hosting provider about the downloading of a 4 GB file from their server and they indicated that it was OK).

[Ai Haibara]

Leave it as-is. You can experiment with compressing it in a .zip or other-format archive, but you're most likely not going to see any significant compression.

[darkknight145]

or you can also post a DivX files alongside the DVD file and give the downloader the option of downloading the 4 gig DVD or a 350-700 mb DivX files

[johns0]

Also you can use winrar to split the iso into multiple parts and have pars in case of any file corruption while downloading.

[minidv2dvd]

or use winrar to compress to a single rar, but include 10-20% recovery blocks so any errors can be fixed. the file size will be bigger but it will cut down on multiple downloads.

[videopoo]

For the time it will take to download a 4G file you might as well put it in the mail. No ordinary folks will buy a disc, wait for a large download and then know how to use img burn. Not recommended! For people on this site...Yes but all others? no way!

[hka505]

videopoo:
I'm beginning to think that you're correct. I tried to upload the file today and it would take 10 hours or so. I really don't think the intended audience (who are not necessarily computer savvy) of the DVD would want to wait for the download, convert it, etc. I have never actually downloaded a DVD from a site before; is this how it usually works as far as the download time is concerned?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

[lordsmurf]

Yes, DVD 4GB files take forever. You'd be better suited to H.264 MPEG/FLV for web viewing, ISO download for the quality-seekers, and a Paypal button to buy a disc for the mail, for those unwilling to watch on web or download file.