Issues Burning MKV to DVD

[link_417]

Trying to burn .mkv files to DVD without much success. Have used a bunch of freeware options, but I want to make sure I'm not the error before actually paying for a solution.

Used ConvertXToDVD (trialware) and the disc played in my DVD player, but the video+audio were very jerky, and there was some pixelation. I'm fairly new to this, so I'm looking for a relatively easy solution. And if I have to pay for software that's fine, i just want something that works.

Here's a copy of my ConvertXToDVD log if it helps (reverse chronological order). Thanks for any and all help!

2011-06-16 20:58:06 Info BURN: Disc ejected by user.
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info Folder C:\Users\Jeree'\Documents\ConvertXToDVD\Episode 1 - Pilot\ has been removed
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: WRITE SUCCESS: Burn process successful with minor warning
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:51]: Finalisation complete
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:51]: Close disc - Completed with warning "Code 02 04 07 [NOT READY, Operation in progress]"
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:33]: Closing disc
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:33]: Close track - Completed with success
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:30]: Closing track
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:30]: Flush device cache - Completed with success
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:14]: Flushing device cache
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Info BURN: FINALISATION [20:57:14]: finalisation started
2011-06-16 20:57:52 Warning BURN: Finalization Time 00:00:37 - Total completion time 00:08:20 - finalisation report follow
2011-06-16 20:57:14 Info BURN: Write finished in 00:07:42 - Finalization start here. Avg. burn rate 4.06
2011-06-16 20:50:06 Info BURN: Lead-in burning time (mS) 34733
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Write started 1157280 sectors to write
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Init success: DVD+R
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Writing speed requested x4.0, effective x4.0
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Available write speed: 16x ,12x ,8x ,6x ,4x
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Media ID: SONY-D21-00
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Media type: DVD+R
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Scanned files #9, folder #2 - total size 2368983040 b. (2.21 Gb.)
2011-06-16 20:49:31 Info BURN: Inserted media type : DVD+R
2011-06-16 20:49:30 Info BURN: Write started
2011-06-16 20:49:29 ---- ***************** Encoding end **********************
2011-06-16 20:49:29 Info Disc name: "My DVD"
2011-06-16 20:49:14 Info BURN: Writable disc DVD+R inserted. Ready to write
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info BURN: Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info BURN: Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info BURN: New Drive selected : 3:2:0 - ATAPI DVD A DH16A6S YA16 [E] (Raid)
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info Burned folder: "C:\Users\Username\Documents\ConvertXToDVD\Epi sode 1 - Pilot\", Min. media size 2.21 Gb.
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info Total size 2259 Mb., Target size DVD5 4300 Mb., Occupation 52.54%
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info Conversion completed in 00:22:00
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info Rendering rate: 2.32 x Realtime
2011-06-16 20:49:12 Info DVD duration (incl. menus) 00:51:05 (~ 3065 sec.) - rendering time 00:22:00
2011-06-16 20:49:09 Info Generated duration 3065.03 sec., expected 3065.31 sec.
2011-06-16 20:47:41 Info Chapter #11 start at 49:59.997
2011-06-16 20:45:54 Info Chapter #10 start at 45:0.197
2011-06-16 20:43:54 Info Chapter #9 start at 40:0.398
2011-06-16 20:41:55 Info Chapter #8 start at 35:0.098
2011-06-16 20:39:36 Info Chapter #7 start at 30:0.298
2011-06-16 20:37:34 Info Chapter #6 start at 24:59.998
2011-06-16 20:35:40 Info Chapter #5 start at 20:0.199
2011-06-16 20:33:21 Info Chapter #4 start at 15:0.399
2011-06-16 20:31:14 Info Chapter #3 start at 10:0.099
2011-06-16 20:29:09 Info Chapter #2 start at 5:0.300
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Output Stream #2 (AUDIO) - ac3, 48000 Hz, 6 channels, 384 kb/s
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Output Stream #1 (VIDEO) - mpeg2video, yuv420p, 720x480 [PAR 32:27 DAR 16:9], q=1-31, 8463 kb/s, pulldown: 23.976 -> 29.97 Fps
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Encoding MPEG-2 with 2 threads
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Decoding Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9] with 2 threads
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Video processing: Linear (VSO) resampler (1280*720)->(720*480) 2 threads
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Chapter sequences require 14.27 Mb. temp space
2011-06-16 20:27:12 ---- ************ Source file #1 END DETAILS ************
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info AUDIO Stream #2 [RAW COPY]: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1, s16, 384 kb/s
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info VIDEO Stream #1 : Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 FPS
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Audio/Video file with 2 stream(s) - Playback order:1 - Queue:0
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Logical file: C:\Users\Username\Desktop\Show\Season 1\Episode 1 - Pilot.mkv - 1 file(s) 280.97 Mb.
2011-06-16 20:27:12 ---- *********** Source file #1 BEGIN DETAILS ***********
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Video bitrate has been set to maximum possible value for DVD specifications. Target size may not be reached.
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Video bitrate 0/8463/8816 Kbps (min/avg/max)
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info OUTPUT ==> Resolution: FULL D1 [720*480], Format: NTSC, Aspect ratio: 16:9
2011-06-16 20:27:12 ---- *
2011-06-16 20:27:12 ---- ======================= TITLESET #1 =======================
2011-06-16 20:27:12 ---- *
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info 2 Stream(s) found - est. duration 00:51:05.313, reference 00:51:05.313
2011-06-16 20:27:12 Info Opening file "C:\Users\Username\Desktop\Show\Season 1\Episode 1 - Pilot.mkv"
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [x] Multicore support in resize
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info Project size 4.17 Gb. (142.76 Mb. audio - 4.02 Gb. video)
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [ ] Don't fix audio gaps
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [ ] Engine Log
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [ ] 2-pass encoding
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info Encoding preset: SP (Short Projects)
2011-06-16 20:27:11 ---- ****************** Encoding begin *******************
2011-06-16 20:27:11 ---- **************** Menu settings end ******************
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [x] Don't create title menu for single video
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [x] Return to title menu after titleset playback
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [x] Skip root menu initially
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [ ] Play titles one after the other
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [ ] Loop playback
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [ ] Auto-start playback
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info Template: ImageWall, Designed for video clip collection, contains 1 page(s), 3 customizable element(s)
2011-06-16 20:27:11 ---- *************** Menu settings begin *****************
2011-06-16 20:27:11 ---- **************** Burn settings end ******************
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info Default speed selected: 4x
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info BURN: Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info BURN: Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info BURN: New Drive selected : 3:2:0 - ATAPI DVD A DH16A6S YA16 [E] (Raid)
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [x] Delete DVD folder after burn complete
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [ ] Don't eject disc or open DVD folder in explorer, after burn complete
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info SAO setting: Automatic
2011-06-16 20:27:11 Info [x] Burn result to DVD / as ISO file in working folder
2011-06-16 20:27:11 ---- **************** Burn settings begin ****************
2011-06-16 20:24:48 Info BURN: Writable disc DVD+R inserted. Ready to write
2011-06-16 20:24:46 Info BURN: 1 writer(s) found.
2011-06-16 20:24:46 Info BURN: Loaded DLL "C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\4\vso_hwe.dll" [4.0.17.485]
2011-06-16 20:24:46 Info BURN: Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-16 20:24:46 Info BURN: Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-16 20:24:46 Info BURN: New Drive selected : 3:2:0 - ATAPI DVD A DH16A6S YA16 [E] (Raid)
2011-06-16 20:24:46 Info BURN: Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.37, Internal revision 37 Async. Access mode
2011-06-16 20:24:46 Info Trial version
2011-06-16 20:24:42 Info 37 Menu templates loaded.
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info Supported instruction set: sse3
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info Maximum number of threads detected: 2 - parallelize up to 2
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info Tuning Performances for Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2220 @ 2.40GHz with 2 core(s) CPU
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info System default language : English (United States)
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info User default language : English (United States)
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info Version : 4.1.19.365
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info ExeName : C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\4\ConvertXtoDVD.exe
2011-06-16 20:24:40 Info OS : Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (Build 6002: Service Pack 2)
2011-06-16 20:24:37 ---- ******************** Log session start 2011-06-16 20:24:37.307 PID 3916********************


2011-06-08 18:26:20 ---- ******************** Log session stop 2011-06-08 18:26:20.295 PID 1600********************
2011-06-08 18:18:24 Info BURN: Writable disc DVD+R inserted. Ready to write
2011-06-08 18:18:22 Info BURN: 1 writer(s) found.
2011-06-08 18:18:22 Info BURN: Loaded DLL "C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\4\vso_hwe.dll" [4.0.17.485]
2011-06-08 18:18:22 Info BURN: Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-08 18:18:22 Info BURN: Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-08 18:18:22 Info BURN: New Drive selected : 3:2:0 - ATAPI DVD A DH16A6S YA16 [E] (Raid)
2011-06-08 18:18:22 Info BURN: Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.37, Internal revision 37 Async. Access mode
2011-06-08 18:18:22 Info Trial version
2011-06-08 18:18:16 Info 37 Menu templates loaded.
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info Supported instruction set: sse3
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info Maximum number of threads detected: 2 - parallelize up to 2
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info Tuning Performances for Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2220 @ 2.40GHz with 2 core(s) CPU
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info System default language : English (United States)
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info User default language : English (United States)
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info Version : 4.1.19.365
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info ExeName : C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\4\ConvertXtoDvd.exe
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info OS : Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (Build 6002: Service Pack 2)
2011-06-08 18:18:10 ---- ******************** Log session start 2011-06-08 18:18:10.130 PID 1600********************


2011-06-08 18:18:20 ---- ******************** Log session stop 2011-06-08 18:18:20.498 PID 4272********************
2011-06-08 18:18:19 Info BURN: 1 writer(s) found.
2011-06-08 18:18:19 Info BURN: Loaded DLL "C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\4\vso_hwe.dll" [4.0.17.485]
2011-06-08 18:18:19 Info BURN: Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-08 18:18:19 Info BURN: Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-08 18:18:19 Info BURN: New Drive selected : 3:2:0 - ATAPI DVD A DH16A6S YA16 [E] (Raid)
2011-06-08 18:18:19 Info BURN: Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.37, Internal revision 37 Async. Access mode
2011-06-08 18:18:16 Info 37 Menu templates loaded.
2011-06-08 18:18:13 Info Supported instruction set: sse3
2011-06-08 18:18:13 Info Maximum number of threads detected: 2 - parallelize up to 2
2011-06-08 18:18:13 Info Tuning Performances for Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2220 @ 2.40GHz with 2 core(s) CPU
2011-06-08 18:18:13 Info System default language : English (United States)
2011-06-08 18:18:13 Info User default language : English (United States)
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info Version : 4.1.19.365
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info ExeName : C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\4\ConvertXtoDvd.exe
2011-06-08 18:18:12 Info OS : Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (Build 6002: Service Pack 2)
2011-06-08 18:18:10 ---- ******************** Log session start 2011-06-08 18:18:10.111 PID 4272********************

[Kerry56]

I'd switch from those Sony dvds to Verbatim 16x disks (make sure to get the ones with AZO on the label, not their "Life Series" disks). Or you could use Taiyo Yuden 8x or 16x disks found at online shops like rima.com or supermediastore.com

Burn the 16x Verbatim or TY at 8x or 12x. The 8x +R TY are my favorites and they can be safely burned at 8x with the vast majority of desktop optical drives.

It probably doesn't matter much which burning program you use, but I very much prefer ImgBurn, which is free to download and use.

ConvertXtoDVD should be able to handle the H264 to dvd-video conversion fairly well, but I've never seen a reason to purchase it. I've used the trial for ConverttX in the distant past. I use AVStoDVD for this conversion and have had very good luck with it. Make sure to use the HC encoder in AVStoDVD. AVStoDVD is another free program, and if you haven't tried it, you really should give it a shot.

Do you know the audio format used in this mkv file? Looking at the log, it seems to be ac3 already: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1, s16, 384 kb/s. That should already be dvd-video compliant. You can check it with MediaInfo to be sure.

[johns0]

Use multiavchd,it will output to sd dvd.

[link_417]

I'd switch from those Sony dvds to Verbatim 16x disks (make sure to get the ones with AZO on the label, not their "Life Series" disks).

Just checked BestBuy.com, they are the 'Life Series' *head-->desk*

Not sure what kind of audio is used, you think it's an audio problem? And I've tried AVStoDVD (a few times, lol) and never got a playable disc. Last time I downloaded it QuEnc kept opening up (even when I selected HCenc) and it would freeze.

DvdFlick also gave me playable discs, but I had the same problem with jerky playback. I downloaded these videos from Amazon (because a DVD isn't available and, as a result of abysmal ratings, will probably never be available), then had to go to a different source since getting around the DRM hurdle seemed pretty difficult, but this is proving no easier

[link_417]

Use multiavchd,it will output to sd dvd.

Gonna give that a try now, thanks!

[Kerry56]

I just mentioned the audio because I've had problems occasionally in AVStoDVD when converting blu ray to dvd-video whenever it uses HD audio. That doesn't seem to be the problem here.

To get the HC encoder in AVStoDVD, input the mkv file, then click on this icon:



You'll get a pop up window where you can select the Video tab and adjust settings:

[link_417]

Ahh, I was trying to change it at the wrong window! Is it supposed to take a really long time? After 10 minutes, the progress bar still said 0% and the pass 1 statistics didn't have any numbers, just a dash where the numbers should be "/

[Kerry56]

HCenc should start up very quickly and you should see an estimated time left for the first pass and time used. The progress bar should show some movement too. Encoding speed depends quite a lot on the speed of your cpu, but my 6 core AMD machine shows progress very soon after starting HC.

If nothing at all happens, you have something screwed up in the installation and may need to reinstall.

How is multiavchd working for you? I have had more failures with that program than success. I've taken it off the machine for now, but will eventually try it again in masochistic fashion.

[link_417]

Ended up uninstalling multiavchd, I didn't get very far with it. I've been wrestling with various programs and permutations of settings for almost a full week now, so my computer isn't very happy with me and I've had to restart it a few times because things have been non-responsive.

I shouldnt've waited so long before asking for help, I've wasted waaaaay too much energy (and money, lol) on this! I'm gonna wait until I get those AZO discs before I try anything else, though. The nearest place I can get Verbatim discs is two towns away, and I've got to work all weekend, so it'll probably be Monday before I can get the discs and take another crack at it. But I refuse to let a computer beat me.

[TBoneit]

Did you try Freemake video converter? It is free and seems to work OK with decent speed.

You would just pick your video in the video tab and then choose DVD for the output and let it convert and burn.

Even my brother can use it.

I use it for quick conversions. I also have paid for software for when I need to do tweaks and filtering.

My brother seems happy with Sony blanks, OTOH he won't buy anything over the Internet so......

I use Verbatim not life series for DVD, DVD-DL and BluRay myself.

[davexnet]

Usually, the type of issue you see during playback, will determine whether the media is the problem,
or something went wrong during the encode.

If the disk plays without hesitation but you see some very quick, small "jumps" in the image, it may be an encode issue,
or a PAL/NTSC conversion taking place somewhere (either the DVD player during playback or the encoder did a quick and dirty
frame rate conversion)

If you see a freeze/picture breakup or a jump many seconds ahead, it's probably media.