Quality Control AND Menus

[noobish]

Hey all. I'm having some issues relative to making video files into a DVD. I have no trouble finding a free DVD authoring tool(s); however:

1)the AVI's i'm trying to put onto DVD (to play in a standard player) are being created easily enough but look like garbage. I mean I have 3 AVI's max per disc which add up to a total of like 900mb on average. The AVI's are of a TV series. DVD Flick works and will create chapters (each one being the next episode), but again, the quality suffers so much. WHY? I mean DVD-R's are 4.7gb and I'm not even using whole gig with 3 files at a time. The quality of the AVI's are near perfect. I know it's not the same thing but I feel like I should be able to fit 3 small files and have them come out looking decent.

2) I can't find a way to create a menu for the DVD's. I have only used DVD Flick and one other one called Easy Video to DVD or Easy DVD Creator (Link: www.divxtodvd.net), which is really basic and doesn't even offer a way to make menu's for the disc. Also, the same thing as far as quality happens with this one.

So, yeah, I'm assuming I'm prob using some bottom shelf apps to create the DVD, so any (preferably FREE) software rec's would be greatly appreciated. Even more so, though, I need help regarding the quality b/c I guessing I'm prob doing something wrong as I am new to this.

[chowmein]

Maybe the source avis are crap to begin with?

[manono]

AVI's (like DivX or XviD) compress better than does MPEG-2 used for DVD video. If you're trying to convert your 900 MB worth of AVIs to 900 MB worth of DVD, no wonder they look like crap when done. It's normally suggested to use at least 3 times the original AVI size when converting to DVD.

How long are these videos? They're hour-long shows of maybe 45 minutes each video? For a total of more than 2 hours? If so, you'll want to try and fill the DVD for best quality.

There are some free DVD authoring programs that allow for the creation of menus. I use DVDAuthorGUI quite a lot. Make a 720x480/576 BMP of what you'd like for a menu, with maybe something as simple as the names of the 3 episodes. It can convert it to M2V for use as a menu, and then you can create the necessary buttons and menu directions for what you want.

Or use the free and very good Avs2DVD for everything all at once - conversion of video and audio, simple menu creation, authoring, and burning to disc.

[Comodo]

I would sogjest AVStoDVD. It has 2 diferent encoders HCenc and Quenc you can use.I like HCenc. It does a good job converting video to DVD.AVStoDVD has simple menu and works with subs if need to. DVD styler does good job with menu criation. Personaly i never liked DVD flik.

[Comodo]

The FilmMachin.Check it out.You can't do authoring but converting is realy good.