Do I burn a load of vob files??? or just 1

[adamp007]

When I have looked at the files on a DVd there are a load of them. Does this mean that i should not have 1 complete AVI but in fact have many small ones all encoded and then they run together without any pause etc.

I am a little confused at this so if anyone could help I would be grateful.

Many Thanks
Adam

[Truman]

what are you planning to do? Encode to avi or mpeg or what?

[Darkbird]

Some of the extra files are there because the DVD standard mandates file sizes be 1GB or less. So a typical movie may have four or five VOB files.

Some DVD's put special features into separate files.

Lastly, the DVD standard also mandates that there must be two copies of the file used for navigating/playing a VOB video file. The main navigation files are IFO, the backups are BUP.

To answer the original question, no, you will normally only have one AVI file for a movie.

[adamp007]

Thanks for the replies.

I will be encoding very large AVI files into MPEG2 (DVD) compliant files (with a view to txferring to DVDR when i get the dosh to buy the right drive). This will be producing around 1.5hrs-2hrs of MPEG2 streams which will be around 4 gig in size. I would like to be able to 'chapter' the video and so this was the reason as to why there were lots of smaller files. Is there an online guide to how DVD's are built up - I would be using some kind of authoring software to produce the DVd but without the instructions I was not sure.

I can assume that the number of VOB files does not equal the number of 'chapters' in a DVD.

If you provided a 4 gig MPEG2 file for authoring does the software itself split the file up into <1gig VOB's - that is really what I am asking.

Thanks

[Truman]

You can encode the AVI to a DVD compliant MPEG-2 with a MPEG encoder like TMPG or CCE and use SpruceUp to author and burn to DVD-R.
But I am not sure, whether the tools can handle >4gig files. For DVD related questions visit this FAQ site .

[AntnyMD]

My memory fails, but I think SpruceUp accepts AVI (dont quote me). If your MPEG is DVD compliant (DVD has a huge range of compliant file types sizes and resolutions), the authoring software should accept one giant file and chunk it into the .99gb(/1gb) files required as the max in the DVD spec.

Since I only make miniDVD/cDVD at this time, I havent even come close to the .99gb(/1gb) barrier.

[adamp007]

Out of interest, what authoring software do you use for cDVD/Mini DVD. The software that currently comes with the Pioneer DVDR drive (saving for rapidly!) is the MyDVD but it does not seem to be that great. Is Spruce a lot better - does anyone have experience of it??

[andydd]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-08-15 06:18:54, adamp007 wrote:
Thanks for the replies.

I will be encoding very large AVI files into MPEG2 (DVD) compliant files (with a view to txferring to DVDR when i get the dosh to buy the right drive). This will be producing around 1.5hrs-2hrs of MPEG2 streams which will be around 4 gig in size. I would like to be able to 'chapter' the video and so this was the reason as to why there were lots of smaller files. Is there an online guide to how DVD's are built up - I would be using some kind of authoring software to produce the DVd but without the instructions I was not sure.

I can assume that the number of VOB files does not equal the number of 'chapters' in a DVD.

If you provided a 4 gig MPEG2 file for authoring does the software itself split the file up into <1gig VOB's - that is really what I am asking.

Thanks
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Check out my guides at area450.co.uk they are about miniDVD but a lot of it is the same as making a DVD..You'll prob wanna play with lots of DVD authoring software b4 you find one you like..DVDwise/Quickbuilder is good to start on (although it is a bit crap at times) its a good learning tool then try DVDit or spruce up is good

[AntnyMD]

I currently use SpruceUp 1.0 (demo available; crackable), but the holy grail here would be Spruce Virtuoso (no demo available).

[Darkbird]

Adamp007: No, one VOB file does not equal one chapter. And Yes, the authoring software breaks the VOB's down into 1GB files.

A couple tips for you, since you're going the direction that I took (making dvd compliant mpeg now for dvd burning later) . . .

1) Be careful of the maximum bitrate. Some encoders can produce high peak rates that will cause your video to be rejected for authoring. Since getting my dvd burner, I'm now encoding vbr files with a max bitrate of 7.5Mbps in order to leave plenty of cushion. If your encoder has a "DVD Compliant" option, use it.

2) Watch the size of those GOP's. The number of fields per GOP shouldn't go above 36. With NTSC 29.97fps video, I make the GOP size equal to 15 frames. With NTSC 23.97fps video that has 3:2 pulldown (most ripped movies), I make the GOP size equal to 12 frames. Both the CCE and tmpegenc encoders default to a 15 frame GOP which has caused problems with 23.97fps movies and 3:2 pulldown being accepted by my authoring software. Apparently the software thinks that combination is producing 37 or 38 fields per GOP because of the pulldown duplication of fields.

[adamp007]

Thanks for all the help - I will only be encoding my own AVI (personally I buy all the DVD's that I want - it is so much easier) using LSX encoder 3.5. Didn't realise about the GOP thing so I will look into that as well.

Thanks again
Adam

[AntnyMD]

Yes, apparently the GOP thing is very important. I only learned about this after reading all the documentation I could get my hands on ... info on that GOP requirement in the DVD spec is rarely mentioned! I think all my encoding preparing for DVD has been for naught! (*sigh*)

[Mdanner423]

Ok,

you guys got me a little confused... I am getting a DVD-r in the mail tom morning, with my new compaq!!! I thought i had everything figured out, but, you say my movies cant be more then one gig? Will spruce up seperate them? Will there be a pause? If i have to split them with TMPGENC so they will be under 1 gig, then spruce up doesnt support going from one clip to another without going back to the menu...

Matthew

[AntnyMD]

Do not split your >1gb files. Spruce will do it for you. End of story. However, simulate your DVD before burning your free DVD-R and creating yet another coaster.

[Mdanner423]

Thanks, i was worried there for a sec... I bought a dvd-rw, it came in today, so i will test on it first... I am shocked i was able to talk my parents into this compaq and the pioneer dv-343... I hope they arent being so nice because i am deathly ill or something...