I was given a free 16X DVD burner providing I could produce a set-top DVD playable copy of a DivX/Xvid movie. I used Super DVD creator to "convert" the file.But it exploded and split it into three seperate files.

1 a .vob (1.8Gb) which seems to do nothing.

2. a .mpg (157MB) which seems to have all the audio.

3. a .m2k (4.1GB) Which is all of the video.

Obviously 6GB will not fit on a single layer 4.37 DVD-R disk.

Was I entirely wrong to think there may be a simple way to accomplish a viewable DVD?

> I was given a free 16X DVD burner providing I could produce a set-top DVD
> playable copy of a DivX/Xvid movie. I used Super DVD creator to "convert" the
> file.But it exploded and split it into three seperate files.
>
> 1 a .vob (1.8Gb) which seems to do nothing.
>
> 2. a .mpg (157MB) which seems to have all the audio.
>
> 3. a .m2k (4.1GB) Which is all of the video.
>
> Obviously 6GB will not fit on a single layer 4.37 DVD-R disk.
>
> Was I entirely wrong to think there may be a simple way to accomplish a viewable
> DVD?
>
>
>

DivxtoDVD might be what you are looking for. DivXToDVD is a 1 click solution to convert your movie files to a compatible DVD playable on your home DVD player. DivxToDVD supports most popular format such DivX, Xvid, Mov, Vob, Mpeg, Mpeg4, avi, wmv, dv and stream format. It converts your single files into a compliant DVD Video set of files and burns it on a DVD blank media DVD+-R(W). The aspect ratio can be automatically selected or forced to a specific format. The program works for NTSC and PAL video format and create automatically chapters. Multiple audio tracks are supported. The future version will create automatically DVD menu and Subtitles. Key features : - Support DivX, Xvid, Mpeg4, Mov, AVI, WMV video format and much more - Support AC3, DTS, PCM, OGG, MP3 and much more audio format - Can merge up to 4 hours of data from multiple movies or episodic files. - NTSC / PAL format or auto - Widescreen, full screen or auto - Automatic chapter creation - Preview mode to check if the source is not damaged - Quality mpeg2 encoder - Fast mpeg2 encoder ( up to 60fps ) - Save dvd structure on hard drive or burn to a blank dvd - Compatible with CopyToDVD - Multilingual support (...available languages)

>
>
> DivxtoDVD might be what you are looking for.
>
> DivXToDVD is a 1 click solution to convert your movie files to a compatible DVD
> playable on your home DVD player. DivxToDVD supports most popular format such
> DivX, Xvid, Mov, Vob, Mpeg, Mpeg4, avi, wmv, dv and stream format. It converts
> your single files into a compliant DVD Video set of files and burns it on a DVD
> blank media DVD+-R(W). The aspect ratio can be automatically selected or forced
> to a specific format. The program works for NTSC and PAL video format and create
> automatically chapters. Multiple audio tracks are supported. The future version
> will create automatically DVD menu and Subtitles.
>
> Key features :
>
> - Support DivX, Xvid, Mpeg4, Mov, AVI, WMV video format and much more
> - Support AC3, DTS, PCM, OGG, MP3 and much more audio format
> - Can merge up to 4 hours of data from multiple movies or episodic files.
> - NTSC / PAL format or auto
> - Widescreen, full screen or auto
> - Automatic chapter creation
> - Preview mode to check if the source is not damaged
> - Quality mpeg2 encoder
> - Fast mpeg2 encoder ( up to 60fps )
> - Save dvd structure on hard drive or burn to a blank dvd
> - Compatible with CopyToDVD
> - Multilingual support (...available languages)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Converting my AVI/divx CDRs to DVD!!! Awesome find dude! Just one thing on this program - when left to "automatic" the aspect looks stretched on the TV. What's the difference between 4:3 and 16:9? I assume 4:3 is "widescreen." EDIT: No matter which aspect I forced it to, it still played stretched and in full screen on my player. I have a fairly recent panasonic DVD player. Thanks in advance!

4:3 standard
16:9 widescreen

thats the ratio of length to height

> 4:3 standard
> 16:9 widescreen
>
> thats the ratio of length to height
>
Thanks though, I'll go with 16:9 then. Which one will make it so that it isn't stretched out the full aspect of the TV like a convex bubble? I have just an ol' standard magnavox TV like 29" or something. 16:9 should should the full movie just with that nice panoramic widescreen effect right? Thanks again!

I came up with that one with some googling, as well as Super DVD Creator. There is also a Nero product called ReCode 2, which I couldn't et to work.

The problem with the first two is the final quality is actually vastly inferior to the orginal DivX/Xvid .avi

The programs are good in terms of simplicity of use, but the final product isn't worth it.

EvilDrak, don't go getting a hard on about converting all those CDR AVI's yet.

I think I'm just going to tackle the learning curve and go the TMPGenc route.

> I came up with that one with some googling, as well as Super DVD Creator. There
> is also a Nero product called ReCode 2, which I couldn't et to work.
>
> The problem with the first two is the final quality is actually vastly inferior
> to the orginal DivX/Xvid .avi
>
> The programs are good in terms of simplicity of use, but the final product isn't
> worth it.
>
> EvilDrak, don't go getting a hard on about converting all those CDR AVI's yet.
>
> I think I'm just going to tackle the learning curve and go the TMPGenc route.
>
>

> I came up with that one with some googling, as well as Super DVD Creator. There
> is also a Nero product called ReCode 2, which I couldn't et to work.
>
> The problem with the first two is the final quality is actually vastly inferior
> to the orginal DivX/Xvid .avi
>
> The programs are good in terms of simplicity of use, but the final product isn't
> worth it.
>
> EvilDrak, don't go getting a hard on about converting all those CDR AVI's yet.
>
> I think I'm just going to tackle the learning curve and go the TMPGenc route.
>
>
Tried the 16:9 forced conversion with that DIVXtoDVD, didn't make any difference. The movie still played like a stretched convex bubble.

> > I came up with that one with some googling, as well as Super DVD Creator.
> There
> > is also a Nero product called ReCode 2, which I couldn't et to work.
> >
> > The problem with the first two is the final quality is actually vastly
> inferior
> > to the orginal DivX/Xvid .avi
> >
> > The programs are good in terms of simplicity of use, but the final product
> isn't
> > worth it.
> >
> > EvilDrak, don't go getting a hard on about converting all those CDR AVI's yet.
> >
> > I think I'm just going to tackle the learning curve and go the TMPGenc route.
> >
> >
>
I can't be arsed with choosing from 10 different aspect options, and over 50 other settings that don't make a bit of sense to me or any other average poor sap who just wants to be able to watch their AVI/DIVX movies on a DVD player. I want a one click solution.... DIVX/AVI/MPEG -> DVD, click GO.. DIVXtoDVD offers that, in under 30 minutes no less, compared to an hour and a half with TMPGEnc. I did not like it then, and even with the wizard in its latest revisions I still don't care for it. Does it even improve the quality of whatever your original DIVX/AVI might be? Then I might bother with the learning curve. TMPGEnc may be good for some people (AV gurus and such), but not for a completely AV stupid user who just wants to convert their AVI/DivX movies to DVD quick and easy. Thanks for all your suggestions guys.

> I can't be arsed with choosing from 10 different aspect options, and over 50
> other settings that don't make a bit of sense to me or any other average poor
> sap who just wants to be able to watch their AVI/DIVX movies on a DVD player. I
> want a one click solution.... DIVX/AVI/MPEG -> DVD, click GO.. DIVXtoDVD offers
> that, in under 30 minutes no less, compared to an hour and a half with TMPGEnc.
> I did not like it then, and even with the wizard in its latest revisions I still
> don't care for it. TMPGEnc may be good for some people (AV gurus and such), but
> not for a completely AV stupid user who just wants to convert their AVI/DivX
> movies to DVD quick and easy. Thanks for all your suggestions guys.
>
>
>

Get a real DVD player. the Phillips DVP642 is dirt cheap and kicks much ass (plays divx/xvid just fine in addition to mpeg files). Quit burning subpar transcoded copies of your movies and just play 'em in their already degraded video format without fucking them up anymore.

>
> > I can't be arsed with choosing from 10 different aspect options, and over 50
> > other settings that don't make a bit of sense to me or any other average poor
> > sap who just wants to be able to watch their AVI/DIVX movies on a DVD player.
> I
> > want a one click solution.... DIVX/AVI/MPEG -> DVD, click GO.. DIVXtoDVD
> offers
> > that, in under 30 minutes no less, compared to an hour and a half with
> TMPGEnc.
> > I did not like it then, and even with the wizard in its latest revisions I
> still
> > don't care for it. TMPGEnc may be good for some people (AV gurus and such),
> but
> > not for a completely AV stupid user who just wants to convert their AVI/DivX
> > movies to DVD quick and easy. Thanks for all your suggestions guys.
> >
> >
> >
>
> Get a real DVD player. the Phillips DVP642 is dirt cheap and kicks much ass
> (plays divx/xvid just fine in addition to mpeg files). Quit burning subpar
> transcoded copies of your movies and just play 'em in their already degraded
> video format without fucking them up anymore.
>
>

and were looking for the simplest solution possible?

You don't want to figure out TMPGEnc, you don't want to get a dvd player that can handle divx/xvid, but you're willing to burn shit loads of DVDRs of transcoded DVDs you get for $15 a month?

You confuse me.

> and were looking for the simplest solution possible?
>
> You don't want to figure out TMPGEnc, you don't want to get a dvd player that
> can handle divx/xvid, but you're willing to burn shit loads of DVDRs of
> transcoded DVDs you get for $15 a month?
>
> You confuse me.
>
>
I mean if the quality of the source AVI/DIVX movie can't be improved with TMPGenc (which no one has either confirmed or denied yet) then it's not all that bad. Here is the math right here, did I miss something?

AVERAGE retail DVD: 20 dollars
Fuji 100-Pack 8x DVD+R Disc Spindle + Netflix monthly subscription: 79.99 + 15 dollars = around 95 dollars
100 AVERAGE retail DVDs = 2000.00

For the movies I currently HAVE in DIVX/AVI format, it would be nice to check them out on a DVD player. I will look into whether or not my DVD player plays DIVX, but I doubt ANY DVD player will play AVI movies, or will they? I did give TMPGenc a crack, albeit without any real college try to learn about all its options, which may be worthwhile if the quality is there. If I choose to convert to DVD format, then I get "space exceeds standard DVD" errors, yet the actual DVD movie (which I happen to have bought in this case some time ago) doesn't exceed 4 gigabytes. How the fuck TMPGenc got > 4 gigs for the final product of a DIXV/AVI movie is anyone's guess. Pardon my edge, but everytime this comes up it always seems to be a hassle, and I know inside it's probably best just to rent them and copy the real McCoy. Just figured I could find something nice and easy that could convert the ones I have in other formats to DVD with at least the same, if not better quality than the original DIVX/AVI. This post is part a desire to know more, and part commentary on how I see my options as they stand. Thanks.

i've realized that you really don't know anything about videos other than how to download them :(

forget everything i said and stick with your one click transcoding solutions, netflix account, spindle of dvdrs, etc.

> i've realized that you really don't know anything about videos other than how to
> download them :(
>
> forget everything i said and stick with your one click transcoding solutions,
> netflix account, spindle of dvdrs, etc.
>
>
I never claimed to know anything about converting video etc. Why do you think I inquired about a program with a fairly simple interface? I don't mind buying it either, it doesn't have to be free.
I just wanted 3 questions answered:
1) Can TMPGenc or any other program equal, or even improve the quality of an original DIVX/AVI movie? (anything above video CD tells me that I only have 30 days to utilize some MPEG2 conversion feature, at which time I will have to pay for TMPGenc plus, which is no problem if it can do the above.)
2) Will any DVD player out there play AVI movies?
3) Does anything out there have a force aspect ratio feature that actually works? (I forced both 4:3 and 16:9 in DIVXtoDVD, and it still came out 4:3 even stretched a bit)

Thanks to anyone that can offer answers to any or all of these. I am not asking for someone to hold me by the hand and go through video encoding / conversion soup to nuts, just answer a few [relatively] simple questions. Just want to know what is possible and what is not in the world of video conversion programs. Thanks again.

> 1) Can TMPGenc or any other program equal, or even improve the quality of an
> original DIVX/AVI movie? (anything above video CD tells me that I only have 30
> days to utilize some MPEG2 conversion feature, at which time I will have to pay
> for TMPGenc plus, which is no problem if it can do the above.)

When you encode to a lossy codec (divx, mp3, whatever) you're losing data that you're never getting back. You can fuck with filters to try to clean up an image, but it'll never look as good as the original.

> 2) Will any DVD player out there play AVI movies?

Phillips DVP642, like I said. It's dirt cheap and kicks much ass.

> > 1) Can TMPGenc or any other program equal, or even improve the quality of an
> > original DIVX/AVI movie? (anything above video CD tells me that I only have 30
> > days to utilize some MPEG2 conversion feature, at which time I will have to
> pay
> > for TMPGenc plus, which is no problem if it can do the above.)
>
> When you encode to a lossy codec (divx, mp3, whatever) you're losing data that
> you're never getting back. You can fuck with filters to try to clean up an
> image, but it'll never look as good as the original.
>
> > 2) Will any DVD player out there play AVI movies?
>
> Phillips DVP642, like I said. It's dirt cheap and kicks much ass.
>
>
>
I assume if the original AVI movie is full screen (not widescreen) that is what you will get after the conversion. I assume you can't take a full screen/ 4:3 AVI movie and "convert" it to widescreen, or am I wrong? If it wasn't so stretched out, it would be fine..not sure what causes that "fishbowl" effect.

DVD-Santa, the picture looks great and the audio is perfectly synched.

Fucking brilliant.

I had problems with TMPGenc, but I still think it will be the best to use after the learning curve. But as a quick solution DVD Santa worked great for me.

> DVD-Santa, the picture looks great and the audio is perfectly synched.
>
> Fucking brilliant.
>
> I had problems with TMPGenc, but I still think it will be the best to use after
> the learning curve. But as a quick solution DVD Santa worked great for me.
>

Do the TMPGEnc method.

After you've loaded the DVD template, go and change the
bitrate to something smaller than what the default value is.

There are 3 main aspect ratio's for movies

Full Screen = 4:3

Chances are your monitor is running at a 4:3 apsect ratio right now. For example, 1024 x 768. 1024 / 4 = 256 * 3 = 768

Get it ?, good

Widescreen = there are 2 standards, 1.85:1, and 1.78:1

Very little difference between them, though NTSC regions tend to favour 1.85:1 while the rest of the world uses 1.78:1 most of the time.

and finally Panavision = 2 different versions, 2.35:1 or 2.40:1 . Again, Very little difference between them, though NTSC regions tend to favour 2.35:1 while the rest of the world uses 2.40:1 most of the time.

Thats aspect ratio's in a nutshell.



http://www.emuchrist.org

> Do the TMPGEnc method.
>
> After you've loaded the DVD template, go and change the
> bitrate to something smaller than what the default value is.
>
>
>
>
>
4:3 for some reason does widescreen in DIVXtoDVD...shrugs.. works like a charm though! Might check out that DVD Santa too, sounds pretty good also.

DVDSanta is the shit. I re-encoded another movie and I still got great results. The picture is great and the audio is synched.

I used bittorrent to get DVDSanta, but I'm starting to have an unusual stirring in my loins.

I may buy it.

> DVDSanta is the shit. I re-encoded another movie and I still got great results.
> The picture is great and the audio is synched.
>
> I used bittorrent to get DVDSanta, but I'm starting to have an unusual stirring
> in my loins.
>
> I may buy it.
>
>
What quality are the source movies...does it improve them at all audio/video wise? Tell me tell me!!

Both files were divx .avi's. But that's sort of a blanket statement. While you need the DivX codec, I'm pretty sure they used XviD codec calls. The audio in both case was mp3.

In terms of improvement....forget it. When you encode something with a compression scheme like DivX or Mp3, whetever you've lost in that compression is gone forever.

However both of these rips were excellent in my opinion. The picture quality of the .avi's was great, very near DVD quality. I'm not much of an audiophile, but the sound was fine to me, and it's always sounded great coming through my stereo.

DVDSanta preserved all of that insofar as I can tell. It is a sketchy process because the proggy basically decompresses the file, and then re-encodes it to DVD values.

I've done two movies, one of which I've already deleted the source video, but here is the specs for the other one:

Video:
Type:
XviD

Runtime:
01:32:29

Resolution:
608x320

Bitrate:
930 kb/s

FPS:
23.97

Audio:

Type:
ID'd as MPEG-1 Layer 3

Bitrate:
116 kb/s (58/ch, stereo) VBR

All of that info is from GSPOT, a very very useful file for examing video files. If you use .avi movies then your probably already familiar with it.

Like I said the final DVD product is great, it looks and sounds as good as the original XviD file, which I think from comparison is very near DVD quality.

If you have some monster kick-ass sound system then you will definitely notice a difference in the sound. But you'd get that with the original file, so its not suprising that the final product sound suffers in the same way.

Otherwise I've been fucked raw with how happy I am with the final results. DVDSanta is some good shit.

BTW I've got to get off the comp and started with my Sat night. But I think I know why you were having a problem with the aspect ratios. I'll repost later with some deatils but basically 16:9 is really meant for high definition displays.

Video is really quirky, and much like you I'm less interested in being a video techie thank I am about getting results in an end-user capacity.

Which isn't to say you don't have to put you're nose to the grindstone to understand the underlying concepts. I slept for less than two hours last night and I've been working on this shit since 6am this morning. But, that's part of the fun and games for me. And I am on a budget :)

Any ideas what the password might be? hee hee

santa.zip

> Both files were divx .avi's. But that's sort of a blanket statement. While you
> need the DivX codec, I'm pretty sure they used XviD codec calls. The audio in
> both case was mp3.
>
> In terms of improvement....forget it. When you encode something with a
> compression scheme like DivX or Mp3, whetever you've lost in that compression is
> gone forever.
>
> However both of these rips were excellent in my opinion. The picture quality of
> the .avi's was great, very near DVD quality. I'm not much of an audiophile, but
> the sound was fine to me, and it's always sounded great coming through my
> stereo.
>
> DVDSanta preserved all of that insofar as I can tell. It is a sketchy process
> because the proggy basically decompresses the file, and then re-encodes it to
> DVD values.
>
> I've done two movies, one of which I've already deleted the source video, but
> here is the specs for the other one:
>
> Video:
> Type:
> XviD
>
> Runtime:
> 01:32:29
>
> Resolution:
> 608x320
>
> Bitrate:
> 930 kb/s
>
> FPS:
> 23.97
>
> Audio:
>
> Type:
> ID'd as MPEG-1 Layer 3
>
> Bitrate:
> 116 kb/s (58/ch, stereo) VBR
>
> All of that info is from GSPOT, a very very useful file for examing video files.
> If you use .avi movies then your probably already familiar with it.
>
> Like I said the final DVD product is great, it looks and sounds as good as the
> original XviD file, which I think from comparison is very near DVD quality.
>
> If you have some monster kick-ass sound system then you will definitely notice a
> difference in the sound. But you'd get that with the original file, so its not
> suprising that the final product sound suffers in the same way.
>
> Otherwise I've been fucked raw with how happy I am with the final results.
> DVDSanta is some good shit.
>
> BTW I've got to get off the comp and started with my Sat night. But I think I
> know why you were having a problem with the aspect ratios. I'll repost later
> with some deatils but basically 16:9 is really meant for high definition
> displays.
>
> Video is really quirky, and much like you I'm less interested in being a video
> techie thank I am about getting results in an end-user capacity.
>
> Which isn't to say you don't have to put you're nose to the grindstone to
> understand the underlying concepts. I slept for less than two hours last night
> and I've been working on this shit since 6am this morning. But, that's part of
> the fun and games for me. And I am on a budget :)
>
>
>
>
I love to learn, just have so much on my plate already, being a computer consultant for a living right now. Remember 100 users' passwords? Sure! Remember the difference between 4:3 and 16:9? Not so much =P And I suppose I_SHOULD_be on a budget, considering I am on a contract job and all huh? ;)

Just buy a DivX player and play all your CDR's as-is. You can get these pretty cheap. I bought a Philips dvp642 dvd player for about 80 bux canadian and its one of the best buys I ever made. I can watch all the divx, and xvid rips I already had sitting around on it with no problems......its a pretty solid dvd player too. I burn all my tv shows (from bittorrent) on CD-RW's while I'm busy doing other work and watch teh shows commercial free on my TV. Its deffinitely worth the 80bux.

> >
> >
> > DivxtoDVD might be what you are looking for.
> >
> > DivXToDVD is a 1 click solution to convert your movie files to a compatible
> DVD
> > playable on your home DVD player. DivxToDVD supports most popular format such
> > DivX, Xvid, Mov, Vob, Mpeg, Mpeg4, avi, wmv, dv and stream format. It converts
> > your single files into a compliant DVD Video set of files and burns it on a
> DVD
> > blank media DVD+-R(W). The aspect ratio can be automatically selected or
> forced
> > to a specific format. The program works for NTSC and PAL video format and
> create
> > automatically chapters. Multiple audio tracks are supported. The future
> version
> > will create automatically DVD menu and Subtitles.
> >
> > Key features :
> >
> > - Support DivX, Xvid, Mpeg4, Mov, AVI, WMV video format and much more
> > - Support AC3, DTS, PCM, OGG, MP3 and much more audio format
> > - Can merge up to 4 hours of data from multiple movies or episodic files.
> > - NTSC / PAL format or auto
> > - Widescreen, full screen or auto
> > - Automatic chapter creation
> > - Preview mode to check if the source is not damaged
> > - Quality mpeg2 encoder
> > - Fast mpeg2 encoder ( up to 60fps )
> > - Save dvd structure on hard drive or burn to a blank dvd
> > - Compatible with CopyToDVD
> > - Multilingual support (...available languages)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> Converting my AVI/divx CDRs to DVD!!! Awesome find dude! Just one thing on this
> program - when left to "automatic" the aspect looks stretched on the TV. What's
> the difference between 4:3 and 16:9? I assume 4:3 is "widescreen." EDIT: No
> matter which aspect I forced it to, it still played stretched and in full screen
> on my player. I have a fairly recent panasonic DVD player. Thanks in advance!
>

> Just buy a DivX player and play all your CDR's as-is. You can get these pretty
> cheap. I bought a Philips dvp642 dvd player for about 80 bux canadian and its
> one of the best buys I ever made. I can watch all the divx, and xvid rips I
> already had sitting around on it with no problems......its a pretty solid dvd
> player too. I burn all my tv shows (from bittorrent) on CD-RW's while I'm busy
> doing other work and watch teh shows commercial free on my TV. Its deffinitely
> worth the 80bux.
>
> > >
> > >
> > > DivxtoDVD might be what you are looking for.
> > >
> > > DivXToDVD is a 1 click solution to convert your movie files to a compatible
> > DVD
> > > playable on your home DVD player. DivxToDVD supports most popular format
> such
> > > DivX, Xvid, Mov, Vob, Mpeg, Mpeg4, avi, wmv, dv and stream format. It
> converts
> > > your single files into a compliant DVD Video set of files and burns it on a
> > DVD
> > > blank media DVD+-R(W). The aspect ratio can be automatically selected or
> > forced
> > > to a specific format. The program works for NTSC and PAL video format and
> > create
> > > automatically chapters. Multiple audio tracks are supported. The future
> > version
> > > will create automatically DVD menu and Subtitles.
> > >
> > > Key features :
> > >
> > > - Support DivX, Xvid, Mpeg4, Mov, AVI, WMV video format and much more
> > > - Support AC3, DTS, PCM, OGG, MP3 and much more audio format
> > > - Can merge up to 4 hours of data from multiple movies or episodic files.
> > > - NTSC / PAL format or auto
> > > - Widescreen, full screen or auto
> > > - Automatic chapter creation
> > > - Preview mode to check if the source is not damaged
> > > - Quality mpeg2 encoder
> > > - Fast mpeg2 encoder ( up to 60fps )
> > > - Save dvd structure on hard drive or burn to a blank dvd
> > > - Compatible with CopyToDVD
> > > - Multilingual support (...available languages)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Converting my AVI/divx CDRs to DVD!!! Awesome find dude! Just one thing on
> this
> > program - when left to "automatic" the aspect looks stretched on the TV.
> What's
> > the difference between 4:3 and 16:9? I assume 4:3 is "widescreen." EDIT: No
> > matter which aspect I forced it to, it still played stretched and in full
> screen
> > on my player. I have a fairly recent panasonic DVD player. Thanks in advance!
> >
>
>
>

> Any ideas what the password might be? hee hee
>
> santa.zip
>
>
>