Avi Mpeg to Dvd

[Mozart]

If I have an Avi or Mpeg how do I burn it to watch on a dvd player? Does it have to be under a certain time limit? (2hrs?)

[lisa needs braces]

Google is your friend.

[(poco) Sforzando]

If I have an Avi or Mpeg how do I burn it to watch on a dvd player? Does it have to be under a certain time limit? (2hrs?)

I use Nero software, release 6 (I'm a release behind, but it still works), and I use it to burn DVD-R's from MPEGs, AVIs, and WMVs that are no more than 2 hours as a rule for the whole DVD. I think you can get more time on a single DVD if you use the DVD-9 option, but that may interfere with quality. It works very well.

[Mozart]

I use Nero software, release 6 (I'm a release behind, but it still works), and I use it to burn DVD-R's from MPEGs, AVIs, and WMVs that are no more than 2 hours as a rule for the whole DVD. I think you can get more time on a single DVD if you use the DVD-9 option, but that may interfere with quality. It works very well.

Just my luck! I have Nero 6. Which option must I use to do it? I don't think I see that option. Is it possible to do it in advance, or must it be the same time I burn the dvd?

[Iconito]

If I have an Avi or Mpeg how do I burn it to watch on a dvd player? Does it have to be under a certain time limit? (2hrs?)

Check you player's manual. Most players play mpeg files so there's no need to convert to DVD. Just burn the mpeg files and off you go.

Some players play AVI too, but with AVIs you have to be more careful with codecs. For instance, my player reads DIVX, XVID, MP43 and 3IVX. Anything else won't play. The same goes for the audio track in your AVI file: It can be MP3, WMA, PCM, AC3 or a lot more. Again, check your player's manual. If you are downloading these AVIs, you'll find that there are LOTS of codecs out there, both for video and audio, so you have to check every file to find out if your player will read it. Otherwise, you'll have to convert either the video or the audio or both... My favorite tool for these conversions is VirtualDubMod... BUT if your player won't play AVIs at all, well, forget it...

But then again, it's VERY common for DVD players to play mpeg files, so if yours do, you can convert your AVIs to mpeg instead of DVD. What for? Well, mainly space. Mpeg at VCD quality allows for around 7+ hours of video on a 4.7 GB DVD-R vs. around 2 for DVD... And if you are parting from a downloaded AVI file chances are quality won't be much better (if any) choosing DVD instead of mpeg. Sadly, VirtualDubMod won't give you an mpeg file... For those you can try Avidemux, which is a pretty cool program (in fact, it can convert almost everything into anything, so I guess you can forget what I said about VirtualDubMod and stick to this little gem for all your conversion needs)

And buddy: If you have ANY doubt or ANY question about ANYTHING I said, please don't hesitate to use Google, Wikipedia, videohelp.com or whatever internet resource you like! 

Cheers!

[DavidW]

If I have an Avi or Mpeg how do I burn it to watch on a dvd player? Does it have to be under a certain time limit? (2hrs?)

I used to do that with ffmpeg and dvdauthor.  But the easiest thing to do is get a dvd player that supports avi playback, they almost all do now.  You can find them as cheap as $30.  Transcoding the right way takes way too long, just burning is quicker and also saves on dvd-r's.  You will quickly get back your money on dvd-r's by just buying a dvd player that supports avi playback.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I used to do that with ffmpeg and dvdauthor.  But the easiest thing to do is get a dvd player that supports avi playback, they almost all do now.  You can find them as cheap as $30.  Transcoding the right way takes way too long, just burning is quicker and also saves on dvd-r's.  You will quickly get back your money on dvd-r's by just buying a dvd player that supports avi playback.

Sounds good, but (though I admit my experience is very limited here) if I create the DVD via Nero, I can edit, add menus, create chapters within a video, add a background picture to the menu, etc. And on my computer burning a DVD takes about 2 1/4 hours.

[Mozart]

I used to do that with ffmpeg and dvdauthor.  But the easiest thing to do is get a dvd player that supports avi playback, they almost all do now.  You can find them as cheap as $30.  Transcoding the right way takes way too long, just burning is quicker and also saves on dvd-r's.  You will quickly get back your money on dvd-r's by just buying a dvd player that supports avi playback.

My Dvd player is pretty new and the manual says it plays them, but I've tried and it won't recognize my marx brothers movies I think they are all Avi so I will try mpeg. I'll need to find a converter for that.

[KevinP]

Just use Nero's new file (new project?) wizard. Drag the video files into the project and it should convert them for you. You shouldn't have to convert them yourself unless it doesn't support that particular format. (My copy doesn't run on Vista so I'm going by memory here.) Converting them yourself might introduce an extra generation of lossy conversation.

[(poco) Sforzando]

My Dvd player is pretty new and the manual says it plays them, but I've tried and it won't recognize my marx brothers movies I think they are all Avi so I will try mpeg. I'll need to find a converter for that.

Use Nero. Select the make your own DVD option, then add the files and select Export. That will make MPEGs out of your AVIs.

[Mozart]

Excellent! I made an mpeg data disk and my dvd player played it with no problems. I don't think I will use it most of the time, as it has no chapters, but for things I download, it's great!

Now I'm trying the export thing, I've never seen this option before. What is a decent video bitrate?

[DavidW]

My Dvd player is pretty new and the manual says it plays them, but I've tried and it won't recognize my marx brothers movies I think they are all Avi so I will try mpeg. I'll need to find a converter for that.

Does it explicitly say that it supports divx playback?  Because from what you said it sounds like it only supports mpeg2, which is not the same thing.  That sucks that you have to transcode, it takes time and everytime you do an unnecessary transcode you run the risk of degrading pq and aq, and also getting the audio out of sync.

[Mozart]

I think it only plays mpeg2 And worse, the dvd I burned skipped at the beggining and was really really boring. I think I'll just settle for copying dvds instead of downloading, converting burning and hoping they play on my dvd player.