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Negative Sun

By Negative Sun
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Negative Sun Newbie

Negative Sun

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Does anyone know a good app besides Nero that can burn Video DVDs? (as in: DVDs you burn .avi (or other formats) files to so you can watch them on a DVD player)

 

Nero is just a resource hog on my oldtimer here and I was wondering if there was maybe an open source app that does the job just as well, I'd preferably be interested in a free proggie, but if something is so awesome that it's worth buying I'm all ears for that too :)

 

What bothers me is that it has to transcode everything to PAL DVD stuff and it takes aaages, I just wondered if it depends on what program you use or your processor or both...

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Astrotoy7 Newbie

Astrotoy7

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its encoding the source video to mpeg2(DVD) that is kicking your systems ass. Im not sure what processor you have but this is one of those instances that it definitely does help to have a faster clocked dual/multicore CPU.

 

ideally, using one proggie is most suitable but the greatest media creation apps are very top heavy nowdays... eg. Roxio 10, Adobe Encore

 

There is also the famous TmpgEnc, which has been proven to be quicker compared to other mpeg encoders, but will always be limited on an older CPU. Plus it aint free

 

http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/te4xp.html

 

If you want two smaller footprint/freeware apps that will do this >>

 

I also use a freeware converter to transcode all my media center recording to H264, and I noticed it has a PAL/NTSC dvd mode as well > might as well give it a try - tis free :D (see lower down on page) (compiles all the great Osource encoding engines/codecs like mencoder, x264 etc into one very easy to use GUI...its like SUPER but prettier and more stable IMO)

 

http://www.any-video-converter.com/download/

 

if you want a super low footprint burning app, then you can go past infrarecoder... only 2.5mb download and OSource ;) It even has an 'xpress' interface like Nero, if you prefer that rather than meandering through the options on the standard interface :)

 

http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/

 

good luck

 

mtfbwya

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Negative Sun Newbie

Negative Sun

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Sooo once I've encoded it to the proper DVD format, how do I break it down to the right way to get it playing on a DVD player?

 

Nero creates menus automatically and resizes the files if they're too big for a DVD disc...I'm just wondering, could I save time transcoding it to MPEG-2 first and then loading it into Nero? Cause it should just burn it straight away then I presume...

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Astrotoy7 Newbie

Astrotoy7

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the thing is, even though mp2 = dvd, the way dvds play is off menu/chapter structures, in the form of .vob, bup. 'wrappers' aroudn these files

 

you can get a video on dvd that just plays without menus, or even chap skips. All you need to do is get the .vob etc files that have been created and put them in a folder called "video_ts" and use nero(or infrarecorders) "burn dvd video" mode to burn onto disc.

 

At the end of the day, whatever app you use, its the encoding that will get you. Check your CPU usage when you do it, if its maxing out, then there isnt an app that will give you a large performance boost.

 

Im finding people burn onto dvd much less. especially as there is often video degradation when encoding from a smaller size *compressed* avi etc, to a 720x576 DVD.

 

Are you burning this to give to someone else, or so you can watch it on your tv ??

 

Also, I should ask, are you after linux apps only ?? If so, disregard all Ive said :D

 

mtfbwya

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Ray Jones Newbie

Ray Jones

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Sooo once I've encoded it to the proper DVD format, how do I break it down to the right way to get it playing on a DVD player?
What do you mean? When it's proper DVD format it should play??

 

Nero creates menus automatically and resizes the files if they're too big for a DVD disc...I'm just wondering, could I save time transcoding it to MPEG-2 first and then loading it into Nero? Cause it should just burn it straight away then I presume...

 

You may want to try DVDStyler. It will create a complete DVD with menu and stuff and puts it into an .ISO file which you can burn down with whatever. :)

 

 

Also, I should ask, are you after linux apps only ?? If so, disregard all Ive said
That's why I tend to propagate only software that has Linux and Windows ports as well.
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Negative Sun Newbie

Negative Sun

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At the end of the day, whatever app you use, its the encoding that will get you. Check your CPU usage when you do it, if its maxing out, then there isnt an app that will give you a large performance boost.

Yeah that's what I thought, tis cr*p...

 

Are you burning this to give to someone else, or so you can watch it on your tv ??

To watch on my own telly, as the PC isn't in a good spot to watch stuff on :/

 

Also, I should ask, are you after linux apps only ?? If so, disregard all Ive said :D

Nah, I run WinXP atm, just wondered about open source stuff as it can sometimes be as good as the stuff you'd pay for...

 

What do you mean? When it's proper DVD format it should play??

I meant how do I get it to be in those crazy .vob things and such so it plays properly, but it's ok I've figured it out now lolz...

 

You may want to try DVDStyler. It will create a complete DVD with menu and stuff and puts it into an .ISO file which you can burn down with whatever. :)

Cheers for that, and the other Linux apps as I'll switch this to a Linux machine once I get a new rig and I could use programs like that to use this oltimer as a workhorse while my other one is the main PC then :)

 

Getting a DVD player that supports DivX/XviD/x264 is the easiest way to save resources on your computer and have a DVD with a menu. You can just burn the video files to a DVD and have the DVD player generate the menu for you. Plus you don't have to transcode to an inferior format.

Two things: are they easy to get (UK resident here remember ;) ) and are they easy on the wallet? :)

 

 

 

I've tried transcoding it with other programs, but it's still excruciatingly slow, so what I'm doing atm is transcoding/burning stuff overnight so it gets to work away without it getting in the way of my daytime PC usage, cause it brings my CPU to its knees every time and makes my computer slower than an episode of Sex and the City...

 

God I want a new compy :(

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Astrotoy7 Newbie

Astrotoy7

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@ Negsun -ever thought of picking up a cheap as chips refurb pc and plugging it into your telly, run mediaportal(opensource mediacenter clone) and do all your playback from your HDD, no bullshyte burning or need for a multiformat player...an old p4 with a 64mb card will do anything, even HD files... (if you dont have a HD display though, its not worth it)... heck, ive seen peopel get away with p3/32, for playback only machines.. plug it into your telly via s-video/whatever and off you go ;)

 

as much as I think vista mediacenter is without compare in this stuff, mediaportal is a damn good Osource option for those who dont want/cant afford the relevant windows OSs. There are some phenomenal skins for it too ;)

 

There is some Linux variants, chiefly myth TV, though setting up a mythbox is wonderfully painful process :D ubuntu media center promises to be a bit friendler... still, mediaportal is the shiznit, a lot of great coders chipping in on it, continuously - far more open ended and flexible than the windows options too...

 

mtfbwya

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Negative Sun Newbie

Negative Sun

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hmmm interesting points there

 

I'm quite interested in a DivX DVD player but I'm worried that it might not recognize everything I try to play on it and it would still mean that I need to transcode stuff to DivX before I can watch it...

 

Btw, quick question, what's a quick way to check what video/audio encoding a particular file is using?

 

I like your idea as well Astro, but both options aren't doable for the near future anyways so I'll give it some thought :)

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Ray Jones Newbie

Ray Jones

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I'm using my laptop for years now for gaming or watching DVDs on my TV. ^^

 

 

Cheers for that, and the other Linux apps as I'll switch this to a Linux machine once I get a new rig and I could use programs like that to use this oltimer as a workhorse while my other one is the main PC then
Oh these are not Linux apps. There are Windows/Mac versions too. :p
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Astrotoy7 Newbie

Astrotoy7

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Btw, quick question, what's a quick way to check what video/audio encoding a particular file is using?

 

 

I mentioned this in the "DVD player" thread, so I apologise for deja vu :p

 

video inspector

 

vtb_screen.gif

 

nifty tool with a great interface. Like all good things, usable by noobs and pros alike. Great for learning about file formats too.

 

mtfbwya

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Negative Sun Newbie

Negative Sun

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Right, one last thing, I'm really interested in purchasing one of those Divx DVD players, and I'm just wondering...I've got about 8Gb worth of .avi stuff I'd like to burn to a DVD disc or two (before you ask, it's not pr0n lolz, it's the whole 5 seasons of Spiderman TAS ;) ), and I wondered how it works to burn it to a DVD to view it on one of those players, so jmac (or anyone else who knows):

 

-Do you need to burn it as a video whatever disc or do you just simply burn the .avi files as they are (like data) onto it?

-Can you use folders and subfolders?

-And I've used that VideoInspector thing (thanks Astro) and all the files are "Divx 4/5/6", but some are "Divx 3 (Fast Motion)", does that matter at all? Or will it play any Divx no matter how old school the codec is?

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Astrotoy7 Newbie

Astrotoy7

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depends on what the player supports negsun - if the salesperson has no idea - check the box :p it should be ok for most instances, in the odd instance off a fluff up - all you need to is restranscode it to settings your divx player likes.

 

Im sure googling will lead you the way to an app that is entirely geared for divx players... like all media players, it will involve setting your output to a correct frame res/framerate/bitrate that the player likes.

 

mtfbwya

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Astrotoy7 Newbie

Astrotoy7

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@negsun, there are cheap 'media players' out there - basically, they are devices that are geared to plug into a telly and play media files off a HDD(or via usb)

 

My bro in law got one for $80AUD(which is about 25 squid) Once he figured out the settings, he plays all his xvids off his usb mini drive, no need for discs. Discs are OVER man !

 

Im talkin about one of these types of things... you can pick them up at tech markets/pc supply shops ebay linky

 

mtfbwya

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