Video Clip

Gill P · 01-03-2009, 10:03

I have a few files on my computer which are called "video clips" They are quite short and I want to put them onto a DVD which I can play on my Panasonic DVD Recorder/Player. I have managed to put them onto a disc via Nero and also had a go with WMPlayer burn facility.

However I cannot play them on the DVD player as it is the wrong format.

Does anyone have any idea what I am doing wrong please?

Thanks.

Willie Wontie · 01-03-2009, 10:40

Is your DVD player capable of playing back video files (as opposed to DVD video files, which must be burnt to disc using DVD recording software such as Roxio/Nero etc)?

If your DVD player is capable of playing DivX files (AVI files) then use a utility such as Doctor DivX to convert them to AVI files and burn them to DVD.

If your DVD player is capable of playing WMA files, use Windows Media player to convert the videos into WMA format.

If your DVD player is capable of playing MPEG files (and this is fairly unlikely) use a utility to convert them into MPEG files (I use TMPGEnc).

But don't assume that just because a file is viewable on a computer using Windows Media Player (which can play back almost every form of video file under the sun) that copying the file directly to a blank DVD and putting that DVD disc in your Panasonic DVD player will make that be able to play the same file back. Windows Media Player is a piece of computer software designed for the Windows operating system - and your DVD recorder does not have either Microsoft Windows or Windows Media Player installed on it.

Gill P · 01-03-2009, 12:27

Thanks for your comprehensive reply. I will look into it. I do have TMPGEnc but only version 2.1. If think I can upgrade to a higher version for not much money - or even free, so I will have another look at that.

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 06:16

I have discovered that these files are already .avi. I wonder if I should convert them to another format.

Willie Wontie · 02-03-2009, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill P

I have discovered that these files are already .avi. I wonder if I should convert them to another format.

Have you checked whether your DVD recorder is capable of playing AVI files? Some are. Some aren't.

IvanIV · 02-03-2009, 09:45

Nowadays you can get cheaply DVD players/recorders that can play AVI XVID/DIVX files (most common format). Converting them to DVD Video will decrease the picture quality and you'll have a size limitation. For a reasonable DVD Video quality you can put up to ~1.5 hours on a single layered DVD disc, you could put ~6 times more on the same disc in XVID/DIVX format. The conversion is not worth the effort, IMO.

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 09:51

I do have two recorders - one is a Panasonic with all bells and whistles and the other is a bog-standard Daewoo which plays other formats. I will have a go with that.

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 11:58

Right, I have tried the discs in the Daewoo with no joy at all. I aslso tried converting one of the clips on TMPGEnc 2.5 (trial verson) and it did change the format but there was no sound!

sancheeez · 02-03-2009, 12:07

Video conversion is a total minefield if you don't know what you are doing.

.AVI is a container. It could be anything in there. From what I remember of using TMPGEnc, I seem to remember it had trouble with VBR MP3 audio streams. I had to de-mux the audi with VirtualDub, re-encode the video, and then re-mux the audio. This was in the days before DivX compliant DVD players and I was making SVCD's. The key was knowing EXACTLY what the format of your input file was. If you got that wrong, you are always going to strugle to get a good result.

Download gspot and examine the source files. Then head to videohelp.com .... I guarantee there will be info there that will do the trick for you.

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 12:34

Thanks for that. At least I am learning stuff while trying this - not bad for someone of 72!

And a woman at that.

sancheeez · 02-03-2009, 12:51

Wow!

If you are 72 and attempting to get your head round video conversion on a PC I applaud you! Seriously!

It can be a real PITA!

(PS ... my dad is a few years younger than you and I have to fix his e-mail or firewall when the simplest thing goes wrong and my mum pretty much won't go near the PC! Silver surfers rule!

)

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 13:26

Thank you for your kind comments.

Quote:

Silver surfers rule!

Actually I still have my natural colour (with a little bit of silver round the edge!)

I did the gspot test and there is a file missing. It is a codec thing again.

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 15:49

I have downloaded DivX and it seems to be working OK. I have all the clips on the project (it is almost the same as TMPGEnc) and am going to do a menu before building the DVD!

Thanks everyone for your assistance.

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 18:20

Scrub that! Apparently the DivX program only converts to MPEG4 which my DVD player won't play.

Back to square one!

sancheeez · 02-03-2009, 18:42

Do you want them to play on any old DVD player?

In which case you'll need DVD authoring software. Have a look here:

http://www.videohelp.com/author

Which should give you a series of guides on how to author DVD's.

And here:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools?listu...rby=Type&s=2#2

Which should be a list of DVD authoring tools. With the freeware ones at the top.

If you are happy for it to play on your Daewoo which sounds like it will play DivX but doesn't like the audio stream in your original files (very common .... there are tons of variations on DivX and standalones seldom like them all), then you maybe just need to re-encode the original, or possibly even just extract the audio, re-encode that, and then re-integrate it.

Have a good browse around the videohelp site. That place is the bible for video conversion. If it's not on there, chances are it can't be done.

bishy · 02-03-2009, 18:49

Hi Gill,

Download dvd flick from here :- http://www.dvdflick.net/ It is a freeware prog. so no cost involved!!!!!

Once installed, load up your avi files, put in a blank dvd and dvd flick will convert the files and burn them to the dvd into a format that is compatilble with your dvd player. It will also put a menu on the front of the dvd so that when you put it in your dvd player, you can select which files you would like to play.

I hope that this is clear, if not post back and we'll see if we can help more.

Speak to you soon.

bishy.

sancheeez · 02-03-2009, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishy

Hi Gill,

Download dvd flick from here :- http://www.dvdflick.net/ It is a freeware prog. so no cost involved!!!!!

And if you're still not sure, heres a guide on videohelp to using that very app:

http://www.videohelp.com/guides/cate...c-dvd-3;6#1084

(The top guide, it'll link you offsite)

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 19:46

Thanks Bishy and Sancheeez. I do have an authoring software in TMPGEnc 2.0 which is quite adequate for my use. I will let you know how I get on.

Gill P · 02-03-2009, 22:26

Well, I have had a go. I printed off both the video help guide and the user guide to browse at my leisure. I have loaded my seven clips onto the program and edited the titles. I had a go with the menu but it froze. I will have another go tomorrow and then build the DVD and burn it.

Gill P · 03-03-2009, 10:30

Hooray! It works. I read the instructions thoroughly and then built the DVD, making sure I had click the "Burn to disc" button first.

Thank you one and all - I have been struggling with this for over a week.

bishy · 03-03-2009, 10:30

Hi Gill,

I have always found TMPGEnc quirky to use, if all settings (video and audio) are not just right, it seems to fail.

Once again I would recommend DVDFlick as all you do is add all your video files, insert a blank DVD and go. It automatically adds a front menu (Background of your choice) and the end result will play in any DVD recorder........best of all it's free!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a go and let us know how you get on.

Speak to you soon.

bishy.

Edit: posted at the same time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! glad you had some success..........Speak to you soon........bishy.

+3dB · 03-03-2009, 10:53

Do you have Vista? If so, it comes with some basic but decent DVD authoring software called - naturally enough - Windows DVD maker.

You can drag up to 150 minutes of video clips into it then convert and burn them to a standard DVD which can be played on any player.

IvanIV · 03-03-2009, 10:53

I had been using TMPGEnc DVD authoring programme quite extensively and it was a nice little programme. Paired with the TMPGEnc MPEG2 encoder you have everything you need for DVD authoring. I found the encoder a bit slow, I was using Cinema Craft Encoder instead at the time, but it will do.

Gill P · 03-03-2009, 11:46

No I don't have Vista unfortunately, but my husband does on his laptop. My computer is faster than his so I don't think I'll bother with using his. However, I might have a go when he is playing golf tomorrow morning!

My Panasonic DVD recorder has a partial edit facility so will use that as well as TMPGEnc.

Gill P · 05-03-2009, 12:17

I couldn't find Windows DVD Maker on my husband's laptop! Anyway I see to be having no trouble with DVD Flick. Great little program.

Thanks once again.

01-03-2009, 10:03	#1
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Video Clip I have a few files on my computer which are called "video clips" They are quite short and I want to put them onto a DVD which I can play on my Panasonic DVD Recorder/Player. I have managed to put them onto a disc via Nero and also had a go with WMPlayer burn facility. However I cannot play them on the DVD player as it is the wrong format. Does anyone have any idea what I am doing wrong please? Thanks.

01-03-2009, 10:40	#2
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	Is your DVD player capable of playing back video files (as opposed to DVD video files, which must be burnt to disc using DVD recording software such as Roxio/Nero etc)? If your DVD player is capable of playing DivX files (AVI files) then use a utility such as Doctor DivX to convert them to AVI files and burn them to DVD. If your DVD player is capable of playing WMA files, use Windows Media player to convert the videos into WMA format. If your DVD player is capable of playing MPEG files (and this is fairly unlikely) use a utility to convert them into MPEG files (I use TMPGEnc). But don't assume that just because a file is viewable on a computer using Windows Media Player (which can play back almost every form of video file under the sun) that copying the file directly to a blank DVD and putting that DVD disc in your Panasonic DVD player will make that be able to play the same file back. Windows Media Player is a piece of computer software designed for the Windows operating system - and your DVD recorder does not have either Microsoft Windows or Windows Media Player installed on it.

01-03-2009, 12:27	#3
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Thanks for your comprehensive reply. I will look into it. I do have TMPGEnc but only version 2.1. If think I can upgrade to a higher version for not much money - or even free, so I will have another look at that.

02-03-2009, 06:16	#4
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	I have discovered that these files are already .avi. I wonder if I should convert them to another format.

02-03-2009, 09:17	#5
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	Quote: Originally Posted by Gill P I have discovered that these files are already .avi. I wonder if I should convert them to another format. Have you checked whether your DVD recorder is capable of playing AVI files? Some are. Some aren't.

02-03-2009, 09:45	#6
IvanIV Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 25,199	Nowadays you can get cheaply DVD players/recorders that can play AVI XVID/DIVX files (most common format). Converting them to DVD Video will decrease the picture quality and you'll have a size limitation. For a reasonable DVD Video quality you can put up to ~1.5 hours on a single layered DVD disc, you could put ~6 times more on the same disc in XVID/DIVX format. The conversion is not worth the effort, IMO.

02-03-2009, 09:51	#7
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	I do have two recorders - one is a Panasonic with all bells and whistles and the other is a bog-standard Daewoo which plays other formats. I will have a go with that.

02-03-2009, 11:58	#8
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Right, I have tried the discs in the Daewoo with no joy at all. I aslso tried converting one of the clips on TMPGEnc 2.5 (trial verson) and it did change the format but there was no sound!

02-03-2009, 12:07	#9
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	Video conversion is a total minefield if you don't know what you are doing. .AVI is a container. It could be anything in there. From what I remember of using TMPGEnc, I seem to remember it had trouble with VBR MP3 audio streams. I had to de-mux the audi with VirtualDub, re-encode the video, and then re-mux the audio. This was in the days before DivX compliant DVD players and I was making SVCD's. The key was knowing EXACTLY what the format of your input file was. If you got that wrong, you are always going to strugle to get a good result. Download gspot and examine the source files. Then head to videohelp.com .... I guarantee there will be info there that will do the trick for you.

02-03-2009, 12:34	#10
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Thanks for that. At least I am learning stuff while trying this - not bad for someone of 72! And a woman at that.

02-03-2009, 12:51	#11
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	Wow! If you are 72 and attempting to get your head round video conversion on a PC I applaud you! Seriously! It can be a real PITA! (PS ... my dad is a few years younger than you and I have to fix his e-mail or firewall when the simplest thing goes wrong and my mum pretty much won't go near the PC! Silver surfers rule! )

02-03-2009, 13:26	#12
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Thank you for your kind comments. Quote: Silver surfers rule! Actually I still have my natural colour (with a little bit of silver round the edge!) I did the gspot test and there is a file missing. It is a codec thing again.

02-03-2009, 15:49	#13
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	I have downloaded DivX and it seems to be working OK. I have all the clips on the project (it is almost the same as TMPGEnc) and am going to do a menu before building the DVD! Thanks everyone for your assistance.

02-03-2009, 18:20	#14
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Scrub that! Apparently the DivX program only converts to MPEG4 which my DVD player won't play. Back to square one!

02-03-2009, 18:42	#15
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	Do you want them to play on any old DVD player? In which case you'll need DVD authoring software. Have a look here: http://www.videohelp.com/author Which should give you a series of guides on how to author DVD's. And here: http://www.videohelp.com/tools?listu...rby=Type&s=2#2 Which should be a list of DVD authoring tools. With the freeware ones at the top. If you are happy for it to play on your Daewoo which sounds like it will play DivX but doesn't like the audio stream in your original files (very common .... there are tons of variations on DivX and standalones seldom like them all), then you maybe just need to re-encode the original, or possibly even just extract the audio, re-encode that, and then re-integrate it. Have a good browse around the videohelp site. That place is the bible for video conversion. If it's not on there, chances are it can't be done.

02-03-2009, 18:49	#16
bishy Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ramsgate Kent UK Posts: 67	Hi Gill, Download dvd flick from here :- http://www.dvdflick.net/ It is a freeware prog. so no cost involved!!!!! Once installed, load up your avi files, put in a blank dvd and dvd flick will convert the files and burn them to the dvd into a format that is compatilble with your dvd player. It will also put a menu on the front of the dvd so that when you put it in your dvd player, you can select which files you would like to play. I hope that this is clear, if not post back and we'll see if we can help more. Speak to you soon. bishy.

02-03-2009, 18:51	#17
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	Quote: Originally Posted by bishy Hi Gill, Download dvd flick from here :- http://www.dvdflick.net/ It is a freeware prog. so no cost involved!!!!! And if you're still not sure, heres a guide on videohelp to using that very app: http://www.videohelp.com/guides/cate...c-dvd-3;6#1084 (The top guide, it'll link you offsite)

02-03-2009, 19:46	#18
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Thanks Bishy and Sancheeez. I do have an authoring software in TMPGEnc 2.0 which is quite adequate for my use. I will let you know how I get on.

02-03-2009, 22:26	#19
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Well, I have had a go. I printed off both the video help guide and the user guide to browse at my leisure. I have loaded my seven clips onto the program and edited the titles. I had a go with the menu but it froze. I will have another go tomorrow and then build the DVD and burn it.

03-03-2009, 10:30	#20
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	Hooray! It works. I read the instructions thoroughly and then built the DVD, making sure I had click the "Burn to disc" button first. Thank you one and all - I have been struggling with this for over a week.

DS Forums

Video Clip

03-03-2009, 10:53	#22
+3dB Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,716	Do you have Vista? If so, it comes with some basic but decent DVD authoring software called - naturally enough - Windows DVD maker. You can drag up to 150 minutes of video clips into it then convert and burn them to a standard DVD which can be played on any player.

03-03-2009, 11:46	#24
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	No I don't have Vista unfortunately, but my husband does on his laptop. My computer is faster than his so I don't think I'll bother with using his. However, I might have a go when he is playing golf tomorrow morning! My Panasonic DVD recorder has a partial edit facility so will use that as well as TMPGEnc.

05-03-2009, 12:17	#25
Gill P Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15,745	I couldn't find Windows DVD Maker on my husband's laptop! Anyway I see to be having no trouble with DVD Flick. Great little program. Thanks once again.