Creating a DVD

[Trevor Lawrence]

I have tried several times to get some general info on creating DVDs, but I
never seem to get what I want

I have Ulead Movie Factory, and I have been able to create with it a DVD
with menus, etc. that plays perfectly on the PC.

What I want is a DVD that plays on a DVD player. As far as I can tell my DVD
Player supports MPEG1 and MPEG2.

When I create the DVD in ULead, the input is an AVI file, and I choose an
appropriate output, e.g PAL - for Australia. This creates VOB files which I
write to DVD.

I am wondering - are the VOB files merely containers for the actual files
which are themselves AVI ? (This may explain why they don't play on the DVD
player.)

Is there some way of telling what they contain, e.g. is there some software
that reads the files and reports what they are - what codecs, if that is
relevant ?

Would converting the files to .mpg (MPEG! or MPEG2) first change what is
output ?
If so, what free (and virus free) conversion software can I find ?

I have downloaded Plato which seems to work OK - at least the converted file
plays OK on the PC. It may be this one
http://www.download.com/Plato-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-10375465.html
a.. License:Free to try; $39.95 to buy
a.. Average User Rating: (out of 53 votes) Rate it!
a.. Downloads: 66,426
a.. Requirements: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server
a.. Limitations: 50-percent conversion trial
a.. Date Added:January 24, 2008
I note the limitation, but I don't know what it means - 50% of what?
I actually got it from
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/plato-video-converter/ (no longer available)

Or are there other better ones? (I have had SourceForge suggested.).
Or would Windows Media Encoder do this?

I have a couple of years of avi tapes that I can only play directly on the
TV or copy to VHS, so I need all the help I can find to create a playable
DVD. .

 

[Ralphinator]

I have tried several times to get some general info on creating DVDs, but I
never seem to get what I want

I have Ulead Movie Factory, and I have been able to create with it a DVD
with menus, etc. that plays perfectly on the PC.

What I want is a DVD that plays on a DVD player. As far as I can tell my
DVD Player supports MPEG1 and MPEG2.

When I create the DVD in ULead, the input is an AVI file, and I choose an
appropriate output, e.g PAL - for Australia. This creates VOB files which
I write to DVD.

I am wondering - are the VOB files merely containers for the actual files
which are themselves AVI ? (This may explain why they don't play on the
DVD player.)

Is there some way of telling what they contain, e.g. is there some
software that reads the files and reports what they are - what codecs, if
that is relevant ?

Would converting the files to .mpg (MPEG! or MPEG2) first change what is
output ?
If so, what free (and virus free) conversion software can I find ?

I have downloaded Plato which seems to work OK - at least the converted
file plays OK on the PC. It may be this one
http://www.download.com/Plato-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-10375465.html
a.. License:Free to try; $39.95 to buy
a.. Average User Rating: (out of 53 votes) Rate it!
a.. Downloads: 66,426
a.. Requirements: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server
a.. Limitations: 50-percent conversion trial
a.. Date Added:January 24, 2008
I note the limitation, but I don't know what it means - 50% of what?
I actually got it from
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/plato-video-converter/ (no longer
available)

Or are there other better ones? (I have had SourceForge suggested.).
Or would Windows Media Encoder do this?

I have a couple of years of avi tapes that I can only play directly on the
TV or copy to VHS, so I need all the help I can find to create a playable
DVD. .
--
Trevor Lawrence
Canberra
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
MVP Web Site http://trevorl.mvps.org

It might be a simple matter that the type of media you are using to burn the
DVD movie onto is not compatible with your home DVD player. Some home
players are picky. If you use any program that burns a movie as a DVD (in
that you get VOB files, and the like) then you are creating an actual DVD. I
believe the compression that DVD uses is Mpeg-2 (or is it 4??) so to answer
one of your questions, no, the VOB files do not contain the avi files. they
contain video files in MPEG compression format.

Try your burned DVD's in another home player, or try switching DVD media. I
have always found Verbatim to work good for me, but I am sure others will
have their opinions as well.

One last point. Are you finalizing the DVD?? If you do not, it won't play in
a home player.

 

[Trevor Lawrence]

Thanks for the reply

It might be a simple matter that the type of media you are using to burn
the DVD movie onto is not compatible with your home DVD player. Some home
players are picky.

This has been suggested, but I am using the same DVDs as those that I have
used before - successfully

If you use any program that burns a movie as a DVD (in that you get VOB
files, and the like) then you are creating an actual DVD. I believe the
compression that DVD uses is Mpeg-2 (or is it 4??) so to answer one of
your questions, no, the VOB files do not contain the avi files. they
contain video files in MPEG compression format.

Well, that's some info I didn't have before

Try your burned DVD's in another home player, or try switching DVD media.
I have always found Verbatim to work good for me, but I am sure others
will have their opinions as well.

Hmm.
Re suggestion 1, I don't have another. I would have to ask someone else.

Re suggestion 2, I have a packet of TDK DVD+RWs. I could buy some of another
brand, but as I say the TDKs have worked before

One last point. Are you finalizing the DVD?? If you do not, it won't play
in a home player.

This suggestion keeps coming up again and again. And my only reply (usually
to myself) is HOW?

I don't recall seeing this option in ULead. What does one see, and if the
option isn't there, what else does one do to finalise the DVD?

Yours in confusion.
Trevor Lawrence
Canberra
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
MVP Web Site http://trevorl.mvps.org