Burning DVD question

Shun · Post by **Shun** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:31 am

I have a DVD-RW drive installed on my computer that has up to this point let me rip from dvds with no problem. However, now that im trying to do the opposite i seem to be having trouble.

First, i atempted using a trial version of a program called Cheetah DVD Burner that i got from CNet download. I tried copying a .AVI file over into the burn column. However, when i hit the "write" button it asks me to insert a writable media format before continuing.

This led me to believe that i can't burn .AVI's straight to DVDs. So i looked around for some converters and came across one called Cucusoft Converter.

First i exported the .AVI to "DVD" (It only converted the first minute because its the trial but thats not really the issue right now). Anyway, i tried bringing the converted file into the Cheetah burner and got the same error. I tried exporting again as MPEG2 and SVCD, both of which also gave me the error.

If anyone has any advice as to how to get .AVI files onto DVDs then please point me in the correct direction. Thanks for your time!

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VegettoEX · Post by **VegettoEX** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:50 am

Sure, you can burn an AVI onto a DVD... as data, which will not play back on a DVD player.

If you're looking to play back some AVI file you have on a standard video DVD, you're going to need to do some converting. (In a nutshell, and very low-technically-described) DVDs require the video in MPEG-2 format and the audio in either MPEG-1 Layer 2 or AC3.

The majority of us here use TMPGEnc for encoding MPEG-2s of our AMVs. The program has a very basic DVD-compliant template for encoding DVD-compatible video encodes (something like NTSC @ 8000 kbps). If your DVD player is fairly loose in what you can throw at it, encoding the audio as MP2 shouldn't be too much of a problem; TMPG will do that audio encoding for you, as well.

Of course, there's a crapload more to it than what I've just said, but at least that's a basic primer for you to start figuring out more stuff.

narcted · Post by **narcted** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:10 pm

I don't think the problem is the program. If it's asking you for a disk, most likely you are not using the right format of disk for your burner. (DVD+/-R). Check your writer at http://www.videohelp.com

Most DVD writing programs should be able to use .avi as a source file. You may want to see if the program can create you the DVD folders or a disc image file (.iso) to see if this works. The program should be able to render the video.

I use Ulead DVD Movie Factory. It accepts my .avi DV camcorder footage. You can try that.

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:12 pm

You also need to AUTHOR the DVD. So you need a DVD Authoring program, you can't really just drag and drop video files into Nero. I use DVD-Lab to take the encoded Mpegs and author them into a nice DVD. Also, I've NEVER seen a DVD player that didn't supprt MP2 audio (Dispite not being in the standard. Most DVD authoring programs even have no issue with it)t

Shun · Post by **Shun** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:37 pm

Well I tried using some other programs from cucosoft that were mentioned in a turoiral.

In on tutorial i did a step by step in authoring the the .AVI into a VIDEO_TS folder and then ripping it using a program like Nero. This gave me a similar error.

I then made a second attempt using a program that made temp dvd folders and burned it to the blank disc in the drive in one swoop. This also gave me a similar error.

I'll try experimenting more with it and using ideas suggested in your replies. Thanks for your time and if anyone has any more adivce to give then please feel free.

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:38 pm

...Did you have Nero in DVD-Video mode when burning?

narcted · Post by **narcted** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 10:28 pm

It really shouldn't be that difficult. Try DVD Movie Factory 2. Follow this tutorial. Just select 'Add Video File' and add your .avi files. Follow the rest of the tutorial. The program should directly burn your DVD disc.

You can select the options to create a disc image file or the DVD folders and put that in Nero, but it should be unneccesary.

Shun · Post by **Shun** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 4:15 pm

Well my whole goal here was to be able to show my family AMVs and such on the TV instead of having to watch them on the computer.

It seems my probem is DVDs, but I will try the method you posted first narcted.

If that dosent work I will probably just invest in a video out cable and go about it that way.

Thank you everyone for your help.

Shun · Post by **Shun** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 4:43 pm

Look like i have found the problem. A few of you already mentioned this and seems you are most likely right.

I searched around for recomended compatable DVDs to use with my specific drive (NEC ND-1100A) and found that the Memorex DVD-RWs i am attempted to burn to are not a compatable disc. However, the following are.

BeAll 4X DVD+R
Ritek 4X DVD+R
OptoDisc 4X DVD+R
Arita 4X DVD+R
Verbatim 4X DVD+R
TDK 4X DVD+R
BeAll 2.4X DVD+R/RW
Ritek 2.4X DVD+R/RW
Samsung 2.4X DVD+R
OptoDisc 2.4X DVD+R/RW
Ricoh 2.4X DVD+RW
Arita 2.4X DVD+R

Source - http://www.meritline.com/dvd-r-media-4- ... er.html#10

Does anyone know what the best out of the ones listed would be?

narcted · Post by **narcted** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 6:19 pm

NEC ND-1100A

Yep, this DVD writer only does +R/RW discs.