Convert .avi files to DVD that plays in stand-alone player - A BASIC QUESTION

[Trevor L.]

Because this is a windowsxp video group, I am not sure whether it is meant
only for queries related to Windows Media Player. Anyway, here goes with a
very basic question.

I have 5 .avi files downloaded from a DV camera. (Panasonic GS-35)
I want to create a DVD that plays on my stand-alone DVD player attached to
the TV.
How do I do it?

Any and all answers to this question are welcome, including the best
software that creates the best quality result. I understand that there are
various versions of mpeg (MPEG-1 MPEG-2 MPEG-4), but I don't know whether
commercial DVD players read all of these and what software creates what
format. I am willing to buy any software that will do a really good job (as
distinct from a mediocre job which seems to be what I am now getting)

Some extra information
1. I have done this before, but now I can't - the only DVDs I can create now
will only play on the PC.
The software I use is
Panasonic MotionDV STUDIO 5.3 LE for DV Ver.5.30L11c
(I use this to download from the camera to .avi files)
Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3.5 Suite Deluxe version 3.5.0.1
I am fairly sure that before, when I created DVDs that play in a stand-alone
player, it was the Ulead Software I used, but I can't be sure exactly what
sequence I followed. I tried to do the same again but I failed - the DVD
only plays on the PC.

2. The results are not great when compared to commercial DVDs.
Am I expecting too much?
I know that there are lots of factors such as lighting conditions, good
focus, slow panning, steady hand (or using tripod mounted camera), but
shouldn't the actual picture quality be reasonable?

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

To get the best resolution, you need to connect your camcorder via a
firewire (aka IEEE1394) connection to your PC and capture the footage in
DV-AVI format. Once edited, you need to save it in the same DV-AVI format.
Be advised that this needs a fair amount of hard drive space, abut 12gb for
every hour of data.

Once you've created that final DV-AVI file then you'll need third party
software to burn your DVD. I haven't used any uLead software but I've used
PowerDirector (www.gocyberlink.com) WinDVD Creator (www.intervideo.com),
Roxio (www.roxio.com) and Nero (www.nero.com).

Of these four, I'd say PowerDirector was probably the easiest to use and
most similar to Windows Movie Maker, followed by WinDVD Creator.

Stand alone DVD players these days almost all read both DVD-R and DVD+R but
when it comes to the rewritable disks they are a bit fussier, and very few
read the dual layer disks. However you can check what nearly all stand
alone models will and will not do at www.videohelp.com by imputting the
particular make and model of the stand alone. It will tell you exactly what
real folks have found compatible, and what they have found will not work...
right down to make of DVD disk.

 

[decoder]

Because this is a windowsxp video group, I am not sure whether it is meant
only for queries related to Windows Media Player. Anyway, here goes with a
very basic question.

I have 5 .avi files downloaded from a DV camera. (Panasonic GS-35)
I want to create a DVD that plays on my stand-alone DVD player attached to
the TV.
How do I do it?

Any and all answers to this question are welcome, including the best
software that creates the best quality result. I understand that there are
various versions of mpeg (MPEG-1 MPEG-2 MPEG-4), but I don't know whether
commercial DVD players read all of these and what software creates what
format. I am willing to buy any software that will do a really good job
(as distinct from a mediocre job which seems to be what I am now getting)

Some extra information
1. I have done this before, but now I can't - the only DVDs I can create
now will only play on the PC.
The software I use is
Panasonic MotionDV STUDIO 5.3 LE for DV Ver.5.30L11c
(I use this to download from the camera to .avi files)
Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3.5 Suite Deluxe version 3.5.0.1
I am fairly sure that before, when I created DVDs that play in a
stand-alone player, it was the Ulead Software I used, but I can't be sure
exactly what sequence I followed. I tried to do the same again but I
failed - the DVD only plays on the PC.

2. The results are not great when compared to commercial DVDs.
Am I expecting too much?
I know that there are lots of factors such as lighting conditions, good
focus, slow panning, steady hand (or using tripod mounted camera), but
shouldn't the actual picture quality be reasonable?

Ulead is an established brand, if you've used it before with success
then stick with it.
For playback on a standalone DVD player the files are converted
from DV-AVI to a specific type of Mpeg2, all authoring software
will perform this process.
The problem of playback could be due to several issues,
Obvious one being is the Disk needs to be "finalised" to be
read in your DVD player.

 

[Trevor L.]

The problem of playback could be due to several issues,
Obvious one being is the Disk needs to be "finalised" to be
read in your DVD player.

I have heard/read this before.

How do I "finalise" the DVD. Ulead simply say finished (or something like
that) when it has completed writing the DVD. I think I then cancel any
further action (although I have the options of saving the edit specs)

What "finalises" it?
If not Ulead, then what?
Can it be done elsewhere (i.e. with other software)?

 

[decoder]

I have heard/read this before.

How do I "finalise" the DVD. Ulead simply say finished (or something like
that) when it has completed writing the DVD. I think I then cancel any
further action (although I have the options of saving the edit specs)

What "finalises" it?
If not Ulead, then what?
Can it be done elsewhere (i.e. with other software)?

Hi
DV-AVI files are the specific format used for DV tape.
They are probably the most software-friendly and all editing software
is compatible with that file type, this is not so for AVI varients such
as DivX etc. But..
DV-AVI file types consume vast amounts of hard drive space.
Burning that involves converting "on the fly" (DV-AVI-Mpeg2-DVD) can be
tricky,
The safest method is to burn as an image to a HD folder.
Then burn a DVD from the image.
Finalizing involves a menu being compiled that a DVD player can read,
but results in that disk cannot have further files added. It's finalised.
All authoring/buring software do this.
The most famous and probably most user-friendly being Nero.

Try this site, it's tools and guides:
http://www.videohelp.com/
http://tinyurl.com/p6dph

 

[decoder]

Hi Trevor
Just a note, but I found a thread where you detail that you are
transferring footage from your Panny DV cam via USB.
This is far from Ideal.
The USB output is only for transferring still images from the Pan's
SD card, check your Panny Instruction manual and under heading(s):
"Edit", "dubbing", and/or "capture", it will detail how to capture via
IEEE 1394 firewire, an interconnect cable was supplied with your
Panny DV camcorder.

USB and Firewire are two different BUS standards.
The sheer advantage of firewire is that ALL capture software will
instantly recognise your Panny DV cam, and have FULL control of
capture, Also, the DV-AVI footage remains unadulterated and pure
when being transferred via firewire from your Panny to PC.
Also when you connect via firewire, the options you have for
capture are unlimited.
If your PC dosen't have a PCI firewire card, it is so simple to install
one and one of the most cost effective upgrades to a PC.
Follow this pictorial on how to install a PCI firewire card:
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,15714,pg,1,00.asp