AVI to SVCD using Nero...HELP

[tpham]

Hi,

I've used Gordian Knot to rip a DVD into an AVI file (700MB) and want to write this file onto a CD so I can watch it on a DVD player and not on the computer (hoping to do this). I am using Nero to create a SVCD...Nero requires that I get the plug-in MPEG2-SVCD which I've got. When I get Nero to start burning the CD it goes into a encoding process...after an hour or so the encoding process falls over saying the AVI is an unrecognised format...I don't know what to do....

Is is possible for me to burn the AVI file and watch it on a DVD player and not a computer??? Is there any program I could use???

Thanks in advance

[jggimi]

First: Check your standalone player's capabilities at www.vcdhelp.com/dvdplayers. Many players cannot play SVCDs, and many cannot use CD-R or CD-RW.

If you wish to proceed, you should change your plans, and begin with DVD content rather than DivX .avi files. You would be only reducing the quality of your work further, if you transcode from DivX to MPEG2. Start with the DVD and you'll much prefer the results.

I recommend following Doom9's guides for SVCD creation -- you might start with the SVCD encoding suite DVD2SVCD. It includes a few components you are already familiar with from Gordian Knot. This tool can also use .avi files as input, and "becomes" AVI2SVCD, however I recommend you gain familiarity with the tool prior to attempting to use it with .avi sources.

You can use Nero to burn the SVCDs -- the output from DVD2SVCD will be bin/cue files, which Nero can burn.

[tpham]

Thanks jggimi for your prompt reply....

I did try using DVD2SVCD to convert the AVI file to SVCD. However, during encoding (just a short time after starting) the file being produce was far bigger than my AVI file (700MB), I was scared that I'll run out of disk space so I ended the process.

If I was to use DVD2SVCD to rip a DVD would I most of the time be able to fit this onto 2-4 CDs and be able to watch this on a SVCD compatible player...

Thanks

[jggimi]

If you follow Doom9's guide, you will find a place where you define CD lengths in minutes, which gives the tool its split points. (It's been many months since I've used DVD2SVCD, and I can't remember exactly at what step you do this. But it's in the guide.) And yes, you can expect the average DVD will require 3 or more CDs.

[tpham]

Thanks once again jggimi

[bb]

Just wanted to add that you can compress most films to two SVCDs only with good quality. To obtain acceptable quality on one CD only the film must be very short, like 90 min.

bb