Combining two sets of menus and two movies on 1 DVD-5

[DarkMatter]

This may be a burning or authoring queston but, is it possible to put the contents of 2 DVDs on one 1 DVD-R and have the menus work? I'm trying to back up my 6 Best of Beavis and Butt-Head DVDs and it seems a waste to put 6 85 minute animated VTS's on 6 DVD-Rs. I mean you don't really need 4.38 GB for 1 1/2 hours of crappily animated video. They compress quite nicely to 2 GB in DVDShink but how do I combine 2 of them since they have seperate menus? I'd rather keep the menus than save 3 DVD's but there should be a way. Right? I've got DVDit but that seems like a lot of work to create completely new sets of menus.

[DarkMatter]

Ok, I've been thinkin' 'bout this. Is there a way to import the entire package contents, menus and all, of each seperate DVD into to DVDit and just create a single menu that points to the original menus of each disc? I've never used DVDit with an existing menu. I started punching buttons in DVDit and realized I don't even know where to begin. Any help would be appreciated.

[auenf]

to do what you are thinking is to demux everything and put it all back together in the authoring program of your choice.

Enf...

[dvd_maniac]

I have been playing around with this for a while and have lost some hair to it. But finally have done it.
I used Maestro2.9 to accomplish it, I also compressed using the KDVD templates over at www.kvcd.net. The result is 4 movies onto 1 dvd-r and the quality is pretty good. there is also room for one more 2 hour movie (3.31GB written) But it took so long I finally settled on just the 4. National Security, Antwone Fisher, Swimfan and The Recruit. All with menus, with one menu pointing to the original of each menu.
I personally thought it was way too much work to keep the original menus (I did it just to do it!!!)...

[DarkMatter]

I figured it would involve a lot of work. Demuxing and reauthoring the menu MPEG won't work because DVDit SE won't do animated menus and the originals are animated and making new ones would involve screen shots and hours of time in DVDit. I guess I'll just go ahead and burn the 3 extra discs. It's not that I mind using 3 more discs so much as wasting them. I compressed 3.82 GB (85 mins) down to 1.7 and you can not tell the difference. But since the original is 16 color at best and involves minimal motion it's no surprise. I think MTV/Time Life only spread it over 6 CD's so you feel like you're getting more than you are.

Oh well, Thanks.

[Sn8kbordin]

Originally posted by dvd_maniac
I have been playing around with this for a while and have lost some hair to it. But finally have done it.
I used Maestro2.9 to accomplish it, I also compressed using the KDVD templates over at www.kvcd.net. The result is 4 movies onto 1 dvd-r and the quality is pretty good. there is also room for one more 2 hour movie (3.31GB written) But it took so long I finally settled on just the 4. National Security, Antwone Fisher, Swimfan and The Recruit. All with menus, with one menu pointing to the original of each menu.
I personally thought it was way too much work to keep the original menus (I did it just to do it!!!)...

I am really interested in this. Would you share some more details how did you do it or write a how-2-to guide?

[DarkMatter]

Check this out if you haven't already. Original menus will bite the dust but it's so easy to make new ones with DVD Author it doesn't matter. This program will put nearly any video stream onto a stand alone-playable DVD-R. You can combine MPEG1 with MPEG2, multiple formats and aspects,etc. If it's a compliant MPEG-it's as good as on your blank. It will automatically find title sets/PGC's from disc or file. 15-25 minute output times. I'm just pissed I paid for Ulead and DVDit. Using DVD Shrink and DVD Author I've gotten three more or less original quality MPEG2 movies and menus (about 5 hours) on one DVD-R with 20 or so clicks of the mouse. It's cool!