newbie needs help burning videos

[Latem]

Hello, I am a complete newb. I know how to burn files to DVD for backup, that is easy with Nero. What I wish to do is burn a bunch of .mov files to a DVD disc so that I can watch them in my DVD player (not the computer DVD). I have JVC HR-XVC27U dvd and vhs combo. I seem to have lost or misplaced my english manual for it (I can find the french one !!) so I cant look up exactly what formats it can play. From intenet I was only able to find this:

Playback formats include DVD, VCD, CD, MP3, WMA, JPEG, VHS, and S-VHS.

If anyone can point me to the right direction on how I can accomplish this? I just want to be able to watch the videos in the DVD player, don't need any fency menues, etc, or anything like that.

I've looked through the guides, and conversion guides, and searched forums, but everything is really confusing to me, and I have no idea where to begin, and there is just too much to take in, and I don't know what info is relevant and what isnt. I don't know what a lot of anocyms mean and represent, which only makes matters worse. I don't know what formats I have to convert the files to, and what software to use. From another thread I think I would have to convert .mov file to .avi, and then convert the .avi to .mpg. Is this correct? How can I accomplish this, and w/ what software? What then? How do I burn it. I am sorry for my complete ignorance, but all I am asking is for some help and guidance.

Thank you

Latem

[setarip_old]

One method to convert your .MOV files to VCDs, using TMPGEnc and the "QT Reader" plugin for it, would be as follows:

To create a VCD:

1) Load .MOV file into TMPGEnc
2) Set to "System Video and Audio" (lower right side)
3) Click on "Setting" radio button
4) Click on "System" tab, change mode to "MPEG1-VideoCD" (from default of "MPEG1")
5) Click on "Advanced" tab, change "Video arrange method" to "Center (Custom Size"), change dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240
6) Change "Source aspect ratio" to either "4:3 525 line (NTSC 704x480)", "4:3 525 line (NTSC)", or "16:9 525 line (NTSC)" - If you're in the PAL world choose either of the two similar PAL settings instead
7) Under the "Video" tab, change the dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240 (Note: "Video" tab mode of "MPEG1" is okay) - set "Motion Search Precision" to "Normal Quality". Change the "Aspect Ratio" to match, as closely as possible, the "Source Aspect Ratio" you set under the "Advanced" tab.
8) Change "Rate Control Mode" to "Automatic VBR (CQ_VBR)" and "Bitrate" to "1,150"
9) Under the "Audio" tab, set to "MPEG-1 Layer II", 44,100 224Kbps
10) Press "Start"

(Or, instead of the steps 1)-10) above, you could attempt to use TMPGEnc's VCD "wizard"/template)

Note that if your video runs longer than 70-80 minutes, you'll have to subsequently split your VCD-MPG file in two. This too can be easily and precisely accomplished using TMPGEnc. Under the "Files" dropdown menu, click on "MPEG Tools" and select the "Merge & Cut" tab. Once again, make sure to change the mode to "MPEG1-Video CD". Load your file and enter a new (.MPG) name in the "Output file" box. Then doubleclick on the ORIGINAL file's name in the window, which will bring you to the cutting area. Select your desired start and end points for the first half, click on "Okay" which will bring you back to the first window and generate (in a sequence of three automated steps) the first new file. To create the second new file, repeat the steps starting with "Then doubleclick on the ORIGINAL..." (be extra patient with the second half, as the program has to do more seeking to establish the beginning of the new file).

Use a burning program, such as NERO to burn your CD-R or R/W CD as a VCD (DON'T ask NERO to format the file as a VCD, since you've already accomplished this!)

Let us know of your success ;>}

[Latem]

Thanks for the responce. Just a few more questions, just so I am sure about a few things before I start.

1. Is the Free version of TMPGEnc sufficient for what I want to do? It says on the website that the free version is limited somehow, but doesn't say in which way.

2. In step 7, are the dimensions suppose to be the same as specified in step 5? Also which dimension would be better?

3. I'm in Canada, so I think I would use one of NTSC formats (I think "NTSC 1"), but which one from the 3 you listed?

4. All my videos are less than 10 minutes in length, so I would want to burn as many as I can onto one disc. Does this procedure change at all with regard to this?

Thanks a lot.

Latem

[Video Dude]

I would avoid VCD and create a DVD from the .mov files. VCD is a dated format, a DVD will offer greater compatibility in the future. Not to mention the superior quality DVD has over VCD. Also, you can fit 3 hours of good quality on a DVD, compared to about an hour on VCD with the quality described as poor at best.

Since you describe yourself as a newb, the easiest way to do what you want is with Ulead MovieFactory 4. There is a FREE full featured trial version.
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

This program will import your mov files, convert them to MPEG-2, let you make a simple menu, and author and burn to DVD. It has wizards and menus that walk you through every step. This might be the best solution for you since only one program is used and there are no settings that you have to worry about adjusting.

[battscrew]

If you a re converting to DVD try VSO Divxtodvd, it does convert a fair amount of different file types - there are full trial versions that are free.

[Latem]

Thanks for the feedback. I've tried the VSO DivxToDVD, and it seems to work, but I am not sure I am doing everything correctly. I just burnt one video, to try it. It was an .mpg file. The problem is that my video, when played on the DVD, is completely square, not rectangular like the TV. Kinda like this:

|-------------------------------|
|xxx| |xxx|
|xxx| |xxx|
|xxx| |xxx|
|xxx| VIDEO |xxx|
|xxx| IN |xxx|
|xxx| HERE |xxx|
|xxx| |xxx|
|xxx| |xxx|
|-------------------------------|

There is black space on the sides, marked by x's. Also there were some artifacts in the video, usually a bunch of random green squares.

These are the options I used for Encoding:
Minimum bitrate: 0 (Recommended)
Possible : 1Mbps, 2Mbps, 4Mbps

Maximum bitrate: Max (Recommended)
Possible: 1Mbps, 2Mbps, 4Mbps, 8Mbps

Target Size: DVD-5 Possible: DVD-9, Custom (enter value in MB)

And the TV format options:

Video Standard: Automatic
Possible: PAL (Europe), NTSC (US, Asia)
I am guessing it used NTSC, since I'm in Canada, and it's NTSC.

TV Screen: Automatic
Possible: 4:3 Fullscreen, 16:9 Widescreen

Anyone know how to solve these issues?

Thanks,

Latem

[setarip_old]

I really don't know how I misinterpreted your initial post to this thread as meaning you wanted to create a VCD, so my apologies. What I should have posted is:

One method to convert your .MOV files to DVDs, using TMPGEnc and the "QT Reader" plugin for it, would be as follows:

1) Use "TMPGEnc" (or "TMPGEncPlus") to convert the .AVI (DivX-compressed or otherwise) to compliant MPEG2-for-DVD format - Use "TMPGEnc's" DVD wizard/template to accomplish this

2) Use "TMPGEnc DVD Author" (a different program than "TMPGEnc") to easily create the required additional DVD files and structure (and chapters and a menu, if you wish)
You can obtain a FULLY functional free 30 day trial version of this commercial program at:

www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tda.html

**If the combined filesize of the DVD "package" written to your hard drive is greater than 4.37Gb, use DVD Shrink (or similar) to compress


If your O/S is either Win2000 or WinXP, TMPGEnc DVD Author can also burn your DVD. Otherwise, use NERO to burn in "DVD-Video" mode
(As an alternative to "TMPGEnc DVD Author", you could use "DVDLab")


Let us know of your success ;>}