Burning avi movies onto a cd-r and playing on a dvd player

[tomster2300]

Hey,

I'm sure this is an old question and probably a million threads have been done for this already, but here it goes. Is there some way I can take a avi movie that I have on my computer, burn it onto a cd-r disk and make it play in my dvd player in my living room? If there are a bunch of old threads, could you point them my way? Thanks

[scott_d]

Check this site out
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/
The quality wont be very good, not even close to dvd, but it works.
HTH

[RayH]

DVD players won't play AVI files. But you can use a couple of freewares to convert the avi to VCD 2.0, which will play in most DVD players, if it supports both VCD and CD-R. The only standing issue might be if the player is picky about the media.

Use TMPGEnc to encode the avi to mpeg 1. Also, use TMPGEnc to split the files into two CDs if necessary.

I haven't been able to burn the resulting mepg 1 files to a CD that will play in a DVD player with either Roxio or Nero. But I can with VCDEasy (1.15).

The free versions of both programs are all you need.

[zip86]

I never knew this could be done! wow, thanks for the info, I have so many avi's to burn but I never watched it after I burned it on a CD because its only for the computer.

[RayH]

Now the quality of the viewing is going to depend upon what you're using to view it. If you have something like a Toshiba or Sony (less than 36"), it might be alright.

It'll be closer to VHS or a copy of a VHS.

[zip86]

Ne one know if a Playstation 2 DVD player can read this type of CD?

[RayH]

Nope.

[zip86]

Is that a I don't know nope or no it won't nope?

[tomster2300]

hey, i downloaded both of those programs RayH and I appreciate your advice. I'm going through TMPGEnc stupid person wizard, and I'm at the place where you choose what kind of disk you're putting it on. I choose the 80 min. one, and it says something like "your media when converted may not fit onto one disk...would you like to continue?" How do I split it like you mentioned above? Thanks.

[tomster2300]

I clicked yes bypassing the warning and now it brought up the movie in a little box and is converting it to an mpeg. But as the movie plays, it is choppy. Shoud it be like this? Will the end result be choppy as well? Plus I still need to know how to split it onto two disks. Should I have done this before converting? Thanks.

[RayH]

zip86 No as in no way!

tomster2300 Never mind what it looks like on the TMPGEnc (Tsunami MPEG Encoder) screen. It's just running through it at its own speed. If the original (avi) is choppy, it's going to be choppy.

After encoding, under Tools > MPEG Options > Cut and Merge.

That will split and merge the resulting mpg files to the size you want. My Toshiba home unit doesn't like CD-Rs with more than one hour. I get pixelation, even though they don't show up on my computer playback. If you have to go for two discs, why hassle?

With VCDEasy, the trick is to uncheck the simulation. On the first page, you just create a bin file. Just use the drop down to give it a place and file name. When you create more than one bin, it may be good to give it another name like movie1.bin, movie2.bin. Maybe name the movie.

Go for BURN, not simulation. It'll be faster. Besides, if you check simulation, it'll simulate until you check burn!

What you need to create the VCD is on the main page. Make sure you set the ASPI file.

Don't be scared. There's a bit of a learning curve. I had to rerip my first 10 movies at least twice (and usually three times) and it cost me about 10 discs until I even got a clue on how to burn the discs. It took me 10 tries to learn about VCDEasy. And it took me a couple of weeks to figure out how it worked!

The problem is getting a good file for TMPGEnc. If you can do that, everything else is sailing.

[tomster2300]

Thanks for all the information. You're right, it'll just take time to learn how it all works. I'll tell you how it all turns out when I'm done.

[RayH]

With all these different movie formats that can only play on a computer, depending upon what you do, it may be worth it to get a TV out card to view such on a TV from a computer. A lot of these formats are much clearer than mpg 1.

[tomster2300]

Ok, I've finished encoding the movie, but the problem is I still cannot cut it. I found the tab that says cut and merge, but I can't figure out what you do to make it cut it. Thanks.

If i run it through VCDeasy without it cut will it mess up?

[RayH]

Never mind the rest of TMPGEnc now that you have the encoding. Close the wizard. Go to the Toolbar > File > MPEG Tools > Merge and Cut Tab

In the Drop Down Window: MPEG-1 Video CD

Add button > get the encoded file.

Now when that encoded file appears in the big window, double click on it.

A new window will appear. Play with it.

As long as you give the output file a different name, the original will be safe!

Cutting and merging is really quick, like maybe a couple of minutes.

[tomster2300]

Ok, I have it cut now and I have two .mpeg files in a folder. Thanks for helping me so far. Now how do I work the VCDeasy program? Each file is 50 minutes along (give or take) I kept them under an hour like you said to.

[tomster2300]

When I clicked add files, VCDeasy told me the downloadable version does not accept files which are larger than 400 mb. What do I do? Do I have to chop the movie into sections smaller than 400 mbs? That would make it around four disks.

[RayH]

The previously free version of VCDEasy V 1.1.5.2 is no longer up at the VCDEasy site. I got mine about two weeks ago. When you see free, you gotta jump.

Anyway, it appears that the version may be available from other sites which haven't taken it down yet. Check the web. Check you e-mail! :D