Hello forum, glad I found this site! I have an HD copy of The Dark Knight which is in the .wmv format and is 10.4G in size. When trying to play it through different media players (GOM, WMP) it looks and sounds great except it stops and stutters, etc every couple of seconds and is basically unwatchable that way. I was thinking I'd try to convert it and burn it to disc and try it that way so I used Magic Video Converter and converted to .vob. Now I have a .vob file (no .ifo or .bup) of 4.8G. I guess what I would like to know is, What is the best way to get this file onto a DVD-R (or DL DVD-R) so I can watch it correctly? Could someone help with the different options? If there are ways to do it without losing quality (that would obviously be my first choice since it is in HD) or if I should shrink it, convert to different format (and then shrink), etc. Thanks so much for the help in advance!
The largest legal size for a VOB file is 1GB. DVD Shrink can rewrite the files to the correct size - but DVD Shrink needs the IFO, BUP, etc files, else it will not open them. Ifoedit can create the IFO files. Assuming that the large VOB file is DVD compliant (720x480 or 720x576, mpeg-2, ac3 audio) rename it VTS_01_1.VOB Run Ifoedit > Create IFO's Run DVD Shrink and open the folder containing the VOB and the new IFO files. Set the output size for the Target DVD (Edit > Preferences) dvd-5 or dvd-9 Backup to an ISO (for later burning with Imgburn) or a folder on the hard drive. If burning to a DL disk with Imgburn, Verbatim +R seem to be the preferred setup - I can't say, I have never burned one. http://www.videohelp.com/tools/IfoEdit http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/dvd_rippers/dvd_shrink.cfm
Attar, thanks for responding! A few questions: Will Ifoedit create the BUP file(s) as well? Is this program somewhat easy to use? The VOB file is DVD complient as I checked it in ConvertXtoDVD and it shows the video stats as MPEG-2, 720x576 Would it be better (quality) to use a DL disc instead of shrinking it down to fit on a DVD-R or won't it matter? Also, am I going about this the best way or do you know of other ways to start with my original 10.4G wmv file and convert to DVD? Thanks for the help!
Ifoedit will create all required files (it won't create anything related to a menu). It's pretty simple to use. Your source file size is so close to fitting on a DVD-5, I would be inclined to let DVD Shrink output to that size. Alternative ideas for conversions might be found at the Bluray or HDTV forums.
Thanks Attar, I'm trying your suggestion now. By the way, what program did you use to create the screen shot and red helper marks of IfoEdit in your last post? I would like to be able to help my sister with a couple of different programs. Thanks!
Well, I tried IfoEdit and it doesn't work. It says it is creating the file and then after it gets to 100% it just stops and there is no file where I have set the output file. I don't know why it's not working but I tried it a couple of different times and nothing. Back to the drawing board I guess. Thanks anyway, Attar.
FWIW, this is the way that I do it: I use two programs that I bought (1. because I do a lot of this and 2)I like the programs). TMPGEnc 4.0 to convert the .wmv to mpeg and also do my chapter editing TMPGenc DVD Author to do the layout and conversion to DVD. What I like about this is that TMPGEnc will "fit" the output MPEG to the size of the destination media. (ex. if you say SL, it will ensure that the output files don't exceed 4.4GB I'm sure that there are other, cheaper approaches to this, but this works for me.
Thanks dailun, I will look into these programs! BTW, what would you say is the difficulty level learning these? My experience has only been with programs like DVD decrypter, dvd shrink, ImgBurn, etc. I not too experienced with any other types of more advanced programs although I am wiling to learn. I was reading the HD to DVD9 manual and was becoming confused already...lol!
