I have a DivX avi movie. All I want to do is split up the AVI file into about seven clips what will become selectable chapters in a finished DVD that has a menu to allow the whole thing to be played or any of the individual chapters. Can anyone recommend/advise about a software or preceedure that will let me do this with the least amount of messing around and wasted time? Thanks
Nero Vision Express is exactly what you want. There are numerous guides/threads on 'how to', so search away. :-D
Thanks for the tip. I tried it out and it did work and was relatively simple. I just wish it had a little more versatility. Ideally I think I'd be happier with whatever would be the next step up from this if there is such a thing. It's been my experience with all software that it's either too simple or it's way complicated. Never anything middle of the road. Anyway thanks again, I made the video, burned a couple of copies, and it looks good enough so that people will think I spend days putting it together.
If you think about it, it's highly unlikely that any software is going to be exactly half way between too simple and too complicated [edit: for any given individual].Everybody is different in the amount of experience they have, how much time they are willing to put into learning about things, and so on. Some people just want a one-click solution where they don't have to mess about. Others want to get under the hood and adjust things. When you were little your mommy held your hand when you crossed the road. But you get bigger and more able to see for yourself what to do. Some software is like mommy's hand, it never lets you grow up. A software app which is maybe a bit more complicated than you are used to can be one which is going to help you do that growing process. For some people Virtualdub is a pretty good video editing app. You can load an avi, make selections on a timeline, save those selections with a specified file name, cut out parts you don't want, and so on. Well worth the investment in time. There is plenty of help out there on the web if you get stuck. [edit] I forgot to say, it's free.
I've not tried virtualdub so I can't say anything for or against it, but I think that D40 may have been talking more about features of a dvd author not an AVI editor. That being said, one thing to keep in mind D40, the more that it allows you to do that you don't know how, the more complicated it's going to seem. As far as a middle of the road program, Nero Vision Express is one of the best that you're going to find, in that it gives you options without being overly complicated. Another good one, though also limited is tmpeg dvd author. All in all the more features you get out of your dvd author, the more complicated it becomes, but the one I use, and will stand by is dvdlab. It's easier to use than the fully professional ones, and still gives you just as many choices and does what I want to do fully. Download the trial, spend some time looking at a few guides and give it a shot, you might find that an intimidating looking program isn't as complicated as it may seem.
Well, this is what he wrote I do this a lot, and I use virtualdub to cut the clips. I then use WinAVI to convert each AVI file into mpeg2 format, and then I load each one as a chapter in TMPGenc DVD Author to create the dvd. Finally Nero 7 does the burning.
tmpgenc xpressand tmpgenc dvd author, its all you need to know. simple enough for the newb, enough fetures and tweaks to keep even the most experienced dvd maker happy for years (it kept me happy for three years thus far).
Thanks so much for all the great suggestions. I think I can finally get a handle on this stuff! David40