Does anyone know wjhy Nero wants to spend HOURS "transcoding" a file before burning a DVD? Here's what I've been through: 1) I started with NVE version 2, bundled with my brand-new Lite-On hardware. According to the directions, Nero wants mpeg-2 or mpeg-1 files to make a video DVD, so I use a file converter to change a bunch of .avi's to mpeg-2's. I tried to create a DVD, and Nero started transcoding them--with a matter of hours as the projected time. Gee, so mpeg-2 ISN'T the file format it needs, it still has to convert those once again! (this is old knowledge to most of you, but I just started this stuff). No freakin' way I'm spending 8 hours with my computer trudging through Nero's "short bus" level of task performance. At that rate, it'd be fast to hand-draw every scene in a file and make a paper flip-book. My Pentium 4 processor is 1.5gz--not the fastest ever, but not 1982 either. 2) I did research on these forums and discovered that there is still another file that mpeg's must become in order to create a DVD. So I found a program that will convert .avi's to dvd format. 3) I tried to load all of these dvd files in NVE, and got a popup that the use of Dolby sound was not supported unless I bought a plugin or the full version of Nero 6. Oh, but the links in the popup ("To purchase, click here...to learn more about the plugin click here...") do NOT actually take you to the plugin on Nero's website; they ALL go the same page--a basic overview of Nero 6. Even if I *wanted* to buy a plugin, the "click here to purchase" doesn't take me to it. 4) I discover through more research that NVE version 3 has Dolby incorporated in it. So I upgrade. And guess what? SAME PROBLEM. Seem that the Dolby dual-channel used by WinAVI is still not supported. I get more popups trying to sell a plugin. 5) I decide to stick with WinMPG and use the "avi to dvd" convert option, even though I know that this demo app will only convert the first 5 minutes. I figure, hey--it's worth one DVD in the trash just to see Nero finally work (I haven't had a successful burn yet). 6) I load the files I've converted into Nero 3. Even though it's only 9 files of 5 minutes each, here's the screen Nero gives me: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/Akicita/Nero.jpg Gee, almost 3 hours? Nice. Thanks for readng my woes. Here's what I need help with: 1) Does anyone know if there's a reason why Nero wants to spend several HOURS transcoding files that have already been converted using WinMPG's "Avi to DVD" conversion? 2) If Nero just plain sucks, is there another program that's not mega-expensive, that's EASY for a beginner like me to use (not tons of complex panes and variables to figure out), and still has the options NVE offers in terms of "For Dummies" menu layout and follow-the-arrows guidance? 3) Is there a better way I should be converting files that would make DVD Video burning easier and faster?
OK...First Off "YES" Nero Does Suck For Createing DVD"s But that is just My Opinion and that is Besides the Point... You Can use "WinAVI" to create exactly what you want which is a "Video_TS" folder which is what you should get when you select the "AVI To DVD" option and let it encode... Once you have the "Video_TS Folder" you simply Burn it to DVD in DVD Video Mode useing Nero Burning Rom (NOT NVE).... So after WinAVI Has created the Video_TS folder for you you Run Nero and select "DVD Video" when the wizard Pops up and then click the "New" button in the Top Right...Now use the File Navigator on the Right to navigate to your Video TS folder and Drag and Drop if from the Right side to the Left side..... Now just put a Blank DVD in your DVD Drive and click the "Burn" button at the Top center.... You can also use a Program called "VSO DivxToDVD" that will convert your AVI files directly to a Video_TS folder which you can then Burn to DVD with Nero...It is Probably the easiest way to do it but definately not the Best way Quality wize..... If you want to Make a DVD that is of the Best Possible Quality and has Manu"s and Chapters and Scene Selection Like a Store Bought DVD then you will have to learn how to use a Good Quality Mpeg encoder and a Good DVD authoring program....If you want any help In this area You can PM me with your e-mail address and I"ll get back to you... Cheers
Thanks SO much! I'm trying DVDlab (demo version) on the suggestion of many posts here, too. Let me fool around with it a while, and if I get stuck and need to take you up on your offer to help out, I'll PM you.
You may have to find another burner. One of the problems you have with "Bundled" Nero software, you don't get the entire program. Nero Burning ROM is one of the things you don't get for free. DVDLab is a fine option BUT at sometime, you'll have to purchase that also. Of course Nero will give you a full function Program for a 30-day free trial, then you'll have all those things you were missing, for 30-days. Hope that helps, Pete
I wouldn't mind paying for a nice program like DVDLab. So far I've been successful at using DVDLab and Nero together, at least in terms of successfully completing the disc, except that it doesn't perform properly in my DVD player (to TV, not PC)--skips and jumps, pixellation, and eventual failure. Yet these DVD's play PERFECTLY on my PC. So now I have to figure out if it's the media I'm using or maybe my TV's DVD player just doesn't respond correctly.
Akicita : Your Playback problems Can be Caused from a Number of Things the First thing that comes to mind is maybe you are useing a Bad Brand of Media or at least a Brand of Media that your DVD Player dislikes... Maybe Try burning your DVD Disks at Half there Rated Speed, meaning if you are useing 8X disk Burn them at 4X or if you are useing 4X disks Burn them at 2X ,This will Help lower the Chance of any Burn errors while Recording the Disk..... Generally if the Problem is Bad Media or Burn errors you should Notice that most of the Problems will not start till at least Half way through the Movie...This is because the edn of a Disk is More Prone to errors than the Beginning of the disk..... The only other Thing I can think of that would Cause these sorts of problems would be in the way you created the files that you authored to DVD...Like if you Converted your Source file to Mpeg-2 useing a different Frame Rate then you can get Playback that seems to Jump and Skip especially in High Motion scenes...Or if you encoded your File as if it was progressive when it was Interlaced or encoded it as it were Interlaced when it was Progressive or if you encoded Interlaced But with the Field order Reverced and that would Cause a Jumpy Appearance especially in High Motion scenes... Many of these problems would not show up when Playing back on your PC Monitor , This is because some of these Problems have to do with Interlaceing Problems which would not show up on a Monitor because it is Made to Display Progressive Content so you should not see any Interlace artifacts or if you do see them on your Monitor they will probably not show up on your TV set because your TV set Is Made to Display Interlaced Content... So basicly this all means that you can not Trust what the Video Looks Like when Played Back on your PC Monitor because it will Look a Lot different on your TV set, and Problems that you can see on your Monitor Might not show up on your TV set, and Problems you do not see on your Monitor can show up on your TV set.... So allways Make sure you encode your Files to Mpeg-2 Correctly Based on the Type of File it is, because different Types of Files will need to be Encoded Differently from other Files and if not done Correctly you can get some of the Problems you are haveing... also make sure you are useing Good Media and Try Burning at a Lower Speed and if Possible Check your Burnt DVD"s in other DVD Players Just to make sure the Problem is that your DVD Player Just doesn"t like the Disks....... I have 3 DVD Players because I have some Disks that will not Play Properly in one of my other Players so I have a Few Players just so I don"t have any Compatibility Problems... I actually Just Picked up a Cheap Progressive Scan DVD Player for $39 at the "Great Canadian SuperStore" and so far the Player Plays DVD-R/DVD+r/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/(X)VCD/(X)SVCD/MP3....It also Supports SVCD Files on DVD which Most Players do But My one Sony Player didn"t like them but would Play them with a Little Coaxing..... I recently Picked up a 100 Pack of Blank 4X DVD+R"s on E-Bay for $19 Pluss $10 shipping so basicly the cost $30 and so far I have only had One dud out of the Lot and it was because it had a Big Scratch in it so I threw it out without even Trying it...... You can Find Plank DVD"s on E-Bay for extremely Cheap, I have even seen 200 Packs for under $50......I Buy most all of my Blank DVD"s there and Only once did I get a Batch of DVD"s that were useless Luckilly it was only 20 DVD"s that I paid $5 For..... Well anyways Good Luck.....Cheers
Wow! Very helpful answer--thanks! I have read reviews of my model of DVD player on the link above, and find that users have had mixed results with it anyways, but since my DVD media may not be good (it's Arco, which I hardly evert see mentioned here but with another online site found to be as good as other higher-grade brands) that could be a problem. As for progressive and interlaced, is there a way to tell before encoding which option should be used on an .avi file?
Most Good encoders will have a setting for Interlaced or Progressive ones that do not have any settings for Interlaceing will treat all Video the same which will result in sub Par quality and With AVI files you Can usually tell By the Frame Rate of a File if it is Progressive or Interlaced... If the Frame Rate if the Source File is 29.976/30fps then usually it will be Interlaced because the NTSC Broadcast standard calls for Interlaced Video at 29.976fps so most Video created at this Frame rate will be Interlaced... If the Frame Rate is 23.976/24fps then the Video will allmost allways be Progressive because 23.976/24fps is the Frame rate that Film is Shot at and Film is allways progressive.... If the Frame Rate is 25fps then the Video can be Interlaced or progressive...If the Movie is of a Hollywood film then it will generally be progressive because it be made from 23.976fps Film but sped up to 25fps...If the File is of a TV show it will usually be Interlaced as it will be Shot on video which is Interlaced.... If you use Tmpgenc in Wizard Mode it will scan your file and set the correct setting for you but with most other advanced encoders you will need to know if your File is Progressive or Interlaced.... Cheers
