I have several large .wmv files that I want to author to a DVD. After reviewing many guides and articles I am still unsure of what is meant by DVD format versus MPEG-2 format. What kind of video files do I need to have when using an author like Sonic myDVD or TMPGDec DVD Author, MPEG-2 or VOB, BUP, IFO? Do these files need to be demultiplexed or multiplexed? If demultiplexed, what file(s) should be added into the authoring program when inserting a video. Since I have TMPGDec DVD Author, should I be using their encoder as well to make sure the files are compatible? Which encoding software would you recommend? I have .avi, mpeg, and wmv files to convert. Thanks for any help you can give.
Mpeg-2 is the video standard for DVD. A DVD is an mpeg-2 video that has been authored into the DVD structure. Any good encoder will make an mpeg-2 out of most formats. If you're going to use tmpgenc, you need the .wmv plugin. It's free, in the tools section at http://www.videohelp.com and probably on this site somewhere too. Sonic takes only .mpg (IIRC), TDA will take .mpg or the .m2v/mp2 elementary streams.
DVD structure is the VOB/IFO/BUP files correct? The conversion of the MPEG-2 to VOB/IFO/BUP is usually done behind the scenes in a DVD authoring program, right? When I encode the .wmv video files into DVD/VCD/SVCD I get three output files, MPV, MP2 and MPG. I am using Advanced X Video Converter. It has the option to output to MPEG-2 and I get a single output file, .mpg. However, when I try to insert into myDVD, it says that it's in the PAL format. Which format should I be converting to if I'm using the an authoring program? If I should be using DVD/VCD/SVCD then which type of the three output files do I import into TMPGDec DVD Author? Thanks again for the help.
PAL is the aspect ratio and framerate of a video for Europe, ready to author into DVD structure. If you're in North America, you should be using NTSC.
