Making a set-top playable DVD

jeep996 · Post by **jeep996** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:54 am

TIA!!! This is my first time working with any multimedia software, so needless to say I am a nubie. I would like someone to give me a bit of help. I have recorded hours of music videos with windows media center, .dvr-ms files. I have then used "Videoredo" to edit and format to mpeg. Now I have about 5 or 6 files, total of about 10gb. I want to join these clips into 1 file and burn to a set-top playable DVD. I do not want/need any fancy titles, boarders, etc.. just a simple movie. I then want to play this disc in my DVD player hooked into a VCR so I can record it onto a VHS tape for my grandma. I want to buy DVD MovieFactory or plus. Which one is going to work better for me? How do you know how big of a mpeg file will fit on a standard 4.7gb DVD? And am I taking the long road around to accomplish this just to move these videos to VHS?

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 4:55 am

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:55 am

If your files are in mpeg2 already (DVD compliant) ~4.3 GB will fill a single layer (4.7GB) DVD blank.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:21 am

I have recorded hours of music videos..... Now I have about 5 or 6 files, total of about 10gb.

How may hours? My rule-of-thumb is 90 minutes per (single layer) DVD with Dolby audio (60 minutes with LPCM audio). You can squeeze more hours per Gigibyte by using a lower bitrate. But, low bitrate = low quality. Here's a handy Bitrate Calculator.

If your computers video card has a video out you can simply play them back on the computer and record them to your VCR tape deck for "Grandma"

Right! Most computers don't have a composite video output, but if yours is a "Media Center PC", I'll bet it does! In that case, there's no need to convert them to MPEG (unless you want a DVD for yourself).

I want to buy DVD MovieFactory or plus. Which one is going to work better for me?

Compare here.

jeep996 · Post by **jeep996** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:59 pm

Thanks for your help!! I have thought about the direct hook-up to my VCR, but I can't find the right cable to do it. Can anyone tell me if any store or company make/sell a S-video to a 3pin RCA cable. My laptop only has video out through S-video. Sorry, like I say I am a business computer user not an A/V person. I am pretty sure the files were converted to mpeg1? Does any know what format "VideoRedo" outputs, it just says (mpg, mpeg). If it is mpeg-1 is the 90min per 4.7gb correct after I would use a program to re-autherize to DVD video using MF5+.

nosnoop · Post by **nosnoop** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:13 pm

jeep996 wrote:Can anyone tell me if any store or company make/sell a S-video to a 3pin RCA cable. My laptop only has video out through S-video.

This should not be difficult to find. If you cannot find it in your local stores, you can try ebay or google for "S-Video RCA Adapter". One online retailer who has this and other good price for AV cables is:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subde ... 401&style=

I am pretty sure the files were converted to mpeg1? Does any know what format "VideoRedo" outputs, it just says (mpg, mpeg). If it is mpeg-1 is the 90min per 4.7gb correct after I would use a program to re-autherize to DVD video using MF5+.

This sounds like MPEG2. VideoRedo can also work with MPEG1 VCD format, so if it were MPEG1 VCD, the file size would be much smaller, like 60min per 700MB.