Slow encoding of AVI to DVD

TurboSi · Post by **TurboSi** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:35 pm

This may have already been covered but I couldn't find a post that's similiar to my problem. I just bought MF5 after seeing how well it works for my dad and his replayTV (i'm about to hack my Tivo).

The first .avi(DivX) I imported encoded to dvd in about 4 hours...bit slow but acceptable for my AMD1700. I tried several other movies but ended up aborting after only getting to around 70% after 12 hours. The only thing different with those movies are the encoding...XviD.

I also tried using AVI2DVD to create DVD folders(HCEnc, good quality, 2 pass). I imported them into MF5 (do not encode compliant mpeg was checked) and they previewed fine but when I went to burn MF appeared to be re-encoding them. I used dvd folders, iso, and burn options. All the outputs lost video in the first chapter then no sound from chap2 on.

The dvd folder and iso output from AVI2DVD play and burn fine so I'm real confused on what the problem (possibly with XviD) is. There is no detailed output in MF so I don't have a clue what it's doing.

I'm open to any ideas, the only reason I bought MF was for the simple ability to add clips. May seem odd but I like the idea of adding my own 3D rendered intro clips to the beginning of my burns.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:07 pm

As soon as I saw the title of your post, I thought DivX or Xvid.

You are probably better off using AVI2DVD or SUPER to convert them first.

...(do not encode compliant mpeg was checked) and they previewed fine but when I went to burn MF appeared to be re-encoding them.

It's hard to tell. (I've never used AVI2DVD.) Maybe it's the audio... Sometimes Ulead just thinks they are non-compliant... Or, maybe I just think they are compliant????

All the outputs lost video in the first chapter then no sound from chap2 on.

At that point, what's the audio format? (What audio format is AVI2DVD giving you?)

There is a chart on this page that shows the allowable DVD formats.

As you probably know, these are lossy compression formats, and you loose some quality/detail every time you encode.

-Transfer to DVD from film = quality loss (still pretty good)
-DVD to DivX or Xvid = more quality loss (probably noticable)
-DivX or Xvid back to DVD = more quality loss
-Extra re-code with Movie Factory = more quality loss...

If you could go directly from film to Xvid, you could get better than DVD quality in a smaller file... or so they say. Actually, there is probably another step (film-to-uncompressed-DV) in the normal commercial DVD process.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:14 am

If you use a 'normal' video editing program to convert DivX or Xvid to MPEG it can take 12 hours or more.

DivXtoDVD will convert the file in a hour or less and create DVD VOB files.
You then import them in the usual manner or alternatively rename the VOB files to MPG.

TurboSi · Post by **TurboSi** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:45 am

Thanks for the replies. I loaded the avi that went smoothly through conversion in MF5 and the couple that took 12+hrs before I aborted into GSpot. Turns out the avi encoding is almost identical except for something in the Video Stream section called I/L. One had the flag Split:Yes and the other Split:No.
I'll be honest, I know less than a glass of water when it comes to the inner workings of codecs...but it did get me thinking.
If the files are practically identical, maybe something changed/died/crapped out in MF5. As soon as my current conversion ends I will re-run the one file that converted properly.

I'll also check out DivX2DVD, an extra hour or so I can live with...spending 5 hours to convert in AVI2DVD or V-Dub then to spend another 4 hours in MF just won't work.

Hopefully when I get the Tivo networked TyTools will create files compatible with MF and save me all these headaches.

/me thinks he should have got the free trial first...lol

TurboSi · Post by **TurboSi** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:12 pm

sjj1805 wrote:DivXtoDVD will convert the file in a hour or less and create DVD VOB files.

Is there a particular one I should look into? I did a quick google search and it seems there are quite a few out there.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:28 am

They have changed its name to ConvertXtoDVD
http://www.download.com/3000-7970_4-10341695.html

phd · Post by **phd** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:52 pm

Which Tivo are you using?

THe new ones will allow you to transfer with Tivo2Go or Tivo Desktop.