DVD/video using Flash Clips (flv format), e.g. from YouTube

[john butler]

My question is regarding some downloaded, flash video, guitar tutorials off YouTube (*.flv format) that I want to put on to DVD using VideoStudio. I tried to use the freeware SUPER to convert these files to a format that VS10+ can recognise. NB I tried MPEG4, which did not seem to work with VS10+ (VS 10+ said that the converted files had no video content, although they played fine in standard Windows players), and *.wmv and *. MP2, formats, which both did work. I used the encoders and default setting suggested by the SUPER GUI pop-up advisor, and I found that the quality was slightly better with the converted *.MP2 files than with the *.wmv files. For both of these latter conversions I set the bit rate to a level only slightly higher than the original. NB When SUPER analysed the original flv files it showed that generally they had been created using bitrates of about 300-400 kbps. I read on the internet that there is no point in using a bitrate significantly higher than that of the original. Is that true? NB Eventually I want to watch the DVD on TV. Not expecting great quality as the originals were not great, I just want to keep any further degradation to minimum.

My question is should I set VideoStudio to this low bitrate? Plus are there any other recommendations for the various steps in the procedure I am trying to follow, i.e. regarding conversion formats and bitrate settings etc. In other respects I would intend to follow the recommended procedure I have used for my DV camcorder (have nothing in timeline when.. etc).. But what would be the best project setting in this case to match these flash clips?

Thanks for any tips or comments.

Update
First set of clips I tried to encode in VS10+ were actually in wmv format. this encoding failed.
NB I didn't set project properties to match those of the first clip, so I will try these clips again using that recommended setting in my preferences.

[john butler]

Set the preferences to prompt on insertion of first clip into timeline. However, this just did not happen.

Could it be due to my deleting the uvs.ini file?, or could it be due to the fact that the properties of these clips are outside of VS10's acceptable range, e.g. 356 kpbs bit rate? I note that you are not allowed to set a bit rate this low manually in the project properties section

Anyway the encoding failed again. I think right at the end. I had gone to bed and left it to it.


I may resort to trying to get SUPER to encode the clips to a DVD burnable format, as I think it can do this. Then I expect I will have to use a third party DVD burning tool