I have a Media Center PC running Windows XP Media Center 2005 and I record TV programs in the lowest quality format. I want to record 6 hours of video to DVD - my TiVo DVD burner does this easily with no problem - but Windows XP Media 2005 has trouble with this. Can DVD MovieFactory 4 Disc Creator Edition take the lowest quality dvr-ms files and record them to disc at 6 hours per disc in good quality? I have only been able to get up to 4 hours on a DVD to this point. Thanks.
Lou
How many hours of TV video can fit on a disc?
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heinz-oz
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Terry Stetler
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Westland, Michigan USA
Good quality 4 or 6 hours is possible on a 4.7g DVD but only with certain caveats;
1. the use of a 352x480 (MPEG-2) or 352x240 (MPEG-1) video frame. Both are DVD legal and lower the bits/frame necessary to achieve good quality, but of course 352x240 is much less so. This is how many DVD recorders do it, along with having very good realtime MPEG chipsets.
and/or
2. for NTSC the use of Film mode: the application of Inverse Telecine to drop the frame rate from 29.970 fps to 23.976 fps. Fewer frames = fewer bits. This is allowed in the DVD spec and players can play it. In fact many movies are transferred to DVD using Film mode.
along with very high quality encoder settings; stuff like a DC of 10, high quality motion compensation etc. etc.
Of course this is much easier using an 8.5g dual layer DVD burner.
1. the use of a 352x480 (MPEG-2) or 352x240 (MPEG-1) video frame. Both are DVD legal and lower the bits/frame necessary to achieve good quality, but of course 352x240 is much less so. This is how many DVD recorders do it, along with having very good realtime MPEG chipsets.
and/or
2. for NTSC the use of Film mode: the application of Inverse Telecine to drop the frame rate from 29.970 fps to 23.976 fps. Fewer frames = fewer bits. This is allowed in the DVD spec and players can play it. In fact many movies are transferred to DVD using Film mode.
along with very high quality encoder settings; stuff like a DC of 10, high quality motion compensation etc. etc.
Of course this is much easier using an 8.5g dual layer DVD burner.
Terry Stetler
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bruscol
How many hours of TV video can fit on a disc?
I mean VHS quality - watchable on a portable DVD player or computer monitor.heinz-oz wrote:geeee, you don't want much, do you? 6 hours of DVD in good quality, wow. In my experience, that would take 2 disks, regardless of which program you use. One disk could give you good quality and the other 6 hours.
What do you consider "good quality"?
I did not think this was such a major thing - I have a Pioneer TiVO unit with a DVD burner - it can make 6 hours on a single disc without a problem - takes one hour to burn a 6 hour disc - and I am amazed that it is so difficult to do it with a Windows system - I thought I would just put the disc in and put 6 hours of programs to be transferred and it would go - I have found that the software that came with it - Intervideo WinDVD Creator, and one that I bought - Sonic's Record Now and Prime Time - all are limited to 4 hours on a DVD. Or can the Linux based system do something that a Windows system cannot? Does anyone know if Ulead DVD Movie Factory can do 6 hours? Thanks.
Lou
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Hi,
Yes it can. But, it's important that you record the material in the 6 hour format originally.
Converting the videos to 6 hour format will take time to accomplish.
One note: Many dvd players will choke with over 4 hours of video on the disk.
The units that can burn 6 to 8 hours on a single layered dvd should be played back in
the unit that created them.
You can try "Sonic MyDvd Version 6".
Another method since you have a "Media PC" is to play the video and audio output's
via the s-video/rgb connectors to the desktop recorder while having the desktop
recorder record in the 6 hour mode. You won't notice any difference in the quality
of the video since there isn't any quality. But, it's alright for the computer monitor in
a cropped window. Should be equal to video_cd_quality.
To answer your question "Yes" MF can make a 6 hour movie.
"How To" is in the "Help Files", tutorials & PDF file that came with the software..
Hope this helps,
MD
Yes it can. But, it's important that you record the material in the 6 hour format originally.
Converting the videos to 6 hour format will take time to accomplish.
One note: Many dvd players will choke with over 4 hours of video on the disk.
The units that can burn 6 to 8 hours on a single layered dvd should be played back in
the unit that created them.
You can try "Sonic MyDvd Version 6".
Another method since you have a "Media PC" is to play the video and audio output's
via the s-video/rgb connectors to the desktop recorder while having the desktop
recorder record in the 6 hour mode. You won't notice any difference in the quality
of the video since there isn't any quality. But, it's alright for the computer monitor in
a cropped window. Should be equal to video_cd_quality.
To answer your question "Yes" MF can make a 6 hour movie.
"How To" is in the "Help Files", tutorials & PDF file that came with the software..
Hope this helps,
MD
I'm not sure why they would choke on such a low-bitrate dvd -- I would think the exact opposite in that because it's such a low bitrate, and could be mpeg1 at 352x240 or 352x288, that many dvd players could play them without a problem. Quaility on the other hand is a different story...maddrummer3301 wrote:One note: Many dvd players will choke with over 4 hours of video on the disk.
The units that can burn 6 to 8 hours on a single layered dvd should be played back in
the unit that created them.
George
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Hi George,
Like you I wouldn't think there would be a problem.
I recorded the 6 hour video on a Sony Desktop recorder at VBR.
Playing back in the Sony unit was not a problem.
Playing back in the dvd players I couldn't seek or skip large
sections. Eventual playing would produce an error.
I thought that THoff said it's better to record at CBR when
using half D1 with long recordings.
I don't know why there was a problem.
MD
Like you I wouldn't think there would be a problem.
I recorded the 6 hour video on a Sony Desktop recorder at VBR.
Playing back in the Sony unit was not a problem.
Playing back in the dvd players I couldn't seek or skip large
sections. Eventual playing would produce an error.
I thought that THoff said it's better to record at CBR when
using half D1 with long recordings.
I don't know why there was a problem.
MD
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torgo3k
Bruscol, I think we helped each other on this one. I had been wanting to make DVDs of a cooking show for a friend who doesn't have cable, and your question prompted me to experiment.
I have two methods for you - one I've used for a long time, and one that I tried for the very first time tonight.
Key question - are you going to use your Media PC (or other computer) as your playback device, or do you need to play your discs on a regular DVD player as well?
If you'll only need to play the disc back on a computer, my tried and true method will do well for you. I simply burn the files to disc as data files on a data DVD.
Pretty obvious, huh? No rendering, no editing, no anything. Just dump the files from your hard drive to a data DVD using Nero, Easy CD creator, or whatever program you prefer for burning ordinary data discs.
I find that I can fit seven hours of video (in VCD-compliant mpeg-1 files) on a single data DVD. I like this method because it's quick and simple, plus you can mix and match video formats and resolution qualities. The drawback is that the data discs won't be playable on an ordinary DVD player. You have to use a media PC, laptop, or computer with TV-out capability.
Method #2 - you can burn a Video CD onto a DVD.
I've never been able to get this to work on any other program, but it went off without a hitch on DMF4.
Normally, you would use a CD to burn a VCD. You can get something like 74 minutes of video on a disc. It's great for a one hour TV show, but not so hot for movies. The video quality depends on the screen size. On a 19" TV, it's just about perfect (better than VHS tape), but it's not so good on a 55" screen.
With most programs, if you select Video CD format, you're locked into using a CD as your burning media. With DMF4, you can have it create a Video CD format disc but change the media type to a 4.7gB DVD. You can fit about 6.5 - 7 hours on a single disc, or just slightly less than you can with a data disc.
To create your project, at the first menu put the mouse pointer on the CD icon at the top of the screen and select Create Video CD. Import your video files just like you would for a DVD. You'll see a 700 meg size limit for a VCD project. Ignore it. When you're all done and ready to burn, change the media type (bottom left of the screen) to DVD. Presto - you now have a 4.7 gig Video CD project you can burn onto a DVD disc.
A few important points to note -
1) make sure you use VCD compliant MPEG-1 files. (I capture mine using ATI's TV Wonder Pro card and the included software. It works great for both DVD and VCD compliant MPEG files.) Otherwise, it takes a long time to convert your files and you will lose video quality in the process. (If you are starting out with low quality video, the converting or rendering process can make your video nearly unwatchable.)
If your files aren't VCD compatible already, I'd forget all about VCDs and stick with burning them onto data discs.
2) open the Project Settings menu (the gear icon at the bottom of the screen) when you create your video layout and make sure DMF4 is set NOT to convert/render compliant MPEG files. This will save a LOT of time. (I made a DVD image file of 6.5 hours of video, and it only took 35 minutes to create the image on a AMD 2700+ system with 1 gig of RAM.) It will also preserve what video quality you do have.
3) if you have to do any editing at all (trimming, etc) do it BEFORE you change the media type to DVD. If you edit an MPEG-1 file while the media type is set to DVD, it will give you the estimated size of the file as a DVD video rather than a VCD video. This will make your project size explode. Do all trimming with the media type still set to VCD. Wait until you're all finished before you change the media to DVD.
This method is more tedious than simply burning the data files, but you can watch the discs on a regular DVD player.
I hope that helps...
I've only been using DMF4 for about a week, and I think it's better than sliced bread. If Ulead can make a patch to fix the audio sync problem when using Normalize Audio, this would be the perfect DVD tool for casual users.
I have two methods for you - one I've used for a long time, and one that I tried for the very first time tonight.
Key question - are you going to use your Media PC (or other computer) as your playback device, or do you need to play your discs on a regular DVD player as well?
If you'll only need to play the disc back on a computer, my tried and true method will do well for you. I simply burn the files to disc as data files on a data DVD.
Pretty obvious, huh? No rendering, no editing, no anything. Just dump the files from your hard drive to a data DVD using Nero, Easy CD creator, or whatever program you prefer for burning ordinary data discs.
I find that I can fit seven hours of video (in VCD-compliant mpeg-1 files) on a single data DVD. I like this method because it's quick and simple, plus you can mix and match video formats and resolution qualities. The drawback is that the data discs won't be playable on an ordinary DVD player. You have to use a media PC, laptop, or computer with TV-out capability.
Method #2 - you can burn a Video CD onto a DVD.
I've never been able to get this to work on any other program, but it went off without a hitch on DMF4.Normally, you would use a CD to burn a VCD. You can get something like 74 minutes of video on a disc. It's great for a one hour TV show, but not so hot for movies. The video quality depends on the screen size. On a 19" TV, it's just about perfect (better than VHS tape), but it's not so good on a 55" screen.
With most programs, if you select Video CD format, you're locked into using a CD as your burning media. With DMF4, you can have it create a Video CD format disc but change the media type to a 4.7gB DVD. You can fit about 6.5 - 7 hours on a single disc, or just slightly less than you can with a data disc.
To create your project, at the first menu put the mouse pointer on the CD icon at the top of the screen and select Create Video CD. Import your video files just like you would for a DVD. You'll see a 700 meg size limit for a VCD project. Ignore it. When you're all done and ready to burn, change the media type (bottom left of the screen) to DVD. Presto - you now have a 4.7 gig Video CD project you can burn onto a DVD disc.
A few important points to note -
1) make sure you use VCD compliant MPEG-1 files. (I capture mine using ATI's TV Wonder Pro card and the included software. It works great for both DVD and VCD compliant MPEG files.) Otherwise, it takes a long time to convert your files and you will lose video quality in the process. (If you are starting out with low quality video, the converting or rendering process can make your video nearly unwatchable.)
If your files aren't VCD compatible already, I'd forget all about VCDs and stick with burning them onto data discs.
2) open the Project Settings menu (the gear icon at the bottom of the screen) when you create your video layout and make sure DMF4 is set NOT to convert/render compliant MPEG files. This will save a LOT of time. (I made a DVD image file of 6.5 hours of video, and it only took 35 minutes to create the image on a AMD 2700+ system with 1 gig of RAM.) It will also preserve what video quality you do have.
3) if you have to do any editing at all (trimming, etc) do it BEFORE you change the media type to DVD. If you edit an MPEG-1 file while the media type is set to DVD, it will give you the estimated size of the file as a DVD video rather than a VCD video. This will make your project size explode. Do all trimming with the media type still set to VCD. Wait until you're all finished before you change the media to DVD.
This method is more tedious than simply burning the data files, but you can watch the discs on a regular DVD player.
I hope that helps...
I've only been using DMF4 for about a week, and I think it's better than sliced bread. If Ulead can make a patch to fix the audio sync problem when using Normalize Audio, this would be the perfect DVD tool for casual users.