ConvertXtoDVD - is there a way to schedule or do multiple conversions overnight?

I'm using ConvertXtoDVD version 2.something to convert AVI files to DVD format and it works pretty well.

It takes up to 2-3 hours to convert most AVIs on my PC so I have it running quite often overnight, and when I do that I set it up with the close/shutdown option.

However, it would be really great if there was a way to feed it a bunch of AVI files so it kept working all night rather than shutting down; although I need my sleep my PC can stay up as late as it wants!

So is there any way to do something like this, and if so, how??? I can't figure it out...

THANKS for any hints.

 

You can write a batch file to do it or use this (requires NET Framework be installed).
Basically you load the avi source file into ConvertX and under then 'File' 'Project' 'Save Project'.
Do that for each file to be converted then use the batch program on the project files.

http://www.cdr-zone.com/software/div-x_related_software/convertxbatch.html

 

Thanks for that info. I don't have NET installed (and don't want to install it) so I can't use that app. I will look into the batch file stuff. I saw something about that researching further today on the web. Looks like kind of a PITA though. Hopefully they will build that into the program in the future (?).

 

Hey thanks Creaky! That helps a lot.

I used to write batch files all the time to do stuff back in the Windoze 3.1/DOS 6 days but its been years since I had to futz with that stuff.

I need to really read up on all this in great as it relates to ConvertX though to get a good handle on the command line options etc. I have a million questions (where does the output file go? how do you name it? what options will the program use and how do you override the ones you don't want/specify those you do? etc etc etc).

 

I may be misinterpreting what you said but I know I've joined multiple files with v2 many many times (not in batch mode since I've not sussed that all out yet!). Just by selecting more than one file (?). I must be not understanding (??? I've not had to do with subtitles though).

And regarding the batch stuff, I found a thread on a forum called cdr-zone that discusses this stuff and has more command switches. I'm not sure if external links are allowed to be posted here so I will not do that unless you can give me the OK on that (you are a moderator so I figure you'll know ok?).

That thread has some examples including encoding multiple files in the same DVD output structure. The switch is /fl, and for that you give it the name of a text file that has multiple files in a list.

Like this:

"C:\PATH-TO-CONVERTXTODVD\ConvertXtoDvd.exe" /fl "C:\Work\filelist01.txt" /auto=true /close

filelist01.txt
D:\Videos\File01.avi
D:\Videos\File02.wmv
D:\Videos\File03.mkv
D:\Videos\File04.mov

Of course I don't know if any of that actually works - also that thread is 2 years old. Plus it mentions that a user there wrote a gui to do all this easier and had a link for it, but the link was dead :-(

THANKS that is the main thing I was scratching my head about. Now I get it - the newly created files will go into the default CxDVD working directory named just like if you use the program normally. That is exactly what I want.

I'm going to work on all this now before I go to zzzzzz and see if I can't get it to work for me tonight. I have a huge backlock of AVIs I want to convert on my slow PC. If I can get this method to work that will be great. THANKS again.

 

Ok, I understand now Creaky! I am new at all this so bear with me ;-)

Yes, you are 100% correct. When I use CxDVD to put together multiple files into one DVD structure it does give me a new title break (or whatever it would properly be called). It causes the counter to start over when it goes to the next file converted, like you say. I even noticed a slight hesitation/switch over when it happens on my player. Sorry I did not think to mention that. I understand what you were after now.

Good news - the batch file worked for me last night!!! In fact it is still going now (I set it up for 5-6 files)! I was able to get 3 files converted overnight, as opposed to just my usual one. This will help me get through my large filelist as I'm gonna set this up every night. Someday I need to upgrade the PC though so it works faster/better at this stuff.

I need to spend more time up here and other forums and just read, read, read, read and learn, learn, learn, learn. There is so much about video itself, formats, conversions, etc that I do not understand or have no clue on. I wonder even if there is something I could fine tune on my PC to help it use its resources better/convert faster/something. THANKS for your help!

 

I know what you mean about that - that has confused me too. Also, at least on my player, once if transitions to the 2nd part (ie: title) I can no longer skip back to the previous chapter break (in the previous title). My DVD player's skip button only goes back to the same title's beginning and when I press it again it just keeps doing that no matter how much I say "WTF"???

That confuses the hell out of me because usually that works fine, it's not like I remember what disc came from multiple joined titles or whatever. If I remember right I can still go back to the previous title's final chapter(s) by pressing the reverse button though to cross over the title "boundary" (i am making up these terms), then skip works like it should.

 

Thanks for all your info - I've learned a lot. Especially about the seperate files to one DVD merge thing.

I have DVDflick and was between using that and ConvertXDVD (or the older DivxtoDVD) when I started out doing all this just a few months ago, and opted to use ConvertX over DVDflick because of the time factor. Although waiting 2-3 hours for ConvertX seems long, waiting 5-7 hours for DVDflick to do the same thing was really painful. But I didn't know that DVDflick could handle merging better.

I just downloaded something that was setup as 14 freaking seperate AVIs (sigh). Guess I will use DVDflick on that one (or spend more time learning about how to do the merging with another program). Or does ConvertX3 do it???

There is just so much to absorb with this DVD stuff.....

 

THANKS! & not just for that info about Cx3 (now I am going to have to try that too) but that thread itself that talks about audio sync issues, which I sometimes have, is very useful! I think I need to upgrade DVDflick, as well as learn a lot more about this stuff. Sheesh, there is just too much to do......

THANKS again.

 

THANKS! More stuff for me to think about.

I am running 2.2.3.258. Occasionally I do get sync problems but since it doesn't happen that often I thought it was in the AVIs. I'm not sure what setting I have as far "fixing" sync goes (I am running a convert right now so I can't check). All this reading leads me to ponder more though about all the things I do not understand/realize, and want to learn more about. For instance, although I cannot remember the details (all this stuff makes my head swim) I think that I cannot actually playback most AVIs on my PC, although some do work. I get "missing codec" type errors - despite the fact that Convertx or DVDflick will convert them. And I think that means I have "broken codecs" (whatever that means).

Not to hijack my own thread, or to ask too much of you, but is there any thread or FAQ on this forum which is up to date and explains the following:
(1) how to see what codecs are on your PC
(2) how to understand which are "broken" or "bad" (and what that actually means)
(3) how to uninstall codecs
(4) where to get new recommended codecs
(5) how to install codecs
(6) how to make sure all your programs are using the recommended codecs

Some of the threads I've read here partially answer some of this stuff but are like 5 years or older and don't necessarily make sense are outdated (??), or don't have the whole picture. Part of my problem is that this is like trying to learn a foreign language it is all so new to me though, most of it makes no sense to me, but some of it is slowly sinking in, and I acknowledge I need to spend weeks/months reading this stuff over and over again until I understand it. And since for the most part I have been able to convert most AVIs ok I've been afraid (and too lazy) to mess with anything for fear of screwing up the things that actually do work on my PC (I am running XP SP2 btw).

Anyways thanks again for all your help.

 

THANKS - I am going to try that now. I'm assuming the install writes over all the old ones? I shall find out!

I did try a test to refresh my memory, and yes, I cannot play any AVIs with MEDIA PLAYER CLASSIC. I think this *used* to work, but now it gives me errors, and only plays the audio with no video. I will try that codec install thing then see what happens.

Also let me ask you this too - somewhere amongst the dozen or so threads that I read today DVDFLICK was discussed about needing to have a certain build #. But I can't remember what the freaking number was or where I read that! I checked the download and it only says the VERSION#. I am running DVDFLICK v1.2.2.1 build 442. Do you know if that is a kosher build #?

 

WOOO-HOOO!! It worked! Installing that codec pack fixed my mediaplayer classic (plus installed a newer version), plus it fixed another program that I was screwing around with that had suddenly stopped working. Gonna have to try out/test a bunch of things.

I wish had more time to learn about this stuff. Can't thank you enough though Mr. Creaky!