I'm new and i can't find a post on here that tells me what i need exactly!

Hi,
I've got a full concert in avi format, and i want to know what (if possible) program(s) i should use in conjunction with each other that will not only convert the avi to dvd format, but will allow me to make chapter cuts and create menus for chapter selection. Since the avi file is a concert, i want to make each song its own chapter of course. I was wondering if there was any nifty program that would allow divisions at certain times (i know that some do but have they have limited capabilities) and use this for menu selection, titleing, etc. Would i have to split the avi into chapter sections before conversion, so to make it where i had to convert 15-20 avi files, then convert and burn? So to repeat myself for the 1,000th time just be clear. I need an avi file converted to a DVD compliant format, with menus, chapter selection, you name it. Is this possible, and if so, what do i need?

Thank you all for your time.

 

You don"t have to Split the File into Chapters or anything like that, What you need is a Good Quality Mpeg-2 encoder to convert the AVI file to a DVD Compliant Mpeg-2 Format and then you need to use a DVD Authoring Program that supports Menu"s and Chapters....

You could use a Mpeg encoder Like "Tmpgenc Pluss/Express" or the "MainConcept Encoder" and there are others to encode the AVI to DVD compliant Mpeg-2, Then you would Load the Mpeg-2 file into a DVD authoring Program like "MediaChance DVDLab Pro" which would allow you to add as many Menu"s and Chapters as you want (Up to 99 chapters and menu"s) and then it will Compile the Mpeg-2 file with the Menu"s and Chapters into a "Video_TS" folder which it then Burns to DVD-R or you can use a seperate Program Like Nero to Burn the Video_TS Folder to DVD-R......

This will probably be Pretty Complicated if you have never done this Before but there might be a Guide in the "Guides" section of this site that will explain the Basics to you.....

Cheers

 

Thanks for your quick reply Minion. I have downloaded TMPGEnc Plus 2.5 but when i try to load the AVI it says it "File C:\filename.avi can not open, or is unsupported". I've seen a post about this issue on this forum and it said download ffdshow, install, and set the Direct show multimedia file reader VFAPI plug-in setting to the highest priority, which i did. As you can tell, it still gives me the same error message, and i've heard good things about this program - you even recommend it, so i want to use it. So, as of now, getting the file converted is my only issue, i'm pretty sure I can figure out the authoring software, i just needed the name of one that would fulfill my wishes - so thanks for your recommendation, i'm going to get DVDlab immediately and learn my way around. Once again, thanks for your help, and i hope for a solution to the converter issue soon.

 

Well you have done the Things that will usually will Solve the problem with the "Can Not Open Or Unsupported" error message so all I can thin of is to Install the "XviD" Codec and/Or check the FFDShow Configuration settings and make sure you have the "XviD" and "DivX' Formats enabled.....

If this Doesn"t work for you then all I can suggest is you use a Different Encoder Like the "MainConcept Encoder" which is Much Faster than Tmpgenc and Produces Just as Good of Quality....

Good Luck


PS: You also Should decompress the audio in your AVI files before you encode them, This is because the audio in Many AVI files downloaded off of the Net use "VBR MP3" audio which is not supported in Most encoders and will leave you with a Mpeg file with no audio or out of Sync audio...If you PM me with your e-mail address I can send you a Small tool that will decompress the audio in your AVI file for you.....