What Is The Best Software For This?

[dazuk1972]

I have two AVI files and I want to edit them together so that I can make a DVD out of them except they won't be two seperate titles on the DVD, only one big one. It've tried some experiments recently and things went well but not 100%. The picture quality is good but when I compared my edited version that is in one big part to the version that is a two-part version, the two-part version has better picture quality and I say my edited version has lost about 5% of the picture quality. The software I used is this. First, I have Sony Vegas and that doesn't import AVI files so I had to convert the AVI files to MPEG2. I converted them using Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate 6. After that is done, I import the MPEG2 files into Song Vegas, edit the two files together and render them to MPEG2. When that is done I convert them to the DVD files using ConvertXtoDvd 3.

Things are not 100%. What is the best software for doing this?

Many thanks.

[UncasMS]

what is the reason you load the files into sony vegas?

are you actually editing them or is it for joing only?
if it is only because you need them to be joined to ONE piece then the way you're going is far from optimal

in the latter case it'll be way better to join the two avi files with any routine that suits you like virtualdub or even the dos command "copy /b *.avi newfilename.avi" - cf here

having joined the files you can convert the new.avi with avstodvd or any other decent tool

[dazuk1972]

what is the reason you load the files into sony vegas?

are you actually editing them or is it for joing only?
if it is only because you need them to be joined to ONE piece then the way you're going is far from optimal

in the latter case it'll be way better to join the two avi files with any routine that suits you like virtualdub or even the dos command "copy /b *.avi newfilename.avi" - cf here

having joined the files you can convert the new.avi with avstodvd or any other decent tool

I have been usng Sony Vegas because that was all I could think of to join the two files together.

I tried Virtual Dub but it keeps on showing the same file in both screens. I load in the first file and when I load the second the first file isn't there anymore with two screens showing the second file. Also I keep on getting an error warning where it says something about my project might play back with bits out of sync.

Many thanks for the help.

[UncasMS]

i'm not sure which version of vd shows exactly what in its windows but usually one is input and the other is output but that shouldnt matter at all.

open the first file and then search for a command like APPEND and append part 2 or other consecutive parts.
finally you will have to use SAVE AS but please make sure that video and audio options/settings are set to DIRECT stream or otherwise vd will re-encode when saving.

if you cant find the commands let me now which version you use because there is vd and vdmod and they behave slightly different.

if that does not work for you, then you either do something slightly wrong or more likely, the two parts are not created with identical codecs for video and audio.

but like i said: the simple dos command can do magic in many cases or try avidemux - there is no need to convert the avi to mpeg and by doing so loose quality only to be able to join the two parts.

[MilesAhead]

AviDemux is simple if all .avi files have the same properties. First time use, make sure Edit=>Preferences=>Automation Tab all the options are checked.

Open the first .avi file. AviDemux may do stuff like unpack the bitstream or whatever. When it's done, use File=>Append to load subsequent .avi files. Once you've appended all, hit the Diskette button on the toolbar to save. That's all there is to it.

[paglamon]

I tried Virtual Dub but it keeps on showing the same file in both screens. I load in the first file and when I load the second the first file isn't there anymore with two screens showing the second file.

Open the first file in VD. Then select File/Append avi segment and select the second file. Then under Video and Audio select Direct stream copy and save avi. The two avi file MUST have same parameters(resolution,fps,bitrate etc.).
The two screens are supposed to show you the same video because one is the INPUT window the other OUTPUT.If you use filters then when you preview filtered video the OUTPUT will show you the difference.

Also I keep on getting an error warning where it says something about my project might play back with bits out of sync.

Your file probably has VBR audio. VD does not like VBR audio. Use AVIDemux instead,as Milesahead have suggested.

[dazuk1972]

i'm not sure which version of vd shows exactly what in its windows but usually one is input and the other is output but that shouldnt matter at all.

open the first file and then search for a command like APPEND and append part 2 or other consecutive parts.
finally you will have to use SAVE AS but please make sure that video and audio options/settings are set to DIRECT stream or otherwise vd will re-encode when saving.

if you cant find the commands let me now which version you use because there is vd and vdmod and they behave slightly different.

if that does not work for you, then you either do something slightly wrong or more likely, the two parts are not created with identical codecs for video and audio.

but like i said: the simple dos command can do magic in many cases or try avidemux - there is no need to convert the avi to mpeg and by doing so loose quality only to be able to join the two parts.

Many thanks for the help.

I use the version 1.8.8. I first use Open Video File and then I get a message saying something, "The VBR audio in the AVI is a non-standard and it may encounter sync errors up to 30198ms when attempting to extract WAV files or playing in some players. If this is a problem, use Full Processing mode is recommended to decompressor recompress the audio." I click on Full Processing Mode and when I click on Append AVI Segment to add the second part and press the play button to see how it looks, I still have the first file playing through both screens.

I can't find the VD or VDMod options.

Many thanks.

[dazuk1972]

AviDemux is simple if all .avi files have the same properties. First time use, make sure Edit=>Preferences=>Automation Tab all the options are checked.

Open the first .avi file. AviDemux may do stuff like unpack the bitstream or whatever. When it's done, use File=>Append to load subsequent .avi files. Once you've appended all, hit the Diskette button on the toolbar to save. That's all there is to it.

Many thanks for the help. I downloaded the software and did what you said and things seem OK so far. It's a matter of waiting now.

Many thanks.

[dazuk1972]

Open the first file in VD. Then select File/Append avi segment and select the second file. Then under Video and Audio select Direct stream copy and save avi. The two avi file MUST have same parameters(resolution,fps,bitrate etc.).
The two screens are supposed to show you the same video because one is the INPUT window the other OUTPUT.If you use filters then when you preview filtered video the OUTPUT will show you the difference.


Your file probably has VBR audio. VD does not like VBR audio. Use AVIDemux instead,as Milesahead have suggested.

Many thanks for the help. Even though I trying things with AviDemux that MilesAhead suggested, I'll keep in mind with what you said encase I have to go back to the other software.

Many thanks.

[dazuk1972]

AviDemux is simple if all .avi files have the same properties. First time use, make sure Edit=>Preferences=>Automation Tab all the options are checked.

Open the first .avi file. AviDemux may do stuff like unpack the bitstream or whatever. When it's done, use File=>Append to load subsequent .avi files. Once you've appended all, hit the Diskette button on the toolbar to save. That's all there is to it.

I've saved everything that has worked for joining them together. They can play in the Windows Media Player but they won't play in a DVD player because of an error. Also the AVI file has no design on it. The message says "The selected file has an extension (.) that is not recognized by Windows Media Player, but the Player may still be able to play it. Becuase the extension is unknown by the Player, you should be sure that the file comes from a trustworthy source". Then it says "Do you want the Player to play this content" with the Yes and No options.

How do I do things without that error appearing?

Many thanks.

[UncasMS]

WHAT extension does the file have?

If you dont see the extension, change the settings so that explorer will show all known extensions - use AVI as extension.

[dazuk1972]

WHAT extension does the file have?

If you dont see the extension, change the settings so that explorer will show all known extensions - use AVI as extension.

I did what you suggested and I re-saved the AVI files with AVIdemux and that same error message appeared through Windows Media Player.

I thought I got things right this time with VirtualDub. I managed to jion the two AVI files up and when I went to convert the files to DVD files with ConvertXtoDvd 3, the software failed to detect the duration of the AVI file. I let ConvertXtoDvd 3 do it on Auto and it went right over the duration. I aborted it and close the software, re-loaded it and when I loaded the AVI file in it again I selected the duration manually but it move in tens so I couldn't add the exact duration. When I went to convert it indicated the AVI is 4 minutes long when it's 2 hours and 23 minutes.

Every time I think I've sorted things another problem comes.

What is going wrong?

Many thanks.

[rndmnss]

I have two AVI files and I want to edit them together so that I can make a DVD out of them except they won't be two seperate titles on the DVD, only one big one. It've tried some experiments recently and things went well but not 100%. The picture quality is good but when I compared my edited version that is in one big part to the version that is a two-part version, the two-part version has better picture quality and I say my edited version has lost about 5% of the picture quality. The software I used is this. First, I have Sony Vegas and that doesn't import AVI files so I had to convert the AVI files to MPEG2. I converted them using Spamsoft Video Converter Ultimate 6. After that is done, I import the MPEG2 files into Song Vegas, edit the two files together and render them to MPEG2. When that is done I convert them to the DVD files using ConvertXtoDvd 3.

Things are not 100%. What is the best software for doing this?

Many thanks.

I'm using ConvertXtoDvd 4 and once I've added the first part of the avi (eg. movietitle.cd1), I can right click on the title and there is an option to merge (with movietitle.cd2). I think this option is also available for ConvertXtoDvd 3 (can't remember since it's been a long time since I used ConvertXtoDvd 3).
Hope this helps.

[MilesAhead]

I did what you suggested and I re-saved the AVI files with AVIdemux and that same error message appeared through Windows Media Player.

I thought I got things right this time with VirtualDub. I managed to jion the two AVI files up and when I went to convert the files to DVD files with ConvertXtoDvd 3, the software failed to detect the duration of the AVI file. I let ConvertXtoDvd 3 do it on Auto and it went right over the duration. I aborted it and close the software, re-loaded it and when I loaded the AVI file in it again I selected the duration manually but it move in tens so I couldn't add the exact duration. When I went to convert it indicated the AVI is 4 minutes long when it's 2 hours and 23 minutes.

Every time I think I've sorted things another problem comes.

What is going wrong?

Many thanks.

When you loaded into AviDemux where all the options in the Automation Tab checked? You want those on so it will rebuild index when needed and other stuff.