Back up multiple VCDs to DVD

[beserk1]

Is this possible? I know I can convert single VCD disk to sinlge DVD disk, but I want to back up let say, 4 to 5 VCD movie into a single DVD.

Can this be accomplish? If so, when I play the DVD, how can switch from movies to movies?


Thanks

[tigerman8u]

Tmpgenc Dvd Author will do this.
1. Add your first file.
2. Click on "Add new track" then add your second file.
3. Repeat step 2 untill all of your files are added.
This will let you make a menu with the title of each file. You can choose from the menu which file you want to watch.

[beserk1]

thanks, I will get back to you if I have any more problem once I try it out.

[beserk1]

hmm, when I add file(.dat file copy from MPEG folder from my vcds), it give me "Divided by 0" error

I tried with couple different .dat file and still have the same problem, do I have to recode the .dat file into another format for this program to work??

thanks

[tigerman8u]

Rename the file extension from .dat to .mpg and see if that works.

[beserk1]

I tried, no it didn't, still give me the same error.

Plus, when I added the file, it loads for a long time before the error pop up

[setarip]

Use TMPGEnc (TMPGEnc>>File>>MPEGTools>>Merge&Cut)

OR

Use VCDGear (or similar)

to first convert the .DAT files to standard MPEG-1 format...

[beserk1]

I understand what it may be a different format and I need to convert it to MPEG-1 format, but what is the merging and cuting have to do with anything???

[xeqtor]

Hi,

Just done 6 VCD MPEGs to one DVD-5 with TMPGenc Author.

VCD discs store movie content in .DAT files. You'll first need to remove all those paddings inside these files and produce 'proper' MPEG-1 files.

VCDGear will do this for you. For TMPGEnc, the 'merge&cut' function is what we call a kludge. Because of the way TMPGEnc does it, pretending to merge (or cut) one .DAT VCD file to one MPEG-1 file does the same thing for us. Personally, I prefer to let TMPGEnc do this for me. But I'll use the demux function instead. Reason follows.

Now, some new info for fitting VCDs into DVD movies.

The DVD std states that MPEG audio sampling rate has to be 48kHz. But std VCDs has it's audio sampled at 44.1kHz. While TMPGEnc Author can 'convert audio on the fly', I prefer to do this manually (since I have to convert the .DAT to .MPG files anyways). This method also shaves off 50% the time taken to author the DVD.

Step 1. Convert .DAT files for input. TMPGEnc MPEG Util, 'Simple De-mux' function, input = DAT file, output to .m1v (video track) and .mp2 (44.1kHz audio track).
Repeat for as many VCDs you want to fit into the DVDR.

Step 2. For ease of use and avoiding naming conflicts, rename all .mp2 files to .mpa.

Step 3. Convert 44.1kHz audio to 48kHz audio. I use BeSweet (GUI) in batch mode. Load in DSPGuru's profile for DVDaudio, go batch, drag/drop all the .mpa files created by TMPGEnc. Output will have .mp2 extension. In batch screen, click on 'convert to multiple MP2s'. Wait. (slooow process).

Step 4. Sanity check. Move .mpa files away (no longer needed), leaving .mp2 files together with the .m1v files from TMPGEnc.

Step 5. Open up TMPGEnc Author. New Project. Add files. Grab all .m1v files. For each one, TMPGEnc Author will pop up a screen showing you stats for the movie track and audio track. Notice that audio tracks used are all those converted .mp2 files which are sampled at 48kHz. Click OK for each one.

Step 6. Create menu(s). Output. Wait. (Quite fast, depending on your disk speed.)

Done.

Extra notes. DVD std also states that movies of different frame rates has to be on a separate track. ie PAL (25fps) and NTSC (29.97fps) VCDs cannot be mixed together in one track altho both can be in the same DVDR.

Hope these help.
XEQ.

[setarip]

"I understand what it may be a different format and I need to convert it to MPEG-1 format, but what is the merging and cuting have to do with anything???"

Because that is the SIMPLEST/EASIEST/QUICKEST part of TMPGEnc's MPEGTools to use in order to accomplish the file format change - There is no actual cutting or merging involved...