Newbie .avi Burning question

[Bose]

Ok, so i realize this is a question i could have answered myself by doing a bit of research, but i've found the that simplest solutions come from simply asking someone how to do it.

i have a few .AVI files on my computer, the sum of them all is less than 4gb, is it possible to burn them all to a dvd, but be able to watch the files on a DVD+/- R Compatible dvd player separately?

for example, if i were to have a home video of a hockey game, and a home video of a birthday party, both in .avi format, would it be possible (and what software can i use) to burn both to the same disk, but there is some kind of menu where i can choose which one to watch rather than both burning as if they were 2 tracks of the same movie.

I'm sure i've made that as clear as mud, but hopefully someone can decipher what i'm trying to do

[LT. Columbo]

my prefered method is as follows:

1) Use "TMPGEnc" (or "TMPGEncPlus") to convert the .AVI (DivX-compressed or otherwise) to compliant MPEG2-for-DVD format - Use "TMPGEnc's" DVD wizard/template to accomplish this

2) Use "TMPGEnc DVD Author" (a different program than "TMPGEnc") to easily create the required additional DVD files and structure (and chapters and a menu, if you wish)


**If the combined filesize of the DVD "package" written to your hard drive is greater than 4.37Gb, use DVD Shrink (or similar) to compress


If your O/S is either Win2000 or WinXP, TMPGEnc DVD Author can also burn your DVD. Otherwise, use NERO to burn in "DVD-Video" mode
(As an alternative to "TMPGEnc DVD Author", you could use "DVDLab")

[tigerman8u]

If you use Tmpgenc as stated above use the batch processing method to convert all your avi files at one time (saves time). I use mainconcept other than Tmpgenc (much faster).
"there is some kind of menu where i can choose which one to watch rather than both burning as if they were 2 tracks of the same movie"

using the above excellent software(TDA) you have to click on add track to add your next file to get a menu to choose which video you want to watch, you could put both on the same track and use a chapter as the starting point for the 2nd video and so on but I would not recommend it

[LT. Columbo]

"If you use Tmpgenc as stated above use the batch processing method to convert all your avi files at one time (saves time). "

yes i always use it. another tip, once it is loaded, SAVE your batch encode list, you'll appreciate when something happens like a power outage and you have to set it all up again....it makes a huge difference if you are converting 8 files or so with audio gap correct, source range, filters inverse telecine etc. settings on various files.

"you could put both on the same track and use a chapter as the starting point for the 2nd video and so on but I would not recommend it"

neither would i, but even if you did, pressing the "skip" button on the remote takes you to the next track even know they are "joined"

[VinceUTAH]

The best solution is if you already have or can buy a DVD player that can play AVIs. You can burn a few of the AVIs to one DVD and the player will automatically provide a simple menu to choose which one you want to see.

These players are low priced now like $60.

[LT. Columbo]

an excellent suggestion, but i don't think it is the BEST method----perhaps the easiest

why? what happens when you want to bring your favorite movie over to someone else's house and their dvd player don't support divx? see what i mean?

that's just my way of thinkin though

[tigerman8u]

@ columbo true but it stops alot of ppl from asking to borrow my movies all the time

[LT. Columbo]

i don't borrow nobody nothin. i don't trust nobody, most people are quite careless when it's something that isn't theirs. it's human nature.

if they insist i burn them their own copy to keep, after they supply the disc and cigar