Converting Avi to DVD files

[Geoff D]

I've got a load of avi files that I'd like to convert to DVD files so that they can be watched on a standalone DVD player - my player won't play them as they are; is there any decent freeware that will do the job? I've been recommended Convertxtodvd, but that costs ?35 & it's not something I do (or plan to do) regularly.

Any ideas?

[abigsmurf]

avi2dvd is a decent one. Take a long time though (depending on PC speed you're looking a it taking roughly 1.5x the runtime).

[Geoff D]

Cool thanks, will investigate that one

[Brad]

iMovie and iDVD combination?

[buster_broon]

i use click2dvd which is on my laptop

takes hours to convert a 90minute movie (around 3 hours)

recently did 2 episodes of nip tuck for somebody and that took 5 hours

also unless your dvd writer/disc is dual layered you can only put anything upto 150 minutes onto a dvd

anything above that will just cut off the ending

[funkydan]

I've got a load of avi files that I'd like to convert to DVD files so that they can be watched on a standalone DVD player - my player won't play them as they are; is there any decent freeware that will do the job? I've been recommended Convertxtodvd, but that costs ?35 & it's not something I do (or plan to do) regularly.

Any ideas?

Just out of interest, what operating system are you using - Vista, XP?

[Geoff D]

Just out of interest, what operating system are you using - Vista, XP?

Vista - just the basic one.

[VR46]

WinAvi will create VCD & SVCD disc's easily, sure there is a time limited demo or something on the web. But the quality is probably pretty poor compared to the above mentioned programs, on the plus side it only takes 20 minutes to convert a 40 minute show.

Actually I think Nero converts them for you also, just select SVCD or whatever, select the .avi and it'll do the rest for you. Not sure on the quality though, never tried it.

[kryss]

Nero makes video DVDs really easily and the quality is entirely up to you.

[abigsmurf]

Nero won't make DVDs or SVCDs (ie mpeg2) without a full version, it will make lower quality vcds though (roughly vhs quality). It's single click and pretty fast

[funkydan]

Vista - just the basic one.

When you put in a DVD to write it, Vista asks you to name the disc. At the bottom of that box there are some formatting or additional options, and in order to make the discs readable by anything other than another Vista PC, you need to change the option there from the one that is selected, to the other choice, which I think is called 'Mastered' (there's only two options). If you write disc using that formatted option, it will playback on just about anything! You have to change it to 'Mastered' every time you write a disc though.

Sorry if you already do this and it still doesn't work, but if you DON'T do it, it's gotta be worth a try hasn't it?

[Roddie]

There's also a great little program called ConvertXtoDVD, which does exactly what it says on the tin.