How to convert an .avi to something a DVD player will read

[Kris3000GT]

I've got some movies that I'd like to view on my TV instead of my 15" monitor. So I need to know what type of file I need to convert a avi file into that a DVD player will read. I know it can be done, one of my friends does it, but I don't know the actuall process. I think I convert it to a VCD or SVCD or something like that.

 

[chrönik04]

> just make a vcd.

 

[ekÆsine]

i don't think that advice was very helpful. Kris3000GT this is done with SVCD usually. to do this you would need a program to convert the AVI video files to MPEG2 which is the format SVCD requires and use a cd-burning program to burn that file to CD.

this explains it better than i could:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/convert#12

 

[bhoney]

another good site to look on is http://www.doom9.org/ for guides on how to covert video files to different formats

 

[Kris3000GT]

So I convert the file to MPEG2 then chose the SVCD in the burning program to make the file playable on a DVD player? Thanx for the help!

Oh, and what conversion program would you recommend from Doom9? I've got a burning program that will burn to SVCD already.

 

[chrönik04]

i use 'avi to dvd' or winmpg, another place u might want to check out is mpegx.

 

[Kris3000GT]

OK, maybe I don't have a cd burning program that uses SVCD
Could u guys suggest any free programs that use SVCD, if any exist. I might just have to go buy nero.

Also, I've got the WinMPG. So I choose avi to mpg2 then use the burning program to burn to SVCD? Or can I just use avi to VCD? Will that just burn it to a cd there or what?

 

[ekÆsine]

SVCD is just a structure i beleive. if you make a folder called VIDEO_TS and put your mpeg2 in there i think that is all that is required. you would only waste 1 cd to test this out.

 

[chrönik04]

hmm... i used to use 'vcd easy' which was free like 2 yrs ago.. i think (unless you pay or steal it) it might be crippleware now. it would be wise to just get a commerical cd recording application as just about all of them now have a video cd option.

 

[Kris3000GT]

Alright, I've got Nero now that will burn a VCD. So in WinMPG do I choose avi to mpeg2 or avi to VCD? And does SVCD use MPEG2 also? Which format has better quality?