Another HDTV to DVD thread - Multiple Episodes

[jay]

I have read several other threads regarding this but have yet to see the answer I was looking for. I have done this with good results with HDTV2DVD using a single title. However I would like to put a few episodes (say 3) of a HDTV show onto a SD DVD with a simple DVD menu that allows you to select the episode (i.e. 1 episode per dvd title). Here is the convoluted process that appears to work.

1. Use VRD to edit out commercials and convert .mpg to .ts
2. Use VRD to combine 3 .ts files into one
3. Use HDTV2DVD to convert to DVD format. (DVD is playable now, but with no way to get to individuals episodes).
4. Here's where it gets ugly. Use VRD to read DVD and combine VOB files into one.
5. Use VRD to split into 3 files (1 per episode) and save in vob format.
6. Use GUI for DVDauthor to make DVD with 3 titles.

Any ideas on how to simplify the process. Preferrably without having to purchase any additional tools. BTW I tried the demo version of SVCD2DVD but it will not support multiple files so I have no way of know how well the full product would do. Thanks for the help.

Jay

[Anole]

Oh, come on now... that was so convoluted ! :)

Sounds like what you need to do, is convert your HD to SD, one show at a time.
I did something similar, recently.
I messed up recording some The Shield episodes, thanks to FX channel running them five minutes long.
So, I went to the internet and download 'em in DivX (see specs below)
I happen to have WinAVI and used it to convert them to 720x480 with AC3 sound, but other programs will do it, too.

Then, I proceeded to author them normally, with a menu listing for each, and some chapter marks in each show.
Not nearly as sparkling as your made-from-HD shows, but okay for viewing on a 27" set, from across the room.

source format:

===== File Info =====
FileSize : 352M
PlayTime : 00:48:09.431
VideoCount : 1
AudioCount : 1
===== Video Info =====
Video 0# Stream
VideoCodec : XVID
VideoWidth : 576 piexs
VideoHeight : 432 piexs
VideoFrameRate : 23.976fps
VideoFrameCount : 69277
VideoBitRate : 873868
===== Audio Info =====
Audio 0# Stream
AudioCodec : MP3
AudioBitRate : 135800
AudioChannels : 2
AudioSampleRate : 48000

[zaphod7501]

I do this all of the time. I have some amazing DVDs of "Heroes".
I record the HD shows with a MyHD MDP-130. They are .tp which VRD can save to .ts after editing commercials (same file type, different extension) which also gets me a chapter list in DVDAuthor format.

I use gui4ffmpeg (free) to convert to standard DVD resolution (use "all files" to select). They usually end up at about 1.4Gb per episode. gui4ffmpeg can convert AVIs and mpegs also.

I run the mpeg back through VRD to correct any A/V sync problems (they often seem to be off 140ms) and save as .vob (actually I'm using the beta where the option is listed differently as mpeg with empty nav packets).

I use DVDStyler (my preferred free front end for DVDauthor) to author the files. (I use other authoring programs too ;) , Ulead comes with Hauppauge cards and does a decent simple job) I copy and paste the chapter info from the chapter list file. In this window (mpeg file properties), under the video option, I select 16:9. Once you figure out a program's options, you can usually save a template for future usage.

I also capture the commentary from the NBC website by feeding my video card and PC audio output into a PVR card and recording. I edit this file with VRD also and save as elementary streams to get a commentary .mpa track that I can add to the mpeg and author a DVD with second audio track that has the commentary. Sync for the commentary is not always right on but I can select it with the audio button on the DVD player's remote: and it's a neat trick.

[jay]

I use gui4ffmpeg (free) to convert to standard DVD resolution (use "all files" to select). They usually end up at about 1.4Gb per episode. gui4ffmpeg can convert AVIs and mpegs also.Could you please tell me what settings you use for gui4ffmpeg? I tried it a couple of times and the resulting files are very poor quality (i.e very blocky) and also way too small (i.e. a 5GB HD file became a 240MB file). I used the following settings:

Target: DVD
Format: ntsc
Aspect: 16:9
Bitrate: I tried 6000 and 8000 with not much difference
Process Audio Encoding: checked, ac3, 6 channels

Everything else was default. I must be doing something obviously wrong. Thanks.

Jay

[jay]

Oh, come on now... that was so convoluted ! :)

Sounds like what you need to do, is convert your HD to SD, one show at a time.
That's my problem. I don't know of a good free program to convert one show at a time. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Jay

[zaphod7501]

Bitrate: I tried 6000 and 8000 with not much difference
Process Audio Encoding: checked, ac3, 6 channels

Everything else was default. I must be doing something obviously wrong. Nope, you got caught by the "k" bug. The new version of ffmpeg requires a "k" after the bitrate but gui4ffmpeg hasn't been updated to take that into account. You have to manually add the "k" before you hit "generate" (ie 6000k or 8000k). If you look in the dos box when encoding starts, you can see what rate it is encoding at.

I don't personally think the bitrate setting has much effect when you set it higher, only if you pick a lower one to limit file size. It seems to encode based on the file properties more than your setting.

I have had poor luck with AC-3 myself. If you use it make sure your selection matches the original file (2.0 vs 6).

[jay]

I have had poor luck with AC-3 myself. If you use it make sure your selection matches the original file (2.0 vs 6).I can't get audio to work properly. The source file is AC3 5.1 and I choose AC3 6 channels. The result file has dialog in the left front speaker only. I'd really like to find out what HDTV2DVD uses to convert. It does a great job with AC3 audio and automatically adjusts the bitrate so that it will fit on a DVD. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jay