For example... I want to take 5 avi videos that add up to more than 4.7gb and make a dvd with menus. I know I need to compress them but what software will do this? I have tried using Sony DVD Architect 4 (wont import avi), Ulead DVD Workshop 6 (wont compress) and a few others that wont work... HELP! :eek:

I use Pocket DVD Wizard. You tell it the final file size you want, and figures out how much compression is needed. Of course, the more you compress, the more the video quality deteriorates.

BTW, "HD DVD Software" here refers to pre-recorded movies.

I moved this here. No perfect place for it. Maybe you guys can help.

larry

I use Pocket DVD Wizard. You tell it the final file size you want, and figures out how much compression is needed. Of course, the more you compress, the more the video quality deteriorates.

BTW, "HD DVD Software" here refers to pre-recorded movies.

Looking at the homepage for Pocket DVD Wizard it doesn't look like you can customize a menu... looks like a dvd copy program... but I'll try it... I thought this might be a good place to ask but if this is for pre-recorded movies not so sure.

I moved this here. No perfect place for it. Maybe you guys can help.

larry

I thought this was a video forum... there should be a place for it. Looks like a new section is needed... I'm definitely not the only one with these type issues.

I thought this was a video forum... there should be a place for it. Looks like a new section is needed... I'm definitely not the only one with these type issues.

Try videohelp.com or the user forums at cdfreaks.com.

-Bill

Looking at the homepage for Pocket DVD Wizard it doesn't look like you can customize a menu... looks like a dvd copy program... but I'll try it...

I thought, if nothing else, Pocket DVD Wizard could create the smaller video files you wanted. Then, using those smaller files, use your favorite DVD burner program that lets you add custom menus, etc.

Do you have Sony Vegas software accompanying your DVD Architect software? If so, that is the program you want to use to import the AVI files. Once you import them via Vegas, you edit them as you wish, then you render them into MPEG-2 files in Vegas. Once the file is rendered properly, you open the rendered .mpg file in DVD Architect to start making your DVD.

If you have Vegas and this is the route you want to take let me know and I can walk you through some of the additional steps. I just figured all of this out on my own very recently and there are some caveats (such as rendering the audio and video layers separately) that are not immediately obvious.

Do you have Sony Vegas software accompanying your DVD Architect software? If so, that is the program you want to use to import the AVI files. Once you import them via Vegas, you edit them as you wish, then you render them into MPEG-2 files in Vegas. Once the file is rendered properly, you open the rendered .mpg file in DVD Architect to start making your DVD.


Excellent ideal! I'm embarrassed I haven't thought of this before. I do have Vegas but have never really understood why they sell them as a package (I know I'm sounding really stupid here.. it is possibly the best way, but hey) I use them both and thought maybe there was direct "import from" and "export to" feature between these two that I have just overlooked (as with other design programs), that type multi-program "linking" is everywhere in the design industry. I am still green to encoding though (which is my biggest hurdle). Are other encoding methods available for Vegas... which would be best, the Half D1?

If you have Vegas and this is the route you want to take let me know and I can walk you through some of the additional steps. I just figured all of this out on my own very recently and there are some caveats (such as rendering the audio and video layers separately) that are not immediately obvious.

Yes, please do! :) Thanks.

The first thing to do is to import your video files as AVI files using Vegas. Once everything is imported, you can drag the clips onto the timeline in any order you want and start editing them into a cohesive video.

Once you have all the footage in the order you want (with any transitions or effects you may wish to add) you are ready to render the video. You have a newer version of Architect than I do, so you may also have a newer version of Vegas, which means you may have more options for encoding than I do. But what I do is encode the audio layer first (File -> Render As; Save Type As -> Microsoft (Wave) - .wav; Template -> 48,000 Hz, 16 bit, PCM). Once the audio file is finished rendering, go ahead and render the video layer (File -> Render As; Save Type As -> Main Concept MPEG-2; Template -> DVD Architect NTSC Video Stream). Rendering the audio and video separately and in these formats will ensure that DVD Architect will not need to do any rendering of these layers before making the DVD (this additional rendering slows down the process and could result in poorer quality image and sound on the DVD).

Once both the audio and video are rendered, open Architect choose which kind of DVD you want to make (Menu Based, Single Movie, etc.). Navigate to the folder where your newly rendered files are stored using the Explorer window at the bottom and drag the MPEG file to the project window. Once it is in there you can use the timeline on the bottom right to add chapters, etc. etc.

I hope this gets you started. Let me know if you need any clarification or further instructions. I am pretty new to this myself, but if you run into the same bumps in the road I did, I will be glad to help.