Video Recording/Playback/Editing/Converting/etc.

Sorry for the double post, but since I'm using ConvertxtoDVD, the background pic for the menu only has a standard format that cannot be edited in any way. This makes it annoying because the episode menu gets written over the left-hand side of the pic like this:

[image]

Poor Sorimachi. :(

I'm wondering if there is a converting program that is easy to use and has more freedom than ConvertxtoDVD does in this sense. Or maybe someone can help me edit the pic to have a white background on the left-hand side so the words don't have to end up on him.

I know this sounds confusing, or maybe it's just me. :sweat:

cori wrote:I'm wondering if there is a converting program that is easy to use and has more freedom than ConvertxtoDVD does in this sense.

Have you searched through videohelp.com under the Tools section?

I think you're always going to see some limitations with these all-in-one programs, I'm afraid.

The process I use, though it involves multiple programs, always gets me the results I want... I think Geezer can attest to that. :)

bmwracer wrote:
Have you searched through videohelp.com under the Tools section?

I think you're always going to see some limitations with these all-in-one programs, I'm afraid.

The process I use, though it involves multiple programs, always gets me the results I want... I think Geezer can attest to that. :)

I asked AD already and he mentioned that it doesn't have the option of configuring that program yourself. I wish I had a better computer because then I'd throw on all the programs that you and Ralph use to author DVDs. AD's going to try to fix up the pic for me, so I hope it works. :fingerscrossed:

cori wrote:I wish I had a better computer

What's your credit card's limit? :beaten: :mrgreen:

You can have a 2.0GHz dual core with 2GB ram and 400GB harddrive for $500. It won't play games, but will encore video fast. :)

As for software, Nero had a software to create DVD menus once. I can't remember the name tho. I searched on their site and it's no longer there. It could have been incorporated in the Ultra edition or dropped completely. There are guides and a software list on Doom 9. From simple static menus to advance stuff.

cori wrote:

I asked AD already and he mentioned that it doesn't have the option of configuring that program yourself. I wish I had a better computer because then I'd throw on all the programs that you and Ralph use to author DVDs. AD's going to try to fix up the pic for me, so I hope it works. :fingerscrossed:

As I said to cori, the next version of ConvertXtoDVD is going to be much more configurable :)

Also, does anyone know if double-layer DVD blanks are playable on standalone DVD players? I downloaded a disc image (ISO) of an Ai Otsuka concert and used Nero to burn the image to a double-layer disc, but the disc isn't recognised in my DVD player :( The computer DVD drive recognises it though.

Anime Dad wrote:As I said to cori, the next version of ConvertXtoDVD is going to be much more configurable :)

And buggy. :P

Also, does anyone know if double-layer DVD blanks are playable on standalone DVD players? I downloaded a disc image (ISO) of an Ai Otsuka concert and used Nero to burn the image to a double-layer disc, but the disc isn't recognised in my DVD player :( The computer DVD drive recognises it though.

You'd think that the dual-layer recordables would be playable, but I've never tried... And I'm not even sure if my player can burn dual-layer discs. :headscratch:

Folks,
Haven't bought a DVD player or done in converting in 2 years, so need some advice from those who keep up to date on these things.

What's a good DVD player that can also play DivX and is region free?

Am thinking of buying an iPod Touch... is there an easy to use program for converting DVD, DivX, etc., to a format so I can watch doramas on an iPod Touch?

If memory serves, you have to hard code the DVD subtitles as well, which is an extra step. DivX already has them hard coded.



Thanks, :drink:
PCM

pcmodem wrote:Folks,
Haven't bought a DVD player or done in converting in 2 years, so need some advice from those who keep up to date on these things.

What's a good DVD player that can also play DivX and is region free?

Right now, I've got two Philips DVP-3960 players: DivX-compatible, NTSC/PAL-compatible, Region-hackable via remote, HDMI 1080i upscaling, and a mere $45 at Wal-Mart. :)

BTW, we have a DVD player thread here: http://jdorama.com/viewtopic.2867.htm :)

If I have a number of videos that are all avi (not .001 or .002) how can I put them together?

Could be rar files or probably split files. They usually put the software's name where you got them. Back in the 90's, there was one called njsplit. It could be the one.

Found a program to create DVD. Free, open source, support a lot of file types and format (avi, mkv, DivX, flv, H.264, vp6). It supports subs too (srt, ass...), so you don't need to hard sub the movie to display them. :)

DVD Flick

shiroi_tora wrote:If I have a number of videos that are all avi (not .001 or .002) how can I put them together?

I'm sure it's HJSplit. If you got the files from SilentRegrets, that's what they use.

beem wrote:
You'd think that the dual-layer recordables would be playable, but I've never tried... And I'm not even sure if my player can burn dual-layer discs.

Update on this: It played in my cheap player OK. Only problem is, the cheap one is playing up badly :( Time for another player.

tabana wrote:
Found a program to create DVD. Free, open source, support a lot of file types and format (avi, mkv, DivX, flv, H.264, vp6). It supports subs too (srt, ass...), so you don't need to hard sub the movie to display them

I think i've tried that, but I didn't like it for some reason... :headscratch:

pcmodem wrote:
Am thinking of buying an iPod Touch... is there an easy to use program for converting DVD, DivX, etc., to a format so I can watch doramas on an iPod Touch?

I use Handbrake to convert videos to iPod format. For DVDs, you need to rip it to the hard disk first, but the program has preset settings (iPod low res, iPod high res, iPhone/Touch, PSP) and also inserts chapter breaks if they exist on the DVD.

Anime Dad wrote:

I think i've tried that, but I didn't like it for some reason... :headscratch:

Now I remember.... it doesn't do menus. It just plays the recorded files, one after the other.

That kind of sucks. It probably will added in a future version. :(

bmwracer wrote:
Right now, I've got two Philips DVP-3960 players: DivX-compatible, NTSC/PAL-compatible, Region-hackable via remote, HDMI 1080i upscaling, and a mere $45 at Wal-Mart. :)

BTW, we have a DVD player thread here: http://jdorama.com/viewtopic.2867.htm :)

Gracias, mi amigo. :applaud: Will check out their website.

dochira wrote:
I use Handbrake to convert videos to iPod format. For DVDs, you need to rip it to the hard disk first, but the program has preset settings (iPod low res, iPod high res, iPhone/Touch, PSP) and also inserts chapter breaks if they exist on the DVD.

Ripped to the HDD first, with a decoder like the stuff from Slysoft?

What about subtitles? They still need to be hard-coded ahead of time?

Subtitles... My grandmother is probably rolling over in her grave now because my nihongo is so bad. :ashamed: :hehe:


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

there's a tab for subtitles


<--- uses Handbrake too.

krim wrote:there's a tab for subtitles

I haven't used this yet (I've ripped TV shows so far), but you just need to remember to select the language. I don't know what the subs look like on the converted videos.

Mine comes out like this I think theres a setting somewhere, but i just grabbed a dvd and made a quick rip