[RESOLVED] AVI to DVD

[Rex A. Butcher]

Hi there,

A friend has given me a DVD with a film. Unfortunately, the disk will not play on either the Windows Media Player or my DVD player.

The DVD contains two AVI files two srt files, one nfo and a rar folder with a bunch of stuff in it.

WMP told me that I did not have the correct codecs so I got them. Now the files play but the sound is in the language that the film was made, which is a combination of Germany, French, Chinese and English. So most of it, I don't understand.

I have managed to join the AVI files into one using AVI Joiner) and convert them to a DVD format (DivX to DVD) and that does play on the DVD player. But, there is no sound from the DVD.

How do I create a disk which will play on the DVD player and give me sound?

May be I need another bit of up-to-date software but which/what and preferably freeware. What is recommended?

Many thanks in advance,

Rex

[Midknyte]

Play the divx files with VLC instead. WMP sucks.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

You lose quality going from a regular DVD to divx and you won't regain that be converting it back.

[Rex A. Butcher]

Thanks for your reply. Am downloading VLC as I write.

The problem is that I actually wnat the film as a DVD. The avi files have been written and given ot me on a DVD but that DVD is not playable in PowerDVD, which is what I use to watch films.

Rex

[Midknyte]

At least try VLC first. I dumped PowerDVD a long time ago.

Like I said, converting DVD to Divx is a major drop in quality versus the original DVD. You'll lose a bit more quality during the conversion back to DVD. That's why I wouldn't bother with it. Here are a few tools you could try:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/secti...dvd-converters

[Rex A. Butcher]

Have tried VLC and it works with the AVI files. Original language and subtitles. Now, how to join the two AVI files together to create the one film?

For most DVD films, I am quite happy with PowerDVD. I have not got the most up-to-date version; V5 works just fine for me.

Thanks for the VLC link.

Rex

[Midknyte]

You shouldn't have to join the AVIs. VLC should switch automatically. Otherwise, you can try Avimerge (at the same site that I posted).

[Rex A. Butcher]

OK, thanks for the help. Have been 'playing' with VCL and it certainly seems to do the trick.

Will watch the film and check if the two files are joined.

Rex

[Rex A. Butcher]

Things are looking up!

But here is the next little glich. VLC only reads the first AVI file then stops and I have to point it to the second. Also have to do that with the sub-titles.

Using VirtualDUB, I have managed to join the AVI files into one and link the first SRT (sub-title file) to it, but when the second part of the file plays, there are no sub-titles. Even pointing VLC to the second SRT file does not bring up the sub-titles.

How can I associate the two AVI files with their respective sub-title files?

Rex

[Midknyte]

try srtsubmerge to merge the srt files.

http://submerge.delarue-berlin.de/

[Rex A. Butcher]

Midknyte,

Thanks for all your advice, but I don't seem to be any further forward.

Surely there is a very simple way for a bozo like me to imbed subtiles into an avi file. Every road I turn to loads a bunch of stuff onto the computer, the techie language (authoring, bit rates, DivX, ripping, etc.) of which I do not understand, so I have no idea what I am doing.

The result is that every road leads to an avi file, that does not have the subtitles imbeded, which is what I have started with.

Rex

[Rex A. Butcher]

Thanks for the advice; think I have finally managed to crack it with ConvertSRT2SSA.

Now onto the next problem!

In merging the AVI with the SSA file, I receive a low disk space message. When I check the properties of the partly writing AVI with subtitles, it is 40 gb. How can that be possible? The original on the DVD I was given is only 700mb.

Rex

[Midknyte]

Are you using Virtualdub to merge the files?
You have to get the subtitler plugin for Virtual dub
http://www.doom9.org/Soft21/Subtitles/subtitler-2_3.zip
You must convert your srt file into a ssa file

Open Vdub .......audio direct stream
'video ........full processing
filters add subtitler load your ssa
choose a compression
avi save as

[Rex A. Butcher]

Again, may thanks for you patience and replies.

It sounds easy and I have no idea why I cannot get it all working. Using ConvertSRT2SSA, I have the correct subtitle file. I have the Subtitle filter in Virtual DUB under the filter section.

Hit all the correct buttons and Save as AVI. Replaying with VLC or WMP and the subtitles are there. But change the extension of the ssa file and play the AVI and nothing, zilch; they are not imbedded.

Join the two avi files with VirtualDUB and no subtitles at all.

To recap on what I am trying to do. Take two avi files, imbed the subtitles and join them together to make one avi file that displays subtitles.

How difficult can this be?

Rex

[Midknyte]

I've seen some wonky stuff happen with converted files. You're trying to put humpty dumpty back together again. The ripping/converting software you use makes a big difference. This is the site I usually go to:
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/secti...-avi-divx-xvid

Maybe guys in their forum can help.

It wouldn't be so difficult if the original person had ripped the DVD with the subtitles in the first place. For edification, this is the app I use: http://www.clonead.co.uk/

[Rex A. Butcher]

Thanks for your help.

I have not managed to achieve what I was hoping for, but have managed to join the two AVI into one file and associate it with a single, joined SRT file.

Now it plays just fine so I will burn it to a DVD.

Rex