How do I place 4 short movies on a single DVD?

[mindless25]

My girlfriend wants me to make a copy of her "pilates" collection to give to her mother. However I dont want to waste the media. Anyhow my question is how do I put 4 short dvd movies which are each about 1.5 gigs or less not downsized (yet...if i have to i will) on to one single dvd. Any takers...Please help!

Thanks in advance...

- MindlesS

[Batman]

You can burn the files with Nero, Recordnowmax or any other burning software that supports dvd media burning.

[mindless25]

yeah i know how to burn them...I just want to know how to make a dvd menu to choose it dvd off the single dvd.

[setarip]

You could use either "TMPGEnc DVD Author" (different than "TMPGEnc") or "DVDLab"...

[mindless25]

thx i will try it out..

[setarip]

"thx i will try it out.."

My pleasure ;>}

[chillsdon]

Use TMPGEnc to convert video to either VCD or SVCD (I find that VCD is still very good quality, plus it will reduce the size to ensure all four movies fit), the author with TMPGEnc DVD Author like setarip said.

[windtrader]

You could use either "TMPGEnc DVD Author" (different than "TMPGEnc") or "DVDLab"...

I am looking into authoring tools and it seems DVDLAB and TMPGEnc DVD Author are the two most popular and featured tools for all except the big-time pros who probably use Secnarist.

I did some resarch and could not come up with a leaning either way. Probably, my ignorance is hindering my ability to form any opinions.

If my target format is DVD, does TMPGE have and advantage since it may better integrate the encode and author functions?

I like the creative features in DVDLab in creating cool looking menus.

Are there any differences in the ease of use of the basic authoring functions?

If there is a FAQ or post covering this that I missed, let me know.

Thanks,
Don

[chillsdon]

I have DVDLab but have yet to author a DVD with it. The interface is phat, the best I have seen. I have read a couple of articles that say it is a bit buggy, but I can not say for sure. DVDLab only really like mpeg2's, so if you have high quaility movies in this format, and want to play with creating your own menus (the menu transitions are cool if you have more than one menu), then give DVDLab ago.

TMPGEnc DVD Author is quite basic, but is still superb. It has no problem with mpeg1's either, which is cool as sometimes VCD quality is good enough, and you can get up to 3 movies on a DVD. There are 6 fixed menu systems, which are good enough but are not really modifyable, however, the fact that it allows you to add a movie as the background of the menu is very cool and easy to use. Also, it will animate the thumbnails for the main movie titles. And best of all, you know that anything with TMPGEnc in the name is going to be quaility.

Bottom line, both are cool, just depends on what you want you finished DVD to be like, if you want to spend the time and make it look professional, use DVDLab, if you just want to make a DVD quickly and easily, that still looks good, use TMPGEnc DVD Author.

[windtrader]

Thanks for the comments. I need to figure out which features are most important to me and then pick. I did not realize that DVDLab just handles mpeg files. If I encode the incoming video into mpeg streams using something like CCE, this should remove this restriction, right?

[littlemouse]

If you want to put 4 DVD movies into one disc, why don't you try DVD Shrink with the re-author mode. First, you have to use DVD Shrink to copy those movies into your hard-drive (if you have 2 DVD-ROM, then copy into your hard-drive only 2 movies), then use DVD Shrink to re-author them. You can check the guide here:
http://www.dvdshrink.info/re-author-...5-advanced.php

[windtrader]

Littlemouse,

I use this method of creating a composite DVD. The issue is there is no menu created by DVDShrink so if you want to have something that links to the different titiles, you need to do a bit more. I am not suggesting that DVDShrink have this type of authoring included, just stating it does not do it today.

[setarip]

To windtrader

"Are there any differences in the ease of use of the basic authoring functions?"


In the ease of use department, I believe you'll find that "TMPGEnc DVD Author" is the hands down winner, as its' virtually fully automated.

On the other hand, DVDLab (although, in my opinion, not very well documented) has tools (particularly regarding menu appearance and construction) that are somewhat higher up the "sophistication" scale.

[windtrader]

I've still not evaled TMPGE or DVDLab but your comments echo others. I'll give DVD Author a spin first. I'll go uptown if it doesn't have enough pizzazz.

[setarip]

To windtrader

Happy experimenting ;>}