Video recorded from TV needs editing - can anyone help.

Happytab · 18-07-2007, 8:18 AM

Hi, I have a Virgin V+ box and recently bought a DVD recorder to take all my daughters Cbeebies programs off the hard drive.

My plan was to convert them all the Xvid so she can have loads of episodes on one DVD that will work in her player.

Anyway, to the point of the post. The problems I am having are that the files come out in 1gb portions rather than one episode per file so I need some software that lets me split the files down and merge them to make one file per episode.

Will the software that you all use for editing home video also work for this purpose ? The files are have AVI extensions if that helps.

Can anyone suggest any software that will help me with this as its driving me mad.

jaymac · 18-07-2007, 8:47 AM

http://www.videoredo.com/?src=VRD2004-09-08 Video redo should do it you can download the free trial and se what you think . The product is not free but just the job

redsox_mark · 18-07-2007, 8:48 AM

Are you creating a DVD on the DVD recorder, and you want to edit that? If so, yes most video editing software will do that. I'm surprised the files have a .avi extention though... I'd expect them to be .VOB for DVD.

Happytab · 18-07-2007, 10:01 AM

They only have AVi extensions after I have converted them to Xvid - sorry for the confusion.

**senu** · 18-07-2007, 10:11 AM

Although you can convert Mpeg4 ( XVID/DIVX) to DVD.. It is better to use the original mpegs from your virgin box.. use video redo to edit then use any of many DVD authoring software to make the DVD
Having said that, many mainstream NLE software allow you to edit different formats ( one of such being Xvid) .
The output quality and ease of editing vary enough to suggest that this file format is not ideal as starting material for editing even just to get the episodes in proper order such as you propose

**senu** · 18-07-2007, 10:12 AM

Did you see

THIS THREAD?

redsox_mark · 18-07-2007, 10:22 AM

I think the OP wants the final output to be XVID so he can fit more on one disc.

It's not clear if the original clips are copied directly from the Virgin box (if that is possible), I thought they are being recorded onto DVD first.

In any event, I agree it is best to edit the MPEG2 files, then convert to XVID at the end if desired.

Happytab · 18-07-2007, 11:24 AM

Sorry for not being clearer.

The Virgin box has a USB but its not enabled so I have to fag about copying realtime onto a DVD before transferring onto the PC and then starting the process of converting.

So, as I understand the process I need to follow is:
Copy the files onto the PCdo the cutting and joining in the original file format.
Then convert the resultant file to xvid/divx

Then I will have to burn them back to a DVD - is there a special way to do this or just copy the files onto a DVD?

Sorry for being slow here but I really appreciate all of your help given so far.

redsox_mark · 18-07-2007, 11:38 AM

So, as I understand the process I need to follow is:
Copy the files onto the PCdo the cutting and joining in the original file format.
Then convert the resultant file to xvid/divx

Yes.

Then I will have to burn them back to a DVD - is there a special way to do this or just copy the files onto a DVD?

I don't know...I'm sure someone who does will post. I know some DVD players will play DIVX files; but I've never tried to author a DIVX DVD.

jaymac · 18-07-2007, 11:45 AM

Once you are ready to burn This freebie should do it http://www.videodvdmaker.com/

**senu** · 18-07-2007, 1:46 PM

Many DVD players now play DIVX files in thier "native state" all mine do
The problem is there are a few codecs and not all the players support all so where possible stick close to DIVX itself ( Xvid has a little less support) but I havent had a problem with any

As such you can simply burn a data DVD with the DIVX files and they will play on a DVD player
For this you can use anything from Nero , Roxio or even any freebees
If you can try this as it has the advantage of you getting more on one DVD disc... and watching them just as you had encoded them ( quality wise)

This is different from making a DVD video which is what the software Jaymac has kindly linked or any DVD authoring software would do
They would convert the DIVX files into mpeg2 ( VOB) for DVD video and create a DVD that is watchble on all DVD players ,not only those which can decode divx

The Quality may be worse and certainly quantity less for this advantage although you also getto make a menu ect

In Summary with your Divx files you can make a Data DVD with the files playable by computer and many DVD players with reasonable quality and no need for any further encoding. You get a lot more on the disc

Or
A standard DVD video in which the Divx files have been converted and you then end up with a DVD universally playable ( on DVD players and of course a PC)

There is nothing to stop you from trying both methods to see which would suit you

With the more easily made data disc.. navigational ease is dependent on DVD players ability
HTH

redsox_mark · 18-07-2007, 1:52 PM

Senu,

Thanks for the explanation.

As I understand it the only reason he is converting to DIVX is to fit more on a disc.. so to do this he/she would need to create it as a data disc as you describe.

If he/she was going to create a MPEG2, authored DVD video then there would be no reason to convert to DIVX in the first place. You could just author a DVD based on the original MPEG2 files from the original DVD. (or just watch that DVD and not mess with a PC at all!)

Happytab · 23-07-2007, 11:49 AM

Can anyone help with one additional problem?

When copying trying to copy the DVD's to the PC I keep getting errors like "cyclic error" or something like that and I have to redo the recording - I think its something to do with the DVD recorder but not sure.

Has anoyone else had a similar problem? IF so how did you fix it?

Thanks again for your support.

**senu** · 23-07-2007, 12:44 PM

CRC :Cyclical redundancy error
means that the DVD/CD cannot be read accurately.. it often means the media is ( dirty,damaged , media) or a corrupt file write Unreadable for the purposes of copying
Such discs will often play well ( due to error correction by the optical drives and software)
Hard to copy.. if at all possible.. go back to the original and make a new DVD

redsox_mark · 23-07-2007, 12:51 PM

And if this is happening often... try different brand of disc. The quality of discs vary widely. Verbatim and TDK are a couple of good brand names.. TDK makes their own discs, Verbatim uses multiple suppliers. Taiyo Yuden is one of the best manufacturers; their discs are often sold under other names (e.g. Panasonic), though online you can buy unbranded Taiyo Yuden discs.