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Hi there, I'm a newbie and am having some trouble backing up my old VHS movies to DVD...
Using Pinnacle Studio 9 on XP, I transferred a 99 minute movie to my computer. However, when I tried to burn the video using Pinnacle, there was an error. Reading through some other online forums, I learned that the program will only burn movies up to approx. an hour. So, I need to compress the file, and downloaded DVDShrink to do so.
However, I think DVDShrink is meant to rip DVDs, which I am not doing, and it wouldn't read the .mpg file I already had stored on my hard drive.
I think what I need to do is convert the .mpg file to .iso so that DVDShrink can fit it onto a single-layer 4.7GB disk... I've been searching for a free program that will do this, but they all seem to be for ripping directly from a DVD. Can anyone suggest a program I can use, or give me some insight into how to successfully burn my .mpg file (which is larger than 4.7GB) onto a single-layer disk?
Thanks! :)
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Backing up VHS movies to DVD - how to convert .mpg to .iso?
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#2
SnyperTodd 
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Posted 02 June 2009 - 06:32 PM
I'm sure there is a free program to convert an .mpg to DVD format, but I don't know it. I use ConvertXtoDVD. It's more expensive than most others- $50- but it's very flexible and I really like it. A program like that will convert your .mpg to DVD and burn it itself. That would save a few steps and some time. There are other similar programs for less money, but I haven't used them so I can't really say for sure if they'll do what you want them too. Hopefully someone else knows of a free alternative, but if not, you may have to spring for a paid program to do exactly what you want.
#3
peaceguy
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Posted 03 June 2009 - 09:44 AM
I'm impressed that you got the movie off of a VCR tape and onto your computer. I've been wanting to do that for a while, but haven't taken the effort it takes to connect my VCR to my computer. Such a pain...
I would use ConvertXtoDVD, as the other commenter suggests. It may cost moolah, but I've used and tried a LOT of "converters", and ConvertXtoDVD has NEVER failed me, whereas others have yielded either coasters or some read or write errors. It just always works, and works with most EVERY file format you throw at it (No, I don't work for VSO. I just love the software, and give kudos where it's deserved...).
Definitely worth the money. Give it a whirl. You can try it. http://www.vso-softw...roducts/convertxto_dvd/
I would use ConvertXtoDVD, as the other commenter suggests. It may cost moolah, but I've used and tried a LOT of "converters", and ConvertXtoDVD has NEVER failed me, whereas others have yielded either coasters or some read or write errors. It just always works, and works with most EVERY file format you throw at it (No, I don't work for VSO. I just love the software, and give kudos where it's deserved...).
Definitely worth the money. Give it a whirl. You can try it. http://www.vso-softw...roducts/convertxto_dvd/
#4
smax013
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Posted 03 June 2009 - 10:11 AM
First, a question...
It is not clear if you are trying to create a "playable" DVD (this is my assumption) or just a data DVD. Which is it? The first would be a DVD that you could play in a typical DVD player hooked to your TV. The second is a data disk that you would just be copying the computer file to for "backup" purposes and could potentially put in your computer to then play the file.
Your answer will somewhat dictate a response.
It is not clear if you are trying to create a "playable" DVD (this is my assumption) or just a data DVD. Which is it? The first would be a DVD that you could play in a typical DVD player hooked to your TV. The second is a data disk that you would just be copying the computer file to for "backup" purposes and could potentially put in your computer to then play the file.
Your answer will somewhat dictate a response.
#5
wluer4
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Posted 03 June 2009 - 10:31 AM
Ideally, I'd like to have a playable disk.
ConvertXtoDVD looks like a great easy-to-use program; thanks for the help! :) I'll have to download the trial and see if it works for me. A question, though... does this program automatically fit the file to a single-layer disk if the file size is too large?
ConvertXtoDVD looks like a great easy-to-use program; thanks for the help! :) I'll have to download the trial and see if it works for me. A question, though... does this program automatically fit the file to a single-layer disk if the file size is too large?
#6
smax013
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Posted 03 June 2009 - 11:07 AM
wluer4 said:
Ideally, I'd like to have a playable disk.
ConvertXtoDVD looks like a great easy-to-use program; thanks for the help! :) I'll have to download the trial and see if it works for me. A question, though... does this program automatically fit the file to a single-layer disk if the file size is too large?
ConvertXtoDVD looks like a great easy-to-use program; thanks for the help! :) I'll have to download the trial and see if it works for me. A question, though... does this program automatically fit the file to a single-layer disk if the file size is too large?
If that is the case, then you need some sort of DVD authoring program. A MPEG4 (i.e. mpg) file will generally not playback on a standard DVD player as it is not a DVD video "format". You need a program that will take your "computer" video file and encode it in a format that a standard DVD player can play.
Now, the ConvertXtoDVD that other recommended looks to be such a program, but there are others. The key question is whether it supports burning DVDs longer than one hour...not all such software does.
#7
mjd420nova
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Posted 03 June 2009 - 11:07 AM
I'm rally confused here, I have never bought a DVD burner that didn't come with a program to allow you to burn a DVD in just about any format you wish. In almost every case, you should be able to fit at least two hours of video in the .MPG format onto a standard 4.7 GB DVD disk.
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