Convert any video file to DVD with open source tools

zoran119 · 09-16-2008, 03:18 AM

I addition to my earlier post (and to try to answer glore2002's question), I use the following dvdauthor.xml files to author the dvd:

If I have only one .mpg file:

Code:

<dvdauthor dest="DVD">
  <vmgm />
   <titleset>
     <titles>
       <pgc>
         <vob file="file.mpg" chapters="0,15:00,30:00,45:00,1:00:00"/>
       </pgc>
      </titles>
   </titleset>
 </dvdauthor>

If I have multiple .mpg files:

Code:

<dvdauthor dest="DVD">
  <vmgm />
   <titleset>
     <titles>
       <pgc pause="8">
         <vob file="file1.mpg" />
         <vob file="file2.mpg" />
         <vob file="file3.mpg" />
       </pgc>
      </titles>
   </titleset>
 </dvdauthor>

Note that these make a dvd with no menu!

To burn the DVD dirctory (created by dvdauthor) I user something like this:

Code:

$ growisofs -Z /dev/dvd -dvd-video DVD/

glore2002 · 09-16-2008, 08:13 PM

Thank you very much!

Glore2002.-

alkos333 · 09-17-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glore2002

Thanks for your reply alkos333. Do I need dvdauthor to create a DVD? If so, once I have both files (mpg and dvdauthor), What would you recommend to burn the DVD? What if I have more than one mpg file?

Thanks again for your valuable help,
Glore2002.-

Yes, you need dvdauthor to create a DVD structured directory which you can then turn into an ISO image, which can then be burned onto a DVD media.

The following link has a lot of examples: http://dvdauthor.sourceforge.net/doc/ex-title.html

Here are two of them that should address your questions directly:

Code:

1.2.3. One chapter, two sources

DVDAuthor normally creates one chapter per file. This can be overridden using chapters="foo". The parameter is a comma separated list of timestamps of the form [[HH:]MM:]SS.

<dvdauthor>
    <vmgm />
    <titleset>
        <titles>
            <pgc>
                <vob file="video1.mpg" chapters="0" />
                <vob file="video2.mpg" />
            </pgc>
        </titles>
    </titleset>
</dvdauthor>

1.2.4. Two chapters, one source

This will create a movie with two chapters, one at the beginning (which is always required) and one five minutes into the video.

<dvdauthor>
    <vmgm />
    <titleset>
        <titles>
            <pgc>
                <vob file="video1.mpg" chapters="0,5:00" />
            </pgc>
        </titles>
    </titleset>
</dvdauthor>

So you pick one or the other based on your needs, save that into a file called dvdauthor.xml for example, and run

Code:

dvdauthor -o dvd_structure -x dvdauthor.xml

Where -o specifies the output directory. Once the directory is created, go ahead and create an ISO image like so:

Code:

mkisofs -o test.iso -Jrv -V "DVD Title" -dvd-video ./dvd_structure

Check mkisofs manpage to for the option descriptions.

Lastly, once the image is created, you burn it onto a DVD just like you burn any other ISO.

Hope this helps.

dwpbike · 11-10-2008, 08:06 PM

would just like to put in a plug. after mencoder and transcode confustion, tovid was almost too simple. my wife wanted to watch an avi movie on tv. yes, i asked why. turned into quite an ordeal. won't do this again, but tovid will be my first choice for dvd work.

alkos333 · 11-10-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwpbike

would just like to put in a plug. after mencoder and transcode confustion, tovid was almost too simple. my wife wanted to watch an avi movie on tv. yes, i asked why. turned into quite an ordeal. won't do this again, but tovid will be my first choice for dvd work.

I just love the flexibility of mencoder too much and then writing scripts with it just makes things extremely convenient.