[SOLVED] Guidance requested for multimedia conversion

[Murray Taylor]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org 
> [mailto:owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Downey
> Sent: Friday, 9 February 2007 2:57 PM
> To: Randy Pratt
> Cc: freebsd-questions at freebsd.org
> Subject: Re: Guidance requested for multimedia conversion
> 
> On 2/8/07, Randy Pratt <bsd-unix at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 01:15:21 +0000
> > dgmm <freebsd01 at dgmm.net> wrote:
> >
> > > On Friday 09 February 2007 00:04, Murray Taylor wrote:
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > Being much more a system programmer / database person
> > > > than a multi media type I am requesting a 'recipe' from
> > > > a video media expert.
> > > >
> > > > I need to convert an 8 minute .avi file into a basic dvd.
> > > > No menus or anything, just a dumb as possible 'load it, 
> press play'
> > > > disk. As long as I can do that, and also get the dvd player to
> > > > do loop play, its fine.
> > > >
> > > > I have a dvd burner, have used it via command line and k3b to
> > > > burn data Cds and data DVDs.
> > > >
> > > > I am quite happy to load a list of ports to do the conversion,
> > > > layout and burning for the video DVD... I just need a list of
> > > > ports to load, and the sequence of command lines to execute.
> > > >
> > > > FreeBSD 5.4 Release,  KDE 3.5.4.
> > > > Ports tree within 1 week of current, normally use portmanager
> > > > for port installs, but direct make is ok too.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thanks
> > > >
> > > > Murray T
> > >
> > > Start here...
> > >
> > > 
> http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/HTML-single/en/MPlayer.html#menc-
> feat-vcd-dvd
> > >
> > > In particular, scroll down to section 14.8.5 for some 
> "recipes" to create the
> > > DVD compatible video then you'll want 
> multimedia/dvdauthor to create the disc
> > > image and finally sysutils/dvd+rw-tools for burning
> > >
> > > You might want to look at multimedia/dvdstyler as a GUI 
> front end to dvdauthor
> > > and, depending on your set-up/dvd writer it might do the 
> burning from the GUI
> > > too.
> > >
> > > It's not exactly point'n'shoot but all you need should be there.
> >
> > The multimedia/avidemux2 is a bit easier to use (IMO) than mencoder
> > since its a gui-type video editor/converter that can 
> produce the mpeg2
> > program streams from avi files for use with dvdstyler.  Its really
> > quite nice with lots of intuitive features.
> >
> > The ease in converting with any of the utilities will depend largely
> > on the source material.
> >
> > Randy
> >
> tovid (multimedia/tovid) will do it.
> 

Thanks all who responded --- I now have a working methodology !

I am using mencoder with a ginormous command string, followed by 
dvdstyler.

Attempts
tovid / dvdstyler
-- tovid ran clean, 
-- dvdstyler didnt like the resultant .mpg file

mencoder / dvdstyler [1]
-- mencoder ran clean
-- dvdstyler happy
-- result was 16:9 format ??
-- Played ok on $69 dvd player
-- Played ok on picky big Sony home theatre system
-- Played ok on laptop PowerDVD player
-- didnt load on small (newer) Sony player

mencoder / dvdstyler [2]
-- mencoder ran clean
-- dvdstyler happy
-- result was 4:3 format >>> fixed command line cut/paste error
-- Played ok on $69 dvd player
-- Played ok on picky big Sony home theatre system
-- Played ok on laptop PowerDVD player
-- didnt load on small (newer) Sony player

mencoder / dvdstyler [3]
-- mencoder ran clean
-- dvdstyler happy >>> added single menu with PLAY button
-- result was 4:3 format
-- Played ok on $69 dvd player
-- Played ok on picky big Sony home theatre system
-- Played ok on laptop PowerDVD player
-- Played ok on small (newer) Sony player

Still to try avidemux2 as I have some small pixelation occurring
in smoe frames and an oddity on the credit roll at the end.
(white text scrolling up a purple background, leaving trails of 
small 'blip-marks')

But overall, a satisfactory result. Thank you all.

mjt

ps Greg L, your response wound up in a different folder 
here so isnt in this thread, thanks to you also re dvdstyler.

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