How TO: Convert AVI to SVCD using DVD2SVCD-- Basic operation

[LPDad]

I have been asked many times.
Here is how you use DVD2SVCD to convert a movie that is in .avi format (Divx, Xvid, etc) to either an SVCD or VCD.
This is the BASIC operation. (you need to have the appropriate codecs installed-- which should already be done if you are able to watch the AVI on your computer.


When you go to convert an .AVI file you need to set up DVD2SVCD to avi mode.
(there are 2 modes, one for inputting a DVD OR a Ripped DVD, and One for inputting an AVI file)

To switch between the 2 modes you go to the MISC tab and choose the correct input file time in the lower right.
when you choose the input file type as AVI you will notice that the TABS on DVD2SVCD change.

Anyway choose the input file as AVI.

Then go to the CONVERSION tab and in the the field where it reads AVI file click on the folder icon to the right of the field and browse to your AVI file.
(your file should load, and the Movie Length should pop up when the avi file is loaded, if not try reloading the file.)

Choose your aspect ration (most of the time the 16x9 option-- this puts the black bars on the top and bottom) Basically when you view the file on your computer player if it has black bars then you choose the 16x9 option .. if it plays as full screen when played on your computer then choose the 4x3.

Now Click on the ENCODER tab and specify which encoder you are using (CinemaCraft or TMPGEnc) then browse to where your encoder is located.
(for your first few times I would recommend leaving the settings at their defaults)
NEXT click on the CD IMAGE tab.

(A word about the TITLE Picture option--Up until about 8 months ago a title picture would be automatically put in for you when you chose the movie using the movie info tab-- but it stopped working. What I do now is go and Search Google Images for an appropriate COVER image (the larger the bitsize the better)-- try searching for "name of movie POSTER" usually you will find what you are looking for--be patient I have always been able to find something nice to use. When you find the pic you want using Google image search--browse to the biggest version of it, right click on the pic and choose the SAVE AS option to save it to your harddrive wherever you want. (I like to save as .jpg, but you can also use .bmp)

Ok, Anyway.. in the CD image tab click on the Movie info tab then enter a partial name in the SEARCH IMDB field and hit enter. When the searching is done then you can use the dropdown arrow to choose the correct movie (usually it will display several to choose from)
When you choose one then the movie info will be automatically put into the correct fields. then click OK.

Now go to the BITRATE tab.
This is where you choose how many discs you want the final product to be. I have found that anything over 76 minutes MAX is best on 2 x 800 mb. but you can change these numbers if you really want to fit a 78 minute onto 1 cd.
(I changed the CD Size option to all be 800 mb, because I do not use 740 mb discs.)
If you are specifying the number of discs to be used make sure you un-check the min avg box at the bottom or you might be surprised if the end result has more discs than you wanted.

No go BACK to the Conversion tab and click on the GO button (you can use the preview option to see how your pic will look (this is important, since if a picture of your movie does not show up here it usually means you need a different codec installed.)

Now just click START CONVERSION and come back much later to a hopefully finished set of CD images (which are all ready to be burned)
Unless you changed the location they will be stored in the
/DVD2SVCD/Movie folder.
After you burn your discs you only need to delete all the files in the /movie folder and you can start converting your next movie.

Note that converting a 120 minute avi will take approx 5-7 mb of harddrive space.

If something happens and your computer stops you can use the Recover tab to pick up where the crash occurred or to finish the conversion or to redo a specific part of the conversion.

Good LUck.

Any more questions..Just post em.

In Europe you use mpeg1 (or PAL)