Encode (and chop off a bit) a (wma2,wmv3) file to DVD-format

[Kent Larsson]

Hi!

I have been working to solve this problem for several hours now, without luck. I'm turning to you as my last resort (I've tried using Google and the other stuff you mentioned in the sticky post).

I have a file which we can call festivusfortherestofus.wmv which VLC gives me this information for:

Stream and Media Info / Advanced information:
Stream 0:

• Codec: wma2
• Language:
• Type: Audio
• Channels: 2
• Sample rate: 44100 Hz
• Bits per sample: 16
• Bitrate: 31 kb/s

Stream 1:

• Codec: WMV3
• Language:
• Type: Video
• Resolution: 320x240

I want to turn this into the format a DVD likes. And I want to cut off the first 10 minutes and the last minute. I originally used VLC to save a live stream, but I saved too much and I would like to give it away on a DVD.

If you could help me I would appreciate it very much. I've tried my best but can't seem to get it right.

I have a dual-boot system with Windows XP and Ubuntu Edgy Eft. If there is a difference in quality (perhaps due to codecs, I dunno) between the OS:s then please let me know which one to use.

Thank you for your time. Best regards,
Kent Larsson

[h2g2bob]

Trim file with --start-time=600 (seconds). There;s also --stop-time

For the DVD, try http://wiki.videolan.org/index.php/How_to_Create_a_DVD

[Kent Larsson]

Thank you!

Finding stuff on the Wiki is currently quite hard. I tried to search there (as I mentioned) but if you search for DVD on the Wiki you get zero results. I feel a bit stupid for not finding it but I did my best believe it or not.

I'm sure I'll get it working now! And just a last question. Is there any difference between VLC in Linux and Windows when encoding a DVD movie? (Or anything really.) These days I prefer being in Linux but I can boot into Windows if it will get me some kind of encoding benefit.

[h2g2bob]

I agree about the wiki, that article is really hard to find for some strange reason.

There should be no difference between the Windows an Linux versions. VLC will only make it into the right video format though, so the program you use to create the menu and burn it will depend on if it's Windows or Linux.

[Kent Larsson]

I've tried following the instructions from both Linux and now also Windows, without success. Even though I copy pasted and changed the relevant things in the command line example.

This is what I'm doing:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC>dir d:\home\kent\video Volume in drive D has no label. Volume Serial Number is 82B3-2E99 Directory of d:\home\kent\video 2006-11-23 06:51 <DIR> . 2006-11-23 06:49 <DIR> .. 2006-10-12 23:40 38 600 704 adelines.wmv 2006-11-23 06:51 45 057 .a4_3_to_dvd.swp 2006-11-23 06:46 300 a4_3_to_dvd 3 File(s) 38 646 061 bytes 2 Dir(s) 46 919 507 968 bytes free C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC>vlc "d:\home\kent\video\adelines.wmv" :sout='#transcode{codec=mp2v,vb=4096,acodec=mp2a, ab =192,scale=1,channels=2}:std{access=file, mux=ps,url="d:\home\kent\video\output.mpg"}' --aspect-ratio="4:3" --sout-trans code-width=720 --sout-transcode-height=576 --sout-transcode-fps=25 --sout-ffmpeg-keyint=16 --sout-ffmpeg-strict-rc --sto p-time=20

I then get these Windows (I opened the Messages window as it holds additional information):


Any ideas?

[h2g2bob]

Hello again,

If I remember right, there's something about the windows version that's slightly odd . I can't remember exactly, but try editing this bit
:sout='#tra.....
with no equals
:sout '#tra....
or no hash
:sout='tra....
or both (I can't remember exactly)

Hopefully that should work

[Kent Larsson]

None of those three suggestions work. I did get it to output a file by exchanging ' into " which gave me the command line:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC>vlc "d:\home\kent\video\adelines.wmv" :sout="#transcode{codec=mp2v,vb=4096,acodec=mp2a, ab=192,scale=1,channels=2}:std{access=file, ux=ps,url="d:\home\kent\video\output.mpg"}" --aspect-ratio="4:3" -sout-transcode-width=720 --sout-transcode-height=576 -sout-transcode-fps=25 --sout-ffmpeg-keyint=16 --sout-ffmpeg-strict-rc --stop-time=5

When I tried to open this file in VLC I only had sound, no video.

[Kent Larsson]

Anyone? Please?

[jbyram2]

It may be a bit late, but you have extra spaces in your command:

where it says:

acodec=mp2a, ab=192
------------------^
It should be:

acodec=mp2a,ab=192
-----------------^

Also:

std{access=file, mux=ps
--------------------^
std{access=file,mux=ps
-------------------^

[Kent Larsson]

Thanks for trying to help. I still have no luck.

When I try:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC>vlc "d:\home\kent\video\adelines.wmv":sout='#transcode{codec=mp2v,vb=4096,acodec=mp2a,ab=192,scale=1,channels=2}:std{access=file,mux=ps,url="d:\home\kent\video\output.mpg"}' --aspect-ratio="4:3" --sout-transcode-width=720 --sout-transcode-height=576 --sout-transcode-fps=25 --sout-ffmpeg-keyint=16 --sout-ffmpeg-strict-rc --stop-time=20 C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC>

I get a new file called "a4_3_to_dvd" in the same folder as the adelines.wmv file. The new file is only 300 bytes.

The variant with no equals at the :sout doesn't work. Nor do the variant with equals and no hash symbol.

Can anyone help me out please?

[marklar]

I have found a few videos with the same type of encoding that don't open--rather, they open, but are audio only.


(they also don't work with quicktime w/ "flipforMac", DivX, or mPlayer either)

interesting to hear if anyone has had luck.

[Kent Larsson]

Well I can watch the movie fine using VLC so I'm not sure how these problems are related?

To me it seems like I'm just giving VLC the wrong command line for the conversion.

That this is so crazy hard (according to me) is my problem. It even seems so hard that the nice people here have problems getting it right. I might contribue to the wiki if I ever get this solved so that others won't have my problems. I am still hopeful that I will get this conversion right one day.

[Kent Larsson]

I would really like some more help please. Anyone?

[dwarf]

Take a look at the "Open File Options"

File -> Open File -> Advanced Opitions (check Stream/Save) -> Settings

In the form that follows, the command-line parameters you need, will be displayed in the "Target" textbox (on the top) as you select/check the options in the form.

The full command-line you need in windows should looks like this:

vlc "INPUTFILENAME" :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=3072,scale=1,acodec=mp2a,ab=192,channels=2}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ps,dst="OUTPUTFILENAME"}} --aspect-ratio="4:3" --sout-transcode-width=720 --sout-transcode-height=576 --sout-transcode-fps=25 --sout-ffmpeg-keyint=16 --sout-ffmpeg-strict-rc