Dvd
 

Hello,
I have a Dell Dimension 2400 without the DVD burner and since I have a good many homemade movies I would like to put them on a DVD disc so I can play them on my home entertainment center. What do I have to add. Thanks

hi Stagger, I convert our movies to DVD via our computer. But it is as simple as it is complicated.

after viewing the specs of your computer. You might just want to consider getting a DVD recorder(by passing the computer)

because after you buy the softwares, dvd burner, tuner card, blah blah blah, you'll end up spending more money...

something like this:

click here for the samsung dvd/vhs converter

and another sample:

click here for the panasonic

I do want to stress that those are just examples. I am not a salesman. LOL

I think that should take care of your home movies. It's a straight shot to the DVD.

But if you want to do some fancy editing and such, I'll include how I do it on the computer

who moi,
thanks for the quick reply, I didn't post that the movies were made on a Canon powershot and down loaded to the computer and the computer only copies to CD.

ooooh....well, then, that's totally different...LOL

I need to read up on Canon powershot. I think their conversion is usually MPEG 2 but I am not sure...brb

OK stagger, there are quite a few Canon Powershots, but I'll bet the best conversion they do is MPEG 2 (the most common format without a lot of space)

well, there are still a few ways to go about this.

1, you can upgrade your DVD player to play VCD (meaning you can burn the movies onto the CD and watch it on the DVD player that can view the CD with this format) and there are some really nice ones out there for about $100.00

that would be the simplest BUT, it won't be very universal like if you want to make copies for someone else.

2, you can buy an external DVD burner (I like the Sony one) and use a program. Either Nero or Roxio would do. You can convert the movies.

Now, this is WHERE it gets tricky...

a standard DVD player plays .VOB files (older models will ONLY play VOB files)

but newer DVD players will play MPEG files, Quicktime Files, Real files, divX files, blah blah blah.

The reason for this is cause NOBODY had thought about uniforming the DVD format!!

And now they have high definition files:thud:

well, we can eliminate the high def files cause your puter won't do it at this time unless you want to pay for some major upgrade.

I am guessing you want to go with the VOB files so it is universal on any DVD players (but that will change in a few years as people upgrade their DVD players which are becoming cheaper and cheaper)

(whew, I need some water)

so without confusing you, I'll post what I usually do for myself in the next post. I am someone else smarter will come and have better idea than me. LOL

OK...let me see if I can explain things as well as I don't think I can...LOL

1) you'll need a DVD burner(of course you know that already)
I would recommend an external DVD burner. Below is one of my favorite ones:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DRX840U-E...3206336&sr=1-1

2) you'll need a software. You may have some loaded already on your computer. Either Windows Media Center (looks like this guys below)

http://www.realsoftwaredevelopment.c...ton%5B3%5D.jpg

or Roxio (the basic version is usually bundled with new PC's)

or you can buy Nero (which is my favorite to use. I am still using Nero 7)

now, the SONY might come with a FREE Nero (they usually do) so you MIGHT not have to buy a NERO.

3) is optional, that is if you want to edit the movies. Nero, Roxio, and Windows Media player can all do it, but the degree and preferences are all different. And the more you want to do, the more they'll want you to pay for it.

BUT, if you just want to put them on your DVD without messing with it. Forget step 3

4) you'll simply open up a program, I'll use Nero as an example. And use the "make your own DVD" program.

You'll then import the movie to the program. Nero will code it to DVD compatible (usually MPEG 2)

if you want to get fancy and do VOB files, it takes a long time but there are settings in there that you can do. You'll have to convert your current file into VOB files and THEN use the program to burn the VOB files onto the Discs.

now, choices of discs.

I go to Staples whenever they have them on sale. You want to use DVD- (DVD negatives) for your DVD players. That is more universal. Some DVD players WON'T play DVD+ discs

however, these are the 4.5 G(gigabytes) they'll roughly burn 2 hours of movies (in MPEG) but in VOB, about an hour and half.

I buy them in bundles of 100 discs. They are like 20 bucks when on sale.


Now, there are DVD 9 out now. (8 1/2 gigabyes)

They are more expensive but can hold more data. I would play with the cheaper 4.5 ones until you are ready to pay more for the 9 gig ones.

the 9 gig ones are all +(positives) but will play on most universal standard DVD players...

I have wasted countless hours and countless dvd's learning how to do this...LOLOL So, I am hoping this will be a LOT easier for you!

Good luck!

while I am at it, I'll recommend this DVD player which I have.

It can take all the low resolution DVD's and make the resolution higher. Meaning better quality.

We have some really home movies and we got an 1080 high def television.

With this DVD player, it made the home movies 50 times better.

On a regular TV(with HDMI outputs), it did pretty good as well.

It will also turn any of your regular DVD discs into 1080 (most of them) resolutions on a 1080 screen. (That's what Blue Ray does)

although not as CLEAR as Blue Ray. The quality is truly excellent.

anyways, just though I'd throw this in. When we find something we like that's cheap (that's me) we'd like to share. LOL

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...3206972&sr=1-1

How comfortable are you with opening up your pc?

or do you have family or friend that knows how to do it?

the place i get my stuff has internal DVD read/writable for $30-$48.

and I really like the Ashampoo free recording software - for some reason I had trouble with Nero and others that i tried.
http://www.download.com/Ashampoo-Bur...dlPid=10827403

Picasa is free from Google and has really nice features for editing photos & videos - I did make a CD with nice transitions easily with it 2 yrs ago.
http://picasa.google.com/



easy to do really - buy the internal DVD burner of your choice
computer - turn it off - unplug it
open the case
look closely at how and where the other CD is plugged it and hooked up- make notes if needed

well It might be easier to post links showing/telling how to so i don't forget a step LOL-
static & magnetics are not good for computer so be aware of that if you attract static often or only have magnetic screw drivers.
I do use a slightly magnetic screw driver but am very careful to not touch anything but the screws.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/tuto...s/DIYCDDVD.htm
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...d_recorder.htm

oh found some videos of how to also-
http://video.google.com/videosearch?...8&sa=N&tab=wv#

who moi & jo55,
Have tried to reply twice but get kicked off while typing.
the camera says jmeg and avi. will decide on internal or external, maybe just get another cpr if it has a dvd burner. Where can I get a disc of xp-sp2 most puters come with it installed as mine did. Thanks

hi Stagger,

I am not sure why you would need a new computer. :)

I think I'll list the advantage of an internal drive and an external drive

internal DVD burner drives are usually cheaper. And they are linked right into your hardrive(you just have to connect it) thus making it slightly faster than an external drive. If you are NOT afraid to open up your computer(which most puters these days are easy snap opens and no screws) you can put one of these drives right in.

the reason why I prefer an external drive is because IF you were to buy a new puter, I just unplug and replug. The driver is easier to update if you need to. And they come standard USB 2.0 now so it is almost as fast as an internal drive. (Sony tried to do the firewall connection but failed to appeal to the mass population, but I don't want to confuse you there cause you don't have a sony)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not familiar with Picasa but have read up on it, it is a google product. I love google and they are the most computer friendly company in the world. So even though I don't use Picasa, I am thinking that it will be easier like Jo suggested. I just checked the specs on Picasa, they DO support AVI files.

avi, meg, dvd, vob, dvi, all these are just some of the different format each competing dvd compatible companies have come up with. each is fighting to be the ultiimate "IT" product. Just like VHS and Beta from the olden days.

Since Picasa supports avi files. Try what Jo suggested.

I still prefer to use Nero but that is because I have used Nero all these years and I am most familiar with it. They do support both meg and avi files.

I think trying different softwares and using the cheap 4.5 DVD- (Negative) discs will be to your advantage. And it can be quite fun.

And maybe in the near future, you'll want to get into video editing.

As far as Win XP Sp2.

Are you looking looking for the upgrade disc? Or are you looking for the complete disc?

I like Amazon still for this:

this is the old version builder

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...3287650&sr=8-3

(you can also check Tiger Direct)


this is for upgrade:

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...3287650&sr=8-4

this is the full version:

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...3287650&sr=8-1


now you might want to also check "Buy.com" for the same things, they compete with Amazon and can save you a buck or two.

If you have a Staples Rewards card like I do, I'd check Staples and earn the bonus points.

anyways, good luck!