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The Most Frequently Asked Questions on Videos

Converting Video Formats

Take a look at the format that is yours, and find out how to convert it below.

AVI File (.avi)
This is what many people refer to as a container format, as it is a universal format, but can contain different types of compressed codecs.

The file size or AVI files usually range between 700 and 1400, and can only be played on your computer, or a DVD player that supports it.

MPEG files (.mpeg)
A .mpeg file is usually much larger then an avi file, but plays on all DivX DVD players, and many regular players. This format is also referred to as VCD.

Mpeg Layer 4 (mp4)
Usually extremely small, and only playable in some DivX players and on computers. It's a popular format for use in iPods and PSPs.

DVD Video (.vob)
Most of the time several VOB files are combined with .bup and .ifo files, and this is the standard DVD format that's used with all DVDs. It's usually extremely large, ranging from 4-8 gigabytes.

DAT File (.dat)
Usually you find this format as part of a VCD compilation, but rarely it is found by itself. This is an MPEG file, and should be renamed .mpeg or .mpg before you attempt to convert it to anything else.

BIN (.bin .cue)
This is an exact copy of a VCD video, and is used in programs like Nero. It's usually fairly small – under a gigabyte.

ISO Files (.iso)
This is the exact copy of a standard DVD, and it, like the .bin and .cue files, are used in programs like Nero, though they tend to be a lot larger. You can also mount ISO files using a virtual drive.

.3GP (.3gp)
Mostly used for some cell phones, it's a very small format.

Vorbis (.ogm)
This is a special extension playable only on a computer, and it's usually fairly rare. Most of the time, the extension can simply be changed to .avi, and then converted to another format.

Real Media Files (.rm .rmvb)
This can only be played using Real Media Player, or Real Alternative, and generally about half the size of an .avi file. The quality is usually too poor to justify converting to another format.

Converting .avi/.mpeg/.mp4/.rmvb/.rm/.ogg to DVD format

There are tons of programs for converting one file format to another, but for a standard DVD player, you'll need to convert to a DVD format.

Before you start converting files, you should download a codecs pack, because they allow your computer to translate between one format and another. If you've ever installed a single codecs before, uninstall it, and then install a codecs pack, like K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

There are so many programs that you can use to convert things to a DVD or VCD format, and one of the most popular are called VSO ConvertX to DVD. The free verson of VSO ConvertX is called DivX to DVD.

If you're converting a RM/RMVB file, I suggest using WinAVI for your conversions, since it's the easiest and most efficient, and for the highest quality possible, try DVDSanta.

When your conversions are complete, you'll have a nice set of files that are in a DVD format.

Converting .mpg/.mpeg/.bin files

These formats are older, and originally used on CDs, and the majority DVDs players will play it without converting it to DVD format. .bin is the most compatible format, and you can simply burn it to a CD and try it on your DVD player. If it doesn't work, you'll need to convert it to a DVD format.

If you're trying to use a VCD in folder format, burn the folders as a data disk, and if it doesn't work then that too will need to be in standard DVD format.

If your file is a plain jane .mpg or mpeg, you should compile it into a .bin file before burning it. VCDGear is used to compile video into a VCD .bin file, which is almost always compatible with DVD players.

Standard DVD Format

A group of files in the standard DVD format should always appear as two folders: Audio_TS and Video_TS, and if your files aren't in this format, you'll need to convert them.

Audio_TS is always empty, but most DVD players require that you burn it anyway, and inside the Video_TS folder, you'll see VOP, IFO, and BUP files.

If this folder is larger then 4.73 gigabytes, it won't fit on a standard DVD disc and you'll either need to shrink it, or use a dual-layering disc. If you plan on shrinking it, try DVD Shrink.

You can also add and change menus, and completely customize your DVD using a special program called DVD-Lab Pro, but you don't have to even bother with it if you don't want to.

Burning with Nero

Nero is simply a suggested burner – there are many others out there.

We highly recommend if you plan on using Nero to use version 6.6.0.18 or earlier, as anything newer has too many bugs.

When you're done customizing your DVD, open Nero SmartStart or Nero Express, and chose Burn DVD-Video, then select both the Audio_TS and Video_TS folders, and then start burning. To get the best possible quality burn at least one speed lower then maximum (If the max speed is 10X, burn at 8X, or even lower).

Remember that only certain DVD players play certain blank DVDs, so check with your manual first before going any further.

DVD sizes can be a little odd, so here are the four different DVD sizes made simple:

  • DVD-5 holds 4.73 gigabytes of information. It's the most common DVD, and is often called the Single Sided Single Layered.
  • DVD-10 holds about 8.75 gigabytes of information, and is often called the Double Sided Single Layered DVD.
  • DVD-9 holds about 7.95 gigabytes of information, and is called a Single-Sided Dual Layered DVD.
  • DVD-18 holds a whopping 15.9 gigabyte of information, and is sometimes called the Double Sided Dual Layered DVD.

Awesome DivX DVD Players

If you have a DivX DVD player, you should be able to play almost all of the formats of video files. You can just burn a data disc – CD or DVD, and watch it in your DVD player.

.mpeg/VCD files are all completely covered with DivX players, so if you can't play them, there's something wrong with the file – try burning it at a lower speed.

.avi and .mp4 files aren't always covered, depending on the codecs used, and if you stumble across a file that won't play in your DivX player, you'll need to rip it.

Portable Files

Are you working with an original DVD, or a folder of VOB and .ifo files?

The problem with that is most portable devices use .mp4 files, so you have to use a program called 3GP Video Converter to make them into that.

How to Load Files

If you're using a PSP, you must have 1.5 firmware, or you have to downgrade to it. That's the only firmware available for the PSP that allows you to do this.

You can stream the video to your PSP through a WiFi connection, and this is done with PiMPStreamer.

Your third option is to convert your file into an .mp4 file, and you'll need to encode it at 320x240 resolution with a max bitrate of 768kbps, if you're using Sony released firmware.

The lower resolution .mp4 files can be played on any firmware version, as long you follow the steps exactly when transferring it to your PSP.

Transferring the Files to your Memory Stick
1.0-1.5 Firmware – transfer the video anywhere on your memory stick, and open the file with PlayerMT. If it's an .mp4, follow the steps below to play it in the XMB.

1.51 and Higher – All you have to do is plug your PSP into the USB port, and select USB Connection, and if you're running XP, a box will appear. Select Open Folder to view the files, then drag and drop your video to \MP_ROOT\100MNV01. And whatever the name of the movie, it should be changed to M4V10001.mp4 for the first one, M4V10002.mp4 for the second one, and so on and so forth. You can now grab the file in the PSP menu, in the video section. Cool, huh?

Sometimes, the PSP has problems with certain types of mp4 files, and if the file works on your computer but not your PSP, you'll need to convert the file to H.264 MP4, using 3GP Video Converter. Make sure you set the correct resolution and bit rate for your firmware, though, or it won't work!

For a Video iPod

You need to convert your video to an mp4 file that's compatible with iPod using 3GP Video Converter and iTunes. Use this guide: AVI to iPod, for all the details.

Call me!

You can simply transfer over the file like you would any other file, and if you need to convert it to .3GP or .MP4, use the 3GP Video Converter.

Splitting Hairs-I Mean Files

If a video is over 700 MBs, and you want it to fit on a CD, you have to split the file into two – or more – and then burn each piece onto a disc. The easiest and quickest file splitter is Easy Video Splitter.

Although sometimes it does create a bad file with half the video, because the files you're splitting are encoded at two different speeds, or perhaps with two different codecs. Make sure that the joined file is the complete joined file, and always save a backup somewhere.

This program can also handle MPEGs quite well – however, if you have a VCD compilation, you're going to need to use a program called VCDGear to split it into 80 minute pieces. If you're video is over 2 hours and 40 minutes, it has to be on three CDs.

Simply use the .dat file from your existing VCD to split it into multiple VCDs – first rename the file extension .mpg, the use VCDGear!

If you're an advanced user, VirtualDub is an excellent video editing tool. If you can't seem to get Easy Video Splitter to work for you, try manually splitting the two files in this program.

DVD folders can be split, but it's a very difficult process, and it's easier to simply use DVD Shrink so it fits onto one DVD.

How to Make a Standard DVD Using More Than One Video

If you have more then one video file that you want to put onto a single DVD, you need put them all together in a DVD compilation. This is really useful for short videos, so you don't have to waste perfectly good DVDs.

If you want to combine two or more video files into one DVD, pick one of these easy methods and get watching!

  1. Add all of the files using VSO ConvertX to DVD. This program will create a DVD compilation that's in the order you added them, and it quite easy to use.
  2. Use the Batch Convert option that's available in WinAvi, and add your videos in the order you want them to appear. It'll compile the videos for you so you can burn them to one DVD and play it in a DVD player.
  3. Convert all the files into DVD format, and then manually add each VOB file to a compilation using DVD-Lab Pro. This lets you make a simple, easy to use menu that will direct you to each separate video. It's a really amazing tool for customization.

And now you should be all set to burn your DVDs!

Creating One File From Two – or Five

If you own a DivX DVD player, or if you want to have one single file on your computer, it's useful to combine files.

The Easy File Joiner is a simple, easy to use tool that was made for doing just this – however, if can sometimes encounter some problems when it's joining two videos that were made using different processes. Make sure you check the file size after it's done, so you know that this didn't happen, and it didn't cut off some video.

VirtualDub is also a great tool for the advanced user who wishes to merge videos, and change a great number of things.

And last, but not least, there's the file joiner Allok Video Joiner, which is simply wonderful if you need to convert while joining files. It can handle .avi, .mpeg, or .vcd, and join them together while converting them to the same format.

Are you ready to burn a DVD yet?

What's Ripping, and Do I Want To Do It?

Being you try to make an .avi file from a DVD, you should always back the original DVD format on your hard drive using DVD Shrink. This is so you have as few errors as possible during the copying process.

XviD/DivX/ .avi

There are tons of programs on the market that can take the files that are found in a DVD, and put them into a DivX/XviD .avi format. The program I've found to be the most useful is called SimpleDivX, and it's completely free to use.

If you have a player that only supports DivX codecs, you'll want to encode it in that – however, XviD is better overall quality. With this program, you can specify what size you want as a final product. If you need it to fit on a CD, make sure to select 700 MB, but if you're going to be using a DVD, I recommend a file size of 1400 MB.

At all costs, avoid ripping using the GMC or QPEL encoding, because it often makes the video unplayable.

A complete guide for SimpleDivX usage can be found here.

.3GP/.mp4 For Things Like a PSP and Cell Phones

If you plan on using the file on an iPod, PSP, or cell phone, you need to rip to the .mp4 format using DVD Fab Decrypter. If you have a cell phone that only accepts .3gp files, rip the files with SimpleDivX, then convert them using 3GP Video Converter.

How to Fix Audio Synch Problems

Open VirtualDub, and open your video file in it, then choose Audio, then Interleaving. Under Audio Skew Correction, you'll find the 'Delay Audio Track By' option. Play around with this until all the values are in sync.

Using Subtitles

If you want to view subtitles on your computer, you need to have VLC player installed, and the .srt for the video – a guide for this can be found here.

Also, if you want subtitles in your DVD player, all you have to do is incorporate it into a DVD compilation using VirtualDub – it's explained here.