Burning Dvds Using Toast 8

[mermaid]

Hi

I'm very new to the macworld. I have avi files that I'd like to burn to a DVD and watch on a regular DVD player. I have researched the internet and found some help but there is too much information and I am confused, however I do have specific questions.

 

Please advise how to in a step by step manner burn an AVI file using Toast 8. Please mention if I should choose Data DVD Rom, Video TS file, DVD Video etc. I have already tried to burn Video TS folder but it didn't play on either my macbook nor my stand alone dvd player.

 

Another question I keep seeing that one needs vob files to burn on DVD but I also see that one need Mpeg files. Which one is the final file to burn? As long as I get info how to burn an AVI to a DVD using Toast I am good.

 

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

Mermaid

[lamp]

I am also concerned about how long it takes for the avi file to appear in the toast window. I did the same with a friends imac and it was instant. I have a macbook, could the lesser powered macbook be the reason for the delay?

 

Mermaid

[tsantee]

I am also concerned about how long it takes for the avi file to appear in the toast window. I did the same with a friends imac and it was instant. I have a macbook, could the lesser powered macbook be the reason for the delay?

 

Mermaid

No, it should be fast to appear on your Mac as well. You may need to do some OS maintenance such as using Disk Utility's First Aid to repair disk permissions and verify disk. I consider Alsoft's DiskWarrior as an essential application for Mac users and suggest your getting and using it.

[mermaid]

Thank you yes I gave the file some time and it worked. Thank you for all your help!

I have now encountered another situation. I have a movie in two avi files. I dragged the first one to the DVD Video window and it worked, then I dragged the second avi file but the beach ball was running for a long time, over five minutes. My question is:

 

1) Is it possible to drag two files and highlight them both and save as image file? If yes then I just wait it out.

2) If yes, when the image files are created, do I then highlight both and choose Burn?

 

Thanks for your help!

[tsantee]

1) Is it possible to drag two files and highlight them both and save as image file? If yes then I just wait it out.

Yes, but.... First, it is odd that you're having to wait so long for the avi's to appear in the Toast window. It should only take a few seconds. Second, when adding multiple AVIs that you want to convert to a video DVD you need to pay attention to the total time length of those videos. Try to keep your total to less than about three hours. The more video that's on a DVD the lesser the picture quality (after about 1-1/2 hours).

 

2) If yes, when the image files are created, do I then highlight both and choose Burn?

Toast only creates one disc image file at a time. Whatever is in the video window will be included in that disc image. In order to create a different disc image you need to empty the Video window and start over with new video files. Likewise, when you go to burn the disc images you can only do one at a time.

 

 

[tsantee]

Download and install the Perian codec from perian.org. Now drag your video files to the Toast Video window with DVD video selected as the format. Set up the menu the way you want and either choose Save as Disc Image or click the burn button. I recommend choosing Save as Disc Image. When that is finished you can mount the disc image by selecting it in the Toast Copy window (using the Image File setting) or control clicking on it in the Finder and choosing "Mount It." The mounted disc image can be previewed with DVD Player. If you're happy with the result, just click the burn button using the Image File setting in the Copy window.

 

You will need Flip4Mac if you have any WMV videos.

[mermaid]

1) Re-encoding the AVI to the MPEG 2 format for video DVD takes time. Your experience sounds right to me.

2) Toast has custom encoder settings (click the More button). I suggest staying with automatic but you can increase the bit rate and mark the Half-Pel box to increase quality presuming the source video is of good quality to begin with.

3) Choose Divx as the format in the Video window instead of DVD video. If the AVI already is DivX format it won't need to be re-encoded.

4) Choose Automatic unless you are unhappy with the result. Toast will tell you if it is needing to re-encode.

 

Your other question is about the spinning ball when you added an AVI. That shouldn't take long. If it is still spinning after several minutes then Toast is stalled trying to recognize the file. If it continues to do this on repeated attempts then something is wrong with the AVI.

Thank you yes I gave the file some time and it worked. Thank you for all your help!

[mermaid]

Download and install the Perian codec from perian.org. Now drag your video files to the Toast Video window with DVD video selected as the format. Set up the menu the way you want and either choose Save as Disc Image or click the burn button. I recommend choosing Save as Disc Image. When that is finished you can mount the disc image by selecting it in the Toast Copy window (using the Image File setting) or control clicking on it in the Finder and choosing "Mount It." The mounted disc image can be previewed with DVD Player. If you're happy with the result, just click the burn button using the Image File setting in the Copy window.

 

You will need Flip4Mac if you have any WMV videos.

 

I managed to burn a DVD successfully last night. Thank you for your help!

I have another question, I wanted to burn a second file to DVD but when I dragged the avi file to the window Toast froze, or rather the beach ball was stuck. I checked in the force quit window and it said Toast 8 Not Responding. This has happened several times. Should I wait it out or is there anything I can like change file name or install more codecs?

[mermaid]

Additionally:

 

1) how long should it normally take to burn an avi file? I think mine takes more than 2 hrs.

2) What speed should I burn at to get good quality and is there a way to maximise quality?

3) I have a dvd player that plays DVIX movies. How can I burn Divx files to play on my player.

4) Should tick the Reencode option?

 

I have achieved my aim to burn DVD's that play on my dvd player which I have now achieved with your help. Now I just want to burn at the optimal range to get good quality and speed.

 

Thank you again for your help!

[tsantee]

Additionally:

 

1) how long should it normally take to burn an avi file? I think mine takes more than 2 hrs.

2) What speed should I burn at to get good quality and is there a way to maximise quality?

3) I have a dvd player that plays DVIX movies. How can I burn Divx files to play on my player.

4) Should tick the Reencode option?

 

I have achieved my aim to burn DVD's that play on my dvd player which I have now achieved with your help. Now I just want to burn at the optimal range to get good quality and speed.

 

Thank you again for your help!

1) Re-encoding the AVI to the MPEG 2 format for video DVD takes time. Your experience sounds right to me.

2) Toast has custom encoder settings (click the More button). I suggest staying with automatic but you can increase the bit rate and mark the Half-Pel box to increase quality presuming the source video is of good quality to begin with.

3) Choose Divx as the format in the Video window instead of DVD video. If the AVI already is DivX format it won't need to be re-encoded.

4) Choose Automatic unless you are unhappy with the result. Toast will tell you if it is needing to re-encode.

 

Your other question is about the spinning ball when you added an AVI. That shouldn't take long. If it is still spinning after several minutes then Toast is stalled trying to recognize the file. If it continues to do this on repeated attempts then something is wrong with the AVI.