My PC is running XP and it's not super-new or super-fast either, and I suspect this will relate to any possible replies as whatever anyone may recommend will only help me if it will work on what I am using !
I have lately stumbled across a very informative & freely available documentary, and I've downloaded the MP4 of it.
It is about 380MB & 90 minutes long.
1st question:
I would like to share it with a friend who cannot watch online, but has a DVD player - would anyone here please recommend a freeware which can easily/quickly make a DVD from this which will likely work on a standard player ?
Another thing which I hope I can do...
Someone was kind enough to share with me DVDs he made from old VHS tapes of an old show that I like very much and will watch repeatedly for it's comic value - BUT: These very nice, menued DVDs also include all the commercials...YUCK !!!
2nd question:
Is there any easy program/method whereby I could edit out the nasty commercials while also somehow keeping the structure otherwise intact (freeware preferred, of course...) ?
I am a total newbie with regards to video and/or DVD editing, though I do know how to make DVD copies well enough.
Thanks for any help.
Hey smallhagrid - The first part of your question is easy - what you are looking for is free DVD authoring software. DVD authoring software takes the file, converts it to the correct format and then burns to DVD for you. Here are three to choose from:
[url=http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-Video-to-DVD-Converter.htm:24o32u8r]Free Video to DVD Converter[/url:24o32u8r]
[url=http://www.dvdflick.net/:24o32u8r]DVD Flick[/url:24o32u8r]
[url=http://www.winxdvd.com/dvd-author/:24o32u8r]WinX DVD Author[/url:24o32u8r]
Free Video to DVD Converter is quite simple to use and works quite well. DVD Flick is also easy to use but has had some issues with audio sync. WinX DVD Author is relatively new, haven't tried it myself but WinX products are generally pretty good. There are others too but they are generally either too complicated, not user friendly and/or buggy.
The second part of your question is a little more complicated. First you would need to rip (or copy) the files on the DVD to the hard drive. Then you would need software to edit those files. Then you need software to burn the edited files back to DVD again. Although I do not know of one personally, there probably would be an all-in-one program which will perform all three steps for you but it would definitely not be free. The same thing can be achieved through freeware but would require three separate programs for the various steps, and a rather long winded process.
If you still feel inclined to edit out the ads, let me know and I'll advise accordingly.
Cheers...Jim
Thanks Jim !
I found & downloaded a portable of the WinX DVD Author program and it certainly looks quite easy to use.
As to the 2nd query having 3 parts, I suspect that the ripping part can be done by something I've got - as well as the burning part - which leaves the editing...a total mystery to me !
Is the ripping part picky-fussy, or need to be done some certain way ?
BTW, I lean strongly towards portable apps because of the lesser system impact they tend to have; I wish to keep me olde XP box going strongly forever, if possible (because next will be Linux for me...) !!!
Thanks Again !
mark
Hey Mark - Oops sorry, forgot to mention a fourth step - conversion. Most likely the ripped DVD files are going to be in VOB format, which involves several different files - which in turn makes it extremely difficult to edit. So, you are probably going to need either a DVD ripper which will rip to single file format (e.g. AVI - Xvid/DivX) or a converter which will convert from VOB to single file format.
If the DVD ripping tool you already have will not rip to single file formats I suggest you have a look at [url=http://www.winxdvd.com/dvd-ripper/:1tkghrbu]WinX DVD Ripper Free[/url:1tkghrbu]. This will perform both processes in one pass.
As for the actual editing, I recommend [url=http://www.machetesoft.com/home/about-machete-video-editor-lite.html:1tkghrbu]Machete Video Editor Lite[/url:1tkghrbu]. My eldest daughter, who is not terribly computer savvy, was looking for a simple video editor recently. I searched around, came across this software and recommended it to her, and she reported back that it did the job splendidly.
As for portable: yes, I do agree, I always try to get portable wherever possible. However, portable apps in the DVD/video genre are difficult to find, especially any which are simple and easy to use. VideoDub is just one example.
Cheers mate...Jim
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