Burning a DVD with multiple .avi files

Rookie wrote on 3/7/2005, 10:48 AM
I'm trying to import several .avi object files into my project and burn a DVD. I can't seem to find a way to chain them together so they play consecutively without my having to individually do a menu selection for each file. I need to find a way to link them together so the second file starts playing automatiically when the first is done and the third starts playing when the second is done. I'm sure that there is a simple way to set that up, but I have not been able to find it. The manual doesn't seem to even address the issue.

Comments

bStro wrote on 3/7/2005, 12:00 PM
DVDA2: Set each movie's end action to link to the next movie.

DVDA1, DVDA2, or DVDA Studio: Combine the into a single file first. Really, since your files are AVI, and they have to be converted to MPEG2 at some point, you may as well combine them all into one file in Vegas or some other program. It shouldn't take long, unless they're some weird AVI file like Divx. ;-)

Another option is to put them into a music compilation.

Rob
Rookie wrote on 3/8/2005, 7:43 AM
I have DVD Architect Studio version 2, so I think that means I don't have DVDA2. I may not be able to combine the files into one per the suggestion because of the size. Windows doesn't seem to allow me to save a file greater than 4 gigabytes. and the combination of the 2 files is about 7 gigabytes. I haven't been able to find a way to either combine the files or link the files in DVDA studio.
bStro wrote on 3/8/2005, 9:46 AM
Windows doesn't seem to allow me to save a file greater than 4 gigabytes

Sounds like your harddrive is formatted as FAT32. You may want to consider converting it to NTFS -- you'll get a larger filesize limit and other advantages to boot. Here's Microsoft's page on making the conversion.

At any rate, you don't have to join them into an AVI file. Put them on a Vegas timeline and then redner them to an MPEG2 file (use one of the DVDA templates in Vegas). MPEG2 is much, much smaller than AVI, and this is what DVDA is going to convert the file(s) to anyhow.

Rob
chayman wrote on 3/8/2005, 2:24 PM
Actually, it is simple to do. Turning it into a full mpeg is not the only answer. When you start go to the file menu and click new (don' use the icon on the tool bar). Pick "single movie". It will prompt you to pick a file. Pick the first file in your sequence (it will not let you pick more than one). Next, from your explorer, drag the next file you want to run into the "Project overview window" which is usually open at the top left. It should now list both clips. Drag the others one by one in the order you want. Now you need to link them so they will play in a row w/o stopping. In the "Project overview window", make sure the first icon at the top right is pressed so it will show you the end action of each clip.
Now Double click the first clip in the "Project overview window". Then in the properties window to the right, open "end action". Command should say "link", and destination, should be your next clip. Do the same for each clip. On the last clip your destination should be "most recent menu." On your finished DVD when one clip ends and the other one begins there will be a break for a second or two.

I hope that helps.
bStro wrote on 3/9/2005, 7:16 AM
His post says he's using DVDA Studio. To the best of my knowledge, the Studio version doesn't have end actinos. That's why I gave him alternative suggestions.

Am I mistaken about the Studio version?

Rob