Movie converter to burn on DVD as .avi

[masterpidge]

I have just recently upgraded from PC to imac. I have different format movies I would like to convert to the .avi format so that I may burn a DVD and play on my large screen using my DVD player. What program can convert most formats to .avi? A free program would be a bonus, but not a pre-requirement.

[Warbitrary]

I don't understand…

Do you want to convert .avi movies to DVD?
Do you want to convert DVDs to .avi?
What is the "large screen"? Your iMac or your TV?

Basically, what are your source files (DVD, .avi, other types) and what do you want the end result to be (watch on iMac, watch on TV, other?)?

[Spike88]

I have just recently upgraded from PC to imac. I have different format movies I would like to convert to the .avi format so that I may burn a DVD and play on my large screen using my DVD player. What program can convert most formats to .avi? A free program would be a bonus, but not a pre-requirement.

For DVD media to .AVI file conversion, I use FREE BitRipper. So far, it works for most DVDs.

Surf: http://www.bitripper.com/download.html / for MAC, surf: http://www.bestdvdripper.net/reviews/mac-dvd-ripper-review.html

If wondering, I use their PC/Windows version (for DVD to .AVI file format - to play on my Patriot Media Player box) and it works great. Simple, easy and it works.

Good luck with its Mac version.


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[masterpidge]

My big screen is my TV. What I am trying to do is open different format of torrents downloads and convert them to .avi so that I can burn the movies on DVD. If there is a better way of getting these movies on DVD playable on a DVD player, I'm open.

[bas-macfan]

My big screen is my TV. What I am trying to do is open different format of torrents downloads and convert them to .avi so that I can burn the movies on DVD. If there is a better way of getting these movies on DVD playable on a DVD player, I'm open.

toast http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/toast/titanium/overview.html
will do the job.... You can use it for all your needs;)

[TMRaven]

You're wanting to load dvds into your computer, then convert their .vob files into avi, so that you can store and view them on your computer?

Get Mactheripper to rip the vob files first, then use either handbrkae or avidemux to conver them to .mp4 or .avi files. Handbrake and Avidemux yield the highest quality (because of their advanced x264 options and deinterlacers). If the .vob files need deinterlacing, both offer yadif as a deinterlacer (very good intra-field motion adaptive deinterlacer) If you want the highest quality deinterlacer out there, you can use bootcamp, and feed tempgaussmc through avidemux using AVS proxy-- in order to do so, you'd have to install avisynth and the filters required for tempgaussmc as well.

Edit: nevermind, the whole AVI thing confused me. Yeah, roxio is a nice little bit of kit.

[Warbitrary]

My big screen is my TV. What I am trying to do is open different format of torrents downloads and convert them to .avi so that I can burn the movies on DVD. If there is a better way of getting these movies on DVD playable on a DVD player, I'm open.

I recommend converting the "various formats" directly to DVD, it helps preserve video quality. I use a free app called Burn (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/21992/burn).

It's quite easy to use. If you live in North America or Japan, go to Burn's preferences > Video > General, and select NTSC. Then, go to the "Video" tab, select "DVD video" from the popup menu, drag files into the window, wait for the conversion, click "Burn".

[glitch44]

If there is a better way of getting these movies on DVD playable on a DVD player, I'm open.

How about buying them?

[masterpidge]

I have no problem in buying them as long as they do a good job and easy to use.

[dexthageek]

I have no problem in buying them as long as they do a good job and easy to use.

I think "glitch44" meant "How about buying them (DVDs)?"

[dXTC]

I agree with Warbitrary: direct conversion to DVD is best.

Why? The movies you've downloaded via torrent are likely converted from the original DVD (or camcorder recording) using a process called transcoding. This sacrifices a little bit of detail in order to reduce the file size significantly. Any additional video transcoding, from whatever format to your desired .avi, can only lose more detail-- and trust me, you'll notice it on your big-screen TV, especially during dark scenes (big, pixellated splotches in deep shadows) or during high-motion scenes.

Look carefully into Toast's capabilities, and make sure it can convert your various formats directly onto DVD to minimize further transcoding. Once original detail is lost, it's lost forever.

Oh, and do be careful with your torrenting. BitTorrent is not an anonymous protocol. If you attract enough attention with your downloads, you WILL eventually be found out. Consider other methods of getting your movies, including glitch44's suggestion of purchasing.

[300D]

Why not output the iMac's video to your TV, mirror or second screen? If it was made in the last 8 years it probably has a VGA input at the least.

[asharer]

well, as i know, VOB(mpeg-2) is the best format for DVD burning
there'r many video converter support this format
such as avs converter, youtube downloader, video download studio etc.
such on google....