This is probably a question that Phil is going to know the answer to.

I have a friend with a new video camera. Obviously, they want to burn their videos to a DVD to play then from their DVD player. I thought it should be fine if I got the files off the camera, then used Nero to create the DVD.

There is no sound on the finished result. I have seen that this is a common problem with Nero, but there is no simple solution. So the questions are:

Should the camera software be able to do all of the task?

Is there a (free) program that will handle all of it?

When you play the dvd back in your pc is there any sound ?

Was there sound when you previewed the files before burning to disc?

Hi Anne,

The original files are mpeg and play on the PC with sound. Once burnt to DVD, the sound is missing if played back on either PC or DVD player.

I've since discovered that cameras don't necessarily come with any software to burn a video to DVD, which isn't very helpful of camera suppliers.

A relative of mine runs a video business (weddings etc) and he suggested I would need software like Pinnacle Studio, although the reviews on Amazon indicate that Sony Vegas might be better.

I don't know if Windows Movie Maker will extract the video from the camera when it's connected via USB. Movie Maker coughs and splutters with the mpeg file though, and won't load it.

I've downloaded and tried a couple of programs to try and both of them failed to convert and burn mpeg files to DVD. One of them was Xilisoft MPEG to DVD Converter.

My friends are now considering other options as they don't want to do anything complex on a PC, nor upgrade to give them the power to carry out real video editing. They have two choices - see Boots or somewhere can do it for them at a reasonable price, or buy a DVD recorder to connect to their TV (assuming the camera will play through it and they can record at the same time).

An inexpensive program that WILL convert and burn an mpeg file to DVD would be helpful though. Any suggestions?

The problem sounds like a "Codec" problem (Nero can't find the right codec)

Try "ConvertXtoDVD" it has it's own codecs.
http://www.vso-software.fr/products/convert_x_to_dvd/

Tutorial:-
http://mgmcc.forumotion.net/software-tutorials-f16/how-to-convert-a-movie-with-convertxtodvd-t128.htm

Try the free DL first, (THEN PM ME)

Codec packs can also be obtained from here.
Try the nLite, that one usually solves most problems.
"Left-hand column, 3rd option down, "Codecs"

http://www.free-codecs.com/AnyDVD_download.htm

Thanks Phil, I'll have to delay looking into this for a day or two, but I've downloaded ConvertX ready to try.

Np

Brilliant!! It worked, and I used four small videos to test it.

Only one small issue - it didn't show me how much disc space I was using on the burn. Did I miss something out?

Actually I've never noticed that.
The size I would think is dependant on which mode you chose, "High Quality" etc.

Out of quriosity you could try "loading" a few movies to take it beyond a reasonable size and see then, but I think all that will happen is that it will reduce the quality to fit the size of disc selected DVD5 or DVD9.

I do put 2hr movies onto a DVD5 and the quality is good, but don't think I would like to try a 3hr movie.

I don't have a video camera, but I do produce WMV movies from photos using PhotoStory.

I've tested ConvertXtoDVD with mpeg (from my friend's video camera), one of my wmv files and a couple of other short videos collected from email etc. I must say the end results are very good, far better than Nero did.

Both my friend and I are more than happy to pay the £35 for the program, it's going to do just what we want it to.

Thanks very much Phil.

Glad you like it.
I have now been using it for a couple years.

Nero used to take 90 minutes +, to "Transcode" a movie.
Because Nero would fail possibly 10% of the time, another program I used as a alternative was "CanopusProCoder" and that would take anything up-to 9 hours, but at the time I had no choice.

ConvertXtoDVD usually takes me about 18 minutes and have never had a failure yet and the newer versions v3x now recognise far more types of movie than the older versions.
(Obviously the time taken will depend on the specs of the PC)

PS:
If they ask who recommended it, tell them it was from a ......

PS:

Just a thought, as it sometimes comes in very handy if you want to create multiple DVD's.

There is also a free tiny add-on called "BatchXtoDVD"
http://www.beta.cmsoft.co.uk/

This will allow you to select multiple files and either:

1. Have them all placed onto one DVD.
or
2. Made into seperate individulal DVD's.

This way with option 2, you can then set it, and forget it.

I am very impressed by the program Phil.

I just burned a DVD with 19 short videos, all created from my photos and turned into videos with PhotoStory. They all play perfectly, whereas in Nero they were a bit jerky. Even on pause, the images are clear and sharp. Excellent results.

I've also got my first (paid) job to create a DVD for somebody, so it's earning money already.

I've downloaded the add-on too.

Sounds like thats a wrap then Dave hehe