Best format for saving files

I recently purchased a Dazzle DVD Recorder capture device. Unfortunately, I
didn't do my research properly, and I got the less expensive device that does
the rendering thru software, instead of getting the device that does it thru
hardware. Anyway, by doing some playing around, I have found that I get
better capture using MovieMaker instead of the supplied Pinnacle software,
but of course WMM only saves as .wmv files. The Pinnacle software will save
as MPEG-2 without my purchasing the extra codec pack which offers MPEG-4
capabilities. So I am using WMM to capture the footage from my video tapes,
but then I want to go in and add titles, etc. I have edited the footage using
both WMM and Pinnacle and added titles, transitions, etc in both apps, then
saved them to compare. When saving the footage in WMM, they save as .wmv
files, or I can save as .avi files, but they are extremely large. When saving
the edited footage in Pinnacle, they save as MPEG-2 flies. I have been told
that MPEG-4 is the best to save as, but would have to buy the codec pack from
Pinnacle to do so.
Question....which file, .wmv, .avi, or MPEG-4, is better to save my files as
so that I can create DVD's later with them?
Any help would really be appreciated, as I have attempted to read posts
here, on the web, etc., and can't seem to find any real answers to this
question.
Thanks, Mitch

Mitch wrote:
>snip<
> Question....which file, .wmv, .avi, or MPEG-4, is better to save my
> files as so that I can create DVD's later with them?
>snip<
==============================
DV-AVI...and you can use Movie Maker.

(Hint: don't worry about the memory size
of the file because DVD Authoring software
creates the DVD based on the duration
of the movie not the file size. Typically a
4.7GB DVD holds one hour of high quality
video.)...and the source DV-AVI file would
be approximately 13GB per hour.

To save as an .avi movie file...
(and several other options)
Type...Ctrl+P to open the Save Movie Wizard /
Choose...My Computer /
Next /
Enter a Name and a Save Location /
Next /
Show More Choices /
Other Settings /
Open the drop window and choose...DV-AVI /
Next /
Wait while the movie is saved /
Finish...

Now open your DVD authoring software
and create your DVD.

--

John Inzer

Thanks John,

that makes sense and makes it a lot easier. do you have a suggestion as to a
good authoring software? i have the limited sonic app that came with my xp
laptop

"John Inzer" wrote:

> Mitch wrote:
> >snip<
> > Question....which file, .wmv, .avi, or MPEG-4, is better to save my
> > files as so that I can create DVD's later with them?
> >snip<
> ==============================
> DV-AVI...and you can use Movie Maker.
>
> (Hint: don't worry about the memory size
> of the file because DVD Authoring software
> creates the DVD based on the duration
> of the movie not the file size. Typically a
> 4.7GB DVD holds one hour of high quality
> video.)...and the source DV-AVI file would
> be approximately 13GB per hour.
>
> To save as an .avi movie file...
> (and several other options)
> Type...Ctrl+P to open the Save Movie Wizard /
> Choose...My Computer /
> Next /
> Enter a Name and a Save Location /
> Next /
> Show More Choices /
> Other Settings /
> Open the drop window and choose...DV-AVI /
> Next /
> Wait while the movie is saved /
> Finish...
>
> Now open your DVD authoring software
> and create your DVD.
>
> --
>
> John Inzer
>
>
>

Mitch wrote:
> Thanks John,
>
> that makes sense and makes it a lot easier. do you have a suggestion
> as to a good authoring software? i have the limited sonic app that
> came with my xp laptop
===================================
Lots of good ones are available. Nero, Roxio,
ULead, WinDVD, ProShow Gold, etc...etc...

Truth is...depending on the individual system...
any video software can cause issues...you
just have to experiment.

Personally, I've had good luck with the following
freebie but it's not as feature rich as the retail
packages.

DVD Flick
http://www.dvdflick.net/

Be sure to read the Guide:
http://www.dvdflick.net/guide.php

--

John Inzer

Thanks again...I'll look into it. You've been a big help!

"John Inzer" wrote:

> Mitch wrote:
> > Thanks John,
> >
> > that makes sense and makes it a lot easier. do you have a suggestion
> > as to a good authoring software? i have the limited sonic app that
> > came with my xp laptop
> ===================================
> Lots of good ones are available. Nero, Roxio,
> ULead, WinDVD, ProShow Gold, etc...etc...
>
> Truth is...depending on the individual system...
> any video software can cause issues...you
> just have to experiment.
>
> Personally, I've had good luck with the following
> freebie but it's not as feature rich as the retail
> packages.
>
> DVD Flick
> http://www.dvdflick.net/
>
> Be sure to read the Guide:
> http://www.dvdflick.net/guide.php
>
> --
>
> John Inzer
>
>
>

Mitch

I'm kinda partial to ULead Factory6 at $50.00

For a lot more dollars you could have ULead DVD Workshop with more features or
the slightly cheaper DVD Workshop Express.

See Wojo's Web for reviews on these and others.

http://www.remember-christopher.dost...eb/DVD/DVD.htm


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:45:00 -0700, Mitch <Mitch@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Thanks John,
>
>that makes sense and makes it a lot easier. do you have a suggestion as to a
>good authoring software? i have the limited sonic app that came with my xp
>laptop
>
>"John Inzer" wrote:
>
>> Mitch wrote:
>> >snip<
>> > Question....which file, .wmv, .avi, or MPEG-4, is better to save my
>> > files as so that I can create DVD's later with them?
>> >snip<
>> ==============================
>> DV-AVI...and you can use Movie Maker.
>>
>> (Hint: don't worry about the memory size
>> of the file because DVD Authoring software
>> creates the DVD based on the duration
>> of the movie not the file size. Typically a
>> 4.7GB DVD holds one hour of high quality
>> video.)...and the source DV-AVI file would
>> be approximately 13GB per hour.
>>
>> To save as an .avi movie file...
>> (and several other options)
>> Type...Ctrl+P to open the Save Movie Wizard /
>> Choose...My Computer /
>> Next /
>> Enter a Name and a Save Location /
>> Next /
>> Show More Choices /
>> Other Settings /
>> Open the drop window and choose...DV-AVI /
>> Next /
>> Wait while the movie is saved /
>> Finish...
>>
>> Now open your DVD authoring software
>> and create your DVD.
>>
>> --
>>
>> John Inzer
>>
>>
>>