DVD burning question

[popcola]

I have 2 questions about burning DVDs. I know how to copy an original DVD to a blank DVD. But i was just wondering how i could burn a DVD movie thats 2 1/2 hrs or longer into a single blank dvd. Is this where a dual layer blank dvd or dual layer dvd burner comes in?
And also, i'm probably gonna sound stupid for this since i know how to burn dvds from my computer, but how do i play dvds on my computer? I know you need a dvd decoder or something to do this. My question is, where can i download one that free and simple to use? Preferably one that would play on windows media player?

 

[hitrack]

Go buy some dual layer DVD blanks. They aren't that expensive anymore. Your gonna need them to maintain quality and lessen the hassle when copying other dual layer DVD movies. Unfortunately looking at Best Buy and F-Shop web sites there is fukk all for deals on DL DVD's.

For playing back DVD's I use VLC. The fukkin thing just works. Although the configuration options can some times do me fukkin head in.

 

[The Lizard King]

Or you can use DVD Shrink or a similar program if you don't want to buy a new burner and keep it to one disk. Your existing burner should also give you the option of fitting the movie to disk.

 

[Juggy]

Use dvd decryptor to rip movie to hdd.

Use Clonedvd2 from Elaborate Byte to burn image.

Dvd decryptor will extract movie full size. You now have two options. Use a dual layer dvd and burn entire movie in perfect quality, or use a single layer dvd-r or +r and clonedvd2 will compress the file. You can improve quality by taking out the extra audio tracks and such.

NCIX/netlink computer has a deal on dual layer dvd +r media this week. 20 disk spindle for 37.99 plus tax. Not bad considering some disc's sell upwards of 5 bucks each.

 

[Rod Steel]

I use DVD Fab Gold and am very happy with it. It ain't free but it works. Nice part about it, has built in decryption.

 

[westwoody]

You can usually reduce the size by deleting all the foreign audio soundtracks, commentaries, previews for other movies, and so on.

 

[jeff_poon_man]

how I burn movies wich is very usefull is in a few process

I download bit torrent files and use iso buster to extract raw but save as user data once downloaded then I drag and drop to a program called convert x to dvd I use azerus to download all movies

step one download the programs iso buster, convert x to dvd, azerus

step 2: download the movie from a bit torrent place ( mininova.org, torrentspy etc

step 3: once movie is ifnished downloading in azerus open the file in iso buster and extract raw but convert to user data

drag and drop new file into convert x hit convert and in 45 min you have a movie ready to go

 

[popcola]

I have dvd shrink....i can just compress the movie so i can fit it in one single dvd-r blank disc?
And where can i get a dvd decoder to download so i can watch dvd movies on my computer? I'm too cheap to pay so i need a free one got any links?

 

[Sonny]

For a free player that works just fine, download DivX from here....

http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/

You can also buy fully loaded version for USD $20.

 

[pooncrawler]

...how i could burn a DVD movie thats 2 1/2 hrs or longer into a single blank dvd. Is this where a dual layer blank dvd or dual layer dvd burner comes in?

There's different compression levels with the DVD format. To compress a full non-HD movie into a single layer DVD-R, software compresses from DVD9 to DVD5. DVD5 Movies look pretty good for me, with 5.1 audio and everything, but the Special Features are very compressed, they start to look grainy... I could reduce the compression level for them if I wanted, haven't tried yet.

...how do i play dvds on my computer? I know you need a dvd decoder or something to do this. My question is, where can i download one that free and simple to use? Preferably one that would play on windows media player?

First of all, I'm assuming you have a DVD reader installer in your computer since you can burn DVDs.
Then you need software to play, which usually comes with DVD decoder plug-ins.
Or, since you want to stay with Windows Media Player, you can download the codex or decoder plug-in using peer2peer software and searching for "DVD codex Windows Media Player" or something along those lines.

My DVD copy software is DVD-Cloner. Very simple interface and easy to change settings. You can buy it for 40$ US. (see below)
For reviews of software for just about anything I use TopTenReviews.com, that's how I found it. They show you the best software and the cheapest price, all in one.

But In the end, I don't burn that many DVDs. I buy most of my movies previously viewed from Rogers Video, every week they get cheaper and you can find some great deals.

Hope this helps.

 

[The Lizard King]

Also check out this site..it'll answer all your questions and provide you with the stuff in the download area.
http://www.doom9.org/