I don't know where else to post this guide so here goes:

When I have a movie on 2 cd's with 5 channel ac3 sound (usually xvid format) I have found out that you can make mini-dvds (check dvdrhelp.com for minidvd compability first) with real 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. And it's really easy.

1. Use TMPGEnc to encode the KVCD.m2v file (you know how to do this part). (First only make about 1 second of your project and try importing that into TMPGEnc DVD Author to check compability 'cuz I've found that the Optimized Templates aren't always compatible, if it's not working, change your settings to make it work).

2.Open the .avi-file in VirtualDub. Save as .wav.

3.Change extension to .ac3

4. Use AC3Fix to get a working ac3-file.

5.Here I use TMPGEnc DVD Author (I haven't tried other Authoring apps yet, maybe others are better, who cares?) in the following way:

Open the .m2v file and for audio choose your .ac3-file.
If you want to, you can make a menu for your movie (I won't go into this because I feel that there are surely plenty of good guides out there.)

Check your output size. It shouldn't be bigger than 700 mb per disc (I haven't been able to overburn mini-dvds in Nero 6, maybe if you simply burn it as a CD-Rom overburning might work)

Output cd 1 (if your settings are default, TMPGEnc DVD Author will output into "My Documents").

6.Open your cdburning-app. If you're using Nero 6, scroll down to MiniDVD (right after SVCD), if you're using another burning app, choose CD-Rom.

7.Drag the folders Audio_TS and Video_TS into the compilation window.

8.Burn it!


9.If you have a DVD-ROM in your computer it should work. If you're standalone is compatible with CDVD or Mini-DVD, it should work.

Enjoy your KDVD movie with real 5.1 sound!

Emph

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KVCD.m2v I take it thats a typo?

I tryed 2 pass VBR but I find that 1pass CQ vbr does a better job and is less time to encode.. if use kdvd profile in TMPGEnc.

But whats to best encoder to do miniDVD

I know one german site does:

Technical Data:
Source: DVD
Format: 2 x 700 MB *.img
Encoder: CCE (5 Pass VBR Multipass, DC 10, Letterboxed)
Chapters: yes
Menu: Main, Language Selection, Chapters (all still)


Videobitrates:
min.500, max.4500, avg.1600

Audiobitrates:
german 5.1 ac3 (256 kbit/s)
englisch 5.1 ac3 (224 kbit/s)

--------------

The only bad thing they do is haveing letter boxs and not 16/9. DVD players can make 16/9 to 4/3 LB.

I did some test encodeing and software DVD players can Play back 16/9 in 4.3 LB mode or do pan and scan which does not look that good.

First of all, kvcd.m2v is a typo. Of course I use KDVD. It's just the name of my example videofile. So if you choose to encode audio as well and have an .mpg file instead that's just dandy.

To burn a minidvd:
Make a standard cd-rom compilation in your buring app.
Drag the folders named "Audio_TS" and "Video_TS" into it.
Burn the disc.

I suggest you use a CD-RW if you don't want to waste cds(i.e. your standalone player won't accept it.

BTW, since finding out about the possibility to add real dvd subs using the sub-guide in this forum, I moved on to using DVDLab to author instead.

Emph

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Btw, do you have a link to that German site?

Emph

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You are not the contents of your wallet

Have been doing KDVD to 704x480 miniDVD for some time. Only problem is determining CQ. CalcuMatic I usually use 1300 as custom size in CalcuMatic (using 1400 creates too large file), mux as DVD with BBMPEG, splitting into 700 max file sizes. I process the mpg files with TMPGEnc Author, convert to image and burn to CD's with Nero. This uses MP2 files for audio. The quality is outstanding.

Nicksteel: Why don't you use .ac3 sound instead? I know this will compromise the size left for the video but for me, sound is very important and .mp2 sucks compared to 5.1 when available.

Emph

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You are not the contents of your wallet

Btw, Nick, you don't think you can make a guide?
I convert mostly xvid and divx for now, and I understand that CQMatic is a bit unreliable for those kind of sources? Or have I missed something?

Emph

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You are not the contents of your wallet

So far, I've only worked with DVD's and 720x480 Mpeg tv captures. I use the MA script with both, though I've found encoding with TMPGEnc set for High Quality rather than Motion Estimate works better for captures. I usually Headac3he the MP2 at 192 and find that the sound is not all that bad. I don't like losing the video space.

Another alternative, using KVCDx3 Mpeg2 reset to 704x480 should be investigated. I've actually recorded good 2 hour DVD's onto a single CD. Not DVD quality, but perfectly acceptable for movies you probably won't watch that many times. These play on both my Cyberhome and Apex. If you try this alternative to miniDVD, set CalcuMatic at 192 for a 128 mp2. I have found that CalcuMatic is not all that accurate with Mpeg2 files, especially if you leave the minimum bitrate at 300 to get maximum CQ.

I'm not all that much at writing guides, but for miniDVD, I:

1. Rip with Decrypter
2. Create d2v and ac3 with DVD2AVI (no ForceFilm)
3. Use TMPGEnc and KDVD with the optimum MA avs script (with Telecide()/Decimate())
4. Create 128 MP2 file from AC3 with Headac3he
5. Mux as DVD with BBMPEG, splitting at 699 MB
6. Author each MPG file with TMPGEnc Author with chapter generation
7. Create image files with ImgTool
8. Burn with Nero as CD image file

You can also do steps 1 thru 5 above and burn as SVCD with NERO with good results for a player that will not play miniDVD. My Cyberhome will and my Apex will not. Both play these KDVD's burned as SVCD's.

CQMatic dont work very well some times it works and some times it just loops and does not do it's job. is they any other tools for for finding the CQ when makeing 2 cd mini DVD

What are scripts and how can I use them for divx to minidvd

Also if I split a files with TMPGEnc I get skiping in the mpg and the file size is too small..

Sorry got mixed up.

800 meg in vcd and svcd not miniDVD...

What are you burning with to get 800MB. I use Nero 5.5.9.17

If you do kdvd but put it on a SVCD with out ac3 sound you get 800meg. I think you need to put a svcd header on it

When creating miniDVD how many bytes is available in 80min CD ??