Thread: Video Conversion Help

I'm pretty new at this so I could use some advice and help.

I have some video files that I want to burn onto DVD so I can watch on my TV. Most of the files are .ts files, but some are .mkv files. I downloaded HandBrake to convert them into Mpeg-4 files and so far I'm not having any luck. The conversions I did on my computer ended up putting the audio out of sync with the video by about 2 seconds. I tried to use my wife's computer which is a bit more up to date than mine and the audio is fine but there is ghosting on the video and in some parts the screen is split with the right portion of the screen appearing on the left.

Is anyone familiar with HandBrake and if so should I be doing adjustments in the settings to fix this? Or is there a better program for converting the files? I'm not having any luck on Google finding any answers so I was hoping someone here with experience might know how to fix this. Any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Originally Posted by schaggydog

I'm pretty new at this so I could use some advice and help.

I have some video files that I want to burn onto DVD so I can watch on my TV. Most of the files are .ts files, but some are .mkv files. I downloaded HandBrake to convert them into Mpeg-4 files and so far I'm not having any luck. The conversions I did on my computer ended up putting the audio out of sync with the video by about 2 seconds. I tried to use my wife's computer which is a bit more up to date than mine and the audio is fine but there is ghosting on the video and in some parts the screen is split with the right portion of the screen appearing on the left.

Is anyone familiar with HandBrake and if so should I be doing adjustments in the settings to fix this? Or is there a better program for converting the files? I'm not having any luck on Google finding any answers so I was hoping someone here with experience might know how to fix this. Any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Mac or Windows?

Originally Posted by schaggydog

I'm pretty new at this so I could use some advice and help.

I have some video files that I want to burn onto DVD so I can watch on my TV. Most of the files are .ts files, but some are .mkv files. I downloaded HandBrake to convert them into Mpeg-4 files and so far I'm not having any luck. The conversions I did on my computer ended up putting the audio out of sync with the video by about 2 seconds. I tried to use my wife's computer which is a bit more up to date than mine and the audio is fine but there is ghosting on the video and in some parts the screen is split with the right portion of the screen appearing on the left.

Is anyone familiar with HandBrake and if so should I be doing adjustments in the settings to fix this? Or is there a better program for converting the files? I'm not having any luck on Google finding any answers so I was hoping someone here with experience might know how to fix this. Any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

What version of HandBrake?

Incidentally, converting the files to MPEG-4 files (regardless of container) will only partially assist you in putting the videos on a video DVD. What are you going to use as the next step to create the video DVD?

What would be the best software for burning DVDs? I've used the Windows DVD Creator and I can't manage to get the right aspect ratio to display on my TV. If I pick full screen, it doesn't fill in the sides, leaving them black, and if i pick wide screen, it leaves a black frame around the video. Am i doing something wrong, or just using the wrong software? What would be the best software, paid or free, to use? I'm trying to burn m-peg4 files, if that matters.

Originally Posted by Ecktore

What would be the best software for burning DVDs? I've used the Windows DVD Creator and I can't manage to get the right aspect ratio to display on my TV. If I pick full screen, it doesn't fill in the sides, leaving them black, and if i pick wide screen, it leaves a black frame around the video. Am i doing something wrong, or just using the wrong software? What would be the best software, paid or free, to use? I'm trying to burn m-peg4 files, if that matters.

There are not enough details to assess either the software or your use of it, and I haven't personally used Windows DVD Creator either. Without additional details, this is a long answer, but an answerable question. I don't have enough time to get too deep into it right now, but if I can get my work done by early afternoon, I'll reply to it.

I have a quick second, so I thought I'd post a short answer version to your question, based on some assumptions.

THE SHORT ANSWER:

It sounds like the program is doing fine, and so is your use of it. I think your original video has an aspect ratio of 4x3, which your DVD application is conveniently (and properly) making 4x3 when you choose "full screen." Full screen in DVD-land does not mean it will fill your screen automatically. It means it will fill all of a 4x3 screen, so having no image on the sides is normal for viewing on a 16x9 set, since the 4x3 image is not as wide as a 16x9 image.

Meanwhile, when you tell the DVD software to make it widescreen, it obliges by resizing the 4x3 image and placing it inside of a 16x9 image, so the results are about the same, except you will actually lose some image detail (depending on the original source).

Your best bet in this circumstance is to stick with "full screen," and then adjust your TV settings to "zoom" or "fill" (or equivalent) if you do not want the black bars.

If my assumptions are incorrect and/or if you would like more information, I will still post the longer reply when I get a chance.