Converting HD vid files for SD DVD player...what program???

MisterBeane · 07-17-2007, 02:51 PM

Hi guys I'm brand new around here...my question is...I've got a lot of .mkv video files that are MPEG2 1280x720p (each is around 2 GB) and I want to downconvert them to the highest possible resolution that a standard definition DVD player would be able to play, which I'm guessing is somewhere around 640x480p or something like that...what program can I use to convert them with as little drop in video quality as possible? (btw, I'm planning to burn them to dual-layer DVD9's, so size isn't really an issue, just maintaining the maximum possible vid quality) Thanks for the help in advance!!!

**rbinck** · 07-17-2007, 03:07 PM

I use womble's mpeg2dvd.

paulc · 07-18-2007, 12:33 PM

Not telling us what platform you use, you could get recommendations that don't make sense.

I would have no need to "convert" prior to burning as the burning program I use (Toast on a Mac) will automatically handle the chore. Yes, it does need to go through a downrez, but it's very much "drop the files into it's window, put in a blank, and hit the big red burn button" thing.

Just keep in mind that the overall quality of the original is the major determinant of quality on the burned DVD. Start with clear, sharp and well lit and you'll get a fabulous DVD. Start with a dark, moody, and soft original and you'll not like the resulting DVD much.

MisterBeane · 07-18-2007, 03:43 PM

I'm using XP, and my files are actually from a few HD-DVDs, so the quality is much higher than needed for SD obviously...I guess I'm just worried that I'll convert it to a format (Divx encoded AVI was my first choice) that would need certain codecs to be played, thus making the produced DVD non-playable on a standalone DVD player. Since going from .mkv to .avi would obviously increase the file size substantially, that wouldn't be the best option for burning to a DVD to be played on an SD set, especially since they can only play up to 480p.

mschupp · 07-18-2007, 11:26 PM

How user-friendly does the conversion program have to be. There are some free-ware programs out there that do a pretty good job but require some effort.
Search on www.videohelp.com and you'll probably find a dozen possibilities ranging from free to several hundred $.

senderila · 07-23-2007, 05:19 AM

I only know a software can converte DVD to other formats.Using it you can enjoy DVD movies on your cell phone .It's Moyea DVD .

sulla · 07-29-2007, 08:39 PM

A lot of standalone players will play divx files as is. AVI is just a container and not a codec. If you already know how to convert them to high quality divx .avi files, you might as well just buy a divx dvd player. My Toshiba DR5 DVD recorder plays them fine, even some cheap players from wal mart for about $30 will play them. You can drag 5 or 6 movies onto one data DVD, fewer the more you increase the quality.

I have always avoided .mkv files like the plague because I heard they are hard to work with and convert. I stick with mpeg 4 h.264 which is more industry standard and gives excellent quality. With Quicktime pro I can easily convert it to just about anything I want including DVD's.

butter1093 · 08-19-2009, 03:10 AM

You have to convert to MPEG2 ,but you will lose a lot of quality and resolution. (1920x1080 => 720x480, converting from a more efficient codec to a less efficient one i.e. MPEG4 or h.264=>MPEG2, and converting to any lossy codec reduces quality). If you want to loss less quality, there is a suggestion, you can try to use moyea HD video converter for Mac, i personally think it is run well.

Ruffrob · 08-20-2009, 07:21 AM

Search for DVD Flick,it can handle many types of video files,and can create a DVD compliant structure in a few hours. As a poster above pointed out,if your files are clean ,it will show,and if they're muddy,don't waste your time....

07-17-2007, 02:51 PM	#1
MisterBeane What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2	Converting HD vid files for SD DVD player...what program??? Hi guys I'm brand new around here...my question is...I've got a lot of .mkv video files that are MPEG2 1280x720p (each is around 2 GB) and I want to downconvert them to the highest possible resolution that a standard definition DVD player would be able to play, which I'm guessing is somewhere around 640x480p or something like that...what program can I use to convert them with as little drop in video quality as possible? (btw, I'm planning to burn them to dual-layer DVD9's, so size isn't really an issue, just maintaining the maximum possible vid quality) Thanks for the help in advance!!!

07-17-2007, 03:07 PM	#2
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,971	I use womble's mpeg2dvd. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

07-29-2007, 08:39 PM	#7
sulla How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 27	A lot of standalone players will play divx files as is. AVI is just a container and not a codec. If you already know how to convert them to high quality divx .avi files, you might as well just buy a divx dvd player. My Toshiba DR5 DVD recorder plays them fine, even some cheap players from wal mart for about $30 will play them. You can drag 5 or 6 movies onto one data DVD, fewer the more you increase the quality. I have always avoided .mkv files like the plague because I heard they are hard to work with and convert. I stick with mpeg 4 h.264 which is more industry standard and gives excellent quality. With Quicktime pro I can easily convert it to just about anything I want including DVD's. Last edited by sulla; 07-29-2007 at 08:42 PM.

08-19-2009, 03:10 AM	#8
butter1093 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9	You have to convert to MPEG2 ,but you will lose a lot of quality and resolution. (1920x1080 => 720x480, converting from a more efficient codec to a less efficient one i.e. MPEG4 or h.264=>MPEG2, and converting to any lossy codec reduces quality). If you want to loss less quality, there is a suggestion, you can try to use moyea HD video converter for Mac, i personally think it is run well. __________________ Make dreams come true.

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07-18-2007, 12:33 PM	#3
paulc Very Grizzled Vet of 1 yr Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,764	Not telling us what platform you use, you could get recommendations that don't make sense. I would have no need to "convert" prior to burning as the burning program I use (Toast on a Mac) will automatically handle the chore. Yes, it does need to go through a downrez, but it's very much "drop the files into it's window, put in a blank, and hit the big red burn button" thing. Just keep in mind that the overall quality of the original is the major determinant of quality on the burned DVD. Start with clear, sharp and well lit and you'll get a fabulous DVD. Start with a dark, moody, and soft original and you'll not like the resulting DVD much.

07-18-2007, 03:43 PM	#4
MisterBeane What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2	I'm using XP, and my files are actually from a few HD-DVDs, so the quality is much higher than needed for SD obviously...I guess I'm just worried that I'll convert it to a format (Divx encoded AVI was my first choice) that would need certain codecs to be played, thus making the produced DVD non-playable on a standalone DVD player. Since going from .mkv to .avi would obviously increase the file size substantially, that wouldn't be the best option for burning to a DVD to be played on an SD set, especially since they can only play up to 480p.

07-18-2007, 11:26 PM	#5
mschupp . Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 309	How user-friendly does the conversion program have to be. There are some free-ware programs out there that do a pretty good job but require some effort. Search on www.videohelp.com and you'll probably find a dozen possibilities ranging from free to several hundred $.

07-23-2007, 05:19 AM	#6
senderila What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	I only know a software can converte DVD to other formats.Using it you can enjoy DVD movies on your cell phone .It's Moyea DVD .

08-20-2009, 07:21 AM	#9
Ruffrob High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 198	Search for DVD Flick,it can handle many types of video files,and can create a DVD compliant structure in a few hours. As a poster above pointed out,if your files are clean ,it will show,and if they're muddy,don't waste your time....