MSDN - wmv to dvd

Author

wmv to dvd

Phil Kramer

2006-01-12, 3:55 am

It is great that there is a wealth of information via the Microsoft online
seminars, and I know that they can be downloaded as wmv files. The only
downside is that I am tired of sitting in front of my computer to watch them.

Is there an efficient procedure that would allow me to convert them to be
put on a DVD? More specifically:

1. This is for my personal use so I am not trying to violate any fair usage
laws. (If this is in fact in violation of some agreement that I am
unfamiliar with then please just let me know.)
2. Using something like Windows Movie Maker creates HUGE files, so I am
lucky to get one seminar on a DVD. Let's be serious -- the quality isn't
that important so I would much rather put a half dozen on a DVD.
3. I have figured out how to do this but the procedure is extremely
cumbersome. First Windows Media Converter has to put the file into a more
standard format (CBR, etc). Then, I need to convert the wmv file to an mpeg2
file. Then, I can burn the files onto DVD. After all is said and done it
takes more than one hour of computer time to prepare a one hour seminar.
4. I have a typical array of tools such as Windows Media Converter,
TMPGEnc, TMPGEnc DVD Author, etc...

Thanks!
Phil

Ronny Ong

2006-01-12, 6:57 pm

Transcoding video is an inherently CPU-intensive and thus time-consuming
process.

With the understanding that your time is valuable, the most cost-effective
solution if you already have 802.11g in place would be to purchase a
wireless digital media receiver. In a nutshell, a DMR connects your TV to
your computer wirelessly and allows you to play media files stored on your
computer at your TV with no intermediate conversion. Not all DMR products
support WMV. One example which does support WMV is the D-Link DSM-520:
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=438.

You indicated that you're not concerned with quality. Whenever I want to
create a disc fast and I don't mind losing quality, I transcode to VCD.
Virtually all DVD players will play VCD, you can use cheap CD-R/RW media,
it's fast to burn, and (most importantly) it's fast to transcode. With Nero
6 or 7, you can simply start a new VCD compilation and drag WMV files into
it. For VCD, you don't need all the extra Nero fluff; just the core app
(Nero Burning ROM). When you add each file, it will briefly analyze it, then
when you click Burn, it will transcode to MPEG-1 before actually burning.
Other than quality, the other drawback is that VCD doesn't hold much, so if
you run into 2+ hour seminars, you will have to split them.

Phil Kramer

2006-01-17, 6:57 pm

Thanks for your suggestions. I tried transcoding to VCD, but as you
predicted it is inconvenient because virtually none of the online seminars
will fit on a single VCD. The hardware device was tempting but a bit pricey
just to solve this problem. It got me thinking in the right direction,
though.

It turns out that my new HDTV has a VGA input, so I cobbled together a web
surfing PC out of leftover hardware. This is working great.

Thanks,
Phil

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