Video File Formats for DVD Authoring - File Conversion

In DVD subtitling, the final phase is when you start authoring the DVD. But there is the issue of file format, when it does, then, file conversion is a must.

Uncompressed AVI is a common format when you render in an Editing Software. This is because the video quality is preserved. You can also render directly to MPEG2. But for those who are stuck with their file format, file conversion is a vital knowledge that you need.

Start with the basics, file formats or compression.

1. AVI – Audio Video Interleave, known by its acronym AVI, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a file container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback. Like the DVD video format, AVI files support multiple streaming audio and video, although these features are seldom used. Most AVI files also use the file format extensions developed by theMatrox OpenDML group in February 1996. These files are supported by Microsoft, and are unofficially called “AVI 2.0″.

Source: Wikipedia

If you directly import AVI format in your Authoring Software, a process called Transcoding will take place, so it’s better to convert your file into DVD format before importing. The next format is MPEG -

2. MPEG – he Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) was formed by the ISO to set standards for audio and video compression and transmission.[1] Its first meeting was in May 1988 in Ottawa, Canada. As of late 2005, MPEG has grown to include approximately 350 members per meeting from various industries, universities, and research institutions. MPEG’s official designation is ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29 WG11.

Source: Wikipedia

This file formats are common when you are working with DVD’s – but there are also file format such as MPEG4, VCD, and Movie (.mov) which we will discuss later.

On my next post: File Conversion Using Mainconcept MPEG Encoder.