Hi...while trying to 'fit' a 2h 35m avi file onto a DVD-R, I somehow got NERO 6 recode to convert the file to an MPEG-4. It's small enough now. It's startlingly small on the HDD...and it plays with acceptable clarity.
I burned it to a DVD-R, and that too plays fine, as long as it's in the DVD tray. But my stand-alone DVD players (living room, TV) won't recognize it; which doesn't surprise me.
Question: For what purpose do people convert to MPEG-4 in the first place? For archival storage or space constraints? What was the primary idea behind MPEG-4? Nero obviously thinks people need it, or they wouldn't dedicate a large percentage of their software TO it.
Hi Louie,
DVDs are MPEG2, and MPEG4 is a more recent, higher-compression container popularized by the DivXcodec. Other MPEG4 codecs are from Koepi's XviD and also from Nero, and others. I use XviD.
It is quite possible to encode a 2-hour MPEG4 AVI that is 700MB in size (including audio).
This can then be burned to a single CDRom - but no, it won't play in your everyday DVD player.
VCDs (MPEG1) will playback in most DVDs, however a 2-hour movie will span 2 CDRoms (1400MB) while offering less resolution and overall quality than an MPEG4 AVI.
Newer DVD players offer MPEG4 playback, but some AVIs can cause playback problems (they are not compliant). DivX is the biggest 'name' in MPEG4, and their logo is most likely to be found on an MPEG4-compatible player.
For example, I dunno if your Nero MPEG4 would play...?
You will find people downloading 700MB AVIs, who then wish to convert these to DVD for broad playback compatibility.
This is very similar to turning MP3s back into a music CD (or making orange juice from a frozen concentrate :^)
The result can be pleasing enough, but will never rival the original in quality...
MPEG2 encoders are not free, they cost $$, and thus we have a forum dedicated specifically to AVI to DVD conversion questions:
http://forums.afterdawn.com/forum_view.cfm/40 The forum we are in now (DivX/XviD) is concerned only with converting DVDs to AVI.
Nero is trying to get a piece of the MPEG4 'pie', and their codec (like DivX) costs money.
Thank goodness that XviD and GordianKnot are still open-source, and therefore free :^)
There you go Bud - you're an expert now!
L8R
Thank you both......yes........ I think I have the dedicated Nero player. I have the full Nero 6 package. When I 'click' on the MPEG4 file, a video-player labeled Nero comes up and begins playing the program.
All I really wanted to do was reduce the 2h 35m AVI file enough to burn it to a single layer DVD-R .... I understand that this involves encoding to an MPEG format...I just didn't understand that an MPEG4 was not really what I was looking for.
All the input is useful and I appreciate it. However, my original question still stands: What was MPEG4 created for? What do most people use it for?
I have 169 movies on a 160GB SATA drive.
I have ~25GB free on this drive - it is time for a 200GB :^)
I can serve up these AVIs to any PC on my LAN, or burn them as req'd to CDRom.
MPEG4 rules!
AVI really has nothing to do with MPEG-4 though. mp4 (as used by Nero) is the official container. When storing XviD, etc. in an AVI you are only using the MPEG-4 Visual part of the standards and not really in a way it was intended. For instance with mp4 there are no fourCC's to deal with, no hacks for storing bframes, etc.
