windandwaves said:
Hi Gurus
We would like to put a DVD on a website (just a snippet). How do we convert
the DVD to a type of file that can be viewed by people on the internet.
we are web safy, but we have no idea about DVDs.
Any help appreciated.
- Nicolaas and Nathan
If I understand you correctly, you have a DVD video from which you wish
to select a portion of the program and convert it to a format that can
be used on the web. I would suggest that you use the .wmv Microsoft
format that plays on the WMP player, because more people have this
player than any other. If you want to use the Real format, it is easy
enough to offer an additional option of the real .rm video format. The
advantage of both of these formats is that they will stream from an
ordinary html server. You will need to be certain the server has the
necessary mime types for these media installed. Your next choice is
what Real calls the audience. You have to choose what bit rate you wish
to use. About 32 Kbps is about all you can use on 56K dialup without
excessive buffering time before streaming starts. Video at this rate
should be displayed on a very small area, and still is not very good.
You can also offer streams at the lower and upper ends of the rates
allowed by DSL or cable connections. Many commercial sites will offer 3
streams at different rates. Both Microsoft and Real have free downloads
for encoders for their formats, and I strongly suggest that you use
these, as they have good templates for selection of the best parameters
automatically. With more experience, you can use both encoders in about
any way you wish.
Next you need a signal to input into the encoders. If you must start
from a DVD rather than mpeg2 or certain digital camera files, there are
2 ways you can go. If you have the latest versions of the Roxio or Nero
media programs, you will be able to put the DVD into your computer and
capture the DVD to the HD in a format that is usable for the encoders,
provided the DVD is not copy protected(Yes, I know there are ways some
use to get around copy protection, as a quick Google search will show).
Then you have to use some video programs to edit out the part of the
program you wish to use. All of this can take quite a bit of time the
first time you do it. The second way is to input the analog audio-video
stream from a DVD player to a device to do the file conversion and
store the converted files on the HD. These devices usually come with
necessary programs. Either internal or external devices are available.
I use the ADS Tech InstantDVD+DV device that connects to the computer
via USB2. It came with capture and editing programs. With such a device
you can capture video-audio to the HD from DVDs, VCR tapes, and TV from
off-the-air, cable, or satellite. It also will capture from the digital
output of some video cameras. While the quality may not be as good as
from professional equipment that is extremely expensive, the quality is
more than good enough for the web and good enough for all except the
best recent movies.
I have recorded several hundred DVDs from sources mentioned above. I
also have put several clips up on my site using the Microsoft and Real
encoders. It does take quite a bit of time to learn to use the several
programs.
