Convert .rmvb to DVD

I have some 704x396 rmvb files that I would like to convert them into DVD format, so that I can view them on TV using a DVD player. After looking into some of the freeware running on Windows, I came up with two tools - SUPER and GUI for dvdauthor.

The idea is to use SUPER to convert the rmvb files to a video format that GFD supports, and then create the DVDs using GFD.


[SUPER]

After some experiments, it has been confirmed that rmvb->mpeg-2 + GFD will not play properly on a DVD player, what we need is rmvb->vob + GFD.

Also, using different settings (internal encoder, video scale size, aspect) in SUPER will result in different aspect ratios in the final product (i.e. the DVD).

For example, same file using different internal encoders:

ffmepg rmvb->vob:
Aspect ratio using Media Player ~ 1.59
Aspect ratio on TV ~ 1.95

MEncoder rmvb->vob:
Aspect ratio using Media Player ~ 1.79
Aspect ratio on TV ~ 1.78

MEncoder looks like an obvious choice in my case.


[RMVB->VOB]

If overscan does not concern you, a straight rmvb->vob + GFD is all you need.

Use MEncoder.

Set the Aspect and Frame/Sec accordingly.

My settings.

[RMVB with subtitles]

My rmvb files contain subtitles, and because of overscan, the bottom half of the words are cut off.



After trial and error, the solution I use is to add paddings around the edges. Since the free tools I use cannot add paddings directly to the vob files, an intermediate file is needed, and I used mpeg-2 here.

This time, we use ffmpeg.

- Use NoChange for Video Scale Size and leave Aspect blank.
- Set the Frame/Sec accordingly.
- Use the Crop/Pad option.

- After some calculations and experiments, here's is my numbers. (Note: Try to have each side divisible by 16 while keeping the original aspect ratio intact.)
- Turn option on.
- Set the paddings color.

This is my settings.

Convert the result mpeg-2 files to vob files as describes in the previous section.


[GUI for dvdauthor]

The last step is to use the vob files from the previous sections to create a DVD. GFD is very straight forward and easy to use, here's the guide.

My settings.