Sometimes, free software just isn’t right for the job. Take VCDs, for example. They are supposed to be called Video Compact Discs. but I have come up with a new acronym: Video-Caused Destruction. Let me explain.
I was awake until 2:30am on Christmas morning. Never again will I attempt to compile a video project without a DVD burner. I was forced to use a VCD: the low-quality alternatives to DVDs burned onto CD-Rs or -RWs. I was creating a video compilation as a present to a family member. I ripped some (non-copy-protected) DVDs to my computer and added pictures, music, narration and interviews. I used Windows Movie Maker for the editing. When it came time to burn, I converted the existing file to an AVI file and tried to use a free program called Avi2Dvd to create a burnable disk image. After selecting the AVI, I found that I could not select an audio stream. So, the program allowed me to use the original WMV file. I encoded it and used ImgBurn (also free) to burn a BIN file. When I originally played it, it was fine at the beginning but the audio cut out after about two minutes. After careful inspection of the encoded audio stream, I discovered that it was, in fact, a problem with the encoding process. I tried encoding using different settings, but the audio stream only fluctuated in length and was never complete. Finally, I used Audacity to record the audio manually using a double-ended cable hooked to my Line-in/out jacks. I created an ISO of the encoded MPG file, but it did not burn as a VCD. It only burnt as a single file. But, alas, it played with full audio on the home DVD player after hours of work.
The moral of this story? I want a DVD burner.
