Any DVD video knowledgeable people here concerning .mp4 files?

[TorchTheWitch]

I want to make an .flv file into an .mp4 file so I can put a video on a DVD so that I can watch in on my tv with the DVD player. I have a converter that will do it, but I have no idea what the settings should be as in frame rate/bitrate/resolution for video and bitrate/sample rate for the audio so that when I watch it on the tv it takes up the whole screen without those damn black bars at the top and bottom or the sides. But I also don't want it to take hours and hours to convert an average movie length film (ie: 1 1/2 to 2 or so). I have no idea what any of the setting info means or what certain settings do concerning how it comes out looking on the tv.

Is there someone here that can help me out with this?

TIA!

[Heddi]

1. I use Handbrake

which is free, relatively fast, and has pre-set settings so I don't change anything other than file output type.

Have you tried handbrake?

[TorchTheWitch]

4. how are they pre-set?

Does it use the same settings as the file you're intending to convert or something? Thanks for mentioning that though. I've never heard of Handbrake. I think I'll try it and see what happens. What worries me though is I don't know if these .flv files that I downloaded had original settings from a handheld device like an Ipod or something like that, so I'd want to change them to fit the tv... at least so that it takes up most of the screen if not all of it. So far I can't even figure out how to see what the settings are on a file that I've downloaded or taken myself with my camera whether it's a .flv, .mov .avi or even already an .mp4.

The converter that I use is also a free one, but in file output types there's a whole list of different .mp4 types that you can make the output file, and I can't tell what they mean either, like PS3 H.264 HD (720p)(.mp4)... the only part of that I understand is the ".mp4" part and "HD" probably means "high definition" - the rest of it I have no idea what it means.

[Heddi]

7. When you choose the output as, say .mp4,

Handbrake automatically sets the file to optimal...settings, I guess? I don't tweak anything but what I want my output to be, which is either .mp4 or .mkv, because I have an external hard-drive hooked up to my Roku, and the Roku only reads .mp4 and .mkv files.

I don't tweak anything. I torrent files of shows I want to watch, and sometimes they're .avi or other types of files. The only thing I change when I convert anything on handbrake is if I want it .mkv or .mp4, everything else is pre-set.

You *can* change the pre-set settings for .mp4 and other file output types, But I don't. I've never had a problem with what you're describing...perhaps my original file types aren't the same as what you're trying to convert, but I've never had an issue with that.

[Locut0s]

14. I second the use of Handbreak...

Magical little transcoder will trancode just about anything you can open using DirectX Codecs (most anything you can play using Windows Media player) into MP4 or MKV. Does a fantastic job and you don't usually have to fiddle with much like many other programs. There are presets in it for different output targets.

[JCMach1]

2. Anyvideo converter is also pretty good

have used it for years...

[jakeXT]

3. If it's something from youtube then you can download it already in the .mp4 container format /nt

[TorchTheWitch]

5. that's what I like about YouTube

Anything I've downloaded from there you can choose the .mp4 format, and at least if fills of most if not all of the tv screen. But most of the videos I download don't come from YouTube.

[Duer 157099]

6. First, go get GSpot

http://download.cnet.com/GSpot/3000-2248_4-10381198.html

Then drag a file onto it and it will show you everything you want to know about the current format. Find a file that you know plays correctly and take a look at what all the settings are for it.

Then drag the flv onto it and see what those settings are.

[TorchTheWitch]

8. Thanks, I'll try that

That's a good idea with using the same settings that one of my DVD's I've made that I know look right on the tv.

[powderchi]

9. DVD Creator

AppGeeker DVD Creator is good, I use the option on the interface as it walks you through the process.

http://www.appgeeker.com/convert/burn-flv-to-dvd.html

[gopiscrap]

12. welcome to DU

[Locut0s]

15. GSpot is such a wonderful little utility...

To bad they stopped development on it around 2.7.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. Try the Computer forum.

THey're awesome!

[TorchTheWitch]

13. Yeah, for this stuff I think I will

I'm not having much luck figuring out any of this. I just hate those damn black blank bars at the top and bottom of the screen... I have this bigger tv than my ancient non-flat screen one that finally crapped out so that I could watch something bigger, and it just looks silly all skinny and stretched out... nobody has a tv screen that shape.

It was your reminding me of the group though that got me in there for advice on what to do once XP goes unsupported in the spring. I'm right pissed off about that especially because it means I'll probably have to get a new computer which I can't afford though this one works perfectly well.

[HipChick]

11. Have you tried Wondershare?