this is all good but i prefer dvdfab platinum but its not free

thanks anyway--dave

To #25:

Given -- hopefully you'll be able to read this (belated) note of thanks: your post is greatly appreciated!

I followed your advice to both tutorials and have also DL'd the freeware (wow, that rad stuff is incredibly impressive).

Sincere thanks again for taking the time and trouble to provide such constructive and meaningful help: I definitely owe you one!

Thanks again -- Mike

Add on to my #16 note: Yes, it did convert faster than DVD Santa, took about 1 hour less to convert a 700 mg avi and burn to my Phillips burner and then played just fine on my Acer DVD player. Only thing I don't care for on most of these conversion programs is they don't give you the option to minimize while it's running!

It only support Xvid, AVI, MPG, Divx format to DVD.
I have used this converter to convert all popular video formats: MP4, WMV, AVI, Xvid, 3GP, FLV to DVD file(VOB). Then use DVD Burner to burn DVD.
http://www.daniusoft.com/video-converter-suite.html

Okay, here's my experience and a couple of suggestions for the programmers. (Used on an WinXP)

Now I have the advantage of having a Philips DVDR that records to disk from the TV and will play pretty much anything I can throw at it, including PAL and DIVX/XVID files dropped onto a DVD-R disc! But if you don't have that ability or an older player, you have to convert (or "reconstitute") the DIVX file(s) back into DVD format.

Problem 1: I tried first with two different movies. (16:9 + letterboxed) On each, the converter ran for less that 30 seconds, then the burn started and then stopped and even said it was successful. It turns out what it burned was some error message in red that I couldn't read. But otherwise I produced two coasters. So, I would say that some tweaking should be done that stops the burn process if the conversion has an error so you don't waste a disk. And look into why it's call the burn a success when it clearly isn't!

2) On the 3rd try, I put in 8 - 1/2 hour each episodes of a TV show (4:3). (I also moved the temp file to the D:\ drive where the movies are in case that was causing a problem.) I don't know where it gets (above) that you can burn a disk in an hour. It's taking about 16 min PER EPISODE just for the conversion. (Burning a full DVD usually takes about 15 minutes on my setup.) There's no mention if this program uses "burn-proof" when burning the discs it keep from having fail errors.

Also there are apparently no menus, just a quick and dirty conversion. Which begs the question: Do you really need a specific DIVX conversion program if you got their DVD creator which also accepts DIVX/XVID PLUS has some niceties like menus?

At any rate, the 3rd disk burned ok, but there are no menus and no chapter setup. Unless you have a film or series that you want to watch all at once), it depends on your player if you're going to be able to move between episodes. (Power DVD did NOT let me go to a specific chapter.) Being that I can already play DIVX on my Philips DVDR, it's not worth it for me to use without a setup for chaptering. Especially when things like home movies and the like usually download as mpeg, not AVI.

if burner worked it would be good so no good

its a little farser but burn not highlighted so it loses its usefulness

So, is there any reason for someone to use this over the one from a few days ago? Will this do anything that one won't? I've always used ConvertXtoDVD for all of my converting, but I ran into a particular file that was literally taking about a week to convert. (literally....it was at 50% when I stopped it on Monday night, and I started it on Friday!) I used the GAOTD Apollo converter from Monday night to convert the same file in about 4 hours. The quality didn't looks to be near as good as ConvertXtoDVD, but hey, I didn't have to wait a week! By the way, ConvertXtoDVD usually converts my files in 2 to 4 hours for a 700mb=ish file.

I started a conversion process of a 700MB movie and it's been close to 2 hours now and it hasn't even started burning it to DVD. It's in the DVD authoring stage and the progress number looks wrong as it is saying "Generating DVD movie... 155%" How is this program computing this number? Why would it display a number greater than 100%?

Anyone else seeing the same thing?

I had been using sothink dvd maker for awhile to convert and burn my dvd's and decided to go ahead and give this 1 a whirl and I am glad I did, this program converted and burned my discs much faster and better than sothink did, and the discs play on all my players, while the discs burned with sothink would only show the video and no audio on 1 of my players, thanks a bunch guys, great program.

#17:

#6 the video converter u linked to is not free.
Comment by Ballpeen — November 7th, 2007 at 8:07 am





Yes it was, on gaotd Aug 4:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/?s=aimersoft+video+converter&x=41&y=17

Next to Moyea, my favourite converter

Downloaded easy and has worked like a charm for two separate movies. Best part is movies burned on DVD+R WILL play on an older, legacy DVD player with no writable media support. Until now I couldn't get any program to convert to a format that my cheap, crappy old DVD player would read. Thanks GAOTD for a lite and useful tool.

To #23: I did a google search on your query and came up with this: http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/convert-quicktime-to-avi-or-divx-for-free/ and several others. Just type convert quicktime to avi in your search engine and you can peruse the results that best fit your computer & your needs. HTH.

This is a very limited program. It only does avi codecs which is fine for divx, but any HD stuff in MKV or WMV codecs and you're out of luck entirely. There is no menu that you control, and there are not even any settings/options. I put three tv episodes on a single layer creation, which wasn't even 4gb worht, but it wants nearly 8gb to do the job. That's terrible. ConvertXtoDVD is hands down, a million times better. This doesn't even automatically choose 16:9 or 4:3 aspect screen. That would severely screw up the aspect ratio for noobs and they would be too frustrated. Such a program is aimed at noobs, so it should work for a noob and choose the right screen size to use.
This may be free, but it's free because the developer can't sell it with plenty of competing and far superior products.
Download if you like wasting bandwidth and adding more crap to the registry of your system which only slows it down bit by bit.

Apologies if this query annoys the purists but some advice from the knowledgable here really would be appreciated!!!

I have a still camera which shoots in movie mode -- so OK, it's not the finest quality, but for the amount of video I need, it's fine. I can play back from the TV by connecting it to the cam. Or can watch on my PC where it comes up as Apple Quicktime.

What I'd like to do (!) is to be able to get the video files onto a DVD, which presumably means converting from QT to avi. . .

Is that right? In which case, either this or Andrew's link (Bladed Toth review) could then convert to DVD format.

Can anyone here advise? Thanks!

Apollo DVD creator offered before took 5-6 hours to burn one DVD on my Windows XP (only a year old with 1GB ram and plenty of speed) Sucked because about an hour into the burning I was cleaning around my computer and accidentally hit the space bar which activated the cancel button on the program (weird) and I had to start it over. Last night I set another DVD to burn, woke up this morning (after 8 hours sleep) and it was hung up on the menu section. I am uninstalling it and not installing this new one. I'll try some of the freeware offered.

Anyone else having GAOTD randomly not posting their comments whether it has something to do with the software or not? I see way too much randomness in the commments they allow to post and not to post. Also sometimes the time before the comment appears is way too long.

i copy paste the name and code but it says invalid user name or code... what am i doing wrong??

to #6: You cannot only use AVS Video Tools to burn iTunes TV shows to DVDs, because TV Shows purchased from iTunes store have DRM protect, you need Tunebite to remove the DRM protect at first, then you can use AVS Video Toosl to burn the iTunes TV Shows to DVDs, if you don't know how to do that, you may take a look at this step by step guide
http://www.youtubetoipod.biz/burn-itunes-movie.html
here is tunebite download link, it's a shareware cost $25
http://www.top5soft.com/audio/tunebite-premium-platinum.html

Anyone know how this might compare to DVD Santa? That's the one I've been using all along to convert and burn most all the formats. That usually takes about 2-1/2 hours to do convert/burn. Something faster would be nice.

Hello all! Today's 15-Minute Review is up! Check it out!

http://www.bladedthoth.com/reviews/15mrs/apollo-divx-to-dvd-creator-v4-6-6/

#6 the video converter u linked to is not free.

Should be perfect for fansubs.

I'll second convertXtoDVD. Best DVD writing software I've EVER used. And as easy as clicking and dragging with your mouse.

You guys are amazing...

Another piece of software was offered recently, and you all complained that it didn't support divX conversion/burning. You BEGGED GAOTD to put out a divX converter/burner. And now that they have, you're whining about this, too!!

Here's a a couple free tips for everyone:

1. If you want to try it, download it. If you don't... then dont't!
2. If you're going to post a comment, make it useful and constructive. No one cares if it's "The best/worst product EVER!!!"; tell us what it does right, or what it does wrong (in specifics). That way, other users can better decide if they want to try the software or or can learn about problems to be aware of, and the developers can see how to improve their product.

THANK YOU to those that have posted USEFUL comments (#1, #2, #6, #12)
And THANK YOU to GAOTD and Apollo Multimedia Software - most of the CD/DVD Burning software out there does not support divX.

#4 I disagree with you!!! I love tools that do exactly the one thing I want. I hate having to install a large software-suite because I need one of it's features.

I like to see more handy tools like this here on GAOTD!

#8, many modern dvd players can play AVI files directly, so maybe you can just burn the AVI to a cd. It's worth a try IMO.

I think AVS Video Tools is much better than Apollo, it can burn DivX and iTunes protect TV shows to DVDs, my friends sent this AVS Video Tools guide to me, it works perfect
http://www.youtubetoipod.biz/guide/burn-avi-divx-xvid-mpeg-itunes-to-dvd.html

I owned this program about 1 year ago, I think it's slim like a charm.

I wish that yesterday's Giveaway would write to CD-DVD format. I cannot afford a dvd recorder at this point but my digital camera gives me .avi files of my grandson that I'd like to be able to share with his great-grandparents.

Well, considering it's a 'give-away', users should be happy with the tool's features :)

Is this the same as Apollo DVD Creator which released on November 5? Actually, you can use this video converter to convert DivX video to DVD format (VOB or MPEG), then you can use DVD Shrink to burn it to DVDs, they are both free and the burning speed is much faster than Apollo DVD Burner.

Some problems
1. when I first open it, I spent years to find the button to load video files. It is hard to find and you didn't put labels on it.
you can learn to convertXtoDVD
http://www.vso-software.fr/products/convert_x_to_dvd/
2. no dvd menu, like wondershare video to dvd burner, can produce great dvd menu
http://www.dvd-ripper-copy.com/video-to-dvd.html
3. more video formats supported
AVI,MPEG are not enough.

Why the developers often develop lots of software which only can do the limited functions? It is very inconvenient for us users. We have to install so many software to do the same work. I really like some all-in-one software such as Movavi Video Suite. It can meet all my needs for my videos and DVDs. I hope Apollo Team would refer to this software here: http://www.top5soft.com/video/movavi-video-suite.html

Is it a light version of Apollo DVD creator provided last monday as GOTD?

It only supports Divx, Xvid, AVI, MPG video format. And we have many movies in some other video formats. I have tried Cucusoft Video to DVD Converter. It enables me to convert and burn any video file directly to VCD, DVD, SVCD, MPEG1 and MPEG2 format.In addition, it has embedded "DVD Author Express" and "DVD/VCD/SVCD Burner Engine". So it becomes an all-in-one VCD/SVCD/DVD Creator. I think it is much better than the Apollo DivX to DVD Creator.

use this with a tv card and/or orb.com and you can record shows, like heroes, lost, etc. and burn it to dvd format to watch in any dvd player. kinda cool!