Introduction

Tovid is a collection of video disc authoring tools. With Tovid, you can create DVDs and other video discs.

Installing Tovid

For users of Ubuntu prior to Hardy Heron (8.04), please see this page for instructions on installing Tovid from source. Before beginning, open Synaptic Package Manager (System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager) and search for build-essential. If the box is not already green, click it and choose Mark for Installation. When you are asked to mark additional packages, click the Mark button. Click Apply and basic development tools will be installed. After this is complete, continue with the Tovid directions for installing from source.

For users of Hardy Heron (8.04) and later, tovid is in the Ubuntu repositories. If you haven't already enabled the Multiverse repository, enable extra repositories as shown here.

Open Synaptic Package Manager (System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager) and search for tovid. You should now see at least two packages, including tovid and tovidgui. For both of these packages, click the white box beside the name and choose Mark for Installation. If you are asked to mark additional packages, click the Mark button. Click Apply and wait for Tovid to be installed.

Using Tovid

There are two ways to use Tovid - through its command-line interface, or through its graphical user interface (GUI).

Using the Tovid GUI

There are three graphical interfaces to Tovid.

Tovid GUI

Tovid GUI was installed previously. It is available through the menu by going to Applications -> Sount & Video -> tovid GUI.

Todisc GUI

If you prefer to use the Todisc GUI, go back to Synaptic Package Manager and install the todiscgui package. It will be available from the menu by going to Applications -> Sound & Video -> todisc GUI.

Tovidwiz

Tovidwiz, created by binks on the Ubuntu Forums, is available in this package. See this forum thread for more information on using Tovidwiz.

Using the Tovid Command Line

There are two options for using the Tovid command line: the tovid script, or the todisc script. You will need to open a Terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) for this section.

Tovid Script

The full list of options for tovid with descriptions can be shown with the command man tovid. An example command is shown here, with options explained: 

tovid -wide -pal -in foo.avi -out foo_encoded

  • -wide: The encoded file will be in widescreen format (16:9 aspect ratio)

  • -pal: Use PAL video format, used basically everywhere except North America and Japan

  • -in foo.avi: Use a file called foo.avi as the video file to convert. Change foo.avi to the name of the file you want to use.

  • -out foo_encoded: Set the output file to foo_encoded, plus the appropriate file extension. In this case, the resulting file will be named foo_encoded.mpg. Change foo_encoded to be the file name you would like the resulting file to have, minus the file extension.

Todisc Script

The full list of options for todisc with descriptions can be shown with the command man todisc. An example command is shown here, with options explained: 

todisc -files File1.mpg File2.mpg File3.mpg -titles "Episode 1" "Episode 2" "Episode 3" -out Season_one

  • -files File1.mpg File2.mpg File3.mpg: Use the list of files as the input files to the resulting DVD disc image

  • -titles "Episode 1" "Episode 2" "Episode 3": Use the list of titles as the titles for the corresponding file (the first title is assigned to the first file, and so on). There must be an equal number of entries for the -files and -title options.

  • -out Season_one: Set the output file to Season_one, plus the appropriate file extension.

Creating a Video Disc

After Tovid has finished creating your video disc, it needs to be properly turned into a DVD image for burning. Type these commands into your Terminal window, pushing Enter after each line: 

makexml -menu Menu.mpg foo1.mpg foo2.mpg foo3.mpg -out MyDisc
makedvd -burn MyDisc.xml

This will give you a DVD which can be played on your computer and on most DVD players. Note that this is unique to the command-line interface.

If you want to make more DVDs, you need to delete the dvd folder that was created and either move completed files to a different directory or simply delete them.

External Links

See Also

Tovid (last edited 2009-04-30 15:26:58 by adsl190-027000006)