Currently I use AVI2dvd to convert avi's to DVD and to insert the subtitles. It works fine, but takes a loooong time to process the material. Anyone have a suggestion for a quicker working program ?

I don't know what your idea of a long time is, but video encoding is a lengthy process with any software.

Personally, I use Nero. Encoding and burning a full DVD takes about 45 +/- minutes on my 3.0 P4 with 1 gig of ram.

45 minutes is a pretty short time frame for making a DVD. I think converting AVI files will take MUCH longer. If you can start out with MPEG2 files, it should go a lot faster.

Now, I can process and avi with winavi, and it takes less time. But winavi won't accept the subtitles properly. I'm aware that these programs are normally a long time, but to process the subtitles takes a ridiculous time. A black and white avi is being converted as I speak, and with the subs, it's going to take over two hours, plus the burning. I need a program that's more efficient for inserting the subs. Does nero have that capability and I just don't know it ?

Rendering takes a LONG time with any program, especially when you do things like colour adjustments, or add sub titles. That's the nature of the beast.

Video is built upon frames and there are about 30 frames in one second of video (NTSC signal). So in a short 10 minute video there are about 18000 frames. When you add something like subtitles to your video, then each one of those frames has to be rewritten. This takes time.

I've had renders go on for days. When you change video in an editor, you will have expect increased render times... no other choice.

He's right. I have NeroVision2 Express to burn DVD's of the avi and divx files on my external HD. It took 8-9 hours to complete the process for Madagascar and all I did was add a menu. Granted that was the longest time but on average you're looking at 4-5 hours easy and like he said, the more you add to the original file, the more time it's going to take.

Does any one knwo of a program to convert files to MPEG2 from divx and avi files? I want to convert all my files to save time for later.

I appreciate all the feedback. Guess I'll stick with using AVI2DVD , as I've never had it take more than three hours.

MrMagilacutty, WinAvi will do a fairly quck job of converting to mpeg.

thanks again, all .....