Got that special moment captured on tape? Or that avi downloaded off the net?

Burn it to a (s)vcd or dvd. It's actually easy in linux nowadays! What we need is lots and lots of space. And if you have no or little patience, fast cpu and lots of rams.

Here's what's needed (includes all the dependencies):

• tovis (tovid.sf.net) (thanks Innocent Bystander for the heads up)
• dvdauthor
• k3b
• blank cd/dvd

With FC3 and an apt repo setup (atrpms/dags/dries/freshrpms/newrpms), an apt-get install is enough. Well, except for tovid. That we need to build from source.

tovid has great documentation and easy setup (provided we have the necessary dependencies).

Once installed, run tovid:

  tovid -dvd -wide -pal -in myspecmoment.avi -out mydvd

tovid --help will explain more. Once the output is done, which may take a while depending on the length of your video, run postproc to cut down the size.:

  postproc -parallel -shrink 1.6 mydvd.mpeg

I ran it a couple of times to shrink it.

Now, makexml:

  makexml mydvd.mpg dvdlayout

or:

  makexml mydvd.mpg mymovie.mpg anothermovie.mpg dvdlayout

With dvdauthor, we do:

  dvdauthor -x dvdlayout

this will create the necessary layout in dvdlayout directory. Once this is done:

• open k3b
• new > dvd video
• move the necessary files from dvdlayout/video_ts to k3b video_ts

Then, burn baby burn!

This is the simplest way of doing it. No menus. nothing. I'll checkout including menus when and if necessary, but simple is good.

Have fun!