Is it possible to encode a whole DVD?

[Beater]

I wonder, is it posible to encode a whole DVD with the original meny, sound and all subtitles? If not, why not?

[sterno]

Short answer: no, not as VCD/SVCD. Neither format supports everything that DVD does.

With SVCD you can encode some of it. SVCD supports two stereo audio tracks, so you can have two languages or a movie soundtrack and a commentary or whatever. SVCD supports four subtitle sets, so you can have some subtitles.

VCD only allows one stereo audio track, and subtitles can only be added by actually putting them in the movie picture.

Menus are a little more complicated because you can't use the arrow buttons on your remote, you have to use the number keys (which means you have to add numbers to the menu images/movies). You also don't have real chapters, only entrypoints.