Can you put data on a DVD Video disk

[mikesbytes]

On VCD's you can put files on the disk, so you can create a VCD slideshow and store the origionals photo's on the same disk for backup.

Can you mix Data and Video on the same DVD? If so what what software does it?

[lordsmurf]

Yeah, just make a ROM folder at the root level beside the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS and stick anything you want inside there.

[SatStorm]

Use the DVD Video tab of Nero Burning Rom. 2 Folders gonna appear, VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS. Create a new one Called "DATA" or whatever. Put everything you wish there!

[edDV]

Yeah, just make a ROM folder at the root level beside the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS and stick anything you want inside there.

even in the root

[mikesbytes]

Thanks guys, so its just as easy as it was with VCD.

Looks like I need some new software, my Nero version doesn't have the DVD Video Authoring bit, only burns images or creates DVD Data disks.

Is there any difference between a DVD Video and a DVD Data disk? Can you simply load the DVD Data disk with the correct files for DVD Video (VIDEO_TS, AUDIO_TS etc), burn and then put it in the DVD player?

Anyway, looks like I need some DVD Video software.

[spectroelectro]

Smurf and Satstorm are as usual correct and informative. If your main goal involves just creating a DVD slideshow, this free tool might be helpful -- DVD Slideshow GUI. it pretty much automates the process of creating a DVD slideshow:

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=DVD_slideshow_GUI

You can download it (freeware) from the links at that URL.

Bear in mind that authoring a DVD is something entirely different from burning a DVD. Nero is DVD burning tool. It is not a DVD authoring tool. You will need an entirely different program to *author* a DVD and Nero doesn't fit that bill. The best programs for authoring DVDs are probably DVD Maestro and Ulead DVD Workshop 2, but they're probably a lot more than you need to create most DVDs including simple ordinary video DVDs. The best DVD buring apps are RecordNow 6 and below and Nero 5.5.X and below. Nero 6 stinks on ice, ditto RecordNow 7. Beware of DVDLab, as it is known to author DVDs which are not fully compatible with the 1.02 ROM booktype.

[TBoneit]

If you have a DVD Burner and it came with Nero then it can burn a DVD Video. It may not be intuitive to find but the version of Nero 6 for example that comes with the drives has that feature, it just isn't easy to find like you would think it should be. If you are running a really old version that can not burn a DVD that would be different, however if it will burn a data DVD it'll burn a Video DVD.

Good Luck

[mikesbytes]

spectroelectro thanks for the tip on DVD Slideshow GUI I'll have a crack at on the weekend. Also have DV home video to get to DVD some time.

Thanks TBoneit, the version of Nero I have has some of the features missing such as MPEG2 encoding. It also has the DVD Video authoring missing, it will only burn images. Theres a limit to what you get for AU$10. So I can either find an authoring program or pay the $ for the full Nero version.

[tin2tin]

DVDAuthorgui and Gui for dvdauthor are free and very good. With these you can input mpeg videos created in dvd slideshow gui if you want more slideshow on the same disk and menus, buttons ect. Or if you just want one slideshow you can output to an .iso(.isi) file which is ready to burn as image on a dvd which will be playable when you insert it into a standalone.
(Some avi codecs are acceptable when importing avi's into the slideshow).

If you want to encode avi to mpeg you could use Quenc.

Have Fun
Tin2tin