I'm New to Burning DVDs: I have quite a few questions

[emoney3265]

Before I begin, sorry for the thread title but there are plenty of questions I have about burning DVDs and I was unsure how to exactly title it. I have alot of video clips that are about 22 minutes each and roughly 140mb each.

1. What program will allow me to burn videos with selectable titles and a full menu? Just like a regular DVD you would buy in a store.

2. What type of DVD disc should I use for burning these videos (ie: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW etc.)

3. Will I be able to burn about 20 video clips to a disc in a menu? Or will I only be able to burn about 120 minutes each to each disc? The bit rates on the files are about 128kbps on all of them. Will this make any difference?


Thank you for all of your help. I really appreciate it.


EDIT: I just checked the total bitrate and it was 700kbps.

[Milardo]

1. The best program would probably one that allows you to adjust the bitrates of video/audio to maximize how much content you want on the dvd. Right now I am unsure of what program is best for that. Maybe those adobe ones could be good.. There aren't any good freeware ones that can match payware dvd programs.

2. I use dvd+rw for making test dvds (to see if they come out alright once in awhile) I use dvd+r for final dvds. I don't have experience using dvd-r/rw but I think they have slower burning rates.

3.If you are allowed to adjust the bitrates of audio/video in the dvd making program, then you can fit a huge or low amount of content of the dvd disc. It pretty much goes on bitrates not time. You should also adjust the resolution. Since usually the videos get reencoded into dvd compatible format the input ones don't totally matter I think.

Hope that helps. By the way if you find a good program, let me know I am looking for one

[Baldrick]

1. Use an all-in-one dvd author tool like Nerovision, tmpgenc dvd author. Or if you want more basic menus use convertxtodvd, dvdflick(free).
2. For best standalone dvd compatibility use good quality dvd-r like verbatim or taiyo yuden.
3. 20*22 = 7 hours / dvd is possible but it will look like crap. You can put 2-3 hours / dvd with good quality. If you want to put more minutes/dvd use low resolution dvd(352x288), I don't know if it's possible to make such in nerovision though.

[emoney3265]

Well that's a good amount of info. I will try these methods, buy some DVDs and try it out. Hopefully I willl be able to figure out this.

I really do appreciate your help, both of you. I was lost but thank you. I will be sure to get back with you.

[Deaner777]

Baldrick is correct about the DVD-R. DVD+R is a newer format and not everyone will be able to play them. We have run across that at my work place. I would recommend sticking with DVD-R for the best compatibility with the older DVD players.

[tomlee59]

Baldrick is correct about the DVD-R. DVD+R is a newer format and not everyone will be able to play them. We have run across that at my work place. I would recommend sticking with DVD-R for the best compatibility with the older DVD players.

One important exception to this advice is that DVD+R explicitly allows you to change its "book type." By changing this self-identifying book type to "DVD-ROM," you can fake out most older DVD players into treating it as a factory-pressed DVD. This also works with many older laptop drives. I have an old Wallstreet Powerbook, and its DVD drive won't even allow you to mount a burned DVD of any kind. It's a firmware issue, and no updates were ever issued. Only DVD+R with book type set to DVD-ROM allows me to play burned DVDs on that laptop.

So, the situation isn't quite so simple! One bit of advice is universal, though: Stick with high-quality media; the cheap stuff really is false economy. Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden are often mentioned here, and rightly so, as particularly excellent brands.

[RabidDog]

And while you're testing using re-writeable media, so that you dont have millions of drinks coasters around the house. IMHO today there is no practicable difference between plus and minus, whatever is good quality and cheap, get that. You might want to investigate lableflash once you feel more comfortable about burning stuff.
Fill in your computer details, this is not a federaL honey trap, It does help people to help you.

"I'm new to DVd's I have a few burning questions"

[emoney3265]

Sorry it took awhile to get back. I tried the program ConvertXtoDVD. It does a really well job. For me, I can't ask for more. Thank you all for your help. This really saved me the time and alot of hassle.

[mpack]

One important exception to this advice is that DVD+R explicitly allows you to change its "book type." By changing this self-identifying book type to "DVD-ROM," you can fake out most older DVD players into treating it as a factory-pressed DVD.

Ooh! Now that is a little gem of info.

I have a problem, not with an old DVD player, but with quite recent Sony HDD/DVD recorder. The problem is that if you insert any kind of writeable DVD it recognizes it as such as won't play it automatically (it will play if you manually press the play button, but it doesn't treat it like a factory pressed DVD). First play item is not played, and the player ignores default audio and subtitle tracks preselect while authoring. Do you think this trick would force the Sont to do what I want, or would it still treat it as a recordable disk do you think?

Also, what tool do you need to change the book type.

[guns1inger]

You can't change it after the fact. It is something you have to do when you burn it in the first place.

[mpack]

You can't change it after the fact. It is something you have to do when you burn it in the first place.

I see. In that case, do I need special software to do the burn (ImgBurn?), or is this an option I'd find somewhere in Nero?

[guns1inger]

It has been so long since I have used Nero that I can't remember if it does bit setting. Imgburn is, for my money, a far better choice for burning DVD Video anyway.

[tomlee59]

You can't change it after the fact. It is something you have to do when you burn it in the first place.

I see. In that case, do I need special software to do the burn (ImgBurn?), or is this an option I'd find somewhere in Nero?

There's some useful information on this topic -- as well as a link to information that is specific to Nero -- at http://www.k-probe.com/bitsetting-booktype-faq.php

Hope that helps.

[mpack]

Hope that helps.

It certainly does - thank you. And it looks like you can change the booktype after the fact on +RW media.

[ria2008]

I tried using ConvertXtoDVD(trial version). It completed the whole process . But my DVD player is not playing it.
I have Sony DAV-DX150. When i insert the DVD back on computer , it doesnot recognise it,

What I am doing wrong..
I was trying to burn an .avi file to DVD.

[tomlee59]

It certainly does - thank you. And it looks like you can change the booktype after the fact on +RW media.

Yes, rewriteable media offers you a little extra flexibility in this regard. It's ideal for testing compatibility with various standalone players, without burning coasters.