Creating a DVD to be played in a DVD player

**Roger Allott** · January 29th, 2014, 07:24 AM

I've been meandering around looking for a DVD burning application, but everything I've found so far lacks one or other important ingredients.

I use Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. The obvious method is Windows DVD Maker, but that seems to fall over when the source files are anything other than wmv, and most of my stash is mp4.

Windows Live Movie Maker offers another option, but that will only save to DVD in NTSC format (29.97 fps), which is no good for me here in the UK (PAL 25 fps). For some bizarre reason, the facility to create custom profiles has vanished - in previous versions one had the ability to save in custom resolutions and frame-rates.

Avidemux is my usual video editor. It's a jolly nice tool now they've resolved some fairly horrid bugs in the previous version, but it cannot create the VOB type files needed to burn to a DVD. Neither does Media Coder.

There are various other options out there and I've downloaded and installed a few of them, but in all of these cases the 'free' version adds a watermark on the end product that renders it completely pointless!

So, the only workable solution I can currently find is to first convert whatever movie files I want on my DVD to wmv using Windows Live Movie Maker and then burning the DVD (and setting up menus) in Windows DVD Maker.

The problems here are firstly that that double re-encoding is a pain in the butt timewise, but then also I end up with a reduced quality DVD because of fannying around with changing frame-rates.

So I was wondering whether anyone here has found a solution - a nice piece of free Windows software (preferably 64-bit) that can create DVDs (preferably with menus and all that jazz) directly from mp4 files without forcing an ugly watermark?

.

**lagerlout** · January 29th, 2014, 07:39 AM

ConvertXtoDVd not free though unless you hunt around

**Jism Jim** · January 29th, 2014, 10:20 AM

I've been succesful with DVDstyler in the past. Freeware.

**Moon Raker** · January 29th, 2014, 10:39 AM

I reckon Format Factory (freeware) will do the job for you and it also offers added flexibility - that will convert to VOB format - in fact it converts just about any image or video format to any other. It will not create menus though, if I want that then I use the free version of ConvertXtoDVD as suggested previously on this thread.

twisted angel · January 29th, 2014, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lagerlout

ConvertXtoDVd not free though unless you hunt around

ConvertXtoDVD is simple to use and does a great job!

Anthony

edit: ** oops just saw "free" in the original post. It isn't freeware but can be "found" as lagerlout said.

**Roger Allott** · January 29th, 2014, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jism Jim

I've been succesful with DVDstyler in the past. Freeware.

Thanks for that. DVDstyler definitely seems to fit the bill as proper Freeware that creates menus and burns DVDs from mp4 and many other formats in one shot. I'll download and install it as soon as DVD Maker finishes it's current task, which I'm sure it will fail at eventually.

My one concern about it is some comments made on the sourceforge page, where people have slagged it off for installing adware crap even if you deselect it during the installation process. Did you have any issues like that?

In principle, I'm not opposed to 'Free2meWare' of course, but it's a very different thing to download a rar or zip of a picset or movie from unknown sources than to get an exe by that means. That's an option of last resort, I feel, when it comes to software. (OK, so maybe actually paying for software is the last resort .......

)

.

**Jism Jim** · January 29th, 2014, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Allott

My one concern about it is some comments made on the sourceforge page, where people have slagged it off for installing adware crap even if you deselect it during the installation process. Did you have any issues like that?

No, but I haven't needed it for a few years. You may try an older version.

**DB83** · January 29th, 2014, 06:59 PM

The easiest software to use is called Avstodvd. Will create a dvd from virtually anything you throw at it.

It only creates the folders and files and you then use imgburn to actually burn these to a disk.

a435843 · January 29th, 2014, 10:26 PM

DVDFlick is a good, free, DVD authoring/rendering/burning program. It handles MP4's, as well as harder-to-handle formats, like MKV. Basic menuing features are available, but the options for each individual file/title are limited (such as chapters being included automatically every so-many minutes). It hasn't been updated in awhile, but it can dump the VOB files to a folder or automatically burn with ImgBurn (you don't have to configure ImgBurn, thankfully). It's a little hard to use, but the guide is helpful. Overall, it's pretty turnkey, not requiring extra installations, so give it try.

**Spruce** · February 3rd, 2014, 11:05 AM

I've been using Convert X to DVD for ages, and it's simple to use & quick as well. The software developer VSO, have recently produced VSO Video Converter, and I think this is even better. It also handles converting & burning to Blu Ray disk as well. Later this month
the software will be upgraded (free if you purchase it) to include an automatic menu/chapter facility for Blu Ray, this will then make this piece of software truly outstanding!

January 29th, 2014, 07:24 AM	#1
Roger Allott Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7,937 Thanks: 10,958 Thanked 155,895 Times in 8,000 Posts	Creating a DVD to be played in a DVD player I've been meandering around looking for a DVD burning application, but everything I've found so far lacks one or other important ingredients. I use Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. The obvious method is Windows DVD Maker, but that seems to fall over when the source files are anything other than wmv, and most of my stash is mp4. Windows Live Movie Maker offers another option, but that will only save to DVD in NTSC format (29.97 fps), which is no good for me here in the UK (PAL 25 fps). For some bizarre reason, the facility to create custom profiles has vanished - in previous versions one had the ability to save in custom resolutions and frame-rates. Avidemux is my usual video editor. It's a jolly nice tool now they've resolved some fairly horrid bugs in the previous version, but it cannot create the VOB type files needed to burn to a DVD. Neither does Media Coder. There are various other options out there and I've downloaded and installed a few of them, but in all of these cases the 'free' version adds a watermark on the end product that renders it completely pointless! So, the only workable solution I can currently find is to first convert whatever movie files I want on my DVD to wmv using Windows Live Movie Maker and then burning the DVD (and setting up menus) in Windows DVD Maker. The problems here are firstly that that double re-encoding is a pain in the butt timewise, but then also I end up with a reduced quality DVD because of fannying around with changing frame-rates. So I was wondering whether anyone here has found a solution - a nice piece of free Windows software (preferably 64-bit) that can create DVDs (preferably with menus and all that jazz) directly from mp4 files without forcing an ugly watermark? . __________________ *If you don't want your beliefs ridiculed, don't have ridiculous beliefs.*

January 29th, 2014, 07:39 AM	#2
lagerlout Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 4,505 Thanks: 31,568 Thanked 73,333 Times in 4,399 Posts	ConvertXtoDVd not free though unless you hunt around __________________ Nice girls are nice but BAD gals are much much better Please Pm me with any of my links that are not working. Please do not repost my links

January 29th, 2014, 10:20 AM	#3
Jism Jim Sourcer of Smut Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8,832 Thanks: 83,618 Thanked 341,800 Times in 8,425 Posts	I've been succesful with DVDstyler in the past. Freeware. __________________ Mind the Scan Section Rules VEF needs your mags! Read here about how to scan them easily. Stitching scans is easy! Read my guide here. Feel free to post my scans to the relevant model threads, but do give credit

January 29th, 2014, 10:39 AM	#4
Moon Raker Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 11,780 Thanks: 8,945 Thanked 231,153 Times in 11,999 Posts	I reckon Format Factory (freeware) will do the job for you and it also offers added flexibility - that will convert to VOB format - in fact it converts just about any image or video format to any other. It will not create menus though, if I want that then I use the free version of ConvertXtoDVD as suggested previously on this thread.

January 29th, 2014, 06:59 PM	#8
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	The easiest software to use is called Avstodvd. Will create a dvd from virtually anything you throw at it. It only creates the folders and files and you then use imgburn to actually burn these to a disk.

January 29th, 2014, 10:26 PM	#9
a435843 I got myself banned Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 582 Thanks: 2,249 Thanked 5,433 Times in 566 Posts	DVDFlick is a good, free, DVD authoring/rendering/burning program. It handles MP4's, as well as harder-to-handle formats, like MKV. Basic menuing features are available, but the options for each individual file/title are limited (such as chapters being included automatically every so-many minutes). It hasn't been updated in awhile, but it can dump the VOB files to a folder or automatically burn with ImgBurn (you don't have to configure ImgBurn, thankfully). It's a little hard to use, but the guide is helpful. Overall, it's pretty turnkey, not requiring extra installations, so give it try.

February 3rd, 2014, 11:05 AM	#10
Spruce Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 12,495 Thanks: 48,628 Thanked 647,340 Times in 13,009 Posts	I've been using Convert X to DVD for ages, and it's simple to use & quick as well. The software developer VSO, have recently produced VSO Video Converter, and I think this is even better. It also handles converting & burning to Blu Ray disk as well. Later this month the software will be upgraded (free if you purchase it) to include an automatic menu/chapter facility for Blu Ray, this will then make this piece of software truly outstanding!