How to Burn Movies to DVD: A Comprehensive Guide
In the age of streaming, it might seem like burning movies to DVD is a relic of the past. However, there are still numerous reasons why you might want to create a physical copy of your favorite films. Perhaps you want to create a backup, share a movie with someone who doesn’t have internet access, or simply enjoy the tactile experience of owning a DVD. Whatever your reason, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right software to troubleshooting common issues.
## Why Burn Movies to DVD?
Before we dive into the technical details, let’s briefly explore the advantages of burning movies to DVD:
* **Archiving:** DVDs provide a physical backup of your digital movie files. This is useful if you’re concerned about data loss due to hard drive failure, accidental deletion, or online platform changes.
* **Compatibility:** DVDs can be played on a wide range of devices, including DVD players, computers, and even some game consoles. This makes them a versatile option for sharing movies with friends and family who may not have access to streaming services.
* **Portability:** DVDs are easy to transport and can be enjoyed in locations without internet access, such as on long car rides or camping trips.
* **Collectibility:** Some people enjoy collecting physical media, and DVDs can be a valuable addition to their movie collection.
* **Preservation:** Streaming services are constantly adding and removing content. Burning movies to DVD allows you to preserve your favorite films and ensure that you can watch them whenever you want, regardless of what’s available online.
## What You’ll Need
Before you can start burning movies to DVD, you’ll need the following:
* **A Computer with a DVD Burner:** Most desktop computers and many laptops come with a built-in DVD burner. If your computer doesn’t have one, you can purchase an external USB DVD burner. Make sure it is a DVD burner and not just a DVD reader.
* **DVD Burning Software:** You’ll need software that can convert your movie files to a DVD-compatible format and burn them onto a DVD disc. Several options are available, both free and paid, which we’ll discuss in detail later.
* **Blank DVD Discs:** Choose DVD-R or DVD+R discs. DVD-R discs are generally more compatible with older DVD players, while DVD+R discs offer slightly faster burning speeds. DVD-RW and DVD+RW are re-writable discs, but generally not ideal for movies unless it is a test run.
* **The Movie File:** You’ll need the movie file in a digital format, such as MP4, AVI, MOV, or MKV. Make sure you have the legal right to burn the movie. Burning copyrighted material without permission is illegal.
## Choosing the Right DVD Burning Software
Several DVD burning software options are available, each with its own set of features and pricing. Here are some of the most popular choices:
* **DVD Flick (Free):** DVD Flick is a free and open-source DVD authoring tool that’s popular for its simplicity and ease of use. It supports a wide range of video formats and allows you to add menus and chapters to your DVDs. However, its interface is a bit dated.
* **Pros:** Free, supports many formats, simple interface.
* **Cons:** Dated interface, limited advanced features.
* **BurnAware Free (Free):** BurnAware Free is another free DVD burning software option that offers a wide range of features, including data burning, audio CD burning, and DVD video creation. It’s a good choice for users who need more functionality than DVD Flick but don’t want to pay for a premium program.
* **Pros:** Free, supports many formats, versatile.
* **Cons:** Includes adware (be careful during installation), limited advanced features in the free version.
* **ImgBurn (Free):** ImgBurn specializes in burning image files (ISO, IMG, etc.) to disc. It offers great control over the burning process and is especially useful for creating backups of software or games. It can also burn video files to DVD, but the process is a bit more technical than with other programs.
* **Pros:** Free, powerful, excellent for ISO images.
* **Cons:** Steeper learning curve, more technical focus.
* **WinX DVD Author (Free):** WinX DVD Author is a user-friendly DVD authoring tool that focuses specifically on converting and burning video files to DVD. It supports a wide range of input formats and offers a simple interface for creating custom menus and chapters.
* **Pros:** Free, user-friendly, good for video files.
* **Cons:** Limited features beyond DVD authoring.
* **Ashampoo Burning Studio (Paid):** Ashampoo Burning Studio is a comprehensive burning suite that includes features for burning data, audio, and video discs. It also offers tools for creating backups, ripping audio CDs, and designing custom labels and covers. There’s a free version, but the paid version unlocks more advanced features.
* **Pros:** Comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, good for beginners.
* **Cons:** Paid software, free version has limited functionality.
* **CyberLink Power2Go (Paid):** CyberLink Power2Go is another popular burning suite that offers a wide range of features, including data burning, audio CD burning, DVD and Blu-ray video creation, and online backup. It also includes tools for editing photos and videos. Similar to Ashampoo, it is a comprehensive package, but requires a paid license for full access.
* **Pros:** Feature-rich, supports Blu-ray, includes media editing tools.
* **Cons:** Paid software, can be resource-intensive.
* **Nero Burning ROM (Paid):** Nero Burning ROM is one of the oldest and most well-known burning software suites. It offers a comprehensive set of features for burning data, audio, and video discs, as well as tools for creating backups, ripping audio CDs, and editing media files. While it carries the Nero name, be cautious as other Nero software may be bundled and installed. This is another paid option with a free trial period available.
* **Pros:** Long-standing reputation, robust features, supports Blu-ray.
* **Cons:** Paid software, can be complex, potential for bloatware.
For this guide, we’ll use **DVD Flick** as an example, since it’s free, relatively easy to use, and supports a wide range of video formats. However, the general steps will be similar for most DVD burning software.
## Step-by-Step Guide: Burning a Movie to DVD Using DVD Flick
1. **Download and Install DVD Flick:**
* Go to the DVD Flick website (usually found with a web search). Be sure to download from the official website to avoid malware.
* Download the latest version of DVD Flick.
* Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Be mindful of any bundled software offers during installation and decline them if you don’t need them.
2. **Launch DVD Flick:**
* Once the installation is complete, launch DVD Flick from your Start Menu or desktop.
3. **Add Your Movie File:**
* Click the “Add title…” button in the main DVD Flick window.
* Browse to the location of your movie file and select it.
* Click “Open”.
* You can add multiple movie files if you want to create a DVD with multiple episodes or movies. DVD Flick will create chapters for each title. Be mindful of the overall size limit of a standard DVD (4.7 GB). Exceeding the size limit will require you to reduce the quality or use a dual-layer DVD (8.5 GB).
4. **Edit Title (Optional):**
* Select the title you added in the list.
* Click the “Edit title…” button.
* In the Edit Title window, you can:
* Change the title of the movie as it will appear on the DVD menu.
* Add or edit chapters. You can manually set chapter points or have DVD Flick automatically create them at regular intervals.
* Add a source range. Useful if you have a long video and only want to burn a portion of it.
* Click “Accept” to save your changes.
5. **Set Project Settings:**
* Click the “Project settings…” button in the main DVD Flick window.
* In the Project Settings window, you’ll need to configure the following:
* **Target size:** Choose the appropriate size for your DVD disc. “DVD (4.3 GB)” is the standard size for single-layer DVDs. If you’re using dual-layer DVDs, select “DVD DL (8.5 GB)”. Be sure to verify your DVDs are in fact dual layer before selecting this option.
* **Target aspect ratio:** Select the aspect ratio of your movie. “16:9” is the standard widescreen aspect ratio. If your movie has a different aspect ratio (e.g., 4:3), choose the appropriate option.
* **Encoding quality:** Choose the encoding quality. A higher quality setting will result in a better-looking DVD, but it will also take longer to encode. A good starting point is “Normal”. If you have a powerful computer, you can try “High” for better results. Adjust based on the file size of the source material and remaining space on the DVD.
* **Audio settings:** Generally, the default audio settings are fine. However, if you want to customize the audio encoding, you can do so here.
* **Video settings:** Similarly, the default video settings should work well for most movies. If you want to adjust the video encoding, you can do so here.
* **Encoding threads:** This determines how many processor cores DVD Flick will use for encoding. Generally, setting this to the number of cores in your CPU will provide the fastest encoding speed.
* **Temporary directory:** This is the location where DVD Flick will store temporary files during the encoding process. Make sure you have enough free space on the selected drive.
* Click “Accept” to save your changes.
6. **Set Menu Settings:**
* Click the “Menu settings…” button in the main DVD Flick window.
* In the Menu Settings window, you can choose a menu template for your DVD. DVD Flick offers several pre-designed templates. Select the template you like.
* You can customize the menu by changing the background image, font, and colors. However, DVD Flick’s menu customization options are limited.
* Click “Accept” to save your changes.
7. **Create DVD Files:**
* Click the “Create DVD” button in the main DVD Flick window.
* DVD Flick will now start encoding your movie and creating the DVD files. This process can take a significant amount of time, depending on the size of the movie, the encoding quality, and the speed of your computer. Encoding a movie can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
* You can monitor the progress of the encoding process in the progress bar at the bottom of the DVD Flick window.
8. **Burn the DVD:**
* Once the encoding process is complete, DVD Flick will create a DVD image file (ISO) and a VIDEO_TS folder in the output directory you specified in the Project Settings.
* Now, you need to burn these files to a DVD disc.
* If DVD Flick did not automatically trigger the burn process, open your chosen burning software (BurnAware Free, ImgBurn, etc.).
* In your burning software, select the option to “Burn Image” or “Burn from ISO Image”.
* Browse to the location of the DVD image file (ISO) created by DVD Flick and select it.
* Insert a blank DVD disc into your DVD burner.
* Click the “Burn” button to start burning the DVD.
* The burning process will take a few minutes to complete.
* Once the burning process is complete, your DVD should automatically eject from the DVD burner.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
* **Encoding Errors:** If you encounter encoding errors, try reducing the encoding quality or using a different video format. Make sure your video file is not corrupted.
* **Burning Errors:** If you encounter burning errors, try using a different brand of DVD discs or burning at a slower speed. Ensure your DVD burner is functioning properly.
* **Playback Issues:** If your DVD doesn’t play correctly on your DVD player, try using a different DVD player or burning the DVD again at a slower speed. Some older DVD players might not be compatible with certain DVD formats or codecs.
* **Audio/Video Sync Issues:** If the audio and video are out of sync, try re-encoding the movie with different audio and video settings.
* **Menu Issues:** If the DVD menu doesn’t work correctly, try using a different menu template or creating a simpler menu.
* **Size Issues:** If your video file exceeds the capacity of the DVD, you will need to reduce the encoding quality. Using a Dual Layer DVD is an option as well.
* **Copyright Issues:** Be aware of copyright laws. You should only burn movies that you have the right to copy. Burning copyrighted material without permission is illegal.
## Tips for Best Results
* **Use High-Quality Video Files:** The better the quality of your original video file, the better the quality of your DVD will be.
* **Choose the Right Encoding Settings:** Experiment with different encoding settings to find the best balance between quality and encoding speed.
* **Burn at a Slower Speed:** Burning at a slower speed can reduce the risk of errors and improve the compatibility of your DVD.
* **Test Your DVD:** After burning your DVD, test it on a DVD player to make sure it plays correctly before distributing it.
* **Keep Your Software Up to Date:** Make sure you have the latest versions of your DVD burning software and drivers to avoid compatibility issues.
* **Defragment Your Hard Drive:** Defragmenting your hard drive can improve the performance of your computer and speed up the encoding process.
* **Close Unnecessary Programs:** Close any unnecessary programs while encoding your movie to free up system resources.
## Alternative DVD Burning Software Options
While we used DVD Flick in this guide, there are many other excellent DVD burning software options available. Here’s a brief overview of some alternatives:
* **ConvertXtoDVD:** This software excels at converting various video formats to DVD and offers simple menu customization options. It is not free.
* **AVStoDVD:** This is a free and advanced DVD authoring tool that offers more customization options than DVD Flick, but also has a steeper learning curve.
* **Freemake Video Converter:** While primarily a video converter, Freemake Video Converter also includes a DVD burning feature.
## Dealing with Copyrighted Material
It’s crucial to understand copyright laws before burning any movies to DVD. Burning copyrighted material without permission is illegal and can have serious consequences. You should only burn movies that you have the right to copy, such as home movies or movies that are in the public domain. If you’re unsure whether you have the right to copy a movie, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid burning it.
## Conclusion
Burning movies to DVD is a straightforward process with the right software and a little patience. While streaming services dominate the market, DVDs offer a tangible backup, compatibility across devices, and the satisfaction of owning a physical copy of your favorite films. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily create your own DVDs and enjoy your movies on any device. Remember to choose the right software for your needs, experiment with different settings, and always respect copyright laws. Happy burning!