Digital Video Authoring, Burning – Articles and How-To Guides

Authoring DVDs

Introduction to DVD Authoring
An introduction to DVD authoring, discussion of technical jargon. Lists the valid audio and video files allowed by the DVD spec. Discusses the various audio formats available for DVD, and weighs the pros and cons of each one. Also reviews the advanced topic of ‘Multiple VTS’ and why it’s important.

Author DVDs: Sonic DVDit!
How to author DVDs with any version of Sonic DVDit. Guide uses the Professional Edition (PE) of the software, so it covers AC3 and multiple menus.

Author DVDs: TMPGEnc DVD Author
How to author DVDs in the easy software Tsunami (TMPGEnc) DVD author, often nicknamed ‘TDA’. Includes lots of user tips not found in official manuals, for using audio menus, fixing navigation errors, using firstplays, etc.

Author DVDs: Studio Pro (Mac)
How to author DVDs in the professional Apple Macintosh software DVD Studio Pro (DVDSP). Includes “basic” information for authoring, but will likely overwhelm even season video hobbyists. This is professional software and has a steep learning curve.

Burning Discs

Burn DVDs: Nero Burning ROM
Burn already-authored DVD-Video folders (VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS) in Nero Burning ROM. This is burning only, not for making menus or authoring the disc content.

Burn DVDs: RecordNow Max
Burn already-authored DVD-Video folders (VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS) in RecordNow Max. This is burning only, not for making menus or authoring the disc content.

Burn (S)VCD: VCD Easy
Create VCDs, SVCDs and CVDs in VCD Easy. Guides include information on advanced menus.

Copy / Duplicate Discs

Copy DVD with DVD Decrypter
For copying single-layer media to DVD-R/DVD+R, or dual-layer media to DVD+R DL. Honestly, this whole guide can be summed up in four words: ‘ISO Read, ISO Write’. It’s that easy.

Copy DVD with DVD Shrink
For copying and shrinking a dual-layer disc (DVD9) to single-layer disc (DVD5).