How to burn a DVD movie that is playable on any DVD player

[Wolverine]

This is my first post so forgive me if I say something stupid.

 

My question is how to I use ImgBurn to burn a DVD movie so I can play it pretty much on any dvd player? Also, does it have the ability to add a dvd menu so I can see the menu before I play my dvd?

 

Thanks

[mmalves]

ImgBurn is just a burning tool: it burns what you tell it to. For adding menus/etc you'll have to look for a DVD authoring program. Once the DVD project is finished and playing like you want it to, you can then use ImgBurn to burn the DVD-Video content to media.

 

The default settings are fine for most cases, so you don't need to change anything, besides probably the writing speed

[matonanjin]

On 7/30/2008 at 5:29 PM, mmalves said:

ImgBurn is just a burning tool: it burns what you tell it to. For adding menus/etc you'll have to look for a DVD authoring program. Once the DVD project is finished and playing like you want it to, you can then use ImgBurn to burn the DVD-Video content to media.

 

The default settings are fine for most cases, so you don't need to change anything, besides probably the writing speed

Exposing my ignorance here.  So one use's the "DVD authoring program" to make a "project"?  What DVD authoring program do you recommend?  That puts the menu's etc somewhere, correct?  And then you use ImgBurn to take that project and put it on the DVD?

Are there recommended tutorials some where that can an old, retired, chubby geezer how to do all of this?

[dbminter]

I use ConvertXToDVD to make DVD's that ImgBurn can burn, but CXD is not a free program.

 

It depends on what authoring program you use does as to how to burn a disc.  If it creates an ISO, use this guide:

 

 

If it creates a VIDEO_TS folder, use any of the following guides, depending on whether the size means you need to a double layer recordable DVD or not:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, there are other things to take into consideration for creating a DVD that just "plays."  The disc quality matters, so don't use Verbatim Life Series.  Use Verbatim DataLife Plus series or Taiyo Yuden/CMC Pro.  But ONLY Pro CMC!  NO other CMC discs like the Life Series!  Plus, the DVD player hardware matters.  You can have the best discs in the world and do everything right, but if you have a lousy player with a crap laser in it, it may not play it.

[matonanjin]

42 minutes ago, dbminter said:

I use ConvertXToDVD to make DVD's that ImgBurn can burn, but CXD is not a free program.

...but if you have a lousy player with a crap laser in it, it may not play it.

@dbminter, that you for the very informative answer to my question.  I have lots of studying to do and you got me started.  I do appreciate it.

[dbminter]

We all gotta start somewhere.    I burned my first CD 25 years ago, so I've got a wealth of experience.

[matonanjin]

On 1/12/2025 at 3:43 PM, dbminter said:

We all gotta start somewhere.    I burned my first CD 25 years ago, so I've got a wealth of experience.

dbminter, you could be approaching my age!!!!!😲  

 I am running DVD Styler to make the menus, etc.   I use it to make an image file (ISO).    Then using IMGBurn to burn it to DVD.   This is the plan anyway.  I did it once and the dvd player with my tv just sat there and hummed.  It never did work.   I did it again and success!!!!  I have not used dvd's out of this spindle for months.  Maybe the top DVD was dusty or who knows. 

As an aside, I am, unfortunately, using the very DVD's you are recommending I not use (Verbatim Life Series).  I also have some "Amazon Basics". That, of course, may be part of the problem.  For today, these are what I am stuck with.  I will order some higher quality ones a few milliseconds after finishing this post.  

But I now have a couple movies burned to a DVD and I'm going to settle in this evening and watch.

[dbminter]

What age are we talking?  I turn 51 on January 25th.  I've been working with some sort of computer since I was 10 in 1984.  TI's, Commodore 64, TRS-80, 286, 386, 486, Pentium, and onward.

[matonanjin]

On January 27th my wife and I will celebrate more years of marriage than you have been alive😉  I never had the Commodore but used to lug an Apple II into my hotel room long before most travelling business types thought of computers.   Used casette tapes for storage!    And to answer the question I am 1 1/2 x your age.

[dbminter]

I remember saving BASIC programs on audio cassettes.    In fact, in the BIOS of even modern computers, there is still the I/O interface for data transfer between audio cassettes for backwards compatibility.  I think it was initially supported all those decades ago and just forgotten about.

 

Where I last worked, for the first 3 years I was there, we saved things on reel to reel tape!  We had a 1970's mainframe that was nearly as tall as I am and I'm 6' 6.5"!