Is there anything better than DVD Flick?

If you are burning your own home movies to DVDs, you can use the mp4 format instead of the DVD format (mp2). Mp4 format gives better resolution and small size files. You can create mp4 files using Virtual Dub program which is a freeware on net.

Using this format (mp4, divx, xvid, mkv) you can create files with 16:9 aspect ratio along with 4:3. If your DVD player is mp4/divx compatible, you can straight away copy these mp4 files to DVDs using normal DVD writing software, without bothering to recode. The DVD creation time will be greatly reduced. With this method you will not have the fancy DVD menus but you can create more DVDs in a given time.

Another good idea is to buy a multimedia player like Western Digital's WDTV or similar player. Using this player you can play the movies directly from a hard disk without the need to create DVDs.

rraod said:

Another good idea is to buy a multimedia player like Western Digital's WDTV or similar player. Using this player you can play the movies directly from a hard disk without the need to create DVDs.

That's why I don't burn DVDs much anymore.

kado897 said:

No. It has a DVD burning function.If you chose the 2to DVD" function you can burn to DVD, to a folder or to an ISO. I have just tried it and it works fine.

Apologies for my misquote. I'm always interested in trying something new.

Roderunner said:

kado897 said:

No. It has a DVD burning function.If you chose the 2to DVD" function you can burn to DVD, to a folder or to an ISO. I have just tried it and it works fine.

Apologies for my misquote. I'm always interested in trying something new.

Me too.

You can try one of the model you have mentioned, which suits your budget and requirement.

WD Elements Play is a cheaper alternative with HDD included and should be good for you.

kado897 said:

Roderunner said:

kado897 said:

No. It has a DVD burning function.If you chose the 2to DVD" function you can burn to DVD, to a folder or to an ISO. I have just tried it and it works fine.

Apologies for my misquote. I'm always interested in trying something new.

Me too.

Gentleman! I've tried and use both! First, I've walked my way through DVDStyler. I like its versatility and the the ability to "build your own" main menu and chapter menu. You can cut, clip and paste buttons. Add your own background images. You can add text to the main titles and chapter menus. I've also discovered the ability to add a video clip to the main menu that will loop. I also had no problems with using the built in burner. Thank you Roderunner! You are credit to this forum, sir!

I use Freemake Video Converter in conjunction with DVDStyler. In order to add a video clip to loop to the main menu, it must be an Mpeg video clip. My source was Avi. So Freemake converted my Avi to Mpeg. Great! But I only wanted the first 58 seconds of footage from the beginning of the video. No problem. Upon further discovery, I found that Freemake can also edit and cut video! Fantastic! Kado897, you too are a credit to the forum! Thank you sir!

Happy New Year, gentlemen!

Freemake does have a very basic menu system for DVDs. There is only one background for it at present but they say that there will be improvements in future versions.

The main division point seems to be authoring vs encoding. Most of the free authoring tools are basic. You can create a button with text or perhaps an image, to click to start a title. They don't usually supply motion menus. I don't care for that stuff anyway but some like the bells and whistles. On the other side is the encoding. Going from AVI to DVD there are many free encoders that will do a good job if you put in the right numbers. For example many free encoders are Gui wrappers for free encoders such as HCenc or FFMPeg.

It's really too large a topic to stick in one thread. I'd say look at the multitude of tools you can find on these boards:

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Many of the free encoders utilize AviSynth. It's a very powerful tool that can apply a multitude of filters to the video such as sizers, deinterlacers, jaggies removal etc.. along with "burning" subtitles into the video etc..

Basically if the encoder accepts an AviSynth script you can add just about any capability the program lacks by using the AviSynth filters.