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VideoTools DVD Encoding - User Guide

🎬 Creating DVD-Compliant Videos

VideoTools now has full DVD encoding support built into the Convert module. Follow this guide to create professional DVD-Video files.

📝 Quick Start (5 minutes)

Step 1: Load a Video

  1. Click the Convert tile from the main menu
  2. Drag and drop a video file, or use the file browser
  3. VideoTools will analyze the video and show its specs

Step 2: Select DVD Format

  1. In the OUTPUT section, click the Format dropdown
  2. Choose either:
    • DVD-NTSC (MPEG-2) - For USA, Canada, Japan, Australia
    • DVD-PAL (MPEG-2) - For Europe, Africa, Asia
  3. DVD-specific options will appear below

Step 3: Choose Aspect Ratio

  1. When DVD format is selected, a DVD Aspect Ratio option appears
  2. Choose 4:3 or 16:9 based on your video:
    • Use 16:9 for widescreen (most modern videos)
    • Use 4:3 for older/square footage

Step 4: Set Output Name

  1. In Output Name, enter your desired filename (without .mpg extension)
  2. The system will automatically add .mpg extension
  3. Example: myvideo → myvideo.mpg

Step 5: Queue the Job

  1. Click Add to Queue
  2. Your DVD encoding job is added to the queue
  3. Click View Queue to see all pending jobs
  4. Click Start Queue to begin encoding

Step 6: Monitor Progress

  • The queue displays:
    • Job status (pending, running, completed)
    • Real-time progress percentage
    • Estimated remaining time
  • You can pause, resume, or cancel jobs anytime

🎯 DVD Format Specifications

DVD-NTSC (North America, Japan, Australia)

Resolution:      720 × 480 pixels
Frame Rate:      29.97 fps (NTSC standard)
Video Bitrate:   6000 kbps (default), max 9000 kbps
Audio:           AC-3 Stereo, 192 kbps, 48 kHz
Container:       MPEG Program Stream (.mpg)
Compatibility:   DVDStyler, PS2, standalone DVD players

Best for: Videos recorded in 29.97fps or 30fps (NTSC regions)

DVD-PAL (Europe, Africa, Asia)

Resolution:      720 × 576 pixels
Frame Rate:      25.00 fps (PAL standard)
Video Bitrate:   8000 kbps (default), max 9500 kbps
Audio:           AC-3 Stereo, 192 kbps, 48 kHz
Container:       MPEG Program Stream (.mpg)
Compatibility:   DVDStyler, PAL DVD players, European authoring tools

Best for: Videos recorded in 25fps (PAL regions) or European distribution

🔍 Understanding the Validation Messages

When you add a video to the DVD queue, VideoTools validates it and shows helpful messages:

ℹ️ Info Messages (Blue)

  • "Input resolution is 1920x1080, will scale to 720x480"

    • Normal - Your video will be scaled to DVD size
    • Action: Aspect ratio will be preserved

  • "Input framerate is 30.0 fps, will convert to 29.97 fps"

    • Normal - NTSC standard requires exactly 29.97 fps
    • Action: Will adjust slightly (imperceptible to viewers)

  • "Audio sample rate is 44.1 kHz, will resample to 48 kHz"

    • Normal - DVD requires 48 kHz audio
    • Action: Audio will be automatically resampled

⚠️ Warning Messages (Yellow)

  • "Input framerate is 60.0 fps"

    • Means: Your video has double the DVD framerate
    • Action: Every other frame will be dropped
    • Result: Video still plays normally (60fps drops to 29.97fps)

  • "Input is VFR (Variable Frame Rate)"

    • Means: Framerate isn't consistent (unusual)
    • Action: Will force constant 29.97fps
    • Warning: May cause slight audio sync issues

❌ Error Messages (Red)

  • "Bitrate exceeds DVD maximum"
    • Means: Encoding settings are too high quality
    • Action: Will automatically cap at 9000k (NTSC) or 9500k (PAL)
    • Result: Still produces high-quality output

🎨 Aspect Ratio Guide

What is Aspect Ratio?

The ratio of width to height. Common formats:

  • 16:9 (widescreen) - Modern TVs, HD cameras, most YouTube videos
  • 4:3 (standard) - Old TV broadcasts, some older cameras

How to Choose

  1. Don't know? Use 16:9 (most common today)

  2. Check your source:

    • Wide/cinematic → 16:9
    • Square/old TV → 4:3
    • Same as input → Choose "16:9" as safe default

  3. VideoTools handles the rest:

    • Scales video to 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL)
    • Adds black bars if needed to preserve original aspect
    • Creates perfectly formatted DVD-compliant output

📊 Recommended Settings

For Most Users (Simple Mode)

Format:          DVD-NTSC (MPEG-2)  [or DVD-PAL for Europe]
Aspect Ratio:    16:9
Quality:         Standard (CRF 23)
Output Name:     [your_video_name]

This will produce broadcast-quality DVD video.

For Maximum Compatibility (Advanced Mode)

Format:          DVD-NTSC (MPEG-2)
Video Codec:     MPEG-2 (auto-selected for DVD)
Quality Preset:  Standard (CRF 23)
Bitrate Mode:    CBR (Constant Bitrate)
Video Bitrate:   6000k
Target Resolution: 720x480
Frame Rate:      29.97
Audio Codec:     AC-3 (auto for DVD)
Audio Bitrate:   192k
Audio Channels:  Stereo
Aspect Ratio:    16:9

🔄 Workflow: From Video to DVD Disc

Complete Process

  1. Encode with VideoTools

    • Select DVD format
    • Add to queue and encode
    • Produces: myvideo.mpg

  2. Import into DVDStyler (free, open-source)

    • Open DVDStyler
    • Create new DVD project
    • Drag myvideo.mpg into the video area
    • VideoTools output imports WITHOUT re-encoding
    • No quality loss in authoring

  3. Create Menu (optional)

    • Add chapter points
    • Design menu interface
    • Add audio tracks if desired

  4. Render to Disc

    • Choose ISO output or direct to disc
    • Select NTSC or PAL (must match your video)
    • Burn to blank DVD-R

  5. Test Playback

    • Play on DVD player or PS2
    • Verify video and audio quality
    • Check menu navigation

🐛 Troubleshooting

Problem: DVD format option doesn't appear

Solution: Make sure you're in the Convert module and have selected a video file

Problem: "Video will be re-encoded" warning in DVDStyler

Solution: This shouldn't happen with VideoTools DVD output. If it does:

  • Verify you used "DVD-NTSC" or "DVD-PAL" format (not MP4/MKV)
  • Check that the .mpg file was fully encoded (file size reasonable)
  • Try re-importing or check DVDStyler preferences

Problem: Audio/video sync issues during playback

Solution:

  • Verify input video is CFR (Constant Frame Rate), not VFR
  • If input was VFR, VideoTools will have warned you
  • Re-encode with "Smart Inverse Telecine" option enabled if input has field order issues

Problem: Output file is larger than expected

Solution: This is normal. MPEG-2 (DVD standard) produces larger files than H.264/H.265

  • NTSC: ~500-700 MB per hour of video (6000k bitrate)
  • PAL: ~600-800 MB per hour of video (8000k bitrate)
  • This is expected and fits on single-layer DVD (4.7GB)

Problem: Framerate conversion caused stuttering

Solution:

  • VideoTools automatically handles common framerates
  • Stuttering is usually imperceptible for 23.976→29.97 conversions
  • If significant, consider pre-processing input with ffmpeg before VideoTools

💡 Pro Tips

Tip 1: Batch Processing

  • Load multiple videos at once
  • Add them all to queue with same settings
  • Start queue - they'll process in order
  • Great for converting entire movie collections to DVD

Tip 2: Previewing Before Encoding

  • Use the preview scrubber to check source quality
  • Look at aspect ratio and framerates shown
  • Makes sure you selected right DVD format

Tip 3: File Organization

  • Keep source videos and DVDs in separate folders
  • Name output files clearly with region (NTSC_movie.mpg, PAL_movie.mpg)
  • This prevents confusion when authoring discs

Tip 4: Testing Small Segment First

  • If unsure about settings, encode just the first 5 minutes
  • Author to test disc before encoding full feature
  • Saves time and disc resources

Tip 5: Backup Your MPG Files

  • Keep VideoTools .mpg output as backup
  • You can always re-author them to new discs later
  • Re-encoding loses quality

🎥 Example: Converting a Home Video

Scenario: Convert home video to DVD for grandparents

Step 1: Load video

  • Load family_vacation.mp4 from phone

Step 2: Check specs (shown automatically)

  • Resolution: 1920x1080 (HD)
  • Framerate: 29.97 fps (perfect for NTSC)
  • Audio: 48 kHz (perfect)
  • Duration: 45 minutes

Step 3: Select format

  • Choose: DVD-NTSC (MPEG-2)
  • Why: Video is 29.97 fps and will play on standard DVD players

Step 4: Set aspect ratio

  • Choose: 16:9
  • Why: Modern phone videos are widescreen

Step 5: Name output

  • Type: Family Vacation
  • Output will be: Family Vacation.mpg

Step 6: Queue and encode

  • Click "Add to Queue"
  • System estimates: ~45 min encoding (depending on hardware)
  • Click "Start Queue"

Step 7: Author to disc

  • After encoding completes:
  • Open DVDStyler
  • Drag Family Vacation.mpg into video area
  • Add title menu
  • Render to ISO
  • Burn ISO to blank DVD-R
  • Total time to disc: ~2 hours

Result:

  • Playable on any standalone DVD player
  • Works on PlayStation 2
  • Can mail to family members worldwide
  • Professional quality video

📚 Additional Resources

  • DVD_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md - Technical specifications
  • INTEGRATION_GUIDE.md - How features were implemented
  • QUEUE_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md - Complete queue system reference

✅ Checklist: Before Hitting "Start Queue"

  • Video file is loaded and previewed
  • DVD format selected (NTSC or PAL)
  • Aspect ratio chosen (4:3 or 16:9)
  • Output filename entered
  • Any warnings are understood and acceptable
  • You have disk space for output (~5-10GB for full length feature)
  • You have time for encoding (varies by computer speed)

🎊 You're Ready!

Your VideoTools is now ready to create professional DVD-Video files. Start with the Quick Start steps above, and you'll have DVD-compliant video in minutes.

Happy encoding! 📀

Generated with Claude Code For support, check the comprehensive guides in the project repository