# Video DVD

The process to create a DVD playable on a home DVD player;

1. Select the disc compilation as a Video DVD
2. Adding and Removing Video files
3. Arrange the files in the desired order and title (optional)
4. Add chapters to the videos (optional)
5. Select encoding options (optional)
6. Burning the Video DVD

Each of these steps are detailed below.

Select the disc Compilation

The Video DVD type can be selected by using the toolbar (the row of icons at the top of the main window), selecting the 'Video' tab, and selecting 'Video DVD' button. Additionally you can click on the New disc button on the toolbar, or use This disc menu, disc Type and select a data type. You can also type Ctrl+I

Adding and Removing Video Files

To add your video files to the DVD click the "Add File" or "Add Folder" button or go to the menu item File -> Add. A Browse window will open and from here you can locate, view and select the following types of video file formats:

.AVI .MPG .MPEG .ASF .WMV .MOV .MP4 .3GP .DIVX .MKV .M4V .FLV .VOB

Some of these formats will automatically download a plugin to decode the selected format. If an internet connection is not available they can be downloaded separately from the NCH website and then installed on the PC in question. Additionally some formats need to be decoded to be added and on slower computers this can take a minute or two.

Many other format can also be handled but they require the installation of directshow codecs. Many come preinstalled with Windows so please try loading the file. You may need to select 'All Files' to see the particular file.

Once your files have been added, if you wish to remove any of them, simply select the files and either click the "Remove" button, or select File ->Remove from the menu. To select multiple files at once, press the Ctrl key and left-click on the files you want to select. To remove all the files, select the option Remove All from the file menu, or press Alt + C.

Dragging and Dropping and the System Tray

You may also add files by dragging and dropping a video file onto the main filelist window. The file will be automatically added. Similarly if you drag and drop the file onto the Express Burn desktop icon it will be added to the disc. If you are not already running Express Burn it will be started automatically and an icon will appear in the system tray.

Playing Files

To play a file, select the desired file and either click the "Play" button at the bottom of the main interface, or select File -> Play from the menu. If you press the Play button when selecting multiple files, the first selected file will be played.

Arrange the files in the desired order and title

Movies on a Video DVD are organized into titles which are logically separate movies. The column 'Title' in the list view for each video specifies which title a given movie is. All videos in the same title will be merged together to play seamlessly from the first to the last. Videos added to Express Burn are by default added to the last title (or 1 for the first one added). You may have up to 99 titles on a Video DVD.

The order of the files in the filelist window will be the order of the videos on the Video DVD once it has been burnt. You may re-arrange files before burning by dragging the file and dropping to the required position. It will be added to the title of the movie before the location you drag it to. Please note all titles will be updated then to ensure there are no gaps in the list of titles (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.).

Add chapters to the videos

All videos in a given title can have chapters that allow you to easily skip to a particular scene. You may add chapters to each individual video present in the title. You can import a file of titles or use the 'Manage Chapters' option to select the exact points you desire. Please note chapter times are based on the start of each video. If you have a list of chapters based on the whole movie, then add them to the first video in the title.

The order of the files in the filelist window will be the order of the videos on the Video DVD once it has been burnt. You may re-arrange files before burning by dragging the file and dropping to the required position. It will be added to the title of the movie before the location you drag it to. Please note all titles will be updated then to ensure there are no gaps in the list of titles (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.).

Select Encoding Options

You may optionally select encoding options for the DVD movie. These include the TV system you wish to play the movie for. For example, the United States uses NTSC, while Australia and Europe use PAL. You can also select various quality options that affect encoding time, file size and visible quality of the movie.

Burning the Video DVD

Once you have your list of video files in the desired order, place a DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW in your DVD Burner drive. You should then click on the "Burn Video DVD" button or select File->Burn Video DVD from the menu.

You will then be prompted for the Burn Settings .If you are unsure of which settings to choose leave them set to the default selection. If you have more knowledge of what you would like to do select the appropriate settings. Any changes made to the settings are saved for future burning sessions.

The inserted disc will then be checked. For a used DVD-RW or DVD+RW you will be asked if you wish to erase the disc and proceed writing the disc.

The Write process can be quite slow, taking up to 20 minutes depending on media and drive. Please note there is a slow process at the end or the write called "Writing Lead-in/Lead-out". This takes a minute or two depending on drive and media.