User Guide

Chapter DVD Authoring
14 - 64
Burning a DVD
Burning a DVD
In order to save blanks and time, before exporting and burning the DVD you should test it:
w in the DVD Editor preview and
w possibly, on a software DVD player (see remarks below).
For extensive projects, you should also check the volume of data from time to time while author-
ing to ensure that the length of the program, quality requirements and medium capacity are
coordinated with one another. The Export to DVD... module contains a data capacity indicator
that tells you exactly how much of the DVD’s capacity you will use (
page 15-45). If space starts
getting tight, you can...
w ...reduce the program length (which means shortening the Sequence),
w ...reduce the bit rate for IPB encoding ( page 15-57),
w ...or allow this decision to be made automatically ( page 15-62).
If you don’t want to deal with the details of DVD export, use one of the DVD defaults. Here is a
brief overview:
1 Insert a blank in the DVD recorder.
2 Open the Start menu and select Tools > Export to DVD...
3 Select the DVD Image 1 (constant bit rate, MP2 audio) or DVD Image 2 (variable bit rate,
PCM audio) Reference Set.
4 Check the Capacity Indicator.
5 If everything fits, click OK.
6 During IPB conversion, the computer is blocked. You can continue editing as soon as
compiling has started and during the burning process.
Software tools are available that simulate a virtual DVD player (i.e. a DVD drive) on
which you can play a file instead of a disc. This allows you to play back an image (the
*.img file generated) on a software player such as WinDVD and check it before burning.
These tools are available on the Internet as freeware or shareware.