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I recently started authoring Video DVDs.  There were several things to learn first.  For example, Commercial DVD’s are “pressed” not burned.  This process eliminates media compatibility concerns.  However, since we’re burning which media should be used?  The answer, DVD+R.  Most modern players support other types as well but DVD+R is what is generally supported by older players.

Then there is the question of “What software do I use? and “How do I use it?”  You’re in luck!  That’s exactly what the rest of this article is intended to address.

Introduction: I usually skip the preface of the book, after the first few sentences. So I will make it short. DeVeDe is a linux dvd authoring program. In my opinion, it is one of the best that exists for linux. I believe it does run under windows as well, so it is a great alternative in that respect. I will show you how DeVeDe works, in addition to some of the tricks that everyone picks up after they’ve used a program for a good length of time.

Requirements:
-Download DeVeDe in the repositories for the latest version. This is rudimentary- open the terminal (Applications–>System Tools–>terminal) and type in su -c “yum install devede”
-Have some video files you’d like to make into a DVD. Either a movie, or about 2-3 hours of video.
-Possibly GIMP (repos) or other image-editor to make some better menus.
-Recordable media (dvds, cds)

Guide:

When you run DeVeDe, it will ask you which type of disc you’d like to create. We will be making a standard DVD, although most of the same things apply to any other type.

Now you are presented with a screen titled “unsaved disc structure”.

First thing to do is save the project as a devede file (file–>save). Save as the name of the dvd.

Now the next thing to do is set your region. This means either NTSC or PAL. NTSC, or Region1, is the standard in North America. PAL, or Region2 is for Europe. These are the little globes with the number in it on the back of a dvd box. So depending on where you live, or your dvd player, choose your region.

Mine would be NTSC. Now let’s go to adding the movie or video files to the DVD structure. Before we begin, however, I need to say some things about a DVD. Manufactuers will ship a DVD with about 2 or 2.5 hours on it. I think this is why most movies now aren’t too long. After that, the quality may start to become slightly noticable. Not very, though. So based on that, I made a DVD with Spiderman 1, 2, and 3 all on the same disc. That’s about ~5.5 hours of video. When the fighting started up, you could see a little pixelated parts. But if you’re willing to sacrifice quality for quantity, then this is you. hen you’re sending out a family dvd to the relatives for Christmas, you want to have it perfect. Then your limit is about 2.5 hours.

Rename your first Title of the DVD. This is what will appear in the menu. (note that you can have a menu title, so you may want something like Episode #1, or Play Movie as the title name). Click Properties on the left side to rename the title. You can also set what will happen after it is played (if it is a list of episodes, you might not want to go back to the menu each time).

Now on the right side, with the first title selected, you will want to add a video/movie file. Click “Add”. I recommend not changing the audio track, but you will have to know your own video file. Then add any subtitles. In the case you’re using an axxo release or something similar, subtitles are readily available on the internet. Just try them out before – rename them to the same title as the video, and Movie Player will load them automatically. (windows media player, too). When you add subtitles, speficy the language. Because they aren’t burned in, you turn them on by pressing “subtitles” on your remote. Then it will say something like “1: ENGLISH”, according to the track number and language code. You can also put subtitles in the upper screen, don’t know why you would want to.

Here is an example of mine, after everything is adjusted.

Typically, I don’t really change the automatic “advanced” settings, although I could if I needed to.

So click OK and then add any more titles if you want. (repeating the steps for the first title).

If you added another movie, or if the % bar is over 99%, hit “Adjust Disc Usage”. This actually automatically changes video bitrate settings, etc., to fit it onto a DVD.

Let’s customize our menu. Now, DeVeDe doesn’t offer great menus. But, it’s pretty enough for me, and if you know a few tricks, you can make it look terrific. If you don’t want a menu, don’t worry about it. Just go into “Menu Options” and set “Disc Startup options” to “Jump to first title at startup”. However, a menu doesn’t hurt.
Click on Menu Options, and let’s get started with it.

This is what you start with. I’ll divide the menu into parts.

Menu Title
Text: This is what will be displayed at the top of the menu. change text color too.
Font: what the title text will be written in. face and size changable, along with shadow.

Menu background (only PNG)
Change the background if you’d like. Must a png image; try GIMP or other image editor. The default is a disc.

Menu music
Change music to a MP3 or no sound. Generally a short 2-3 minute clip, use youtube and audacity for soundtrack.

Menu position
H………………V
Top…………….Left
Middle………….Center
Bottom………….Right

Choose position. It is basic: top left, top center, top right, then middle and bottom. Easy.

Menu Font and colors
Font: the text face for the titles
Color for unselected titles: change color (if you have 2 titles, the one without the cursor s going to be this color).
Color for selected title: the title with that is selected with the cursor will be this color.

Color for shadows: a slight darkening effect for the text. I don’t really like this option, I leave it off.
Background color for titles: this makes a long box-area around the title. Nice if you make it light, but then you have to change the title text colors darker to offset it. Here is my finished settings, And the finished menu (preview menu)

Once you have completed your menu to perfection, then click OK and you’ll go back to the original screen. Adjust disc usage again if necessary, check region, and make sure everything is correct. Now click on Foward.

Then you will be presented with this screen. Choose a destination folder, and type in a short name for the dvd. (You’re almost finished!)

Now click on OK, and it will start to make the DVD. The name you typed in at the end will be the name of the burnable ISO. All temporary folders will be cleared out after it is done. My computer takes about 2.5 hours to make a 2-movie DVD. Once the ISO is finished, let’s burn.

Load a DVD into your tray. Wait for it to mount, it will appear in the left-side of your folders.

Now right-click on the iso, and then click Write to Disc.

Then all you have to do is hit Write, and the DVD will be done in a few minutes!

Have fun!