The question of how to burn a Windows Movie Maker project to DVD often elicits frustration, but it’s simpler than you think. The key lies in understanding that Windows Movie Maker doesn’t directly burn DVDs, requiring an intermediary step of saving your project as a video file and then utilizing a DVD burning software.
Understanding the Process: From Timeline to Disc
Windows Movie Maker, while a user-friendly video editing tool, lacks direct DVD burning capabilities. Therefore, we need to break the process into two distinct phases:
- Saving the Project as a Video File: This is where your meticulously crafted timeline is converted into a playable video format like WMV or MP4.
- Burning the Video File to DVD: This involves using a dedicated DVD burning software to take the video file and create a DVD with menus and the necessary formatting to play on a standard DVD player.
This two-step process allows for flexibility and control over the final product. You can choose the video quality, aspect ratio, and even edit the video further before burning it to DVD.
Phase 1: Saving Your Windows Movie Maker Project as a Video File
This step is crucial. A high-quality video file will translate into a better DVD experience. Consider these factors when saving your project:
Choosing the Right Video Format
Windows Movie Maker typically offers a few different formats for saving your project.
- WMV (Windows Media Video): This is the native format for Windows Movie Maker and is often a good choice for balancing quality and file size.
- MP4 (MPEG-4): A more universally compatible format that can be played on a wider range of devices.
For DVD burning, WMV is generally recommended due to its compatibility with many DVD burning programs. However, if you plan on using a specific DVD burning program that strongly prefers MP4, that’s a viable alternative.
Selecting the Appropriate Resolution
The resolution determines the sharpness and clarity of your video. For DVD burning, it’s essential to choose a resolution that matches the DVD standard.
- Standard Definition (SD): This is the typical resolution for DVDs. Choose options like 720×480 (NTSC – used in North America) or 720×576 (PAL – used in Europe and Asia). These resolutions will fill the screen of a standard definition TV.
Optimizing Video Quality
Windows Movie Maker allows you to adjust the video quality settings. Experiment with different settings to find the best balance between visual quality and file size. Higher quality settings will result in larger file sizes, which may take longer to burn to DVD.
- Consider the project’s content. If your project is simple and doesn’t have a lot of visual complexity, you might be able to use a slightly lower quality setting without noticeable degradation.
- Preview the saved video. After saving your project as a video file, watch it on your computer to ensure the quality is acceptable before proceeding to the DVD burning stage.
Saving the Project: To save your project, go to File > Save Movie. Select a preset tailored to your needs (e.g., “For Computer” or “For Email”). You can also choose “Create custom settings” to fine-tune the resolution, bitrate, and other parameters.
Phase 2: Burning the Video File to DVD
Now that you have your video file, you’ll need a DVD burning software to create the actual DVD. Many options are available, both free and paid.
Choosing a DVD Burning Software
Here are a few popular DVD burning software options:
- Windows DVD Maker (Windows 7): If you’re using Windows 7, this built-in program is a simple and effective solution. Note: Windows DVD Maker is not available in later versions of Windows.
- BurnAware Free: A free and easy-to-use DVD burning software with a variety of features.
- DVD Flick (Free): A powerful open-source DVD authoring tool that supports a wide range of video formats.
- ImgBurn (Free): A lightweight but versatile program for burning images to discs.
- CyberLink Power2Go (Paid): A feature-rich DVD burning suite with advanced editing and authoring tools.
- Nero Burning ROM (Paid): A long-standing industry standard with a comprehensive set of burning and editing features.
The best choice depends on your needs and budget. For basic DVD burning, a free program like BurnAware Free or DVD Flick should suffice. If you need more advanced features, consider a paid option like CyberLink Power2Go or Nero Burning ROM.
Burning Process (Example using BurnAware Free)
- Install and Launch: Download and install BurnAware Free from its official website. Launch the program.
- Select DVD-Video: Choose the “DVD-Video” option from the main menu. This will prepare BurnAware Free to create a DVD that can be played on standard DVD players.
- Add Your Video File: Click the “Add” button and browse to the location of the WMV or MP4 file you saved from Windows Movie Maker.
- Set the Burn Speed: Select a burn speed. A slower burn speed (e.g., 4x or 6x) is generally recommended for greater reliability and reduced risk of errors, especially with older DVD burners.
- Insert a Blank DVD: Insert a blank DVD-R or DVD+R disc into your DVD burner.
- Start Burning: Click the “Burn” button to start the burning process.
- Wait for Completion: The burning process can take some time, depending on the size of your video file and the burn speed you selected.
- Verify the Disc: Once the burning is complete, BurnAware Free will typically verify the disc to ensure that the data was written correctly.
Considerations for DVD Authoring
Some DVD burning software allows for more advanced DVD authoring, such as creating menus and chapters. If you want to add these features to your DVD, consult the documentation for your chosen software.
- Menus: A menu allows viewers to navigate different sections of your video.
- Chapters: Chapters allow viewers to jump to specific points in your video.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions related to burning Windows Movie Maker projects to DVD:
1. Why can’t I burn directly from Windows Movie Maker?
Windows Movie Maker is primarily a video editing program and lacks the necessary functionality to encode and write data in the specific format required for DVD playback. It was designed to create video files that can then be used with dedicated DVD burning software.
2. What is the best video format to use for DVD burning?
While MP4 can work, WMV is often the most compatible and commonly recommended format, especially if you are using Windows-based DVD burning software. However, check your burning software’s documentation for its preferred formats.
3. What resolution should I use when saving my Windows Movie Maker project for DVD?
Use 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL) for standard definition DVDs. Avoid higher resolutions, as they will not be properly displayed on standard DVD players.
4. What burn speed should I use when burning a DVD?
A slower burn speed, such as 4x or 6x, is generally recommended. This reduces the risk of errors and ensures a more reliable DVD.
5. Can I use a rewritable DVD (DVD-RW) for burning my video?
Yes, you can use a DVD-RW, but be aware that you might experience compatibility issues with some DVD players. DVD-R discs are generally more universally compatible.
6. My DVD player won’t play the DVD I burned. What could be the problem?
Several factors could be causing this:
- Incorrect video format: Ensure the video format is compatible with your DVD player.
- Incorrect DVD format: Verify that you burned a “DVD-Video” disc, not a data disc.
- Defective DVD disc: Try burning to a different DVD disc.
- Region code incompatibility: The DVD might have a region code that doesn’t match your DVD player.
- DVD player malfunction: Test the DVD on another DVD player to rule out a problem with your player.
7. How can I add chapters to my DVD?
Most DVD burning software offers features for adding chapters. Consult the software’s documentation for instructions on how to create and insert chapters into your video.
8. Is it possible to create a DVD menu with Windows DVD Maker (Windows 7)?
Yes, Windows DVD Maker allows you to create simple DVD menus with customizable backgrounds, text, and button styles.
9. I don’t have Windows DVD Maker. What’s a good free alternative?
BurnAware Free and DVD Flick are excellent free alternatives to Windows DVD Maker. They offer a range of features for burning DVDs, including the ability to create menus and chapters.
10. What is the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R?
DVD-R and DVD+R are both recordable DVD formats. DVD-R is slightly older and generally considered more universally compatible, while DVD+R may offer slightly faster writing speeds. In most cases, the difference is negligible.
11. Can I burn multiple videos onto a single DVD?
Yes, you can burn multiple videos onto a single DVD, as long as the total file size of the videos does not exceed the DVD’s capacity (typically 4.7 GB). DVD burning software will usually allow you to add multiple videos to the project.
12. Is it possible to convert my Windows Movie Maker project directly to a DVD image file (ISO)?
Yes, some DVD burning software allows you to create an ISO image file instead of burning directly to a DVD. This is useful for archiving or burning the DVD at a later time. ImgBurn is a good free tool for creating ISO images.
By following these steps and understanding the nuances of the process, you can successfully burn your Windows Movie Maker projects to DVD and preserve your cherished memories for years to come. Remember to always test your burned DVDs on multiple DVD players to ensure compatibility.