Burning your treasured Movie Maker creations to DVD offers a tangible way to preserve and share your memories with a wider audience. While Windows Movie Maker itself doesn’t directly burn to DVD, converting your project into a suitable video file format and then using dedicated DVD burning software is the straightforward solution to making your digital memories accessible on any DVD player.
Understanding the Process: Movie Maker to DVD
The process of burning a Movie Maker video to DVD involves two key steps: exporting your project from Movie Maker into a video file format compatible with DVD authoring, and then using a DVD burning program to create a playable DVD from that video file. This ensures compatibility with most DVD players and offers a lasting physical copy of your digital creation.
Step-by-Step Guide: From Project to Disc
1. Exporting Your Movie Maker Project
Before you can burn your movie to DVD, you need to export it from Windows Movie Maker. This process converts your project into a single video file.
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Open your project: Launch Windows Movie Maker and open the movie you want to burn.
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Save your project: Before exporting, save your project file to ensure you have a backup. Go to “File” > “Save Project As” and choose a location.
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Export the movie: Navigate to “File” > “Save Movie”. You’ll see several options for video quality and file size.
- For DVD compatibility: Choose a setting that exports to MPEG-2 format if available. This format is widely supported by DVD authoring software. If not, select a high-quality WMV (Windows Media Video) format, which can often be easily converted.
- Choose the right resolution: While tempting to go for the highest, consider that standard DVDs have a maximum resolution of 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL). Exporting at a higher resolution won’t improve the quality on a DVD and will only increase the file size.
- Select a location: Choose a destination folder to save your video file.
- Wait for the export: The exporting process can take some time, depending on the length of your movie and the chosen quality settings.
2. Choosing DVD Burning Software
Numerous DVD burning programs are available, both free and paid, each offering different features and levels of complexity. Here are a few popular options:
- Windows DVD Maker (Older Windows Versions): If you’re using an older version of Windows (Windows 7 or Vista), you likely have Windows DVD Maker pre-installed. It’s a simple and straightforward option for creating basic DVDs.
- DVD Flick (Free): A free and open-source option, DVD Flick is a powerful tool that supports a wide range of video formats and allows you to create custom DVD menus.
- ImgBurn (Free): Primarily a disc burning tool, ImgBurn excels at burning ISO image files to DVDs, and can also burn video files directly. While its interface is less intuitive, it’s highly reliable.
- CyberLink PowerDirector (Paid): A comprehensive video editing and DVD authoring suite, PowerDirector offers advanced features for creating professional-looking DVDs, including customizable menus, transitions, and special effects.
- Nero Burning ROM (Paid): A well-established burning software, Nero Burning ROM offers a wide range of features, including DVD burning, Blu-ray burning, and disc copying.
3. Burning the Video to DVD
The exact steps for burning the video to DVD will vary depending on the software you choose, but the general process remains the same:
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Launch the DVD burning software: Open your chosen DVD burning program.
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Create a new DVD project: Look for an option like “Create DVD Video Disc” or “New Video DVD Project.”
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Add your video file(s): Import the video file you exported from Movie Maker into the project.
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Create a DVD Menu (Optional): Most DVD burning programs allow you to create custom DVD menus. This allows viewers to navigate between different chapters or videos on the DVD.
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Configure DVD settings:
- Aspect ratio: Choose the correct aspect ratio for your video (usually 4:3 for standard definition or 16:9 for widescreen).
- Video standard: Select the correct video standard for your region (NTSC for North America and Japan, PAL for Europe and Australia).
- Disc type: Choose the appropriate disc type (DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW).
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Start the burning process: Once you’ve configured all the settings, insert a blank DVD into your DVD burner and click the “Burn” or “Start” button.
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Wait for the burning process to complete: The burning process can take some time, depending on the size of your video and the speed of your DVD burner.
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Verify the DVD: Once the burning process is complete, test the DVD in your DVD player to ensure it plays correctly.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Burning a DVD isn’t always a smooth process. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:
- Video format incompatibility: If your DVD player can’t play the DVD, the video format may not be compatible. Try converting the video to MPEG-2 using a video converter program before burning.
- Burning errors: Burning errors can be caused by a variety of factors, including a faulty DVD burner, a bad DVD disc, or corrupted video files. Try using a different DVD burner, a different brand of DVD disc, or re-exporting your video from Movie Maker.
- Poor video quality: If the video quality on the DVD is poor, try exporting your video from Movie Maker at a higher quality setting. Also, ensure that you’re using a good quality DVD disc.
- DVD player compatibility: Some older DVD players may not be compatible with DVD-R or DVD+R discs. Try using a DVD-RW or DVD+RW disc instead.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about burning Movie Maker videos to DVD:
FAQ 1: Can I burn directly to DVD from Windows Movie Maker?
No, Windows Movie Maker doesn’t offer a direct “burn to DVD” option. You must first export your movie as a video file and then use separate DVD burning software.
FAQ 2: What video format should I use when exporting from Movie Maker for DVD burning?
MPEG-2 is the ideal format for DVD burning due to its wide compatibility with DVD authoring software and DVD players. If MPEG-2 isn’t available, a high-quality WMV format can also work.
FAQ 3: Is it better to use DVD-R or DVD+R discs?
Both DVD-R and DVD+R discs are generally compatible with most DVD players. DVD-R is slightly older, but widely supported. DVD+R is generally considered more modern and may offer slightly faster burning speeds.
FAQ 4: What’s the difference between NTSC and PAL?
NTSC (National Television System Committee) is the video standard used in North America, Japan, and some other countries. PAL (Phase Alternating Line) is the video standard used in Europe, Australia, and many other countries. Choosing the wrong standard can result in playback issues like flickering or black and white video.
FAQ 5: What bitrate should I use when burning a DVD?
The bitrate determines the quality of the video on the DVD. A higher bitrate results in better video quality but also larger file sizes. A bitrate of around 6-8 Mbps is generally recommended for standard definition DVDs.
FAQ 6: Why is my DVD skipping or freezing?
Skipping or freezing can be caused by a variety of factors, including a scratched or damaged DVD disc, a faulty DVD burner, or a video file that is too large for the disc. Try using a different DVD disc, burning at a slower speed, or re-exporting your video from Movie Maker.
FAQ 7: How do I create a DVD menu?
Most DVD burning programs offer features for creating custom DVD menus. These menus typically allow viewers to navigate between different chapters or videos on the DVD. Refer to the documentation or help files of your chosen DVD burning software for specific instructions.
FAQ 8: What is an ISO image, and why would I need it?
An ISO image is a single file that contains all the data from a DVD. Creating an ISO image allows you to burn multiple copies of the DVD without having to re-export your video from Movie Maker each time. ImgBurn is a popular tool for both creating and burning ISO images.
FAQ 9: Can I burn a high-definition video to a standard DVD?
While technically possible, burning a high-definition video to a standard DVD will result in the video being downscaled to standard definition. If you want to preserve the original high-definition quality, you should consider burning to a Blu-ray disc instead.
FAQ 10: What if my DVD burner doesn’t show up in the burning software?
Ensure your DVD burner is properly connected to your computer and that the drivers are installed correctly. Try restarting your computer or reinstalling the DVD burning software.
FAQ 11: How do I add subtitles to my DVD?
Some DVD burning programs offer features for adding subtitles to your DVD. You’ll typically need to provide the subtitles in a separate file format, such as SRT or SUB.
FAQ 12: Can I burn multiple videos onto one DVD?
Yes, you can burn multiple videos onto one DVD, as long as the total file size of all the videos doesn’t exceed the capacity of the DVD. Most DVD burning programs will automatically manage the video encoding and menu creation to accommodate multiple videos.
By following these steps and understanding the underlying principles, you can confidently burn your Movie Maker projects to DVD and share your creations with the world.