To burn a dvd-r you first need to 'Author' it. You'll need some extra software such as Ulead Movie factory, to prepare the files for copying to DVD-R.

More expense!!

OK, some confusion here! Busman, do you want to end up with an avi on the DVD (which will then only play on a PC) or do you want to produce something that you can play on a standalone DVD player / TV?

You can't put a AVI directly on a DVD accept as a data file. The file needs to be MPEG-2 compliant. Some DVD Authoring applications will take a AVI and convert it to a compliant MPEG-2 file, others like Ulead's Movie Factory accept the MPEG-2 file as-is generated in Vegas, I assume also if you use Video Factory and have the optional MC MPEG-2 encoder. Be sure you select the correct template.

While you can use Nero, other "burners", things are simpler if you use a stand alone DVD authoring application which includes software to do the "burn".

I'm new to all this and quite confused. I think I can manage the editing with VF fairly well. I also exported my films back to the tape(s) and I burned a CD-R with VF but the quality was not very good (and space is limited) thus I want to burn a DVD-R (primarely for standalone DVD player).
Unfortunately I have no idea how to proceed. I dont know how I generated AVI in the first place, how it got into Nero and / or how to convert to MPEG-2 files - nor how to select templates ???
Are you suggesting a different burner (easier and better) ? Please advise ! Thanks.

Lets back up a bit. The part that probably is confusing (was confusing to me too) is what is required AFTER you make a compliant DVD file with your video editing software.

First issue:

Not all DVD players are created equal. Visit http://www.vcdhelp.com and check their compatibility list to see if the DVD set top player you have or are considering purchasing will play the file formats you wish to create. A decent DVD player should be able to handle VCD, SVCD and DVD's. However even if it says it can on the box or advertising, it may not. The reason is there are big differences between commerical DVD's and the home brew variety. The main problem is reflectivity. More a problem with getting CD's to play in a DVD player than a DVD. Some can only play CD-R, others CD-RW media, while they should play both.

With DVD's there are also several different formats the two most popular are DVD-R and DVD+R/RW. You need to have a DVD "burner" that creates DVD's that your DVD player can read. While there is at least one new model (forget who's) that reads both, most DVD players can only play one format or the other. The DVD+R/RW format is newer and is suppose to play in more DVD players.

Second Issue:

Burning a DVD is a little more involved that burning a CD. Most packages including Video Factory and Vegas Video only get you are far as a compliant file (MPEG-2) which requires an optional encoder for Video Factory.

Once you render to that format you can use Nero to create the necessary overhead files and do some crude chapters, but I suggest you think about a seperate DVD Authoring application that can take the compliant file, allow you to create chapters and burn the DVD all in same application. Ulead's DVD Movie Factory is one of several low prices options. You can try their free fully funcitonal trial at their site. They are getting ready to release version 2, so I don't know if version 1 is still there.

Issue Three
What are DVD Chapters and why do you want them?

A "chapter" is a point from which the DVD can start playing by clicking on a button on a menu, much like you can pick any chapter to start when reading a book. You can set anywhere from a few to about a 100 chapters for each movie you burn to a DVD disk. However most of the DVD software that comes bundled with DVD burners doesn't allow chapters. They expect you to pay several hundred dollars for a "upgrade" while DVD Movie Factory, some other reasonalbly priced applications (under $100) do all that. So without chapters, while you can burn a DVD, you would be forcing yourself to play the whole hour and a half, and not jump around, so almost everyone wants the ability to add chapters.

How does it work?

The process Ulead's DVD Movie Factory uses is fairly typical.

1. Must have a DVD compliant file. Some DVD Authoring appllications re render, so you need to create AVI file. Others like DVD Movie Factory accept the MPEG-2 file you can create with Video Factory or Vegas.

2. View the video, select where you want to have chapters.

3. The application creates a thumbnail of the frames you select which become part of a menu system. Most are based on templates that come with the package, but most also allow you to use your own background images.

4. Add some descriptive text to describe the chapter. The lower priced DVD Authoring packages are limited in how much text you can add.

5. Repeat for the next movie. You can get about 1 1/2 hours worth on a DVD. You generally are not limited in the amount of movies, only limited by the size. Since DVD files are huge, the 4GB DVD disk fills up fast.

6. Add background music for the menu, create main menu, review your work.

7. Burn (from within the DVD Authoring application)

Busman:

BillyBoy's explanation is very good.

In a nutshell (as far as how I do this process on my system).

My system setup:
VCR/Camcorder connected via RCA/S-video to Dazzle Hollywood DV-Bridge.
Dazzle connected to PC via OHCI complient 1394 PCI card.
Video Factory: Capture and editing package (appx. $50.00)
Dazzle's DVD-Complete: Encoding/Authoring/DVD-Burning package (appx. $100.00)

Steps:
1) Capture to PC using Video Factory (resulting file/s is/are AVI).
2) Edit clips and render to AVI (I render to AVI here since I don't need the
encoding plugin for VideoFactory since DVD-Complete has a good encoder).
3) Start DVD-Complete, select rendered AVI created in step 2.
4) Add menus/chapters/copyright screens/etc, etc. DVD-Complete offers several features and options here on how you can have your DVD finalized, including music on menus and buttons, movie clips on menus and buttons, etc.).
5) Encode to MP2
6) Burn MP2 created in step 5 to DVD-R (mine is a DVD-R/DVD-RAM burner but DVD-Complete supports other formats).

Steps 1 and 2 above are done with VideoFactory
Steps 3-6 are done with DVD-Complete.

Hope this helps.

-Mike

Well, it is still confusing to me. I am going to print out your replies and see how I can follow your advise. Thanks fo far !

Great overview.

One question. I have VideoFactory and am currently creating VCDs. I am thinking of getting the VF plug-in and have VF create the compliant file MPEG-2, and then buy the DVD Authoring software of Ulead 's DVD Movie Factory and a DVD burner. Does it then take a very long time in DVD Movie Factory to create the DVD? Sometimes it is taking 2-3 hours to render in VF but then just a few minutes to create a VCD. So I am wondering if it will take 2-3 hours or a short period of time to create the DVD in DVD Movie Factory?

Write speeds are slower for DVDs than CDs, and you can also get more on a DVD, so it'll probably take longer than writing a VCD. It's still a lot quicker than rendering, though!

Ian G.