I've browsed through this forum and I see that some people don't know how they should burn a proper DVD-Video disc in Nero Burning ROM. So to help you I've made this small tutorial on how I set-up Nero when I want to burn ripped VOB files to an empty DVDR disc. So far, with these settings, my back-ups work in every player I tried, including picky PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles. Please note that I gathered this information from several other sites since I also had to learn how to burn a good DVDR disc. So I don't take credit for any of this, I'm just sharing what I know.

1. Getting the settings profile:

Rather than going through all the settings in Nero Burning ROM I've set-up a profile which contains all the correct settings. You can download the profiles below. Please note that Nero v6.0.0.19 (and newer versions) requires a different profile to make perfect DVD-Video discs:

• Profile for Nero 5.5 and 6
• Profile for Nero 6.0.0.19 to 6.0.0.23

Please also note that both profiles work with both DVD-R(W) and DVD+R(W) media (depending on what your burner supports and which media your player can play).

When Nero v6.0.0.19 or later gives you the warning: "You have added DVD-Video content to a compilation that will not result in a DVD-Video compliant disc" you can ignore it. The Profile should work. If it doesn't try using the default DVD-Video Profile. Nero v6.0.0.28 doesn't seem to work with my Profiles. You need to use the default DVD-Video Profile in this Nero version!

2. Starting Nero Burning ROM:

When you've downloaded the profile you will have a file called "BLANK DVD NERO.nrc" on your hard disk. If you have installed Nero you should be able to just open this file by double clicking on it. Nero should automatically start. If not start Nero manually and if needed close the Wizard. Then go to "File, Open" and select the "BLANK DVD NERO.nrc" file. When the file has been loaded you will see the following confirmation message:



3. Setting up the compilation:

After pressing OK you will see the normal compilation window in Nero. You should see two screens, the Compilation window (entitled BLANK DVD NERO.nrc) and the File Browser window. If the File Browser window is not there go to "View, New File Browser." Your screen should look something like this. Notice that in my case the Compilation window is on the left and the File Browser window is on the right:



Most of you will know how to set-up the compilation but I'll mention it anyway. The Compilation window is where the files should be placed that you want to burn to the DVDR disc. The File Browser window displays the files on your computer. For this tutorial I presume that you have already prepared the DVD you want to copy and thus all we have to do now is drag and drop the prepared VOB files to our compilation window. First, in the Compilation window, double click on the "VIDEO_TS" folder. This is where the movie files should go, the "AUDIO_TS" folder is left empty but it needs to be on the DVD because of playability reasons. Then use the File Browser window to select the directory where your DVD files are stored and then drag them to the VIDEO_TS folder in the compilation window:



4. Renaming the compilation:

Your DVD disc should of course have a name. Click on the title bar of the Compilation window so that it's selected (the title bar is the bar that has the "BLANK DVD NERO.nrc" text on it, when it's selected it will turn blue). Now press the F2 button on your keyboard so you can enter a name. For playability reasons the title of the DVD should be entered in CAPS and without spaces, like so:



5. Burning the compilation:

Now all we have to do is burn the compilation. There is no need to check any settings since there all set via the profile. Just press the burn icon () in the Nero taskbar or choose "File, Write CD" in the Nero taskbar so that you get the burn window:



You can choose your preferred write speed here depending on which speeds your writer supports and which speeds your DVD media supports. All you have to do now is press the "Write" button and depending on which recording speed you selected your DVD will be done in around 15 to 25 minutes.

Comments or questions? Ask them here!

sorry game freak ...that is good and love the tutorial but dont ya think nero express would be easier and less room for errors ? cause you just pick yoru drive and make sure [dvd] is at the end
and then go to dvd-video files and just drag in files made from dvd shrink or what every program u use ? then just hit next and burn ??


just a thought ..that leave alot less room for error


sorry my two cents ...and I dont mean to offend cause you are wise jedi master

G@M3FR3@K ,

Bless you for posting this. Most posts show version 5 and there are some quirky things about Nero 6 that create potential for coasters.

On DVD burning, I would never do it in Nero Express because of some complexities and choices that are just not there. Audio burns, that is usually different.

Also, G@M3FR3@K, I need some more help with Nerovision. There seems to be some stupid thing that I am missing when it comes to creation of a DVD video, when it comes to cutting. It looks very simple, but I mess it up a lot. I'm sure it is due to my stupidity, but if you have sone it a lot, I might like to send you a private message.

Thanks,

Jon

G@M3FR3@K ,

I notice in your macro for Nero, on the compilation settings, for the ISO button, you basically blank them out.

What is the reason you are doing that ?

I notice that on Nero's documentation, it has ISO level 2 set, as well as Joliet, Allow path for more than 8 directories and All more than 255 characters all set positive in the check box.

I am not challanging you G@M3FR3@K, I am trying to learn.

Jon

Thanks for the guide Gamefreak! Simple and to the point with the .nrc file. I've been getting fustrated trying to get a good burn with all the other software i've tried. (Guess I'm a DVD NooB or whatever the other cdfreaks call themselves when they are at a loss).

Nero Express is burning for newbie's No seriously, Nero has loads more options and allows you to control everything while Nero Express was intended for people who really don't know how to burn (and there is nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong here ). I think when people use my guide it should eliminate any possible problems with Nero. Just follow the steps and you can be sure you have a well burned DVDR disc.

It's for playability reasons. I read somewhere that not all players can read DVDs that are burned with Joliet filenames. Most can but some older players couldn't. And because all players that can read Joliet will also read ISO level 1 discs it's safer to just use this mode. As I said at the beginning of the small tutorial I gathered the information myself too so I can't base this particular ISO setting on my own experience.

You know G@M3FR3@K,


On your response to my response you said "It's for playability reasons. I read somewhere that not all players can read DVDs that are burned with Joliet filenames".

Just last night I was doign some research on why my Mintek 1600 DVD player says "no disk" to my recorded DVD+R creations, yet my Cyberhome CH-500 reads them fine.

A Mintek 1600 owner put in a comment on the DVD player review section that they figured ouot the situation and it is to uncheck, like you do, all ISO settings.

So G@M3FR3@K, I thank for helping me learn again.

Just to let you know, I have been burning CDs for years, but just recently have started mesing with creating anf backing up with my newly purchased Optorite DD203 (love that HD-BURN) feature, and a, finding out about the quirkiness of DVD players, media and burners.

Thanks,

Jon

i believe that nero doens't burn to whole capacity of 4.7gb of the dvd-r but only under 4.5gb, why's this and how can i set it to burn all of the dvd-r??

thx, kc

Nero does burn the complete DVDR. The differences between 4.5GB and 4.7GB (which is mentioned on the disc) is explained when you realize that DVDR manufacturers use 1.000kb as 1MB while it should be 1.024kb per MB (correct me if I'm wrong someone). The same applies to hard disks for example. So, you can never burn 4.7GB to a DVDR and only around 4.480MB.

Cool

Now if I could only find a way to convert my mpegs and avi' to dvd format i'd be real happy . Anyone?

Every time you want to burn a DVD compilation. When Nero is closed the settings are reset to default.

is there any way using nero to give my dvds menus

nmpaulcp,

You can convert MPGs to Divx pretty easily. I have been doing that a lot lately since I purchased my Lite-on 2001 DVD player.

Go to DIVX.COM and download Dr Divx. There is a free demo on it.

Since they moved to version 1.03 it works. Great quality, total control, but slow as molasses. A movie takes me about four hours or so with a 2 pass on Dr. Divx.

Especially for me since I use Main Concept to encode from Divx or MPG to MPG, VCD, SVCD. A 90 minute movie there takes about one hour.

Jon

Thanks for the tip but I have been using TMPGEnc Plus2.5 to convert to compatible mpegs then using TMPGEnc DVD Author to make the audio/video_TS files. It works great !

nmpaulcp,

I have TMPGenc. Does TMPGenc allow for creation of Divx files ? That would be great.


I get DVD quality with a two hour movie with less than 1GB of storage.

Nice with a settings file like this - you could just out a shortcut to it in the menu and call it "Burn DVD Movie".

It works without problems, but Nero has "for compatibility reasons" both the "UDF/ISO" and the "DVD Video" modes that could be used for DVD:s. Is it easy to make a DVD Video variant of the settings file?

Although I haven't tried it , the programs help say's you can as long as the codecs are installed.

G@M3FR3@K

Thanks for all your info on the site. I have one problem though. I used DVD shrink2.3 to compress and decode the css on a DVD and saved to my hard drive. I then followed your tutorial for burning a dvd with Nero (I'm using nero 6). I did all as instructed and the DVD burned my DVD+R disc without question. But I cant play this in my DVD player or PS2. THe disc only works on my PC DVD drive. Could I have done something wrong with nero? Please help if you can, this DVD burning stuff is becoming a little agravating for me.

Any help is greatly appreciated.


NEOH

Using Nero v6.0.0.19? This version doesn't work with the Profile listed in this tutorial. Read the message I've added the beginning of the post..

Thanks,

So i should just use the default properties under dvd-video in nero then? Will i need to change any settings?


Thanks again for your help.

If I'm correct you can't really change any settings when you choose the DVD-Video profile in Nero 6. I'm currently using Nero 5.5 so I can't be 100% sure. Please ask again if you can change any settings and want to know which option you should choose.

Actually there are a few options but i just left everything as is. I burnt my DVD+R and it works in my standalone and my PS2, including all special features and title menu.

Thank you G@M3FR3@K
I can know burn DVD's in the simplest way possible without paying 100's on software like DVD xcopy platinum. Thanks again for all your help.

Neoh

Just wanted to say thanks it has saved me 100s and keeped my five year old son happy for hours