subject: Burn media files on DVD or CD Part 2: Movie DVDs [print this page] In contrast to the almost hidden function for copying audio CDs in iTunes, copying DVDs is relatively simple and can actually be done with the Driver Utility of your MAC. However, this only relates to unprotected DVDs.
In case you have to work with a DRM protected DVD you need to get a software that can remove the protection. I, as I would recommend, you use the VLC player, choose FairMount to do the job. Actually some mid price DVD Rippers like the Wondershare DVD Ripper are supposed to get rid of DRM in some language versions..
If you want to combine several videos in one and burn it on DVD you would need a special software for that as well. Most mid price DVD Creators or DVD Burners from companies like Wondershare, Leawo, Xilisoft and others will do.
If you, however, need to re-sample a very large movie file to fit on a 4.7 GB writable DVD you will have to reach out for one of the higher priced products like Toast.Many people need to produce their own DVD from movies they made themselves. Once more, you will need specialized DVD authoring software for that.
This kind of software takes separate audio and video files, combines them into an MPEG2 stream and creates a custom DVD out of it. (You might have seen the folder "VIDEO_TS" before.) You can not play the DVD with a common DVD player without an UDF file format.
Common UDF Formats:
- UDF 2.5 or UDF 2.6 is used by Blue Ray and DVD(AVCHD)
- UDF 1.02 with ISO 9660 and UDF 1.02 file system are used by DVD Videos
- Philips DVD+VR uses UDF 1.02 with ISO 9660
Previously mentioned low to mid price DVD software programs can add UDF to your DVD. Having said all that, MPEG videos make a difference, they need to be converted before they can be burned . MACs own iDVD is too limited for that and again a decent DVD burning or creation software will be able to do the job.
As a result, you will need additional functionality to your standard MAC tools (iDVD and Disc Utility). Depending on the tasks you plan to perform consider buying a DVD Ripper, Converter and or Creator. If you already know that you need more than one addition to your tool box, consider buying a suite to save money and achieve a nicer work flow integration.
