Question How to Create Playable DVD from MP4 Movie File

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[castiel]

I have a MP4 movie file that I would like to burn on to a DVD that will play in most any common home DVD player (US region). I am looking for a solution as to how to do this. Need software to run with Windows.

The MP4 file is almost 600MB in size and plays for roughly 90 minutes.

I do not need to do any editing – just want to make the MP4 into a playable DVD, so the simpler the better.

I have viewed innumerable posts on the web and am royally confused.

I have already tried using VLC to create an *.asf file from the *.mp4. The VLC convert ran almost 2 1/2 hours. The resulting *.asf file “looked” reasonable in terms of size, but could not be used in WMP that I used to test. Even worse, any access of the *.asf file consumed all the cpu so it seemed something was terribly wrong with it.

I am hoping some folks at AskWoody have some experience with what I am trying to do and can point me at what I need to do. Since I expect just a one-time use, something free (or free trial) would be great. If portable (to avoid installing) would be a bonus.

I have zero experience or knowledge on DVD creation, so I appreciate any help as what I read seems way beyond me. I would just like to point it at an MP4 and click create DVD, but I suspect likely not that simple.

• This topic was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by castiel.

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Matador

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I’ve always just burned the .mp4 file directly to the DVD, and have never had any issues.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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That would be a Data DVD and it is true (I think) that some home DVD players will play a MP4 Data DVD. I am guessing those are newer makes of DVD players. I am looking for something more like a “Video” DVD (like what commercial DVD movie DVDs are) that universally play in practically any DVD player.

There is a reason purchased commercial DVDs are not MP4 Data DVDs.

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Most home DVD burners/players won’t play mp4 therefore will need to convert to a DVD format (.VOB)

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windbg, Myst, castiel

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Converting to the right format is the key as @Matador points out. Burning is easy – converting MP4 first is the tricky part.

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My go to was ImgBurn.
To be honest I haven’t used it in years but was very popular, cream of the crop application. With it you can create a DVD-Video disc from files on your computer. Hope that is what you’re looking for.

Cheers

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There is a nice portable app that I’ve used in the past to create DVDs from individual .mp4 files. Take a look at https://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/dvdstyler_portable

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castiel

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Many thanks @EricB !!! I tried several other products and failed each time.

DVD Styler Portable is the one that produced a playable DVD from my MP4.

I still need to make one more try. I had believed I could skip creating a Menu and when the DVD began playing, it just put up a blank screen for Menu and sat there until I hit play again upon which I had my movie play much to my sheer joy.

When using DVD Styler, I did it in two steps – first I created an .iso file and then I burned the .iso file to the DVD disk using ImgBurn.

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AnyBurn works for me https://www.oldergeeks.com/downloads/file.php?id=749

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You can convert MP4 to VOV for free : https://www.free-videoconverter.net/mp4-converting/mp4-to-vob/ and burn to DVD.

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I use DVD Flick to do exactly what you’re asking for and it works great.

It’ll “automatically” do all the video/audio conversion, menu/chapters creation, and burn it to a blank DVD for you – or you can customize everything just about as much as you’d ever want.

Yes, it’s an older program (last update was Oct 2015) but it’s free, it still works, and there are a TON of sites on the web for support if you need it (like VideoHelp forum or Doom9’s forum.)

BTW, if you ever want to burn HD video to DVD, there’s also the free multiAVCHD.

One catch with it is the DVD’s it creates will only work in Blu-ray players. That’s because DVD players don’t contain the codecs needed to display AVCHD video.

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Alex5723

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Back in the day I used to fumble around converting DVD’s.  I don’t even know if the player works anymore, heh heh.

Now I use the HDMI cable on my laptop to play MP4’s and watch them on my TV using VLC Portable.  Removes the conversion headache, soooo much easier.

https://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/vlc_portable
https://portableapps.com/support/vlc_portable

Change TV input to what ever HDMI cable jack the TV will use.  Some have multiple HDMI jacks hence multiple selections on the input menu.  Ex: HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.
With the TV off, connect the HDMI cable to the laptop (that’s already on).
Connect the other end of the cable to the TV.
Turn on the TV.
It should automatically switch on in “duplicate” mode.  If not, Windows Key+P will open the display.

Playing the file on VLC is rather self explanatory.  Open VLC, select file, play on fullscreen.

I leave my spare laptop connected to my TV all the time so whenever I want to watch an MP4 or stream off the internet, I just switch the TV input and I’m good to go.  Switch it off when I want to watch something on cable.  You’ll get the feel for it.  Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

 

Win 8.1 (home & pro) Group B, W10/11 Avoider, Linux Dabbler

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