Quick and easy question here:
What format do files have to be on a dvd in order to play on a dvd player. Like does it have to be an .avi file or something else? It is a Sony DVD + but it says it can also play - . Not sure if that makes a difference for file format but there ya go. Oh yeah, I already know about the + and - thing, I just want to know about the file format
Well the video files themselves must be encoded in DVD quality MPG2 format. That means they have to be a certain resolution (720x480 NTSC) within a certain bit rate, and of course, encoded into MPG 2.
But you can’t just toss an mpg file into a DVD. You’ll need authoring software to take the movies + the menus and create the appropriate .IFO and .BUP files to burn on the DVD.
Check out www.dvdrhelp.com
They have tons of guides for converting any file to DVD video. They also have a section of tools, where you should be able to find something free to do what you need. Good luck.
Depending on your DVD player model, you may be able to just toss MPG files onto a disc and watch them. My Norcent DP300 can play MPGs and MP3s that way. However, it won’t be a real DVD Video disc and it won’t play in most players.
The data on a DVD is stored in VOB and IFO files. VOB is basically a container for the video/audio/subtitle streams and menus, and IFO stores information that tells the player how to use the VOB.
Before you burn a coaster (unusable disc), check the site I listed, under their ‘Players’ section, look up your DVD player, and it sould hopefully tell you which formats are compatible.