| How to create a custom DVD using DeVeDe |
|
|
|
| Written by axel | |||||||||||||||||
|
In windows there are many guides on how to create a dvd using your own video files. However this doesn't seem to happen in linux and moreover by using a program with a GUI. In this guide I will describe how to create a dvd with a menu using DeVeDe. DeVeDe is an open source program which allows you to create DVDs and CDs (VCD, sVCD or VCD) suitable for home players. It supports any of the formats supported by mplayer such as mpeg, avi, asf, wmv, wma, quicktime, mov, realtime, ogg, matroska and many others!
Let's continue with the installation. You can download a tar of DeVeDe from the official site here. However I advise you to use your distribution's package manager since it will resolve all the dependencies for you. I only have Fedora 7 installed on my computer at this time so I will provide information on how to install it on this distribution only. If you install it on any other distribution you could send me some details with a comment and I will add them in this guide.
For Fedora users: You must have the livna repository enabled. If you don't take a look here on how to do it. Next type: $ sudo yum install devede vcdimager-devel For Ubuntu users: Type: $ sudo apt-get install devede Feisty users might experience horrible sound convertion. In that case you have to install a fix. This fix will downgrade mplayer and mencoder to versions that don't have a sound problem. Download it from here. Unpack it wherever you want and from a terminal go to that directory. Then type: $ sudo ./install.sh When the installation completes you should see a message like this: Done. "MPlayer and Mencoder downgraded." Now, let's proceed to the dvd authoring part. Run DeVeDe from the Applications/K-Menu. It should be under the Sound & Video/Multimedia menu. The following image should appear. 
Click on the 'Video DVD' button. 
In this screen first choose the 'Media size' you are going to use in order not to use more video files that your dvd can store. The default 4.7GB option should be ok. Let's move on with our disk video files. As you can see there are two windows. 'Titles' and 'Files'. Each dvd may consist of more than one title and each title may contain more than one video files. Here we are going to create a dvd with two titles and each title will have one file. In the 'Action' menu you can either create mpeg files (it is a good idea if you want to preview your whole movie before burning), or create an ISO file ready to burn. So, let's add some video files. Press the right Add button. This window will appear.
Here click on (None) and browse to the video file's location. Select it and click Open. 
Some info about the selected file will appear. You can adjust the Video and Audio rate to suit your needs. The defaults should be ok. Be carefull to select the 'Output video format' depending on the TV you use. It is PAL/SECAM for Europe and NTSC for America, but I believe you already know what to choose. Next click on the 'Advanced options'. Here you have some Video, Quality, Audio and Subtitles options. In the
'Video options' you can change the video analysis, add black bars and
use 16:9 aspect ratio.
In 'Quality options' you may choose between fast compression (deselect 'Use Trellis Searched' and select 'Use BMCMP') and better Quality (leave the defaults). 
In Audio options you may add a delay in case the Audio is not synchronized well, but this won't happen often. 
If you want to add subtitles browse to the subtitles file from this window. Be carefull to use the correct subtitle's Encoding since if you don't they won't appear correctly on your screen. You also have the option to put them a little upper, so, if you create a 4:3 DVD from a 16:9 film by adding black bars, the subtitles will be over the film, and not in the black bars. 
Finally in the 'Misc' options you can split the video in chapters of
your prefferable size in order to make seeking easier. Extra parameters
is not for now. DeVeDe uses Mencoder's parameters for better quality by
default.
If you are not sure about your settings there is a preview button on the bottom left. This allows you to create a preview and if you don't like the result change some of the options above. 
When you are finished with the options click on 'Ok'. You will return to the 'Disk structure' window. Now let's say you want to add a new title to your dvd. Click on the left 'Add' button this time. Title 2 will appear. Let's see some options relevant to the title's menu. Click on the 'Properties' button. 
Here you can change the title name to one of your choice. You can also select what action to perform when this title ends. You decide. Click 'Ok'. 
Now click on the 'Menu' button. Here you can choose a background for your dvd, as well as the menu font and font size. again be careful to choose the correct 'Menu format'. 
The Preview button in the 'Structure' window allows you to take a look on how the menu will appear. 
If everything is ok click on 'Forward'. Next choose a directory with enough empty space for the movie files to be saved. DeVeDe prohibits you from using a FAT32 filesystem since it doesn't support files bigger than 4GB. If the directory's space isn't enough you will be informet with a message. 
Finally click 'Ok' and the convertion will start. 
Wait some time and your dvd movie will be ready for burning. 
Now you can use a file burning utility such as k3b and burn your dvd disk to enjoy it on the TV screen! Did you enjoy this article? Please share it!
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Hits: 30232 Comments (4)
kilonux
said:
|
|||||||||||||||||
Subscribe to this comment's feed|
Really fine, It took time to find this! Great work! I just installed it as you told, but there is one problem I do not get the same version of the program, seems like an older one best regards kilonux |
|
|
report abuse
vote down
vote up
|
axel
said:
Thanks kilonux.  The version you have depends on the distribution you use. I wrote this guide using Fedora 7 and the livna repository for installing DeVeDe. The version I have installed is 3.01 |
|
|
report abuse
vote down
vote up
|
kilonux
said:
|
Hello, According to an answer I got from the programmers in Rastersoft, there is a little bug in the guide concerning the putting the subtitles up: paste: Good guide. But there's a little bug: The "Put subtitles upper" option is not for putting them at top, but to put them a little upper, so, if you create a 4:3 DVD from a 16:9 film by adding black bars, the subtitles will be over the film, and not in the black bars. Thanks -- Nos leemos RASTER (Linux user #228804) This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it http://www.rastersoft.com - -- By the way,my version, from apt-get, is 3.2 ! (What annoys me with it is that the properties button lies behind a roll-down meny). I had no problems with the sound on my Feisty. I could also add that, there are problems compiling videofiles that are brought into devede from a FAT32 drive. Best regards |
|
|
report abuse
vote down
vote up
|
axel
said:
|
Thanks for your comment kilonux. I have corrected the guide. I also upgraded to version 3.2 but I don't have any problem with the properties button (if you mean those two shown in the 2nd image). Your comment about FAT32 is also useful just in case anyone wants to convert video files stored there. |
|
|
report abuse
vote down
vote up
|
Write comment
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
