Backing up important files, audio and video is essential to protect your work and precious memories. A reliable solution is to create DVD backups. You don't have to worry about computer crashes or hard disk damage. In this guide, we have listed 5 tools and created easy-to-follow tutorials to help you understand how to make DVDs so you can quickly decide which software to choose.
Table of Contents
A Quick Look at the Top 5 DVD Authoring Tools
| OS | DVD Menu | Output to DVD folder |
Output to ISO |
Create Video DVD |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DVDFab DVD Creator | Windows, macOS |
√ | √ | √ | √ |
| DeepBurner Free | Windows | × | × | √ | × |
| AnyBurn Free | Windows | × | × | √ | × |
| DVDStyler | Windows, macOS, and Linux |
√ | × | × | √ |
| CDBurnerXP | Windows | × | × | √ | √ |
How to Make DVDs [Tutorial]
Method 1. How to Make a DVD with a Personalized Menu using DVDFab DVD Creator
DVDFab DVD Creator offers convenient and user-friendly DVD creation for both Windows and macOS users. It supports various video file formats and allows you to make DVDs with interactive DVD menus. With this DVD Creator, you can edit the video to your liking by removing unwanted audio tracks and subtitles as well as importing external subtitle files. One of the standout features of this software is the ability to preview the effects before finalizing your DVD.
In addition, it allows you to save your video DVD as a folder, ISO image file, or burn it directly to a blank DVD (DVD5/DVD9) without the need for an additional third-party burning tool. Even though DVDFab DVD Creator is paid software, it provides a 30-day free trial with full functionality.
Step-by-step guide on how to make a DVD on Windows with DVDFab DVD Creator:
Step 1. Free download and install DVDFab DVD Creator on your computer, and launch it upon installation is complete. Switch to the "Creator" module. The default mode should be "DVD Creator."
Step 2. Use the "+Add Source" feature to add the video files you wish to create a DVD backup. You can also drag and drop the videos as sources.
Step 3. Set the output type as DVD5 or DVD9 and the output quality. Click on the "Audio" tab to deselect the audio tracks if needed, and remove or add external subtitles under the "Subtitle" tab.
Tips: In the Subtitle Edit window, you can add more subtitles, set subtitle font/transparency/position, and delay the subtitle speed if needed. The change will be shown in real time.
Step 4. Click the "Menu Settings" button to customize the background image, texts, and play buttons per your preference.
Step 5. Once you have done all the editing, go back to the main interface, and select your burner as a target from the dropdown list. You can also save the video DVD to your hard drive as a folder or ISO file.
Step 6. Input a blank DVD5 or DVD9 depending on what you have selected before, and then click the "Start" button to make your own DVD.
Method 2. How to Make a DVD Backup with DeepBurner Free
DeepBurner Free is a Windows-only CD and DVD-burning software tool that allows you to make your own DVD for backup files, videos, and audio. You can create data CDs and DVDs, make ISO backups, and create audio CDs. One of the outstanding features of this tool is that you can create autoruns and create and print personalized labels.
However, if you want to create a DVD compatible with standard DVD players and use the Menu feature, you will need to get the pro version.
How to make a DVD backup using DeepBurner Free?
Step 1. Visit the official site and then download DeepBurner Free on your computer.
Step 2. Launch the software and select the project type as "Create data CD/DVD". On the popup window, choose how to make a DVD, multisession, append session, or no multisession.
If you do not need to add additional data to the disk in the future, use the "No multisession" feature, it will finalize the disk after the initial data is burned to it.
Step 3. Use the "Add Folder/Add Files" button on the top to browse for the files and then add them as sources.
Step 4. Switch to "Burn Disk", choose the burner, and then click the "Burn" button to start the process.
Method 3. How to Make DVDs from Files/Folders with AnyBurn Free
AnyBurn Free works on Windows 11 and previous Windows systems. It has a straightforward interface, so you can follow the on-screen instructions to effortlessly make DVDs from files and folders on your hard drive.
With AnyBurn, you can also burn and rip Audio CDs, convert and extract image files, create bootable USB drives, and copy discs to image files. However, you will need to pay to get the pro features.
Follow the steps here on how to make DVDs from files and folders with this tool:
Step 1. Download AnyBurn Free from the official site and install it on your computer. Then run the software, and click "Burn or append files/folders to disc."
Step 2. Use the "Add" button to import the files you want to backup. Switch the Burner drive if needed.
Step 3. Click the "Properties" button to adjust more settings. Select the file system, and compression level and you can even set a password protection to keep your DVD safe.
Step 4. Back to the main interface, click "Next", and insert a blank disc in the selected drive, then click the "Burn Now" button.
Step 5. Wait for AnyBurn to complete the process. When you see "Burning completed successfully", it means you have created a DVD successfully.
Method 4. How to Make Your Own DVD with DVDStyler
DVDStyler is a free, open-source software that can be used on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. It supports various audio and video formats and enables users to create personalized menus. The program offers a selection of built-in menu templates and also allows for custom menu designs, including options for editing text, buttons, and other elements.
Additionally, DVDStyler ensures compatibility with both NTSC and PAL DVD players. However, this tool lacks video editing features and has not been updated for years, so if you need more updated features to make DVDs, you still need to look for other tools.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make your own DVD with DVDStyler:
Step 1. Download and install DVD Styler on your computer. Launch DVD Styler after the installation is completed.
Step 2. Select "Create a new project" from the welcome window. You can also set the disc label, adjust the video/audio bitrate, and choose DVD5 or DVD9.
Step 3. Select a menu template from the available template options. Use the "Add File..." button to import your videos into the main interface of DVD Styler.
Step 4. Go to the DVD Options and Settings panel to adjust any other settings to your liking.
Step 5. Click the red "Burn" button to start making your own DVDs for backup or sharing with your family members.
Method 5. How to Create a DVD for free using CDBurnerXP
CDBurnerXP is a Windows-only freeware software that allows you to make DVDs, CDs, Blu-Ray, and HD DVDs.
In addition, with CDBurnerXP, you can make and burn ISOs, create bootable discs, and make audio CDs from popular formats, such as MP3, WMA, OGG, and more.
Here is the tutorial for how to create a DVD with CDBurnerXP on your Windows PC:
Step 1. Visit CDBurnerXP site and click the Download. It will redirect to a new page, choose a installer version, and complete the download.
Step 2. Install and run CDBurnerXP, and then select "Data disc" or "Video DVD" from the popup window.
Step 3. Open the file path, highlight the files you want to back up to the disk, and then click the "+Add" button to import them into the program.
Step 4. Choose the drive and then hit the "Burn" button. Then, simply wait for it to complete the process of creating a DVD.
FAQ about making your own DVD
Q1. How many files can a DVD hold?
A1. The standard storage capacity for a single-layer DVD (DVD5) is typically 4.7GB, while dual-layer DVDs (DVD9) can hold up to 8.5 GB. The number of files you can save on a DVD will depend on the size of each file. You can calculate the approximate number of files that can be stored on a DVD. Tools like DVDFab DVD Creator can compress the videos and make them fit a disc if needed.
Q2. Which DVD format should I use to make a DVD backup? DVD-R or DVD+R?
A2. The main difference between DVD-R and DVD+R lies in how they are written and the compatibility with different DVD players. DVD-R is typically more compatible with older DVD players and drives, as it was developed before DVD+R. However, DVD+R is generally considered to be more versatile and has better error correction capabilities, thus it is more compatible with newer DVD players and drives.
Overall, we recommend trying both DVD-R and DVD+R to see which format works better with your playback device.
Conclusion
We hope you now have a better understanding of how to make a DVD. Different tools are available for creating data CDs/DVDs, or video DVDs that are compatible with standard DVD players. You can choose the tool that best suits your needs, or even use a combination of tools. With the right tool, creating a DVD can be an easy task.