MP4 files | How to

An MP4 file is a video file format usually compressed into a very small file size, so it can play in MP4 players, such as an iPod. It is akin to an MP3 file playing on an MP3 player. MP4 files can also be converted and burned to the DVD format, with free programs such as DVD Flick.

Instructions
1: Download and install the DVD Flick program linked in Resources on this page.

2: Insert a blank DVD-RW disc into your computer CD/DVD drive.

3: Run DVD Flick by clicking on the desktop icon.

4: Click “Add Title” on the right side of the program screen.

5: Browse and locate your MP4 file on your hard drive and click “Open.” DVD Flick will display the MP4 title.

6: Click “Project Settings” in the program menu bar.

7: Click “Burning” and then “Burn project to disc.” Make sure your DVD burner is selected in the “Drive” category.

8: Click “Create DVD.” This will first convert the MP4 file into DVD file format and then burn the file to the DVD.

9: Eject the newly burned DVD disc.

Although some DVD players can read digital video files in formats other than the ones included on regular DVDs, simply burning MPEG-4 content to a DVD-R disc doesn’t produce entertainment you can watch in your living room. Windows 7 can create and burn DVDs through its Windows DVD Maker application, but this native Windows program can’t import or convert MP4 files. To produce a disc you can watch with your family and friends, you need an application that can convert your video content and burn it in the right format so your set-top box can read your files.

Instructions
1: Understand the basic difference between MP4 and DVD formats. A DVD contains a specialized form of MPEG-2 data, along with files that include menus and extra features. Many camcorders, especially HD-capable equipment, save video data in MP4 format. To put this information on a DVD you can play in your set-top player, you must convert your video information to a DVD-compatible format.

2: Download and install a program such as DVDSoft’s DVD Creator, Daniusoft’s DVD Creator or the open source DVDStyler. These applications can convert your MP4 files to playable DVDs by transforming them into VOB files.

3: Load your MP4 data into the software. Along with necessary data-format conversions, these applications also enable you to edit your footage, add subtitles, process scenes with video effects and create DVD menus. Use a style template to speed up the process of creating menus. If your conversion package includes it, you can use scripting functionality to add chapter jumps so you can start playback at specific points within your video footage. If you set up a multilevel menu system with links back and forth among various scenes or chapters, create buttons with clearly labeled functionality that the viewer can use to trigger specific elements of your video footage.

4: Set your video format to NTSC for use in North America. Insert a blank DVD-R disc into your PC’s optical drive. Convert your footage and burn it to the disc.

5: Insert the DVD into your set-top player. Preview your menus to verify that you’ve set them up the way you want. Screen your footage to check the video quality of the conversion. Create a new conversion of your project if you’re dissatisfied with your menu system, video quality or any other aspect of the conversion.

Tips & Warnings
1. Use single-layer DVD-R media to assure compatibility with your playback equipment.

2. Remember that a single-layer DVD only stores a maximum of 126 minutes of good-quality video; depending on your audio settings, you can exceed the capacity of the disc with your conversion.

3. Converting video footage constitutes a time-consuming process, especially on a slower computer or one with less RAM. Shut off non-essential software and processes that poll for updates at regular intervals before you create your DVD.