Welcome to the Nero Burning ROM Tutorial

In this tutorial we will cover the steps taken when writing backups or burning completed video projects to DVDs- be it DVD-R/RWs, DVD+R/RWs, and DVD-RAMs. We will journey through the tab menus and select the most suitable settings. Also we will look at the different DVD formats and compare them in terms of compatibility with one another and costs. Enjoy the ride friends!

We start by launching Nero:

Insert DVD media. In selection box in the New Compilation window, select DVD and change the Multisession mode:

Select DVD-Video as the mode. The context sensitive tab menus will change. We now have ISO, Label, Dates, Misc, and Burn tabs. The ISO settings should be as shown below. All other settings should be left blank:

In the label tab, select the name for you DVD backup; I call mine Williams Rugby:

Leave the default settings in the "Dates" and "Misc" windows. In the burn window you basically have two options: You can choose for Nero to determine the maximum writing speed(leave "Determine maximum speed" checkbox blank, or you may select that yourself in the write speed dropdown menu. You can also set the # of backups and do a virus check before you beginning burning. Now click on "New":

Nero creates a new project for you, a DVD called: "WILLIAMS RUGBY", containing the two required folders:

• The "AUDIO_TS" which will remain empty.
• The "VIDEO_TS" which will hold all the compressed files.

Using the File Browser panel to the right, find your project(compressed) files and select the project folder. In the right pane of the file browser, you should see the VOB, IFO, and BUP files which stand for: Video OBJects-video(MPEG-2), audio(AC-3, linear PCM or Mpeg 2 multichannel), InFOrmation=navigational info eg chapters, and BackUP respectively. But don't worry about the jargon. Select all the files on the right pane and drag-and-drop them ON TOP of the "VIDEO_TS" folder:

On your marks, get set, burn! Click on the "Burn Disc" icon:

The "Write DVD" dialog box will appear. Click on "Write", sit back, and enjoy a cup of coffee! It should take about 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the speed of the recorder and the amount of data. A 2* recorder, running at 22 Mbps, can write a full 4.7GB DVD in 30 mintes. A 4* recorder can do it in...you guessed it.

Which DVD version should you buy?

There are six recordable versions of DVD: DVD-R for General(home use), DVD-R for Authoring, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+R. DVD-R and DVD+R can record data once, like CD-R, whereas DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW can be rewritten thousands of times, like CD-RW.

DVD compatibility:

	DVD unit	DVD-R(G) unit	DVD-R(A) unit	DVD-RW unit	DVD-RAM unit	DVD+RW unit
DVD-ROM disc	reads	reads	reads	reads	reads	reads
DVD-R(G) disc	often reads	reads, writes	reads	reads, writes	reads	reads
DVD-R(A) disc	usually reads	reads	reads, writes	reads	reads	reads
DVD-RW disc	often reads	reads	reads	reads, writes	usually reads	usually reads
DVD-RAM disc	rarely reads	doesn't read	doesn't read	doesn't read	reads, writes	doesn't read
DVD+RW disc	usually reads	usually reads	usually reads	usually reads	usually reads	reads, writes
DVD+R disc	often reads	usually reads	usually reads	usually reads	reads	reads, may write

DVD-R:
Pronounced "dash R". DVD-R(G)=home use, vs DVD-R(A)=professional development. Prices for blank DVD-R(A) discs are $10- $25, while those of blank DVD-R(G) range from $2-$6.
DVD-RW:
Phase change erasable format. Disc prices: $5-$10.
Note: The Apple SuperDrive can write to DVD-RW discs, but not from the iDVD application. Use Toast to write to DVD-RW discs.
DVD-RAM:
Best suited for use in computers for rapid access. However, not compatible with most drives and players(See table above).
DVD+RW and DVD+R:
Both based on CD-RW technology, with the former using an erasable format. The latter uses a dye-based medium(like DVD-R) and thus has similar compatibility as DVD-R. DVD+R cost=$2 - $6 ; DVD+RW cost= $5 - $10

Future: Look out for DVD-9s at the end of 2004. They employ dual-layer recording techniques and can hold almost double the amt of data/recording time. Predictably, they will cost about double as much as their single-layer buddies.