If your computer is equipped with a DVD writing device, MGI VideoWave 5 lets you transfer your movies to DVD, complete with a DVD menu system for accessing clips or 'chapters' on the disc. If your computer has a CD writing device, you can transfer your movie to CD (with a DVD-style menu system). A third option is to create a Video CD, with a simpler menu system.
Most writable DVDs have a capacity of 4.7 gigabytes, which is enough to hold a feature length (120 minute) MPEG-2 movie at typical compression rates. You can have several smaller movies or clips on the DVD, making them accessible through the DVD menu system.
The DVDs you produce can be read by computer DVD-ROM drives and most home DVD players. Check the documentation that came with your DVD burner to see if its disc format is compatible with your DVD player.
High-quality video suitable for DVD can be transferred to CD (essentially a DVD movie on a CD) for playback on CD-ROM drives. Video quality can be on par with normal DVD, but maximum video length is about 20 minutes at normal MPEG-2 compression, owing to CD's capacity of only 680 megabytes. DVD on CD can be read by computer DVD-ROM and CD-ROM drives, but not by home DVD or CD players.
The menu system with DVD on CD is identical to that of regular DVD, letting you insert background images, sound, buttons, and text to identify and link to clips on the CD.
The procedure for creating a Video CD is the same as DVD, except that the final movie will be in the MPEG-1 format. Depending on the compression level, MPEG-1 video can equal the quality of standard VHS.
Navigation of the menu system is slightly less versatile compared to that of DVD. Users press the |<< or >>| buttons to highlight items on the menu, then press the Play button to select the item.
VCD can be read by computer DVD-ROM, CD-ROM drives and some home DVD players, but not home CD players.
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