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Spesoft Free Video To DVD Review: Features, Pros & Cons

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What you’ll need

  • A Windows PC (Spesoft Free Video To DVD is Windows-only).
  • A blank DVD-R or DVD+R (single-layer, 4.7 GB) — for most home DVD players.
  • A DVD burner drive.
  • Source video files (MP4, AVI, MKV, WMV, etc.).
  • Sufficient free disk space for temporary files (at least as large as your video files).

Note: If you need to keep a backup of important files, do that before burning.

Downloading and installing

  1. Visit the official Spesoft website or a reputable download site to get the installer.
  2. Download the installer executable (usually named something like Spesoft_VideoToDVD_Setup.exe).
  3. Run the installer and follow on-screen prompts. Accept the license agreement and choose installation folder.
  4. During installation, decline any bundled offers or toolbars if presented.
  5. Launch the program after installation finishes.

Preparing your source videos

  1. Gather the videos you want on the DVD. Shorten or edit them beforehand if you want specific lengths or to remove unwanted parts.
  2. Check resolution and aspect ratio — DVDs use standard definition (720×480 NTSC or 720×576 PAL). High-definition files will be downscaled during conversion, which can affect quality.
  3. If you have multiple videos, decide the playback order.

Tip: Re-encode problematic files (corrupt or uncommon codecs) to MP4 with a reliable encoder (HandBrake or VLC) before importing.

Creating a new DVD project

  1. Open Spesoft Free Video To DVD.
  2. Click “Add File” (or similar) and select the video files in the order you want them to appear. You can usually drag and drop files as well.
  3. After importing, review the list and rearrange files by dragging or using up/down buttons.
  4. Select the target disc type (DVD-5 single layer or DVD-9 dual layer) and video standard (NTSC or PAL) based on your region and player compatibility.
  5. Choose output folder for temporary files — ensure it has enough free space.

Configuring video and audio settings

  1. Video format: Usually the app will auto-convert to MPEG-2 and proper resolution. Confirm that conversion settings match DVD standard (PAL/NTSC).
  2. Bitrate: Higher bitrate gives better quality but uses more space. If you have several videos, the program may automatically adjust bitrate to fit the disc.
  3. Audio: Choose the audio codec (commonly AC-3 or MPEG audio) and channels (stereo or mono). AC-3 (Dolby Digital) is widely supported on DVD players.
  4. Subtitles: If supported, add subtitle files (SRT) and assign languages. Make sure to preview timing.

Adding a menu (if available)

  1. Choose a menu template from the provided options. Templates often include background images, button layouts, and text styles.
  2. Edit menu text: change titles, button labels, and alignments.
  3. Set chapter points for each video or for positions inside a video; chapters let viewers jump to specific sections from the menu.
  4. Preview the menu to check navigation and button highlighting. Make adjustments as needed.

Previewing and finalizing settings

  1. Use the preview/playback feature to check video order, menu navigation, and chapter markers.
  2. Verify total disc usage. If the project exceeds disc capacity, remove videos or lower bitrate, or choose a dual-layer disc.
  3. Confirm the burning speed: choosing a moderate speed (e.g., 4x or 8x) often produces more reliable discs than maximum speed.

Burning the DVD

  1. Insert a blank DVD into your burner.
  2. In Spesoft, select “Burn” or “Create DVD.” The program will likely first convert the files to the DVD format (this can take time depending on file size and CPU).
  3. After conversion, burning begins. Monitor progress on the on-screen status bar.
  4. Wait until the burning and verification (if enabled) completes. Do not eject the disc or shut down during the process.
  5. When finished, test the disc in a standalone DVD player and in a computer player (VLC) to ensure compatibility.

Troubleshooting common issues

  • Disc won’t play in older players: Ensure you used MPEG-2, correct NTSC/PAL, and burned to DVD-R or DVD+R depending on player compatibility. Try lowering burn speed.
  • Video quality is poor: Increase bitrate or limit total minutes per disc, or use higher quality source files. Remember DVD is standard definition.
  • Failed burns or errors: Clean the disc and burner, update burner firmware, and try a different brand of blank DVDs. Enable burn verification.
  • Menu buttons don’t work: Recreate the menu and ensure chapter points are properly set; avoid extremely long file names for menu entries.

Tips for best results

  • Use single video files shorter than 2 hours per DVD for better quality.
  • Preprocess files to normalize audio levels and convert uncommon codecs.
  • If you need multiple copies, create an ISO image first, then burn multiple discs from that ISO.
  • Keep a copy of source files and the output VIDEO_TS folder in case you need to re-burn.

Alternatives and when to use them

If you need advanced menus, Blu-ray authoring, higher-quality output, or macOS/Linux support, consider alternatives:

  • DVD Styler — free, cross-platform, more flexible menus.
  • HandBrake — for preprocessing and encoding (no DVD authoring).
  • Wondershare DVD Creator / Nero — commercial options with polished interfaces and extra features.

Summary

Spesoft Free Video To DVD is a straightforward tool for converting common video files into DVD-structured discs. Key steps: install, import and arrange videos, configure format and menus, preview, and burn. For better quality or advanced features, preprocess with HandBrake or choose a more feature-rich authoring tool.

Quick checklist: - Windows PC + DVD burner - Blank DVD (DVD-R/DVD+R) - Source video files (MP4/AVI/MKV) - Choose NTSC or PAL - Add files → configure → preview → burn

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