Windows DVD Maker
Encyclopedia
Windows DVD Maker is an application included in premium editions (Home Premium and Ultimate) of Windows Vista
, and Windows 7 Home Premium and above editions that is designed to enable the creation of DVD
movies that can be played using DVD
playback software or on a standalone consumer DVD player
. In some ways, it is comparable to iDVD
in Mac OS X.
Applications can pass an XML file to DVD Maker, thus using its MPEG-2
video and Dolby Digital
audio encoding abilities in their own applications.
The application DVDMaker.exe is located in C:\Program Files\Movie Maker by default.
. The first step of the wizard involves importing video files from the computer's file system
. The videos can be rearranged to play in a different order, and Windows DVD Maker automatically splits the videos into scenes that can be accessed from a special Scene Selection page in the DVD menu system.
In the next step, various animated DVD menu styles can be applied. Many of these are similar to the transition effects available in Windows Movie Maker
. Users can also customise the font and button styles. Windows DVD Maker can also add a slide show
of pictures with a musical accompaniment and transition effects.
The application can also show an interactive preview of what the DVD will look and act like when it has been burned. For example, users can navigate the DVD menus using the arrow buttons (mimicking the action of using a DVD player remote control).
Windows DVD Maker is designed to encode video as a "below normal" priority background process to ensure the computer remains responsive during the burn process. By design this feature puts the program at the back of the line among user mode applications. This can be circumvented using the Windows Task Manager
to adjust the priority.
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, and Windows 7 Home Premium and above editions that is designed to enable the creation of DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
movies that can be played using DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
playback software or on a standalone consumer DVD player
DVD player
A DVD player is a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technical standards, two different and incompatible standards. These devices were invented in 1997 and continue to thrive...
. In some ways, it is comparable to iDVD
IDVD
iDVD is a DVD creation software application made by Apple Inc. for Mac OS X. iDVD allows the user to add QuickTime Movies, MP3 music, and digital photos to a DVD that can then be played on a commercial DVD player. It is often considered the last step of Apple's iLife suite, bringing together all...
in Mac OS X.
Applications can pass an XML file to DVD Maker, thus using its MPEG-2
MPEG-2
MPEG-2 is a standard for "the generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information". It describes a combination of lossy video compression and lossy audio data compression methods which permit storage and transmission of movies using currently available storage media and transmission...
video and Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the name for audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories. It was originally called Dolby Stereo Digital until 1994. Except for Dolby TrueHD, the audio compression is lossy. The first use of Dolby Digital was to provide digital sound in cinemas from 35mm film prints...
audio encoding abilities in their own applications.
The application DVDMaker.exe is located in C:\Program Files\Movie Maker by default.
Features
Windows DVD Maker has a simple Aero Wizard-style user interfaceUser interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
. The first step of the wizard involves importing video files from the computer's file system
File system
A file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...
. The videos can be rearranged to play in a different order, and Windows DVD Maker automatically splits the videos into scenes that can be accessed from a special Scene Selection page in the DVD menu system.
In the next step, various animated DVD menu styles can be applied. Many of these are similar to the transition effects available in Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is a video creating/editing software application, included in Microsoft Windows Me, XP, and Vista. It contains features such as effects, transitions, titles/credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie. New effects and transitions can be made and existing ones can be...
. Users can also customise the font and button styles. Windows DVD Maker can also add a slide show
Slideshow
A slide show is a display of a series of chosen information or pictures, done for artistic or instructional purposes. Slide shows are conducted by a presenter using an apparatus, such as a carousel slide projector, an overhead projector or in more recent years, a computer running presentation...
of pictures with a musical accompaniment and transition effects.
The application can also show an interactive preview of what the DVD will look and act like when it has been burned. For example, users can navigate the DVD menus using the arrow buttons (mimicking the action of using a DVD player remote control).
Windows DVD Maker is designed to encode video as a "below normal" priority background process to ensure the computer remains responsive during the burn process. By design this feature puts the program at the back of the line among user mode applications. This can be circumvented using the Windows Task Manager
Windows Task Manager
Windows Task Manager is a task manager application included with the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems that provides detailed information about computer performance and running applications, processes and CPU usage, commit charge and memory information, network activity and...
to adjust the priority.
External links
- Windows DVD Maker – Product information from Microsoft