couple of questions first off i have windows vista i also have windows dvd maker first thing is there a better dvd maker that is freeeee? i have burnt dvds in the past using dvd-r they have all worked however they are widescreen in the regular format but when burnt to a disk it cuts the edges and shrinks the screen iv tried both 16:9 formats and 4:3 it doesnt matter if i play it on a regular tv or widescreen it still show up like this. how is that fixed? plus i was wanting to know which is better for burning dvds dvd-r or dvd+r and what speeds to get 16x or 8x or what. thanks for all help in advance

Hey Devan!

I did a little research on the DVD Burning software and I came across two powerful, yet free applications:

- [Sothink Movie DVD Maker] for preparing your content then storing it into a file (it is capable of burning as well, but apparently the burn feature produces many "dead disks" before you get what you want). You can get it from here: Sothink Movie DVD Maker (Audio & Multimedia - Video Tools)

- [ImgBurn] which you will use to burn the image you created with Sothink Movie DVD Maker. You can get it from here: ImgBurn (Audio & Multimedia - CD Burners)

In terms of dvd+/-r I don't think there is much difference. Most players nowadays won't have problem with playing either one and same thing about the speed. I would go with what's compatible with your burner rather than the player.

When it comes to your ratio issue you can try the above mentioned software and see if it produces the same results - if it does, then there's most likely something wrong with your editing of the actual video. Also check the TV settings, since maybe there is some little option hiding that can change the ratio or zoom out or whatever the case might be!

Cheers!

Hi Dev,
You need to look at the "preferences" or "mpeg settings" when you have finished editing and go to burn your DVD. Make sure these are set to 16:9.
Unfortunately, just because you have made the movie in widescreen 16:9, it doesn't automatically carry those settings forward to the DVD burn.
Regards.

thanks both of you iv made sure that both setting were set to 16:9 and iv tryd 4:3 yet still no fix

Hi Dev,
I'm an expert in video editing and DVD authoring, I also teach it, and I have seen this problem many times.
It's almost always caused by incompatible video/mpeg/DVD settings. (Although there are other possibilities, see below.)
In order to help you I will need much more info:
Please tell me the following:
1. What programs are you using to edit and author, be specific with versions etc.
2. What settings are you using for editing, i.e. 720x576, 25 frames/sec, DV audio, 16:9 etc
3. What settings are you using for the DVD, as above.
4. What are you playing your DVDs on, TV?, PC. What aspect ratio?
5. Do the pictures (particularly people) looked stretched or squashed?
6. If you are using an HD or HD ready TV, remember that it will have more pixels than 720x576 and you will need to adjust the aspect ratio or use one of the "zoom modes" to display Standard definition pictures correctly.
7. Lastly, have you tried playing other DVDs, do they look OK? and have you tried your DVDs on another TV/PC?
Regards.

thanks ford for the first 3 questions i am nnot creating the video i have copies of movies downloaded through various torrent websites but i have also own slysofts anydvd to rip dvds and am using these files and transfering to avi.
4. i have tryed both my pc which is a 17 in widescreen 1440x900 and my regular tv.
5. no pictures just movies
6. no hd tv
7. yes yes and yes

Hi Devan,
I need an answer to question 3. It's key.
Even if you are using other people's video, when you create a DVD you convert it to mpeg2 (if not already) and then to VOB files so the parameters YOU set will determine the output.
So, firstly tell me what is the format (i.e. 4:3 or 16:9) of the videos you are downloading?
It's vital to know this because you cannot convert aspect ratios!
If you don't know the aspect ratio of your original videos, put them into any video editor or your dvd software and check the "properties" of the clip. This will say something like 720x576, 25 fps, max data rate 8000kbps, ratio 16:9 etc.
Now secondly, I need to know your DVD burn mpeg settings.
If you can't find and set these then you are making "pot-luck" DVDs of unknown format.
Regards.
P.S. You didn't answer my question about the actual problem you see on-screen and whether it's stretched or squashed. Look very carefully as it's not always easy to see. Look for anything that should be circular that's looking more like a rugby ball! I need this detail to be able to help you.

i am not converting the videos i am taking the movies which are 16:9 movies and importing them into windows DVD maker and writing them to dvd the only options available through windows dvd maker are as shown here

and it stretches the video so that the edges are not on the screen horizontally and stretches the image to fit the remainder of the screen vertically

Hi devan,
Thanks for the info.
So you are using the standard burn settings for 16:9, OK.
Just as a check, you say you are importing movies (films) in 16:9 format.
Are they definitely 16:9 or are they possibly in widescreen cinemasope format? i.e. 2.35:1?
16:9 is only 1.77:1, so Windows DVD maker might be "fitting them to 16:9" by cutting of the edges and stretching vertically, this is much the same as happens with some HDR TVs.
The most likey other possibility is that there is some fault or feature in your burn software which isn't allowing you to do what you want, i.e. take widescreen clips and make a widescreen movie.
I would suggest that if the above is not true (i.e. you are not importing 2.35:1 clips) then you need to try using different DVD burning software.
I use "DVD Shrink" which definitely works on cinemascope films and is free. You can easily find the download by Googling it.
Alternatively, try one of the burners suggested by "Abes" earlier in this thread.
Regards.

ahh i beleive thats my problem how do i find out whether its 16:9 or 2.35:1 and is there a program to make it 16:9