Altdo Converter & Burner — Turn AVI, MPEG, RM, WMV, MOV, ASF into Playable DVDs/VCDs

Convert & Burn with Altdo: AVI/MPEG/RM/WMV/MOV/ASF to DVD and VCDConverting a variety of video formats into a playable DVD or VCD can feel like juggling puzzle pieces — codec compatibility, aspect ratios, menu design, burning speed, and final playback quality all need to fit together. Altdo’s Converter & Burner aims to simplify that process by supporting a wide range of common formats (AVI, MPEG, RM, WMV, MOV, ASF) and providing the tools to encode, author, and burn discs ready for standalone players. This article walks through what the software does, how it works, practical tips for best results, and when you might still need alternative approaches.

What Altdo Converter & Burner does

Altdo converts diverse source files into the MPEG-2 (for DVD) or MPEG-1 (for VCD/SVCD) formats required by physical discs, then packages those files into the standardized disc structures (VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP/VIDEO_TS.IFO for DVD, and appropriate file layouts for VCD). It typically offers:

• Batch conversion of multiple input formats (AVI, MPEG, RM, WMV, MOV, ASF)
• Encoding options to control bitrate, resolution, and audio quality
• Basic DVD/VCD authoring tools (chapter markers, menu templates)
• Burn-to-disc capabilities for CD-R/RW and DVD+/-R/RW media
• Previewing and simple editing (trim, crop, reframe)
• Preset configurations for common disc standards (NTSC/PAL, aspect ratios)

Key benefit: it consolidates conversion and burning into one workflow, saving time and reducing format-compatibility headaches.

Supported formats and common issues

Altdo supports many container and codec combinations, but there are practical limits:

• AVI is a container for many codecs (DivX, XviD, H.264, etc.). Altdo will typically handle common codecs but may fail on rarer or newer encodings.
• WMV/ASF use Microsoft’s codecs and are usually supported, but DRM-protected WMV files will not convert.
• MOV (QuickTime) files can contain a variety of codecs; footage from modern iPhones (HEVC/H.265) may not be supported without additional codecs.
• RM (RealMedia) is older and sometimes problematic; conversion quality can vary.
• Native MPEG files (MPEG-⁄₂) convert more quickly since they need less re-encoding.

Common problems:

• Audio/video sync issues — usually fixed by re-encoding with a correct frame rate or using a different demuxer.
• Unsupported codec errors — require installing codecs or transcoding to an intermediary format first.
• Quality loss — excessive re-encoding or using very low bitrates degrades visual fidelity.

How to convert and burn (step-by-step workflow)

1. Prepare sources

   • Collect and check files for playback on your PC.
   • Remove DRM-protected files; they can’t be converted legally or technically.
   • If you need consistent quality, transcode varied sources to a common resolution/frame rate first.

2. Add files to Altdo

   • Use batch mode to queue multiple clips.
   • Arrange clip order for final disc playback; set chapter points where needed.

3. Choose disc type and standards

   • Select DVD (MPEG-2, VIDEO_TS) or VCD (MPEG-1) and the region standard (NTSC/PAL).
   • For DVD, choose 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio and whether to keep original resolution or scale (e.g., 720×480 for NTSC DVD).

4. Configure encoding options

   • Bitrate: higher bitrates = better quality but fewer minutes per disc. For acceptable DVD quality, aim for 4–8 Mbps for video; for VCD MPEG-1, typical bitrates are ~1.15 Mbps.
   • Audio: select AC-3 (Dolby Digital) or PCM for DVD; MPEG audio for VCD.
   • Two-pass encoding improves quality if available.

5. Author menus (optional)

   • Use built-in templates for title menus, chapters, and background images.
   • Keep menus simple to avoid wasting space on the disc.

6. Preview

   • Play the project in preview mode to check sync, chapter points, and menus.

7. Burn to disc

   • Choose burn speed: slower speeds (e.g., 4x–8x for DVD) often produce more reliable discs.
   • Use verify-after-burn if data integrity is critical.
   • Use high-quality blank media to reduce read errors on standalone players.

Tips for best quality and compatibility

• Match the project frame rate to the source (24/25/30 fps) to avoid judder or pitch changes.
• When mixing formats, upscale/downscale smartly: upscaling low-res clips increases file size but not real detail.
• Prefer two-pass encoding for long or complex videos; one-pass with variable bitrate (VBR) can be a faster compromise.
• Use AC-3 audio for wider DVD player compatibility; 192–384 kbps is common.
• Test discs on multiple players (computer and standalone DVD player) before making many copies.
• For archival, keep a lossless or high-quality digital master (e.g., high-bitrate MPEG-2 or MP4) before burning lossy DVDs/VCDs.

Use cases and when Altdo is a good fit

• Home video collections: converting camcorder AVI/MOV files to a playable DVD for non-computer viewing.
• Small-scale distribution: creating a handful of DVDs for events, presentations, or demos.
• Legacy media migration: working with older RM or ASF files to create a modern playback format.

When to consider other tools:

• If you need Blu-ray authoring, advanced menu design, or subtitle/codec features beyond Altdo’s scope.
• For professional mastering where color grading, frame-accurate editing, or lossless workflows are required.
• If your source files use HEVC/H.265 or other newer codecs not supported by Altdo — use modern transcoders (HandBrake, FFmpeg) first.

Alternatives and complementary tools

• FFmpeg — powerful command-line transcoder for tricky codec issues or batch preprocessing.
• HandBrake — open-source GUI for efficient H.264/H.265 transcoding before authoring.
• DVD authoring suites (e.g., DVDStyler, TMPGEnc Authoring Works) — offer more control over menus and chapters.
• ImgBurn or Nero — reliable burning utilities if you prefer separation of conversion and burning steps.

Comparison (quick):

Troubleshooting common problems

• Playback error on DVD player: verify disc type (DVD-Video vs. DVD data), region compatibility, and that VIDEO_TS structure was correctly written.
• Bad video quality: increase bitrate, use two-pass encoding, or reduce amount of resizing/upscaling.
• Burning failure: try slower burn speed, different blank media brand, or update burner firmware/drivers.

Final thoughts

Altdo’s Converter & Burner is a practical, all-in-one tool for users who need a straightforward way to turn varied video formats into playable DVDs or VCDs without jumping between multiple programs. For most home and small-distribution needs it’s efficient and convenient; for professional or cutting-edge codec requirements, combine it with specialized transcoders or dedicated authoring tools.