DVD beginner

[cqpphoenix]

Hello there,

I have a mini DV(JVC). I know how to download the video to the computer. The file is avi (huge). I don't know how to cut, add music in other words "edit". Also if I burn in AVI the file is to big for my DVD. I tried to read the forum ....but it is to complicated for me.... I'm a beginner and need help with everything... including what program to use to edit and what file to save my projects.
Thank you so much for your help!!

[lemon]

What do you want to do, and how much money do you want to spend?

[cqpphoenix]

Thank you so much for e-mailing me back!!
I want to make dvds of my family...Simple stuff.
So far I'm doing ok with editing the pieces...but not the sound. I have video deluxe 1.6 is working ok. But still complicated.
I think my main questions are... what kind of file should I burn my dvds to play on my dvd player with a good quality and smaller file than avi. The other question is , Is there an easier program for home made dvd...just family stuff.
Thank you again for your time....

[lemon]

Well, if you want to make some video edition, first of all this thread should be moved to the NLE (Non Linear Editor) forum, I think.

For viewing a DVD in a standalone player, the format must be DVD. Easy.
Now, DVD has video stored in MPEG2 format with some fixed characteristics (720x576x25 for PAL, 720x480x29.97 for NTSC, variable bitrate possible, etc).

The best you can do is get an easy video edition software.

I have found Pinnacle Studio 8 to be very easy to use for doing this kind of videos, with the advantage that it directly encodes to MPEG2 in DVD format and even writes the resulting video to DVDR, so you simply connect the camera to your PC, do the edition (very easy 'cause it has scene detection so you can work in 'storyboard' mode and then directly burn a DVD.
In my opinion it's great for a beginner. Anyway, you should check some trials of some different software (I have not tried MainConcept EVE (Easy Video Editor) but I think it should be easy to use too) and play with all of them a little before deciding which one to buy.

And to make thing easy, use one that directly encodes to MPEG2 and lets you do DVD authoring, and even recording if possible, like Studio.

[cqpphoenix]

Thank you so much for your help!!!!
I don't know how to move the thread.....:(
Thank you again you helped me a lot!!