How to Convert AVI to DVD With a Freeware Download

A properly burned DVD will play on anyone's stand alone DVD player.

The AVI video format is used extensively on Windows-based computers but is not compatible with the format that a DVD disc needs in order to function properly. You can convert an AVI file into the DVD-compatible video format automatically using a free DVD burning program. There are a number of free DVD burning programs for both Mac and PCs, all of which operate in a similar manner for creating a DVD from an AVI file. You do not need any knowledge of the differences between an AVI file and the DVD-compatible file format to burn the DVD.

Things You'll Need

• DVD drive
• Blank recordable DVD disc

Instructions

1. Download a free DVD burning program to the computer's desktop, for example, the free Burn program for the Mac or the free ImgBurn program for a PC (see the link in Resources).

2. Double-click on the icon of the program once it has completely downloaded. Follow the menu commands to install the program onto the computer's hard drive. Restart a PC after the installation is completed.

3. Double-click on the icon of the DVD burning program to launch it.

4. Drag the AVI file onto the icon of the DVD burning program--the icon of the DVD burning program is on the desktop or in the dock at the left of the screen or at the bottom of the screen.

5. Wait anywhere from a few minutes to an hour for the DVD burning program to convert the AVI file into a DVD-compatible format and temporarily store the converted AVI file to the hard drive.

6. Select "DVD-Video" from the "Disc" drop-down menu on the DVD burning program's main screen.

7. Select the DVD drive from the "Devices" drop-down menu on the DVD burning program's main screen.

8. Click on the "Options" button on the DVD burning program's main screen.

9. Click on the "Video" tab at the top of the window that appears.

10. Move the "Quality" slider all the way to the right so it is against the text that reads "Best."

11. Click on the "Devices" tab at the top of the window. Select "4X" from the drop-down menu next to "Speed."

12. Close the window by clicking the "OK" button at the bottom.

13. Name the DVD in the "Name" column that is at the top of the DVD burning program's main screen with the same name as the AVI file.

14. Eject the disc tray of the DVD drive. Put the blank recordable DVD disc on the disc tray.and close the disc tray.

15. Click on the "Burn" or "Start" button on the DVD burning program's main screen.

16. Wait anywhere from ten minutes to an hour for the DVD burning program to burn the DVD.

17. Quit the DVD burning program when the burning has been completed. Eject the disc tray. Remove the DVD disc and close the disc tray.

Tips & Warnings

• Blow off the blank recordable DVD disc with compressed air before putting it on the DVD 's disc tray.

• Do not use inexpensive blank recordable DVDs--the inferior materials that they are made of can cause the disc to fail to work properly right after it has been made or even a few months later.

References

• Burn. Simple but advanced burning for Mac OS X: Tutorials Burning A Video_TS Folder

Resources

• Burn. Simple but advanced burning for Mac OS X
• ImgBurn: The Official ImgBurn Website