Can VLC Burn DVDs? The Workflow and Authoring Options

Trying to burn a DVD with VLC ends with a converted video file, not a finished disc. Can VLC burn DVDs? VLC can create an MPEG-2 source file, but it cannot author the DVD-Video structure or write that prepared output to blank media. 

The complete workflow has three stages: convert the source video in VLC, author it as a VIDEO_TS folder or DVD ISO, and write that prepared output with disc-burning software. If you only need computer playback, you can skip the physical disc and open the converted file or authored VIDEO_TS folder directly in VLC.

How to burn DVD with VLC media player

Convert Video to DVD-Compatible MPEG-2 with VLC

Step 1: Open VLC and open the "Media" menu, selecting "Convert / Save".

Step 2: In the Open Media window, add the video files you want to include for the DVD.

Step 3: Click "Convert / Save" again, then open the Profile edition window, choose MPEG-PS as "Encapsulation", and select MPEG-2 video. For a US NTSC DVD-Video project, the authoring target is 720x480 at 29.97 fps with DVD-compatible AC-3 or PCM audio at 48 kHz. The converted video is still a source file and must be authored into a DVD-Video structure before it can become a playable disc.

Step 4: Save the settings, go back to the previous window, and click Start. Then wait for VLC to complete the process.

Use Additional Tools to Burn the MPEG File to a DVD

VLC cannot build a DVD-Video structure or burn a blank disc, so additional software has to take the converted MPEG-2 file through the remaining stages. DVD Flick is a legacy authoring component that creates the VIDEO_TS layout, while ImgBurn writes that prepared output to the disc. DVD Flick's official download page lists Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 support. ImgBurn version 2.5.8.0 was released on June 16, 2013.

Step 1: Download DVD Flick from the official site, install it, and open the program. Make sure you also install ImgBurn when prompted.

Step 2: Click "Add title" and select the MPEG-2 file created by VLC. DVD Flick accepts other formats as well. An MPEG-2 source may reduce preliminary conversion work, but DVD Flick can still re-encode it to match the DVD project settings. You can rearrange titles if you plan to include more than one video on the disc.

Step 3: Open "Project Settings" then "Video" and confirm that the format matches your region. You can also choose:

• Target size (4.7GB for single-layer DVDs)
• Encoder priority (faster vs. higher quality)
• Bitrate settings if you need to fit longer videos

These options help prevent issues like oversized projects or playback problems on older DVD players.

Optional: DVD Flick supports basic templates. Go to Menu Settings, enable a menu, and choose a style. While not mandatory, menus make navigation easier if you include multiple videos.

Step 4: Click "Browse" next to Project destination folder and pick a location with enough space. DVD Flick will create a full VIDEO_TS folder here, including IFO, BUP, and VOB files required by DVD-Video. Press "Create DVD".

Step 5: ImgBurn will open with the VIDEO_TS folder already loaded. Before burning:

• Select your write-capable DVD drive in Destination
• Insert blank DVD media supported by the drive and destination player
• Choose a write speed supported by both the recorder and the blank media

Finally, click Write to burn the disc. Preview the authored VIDEO_TS output first, then test the finished disc in the DVD player where it will be used.

Pros and Cons of Using VLC DVD Burner

VLC is easy to access and works well as a video player, but its role in DVD creation is limited. Before relying on it for disc projects, it helps to know where it performs well and where it falls short.

The output changes at each stage:

A disc that plays correctly in VLC or another software player may still fail in a standalone DVD player, so computer playback is not a compatibility test.

DVD Authoring Tools with Menus for the VLC Workflow

Burning a DVD through VLC requires separate conversion, DVD-Video authoring, and disc-writing stages. DVDFab DVD Creator and DVDStyler can build menu-driven DVD-Video projects on Windows and macOS, while CDBurnerXP writes an already authored VIDEO_TS folder or ISO on Windows. The sections below distinguish tools that create the DVD structure from software that records prepared output onto a blank disc.

1. DVDFab DVD Creator (Windows and macOS)

DVDFab DVD Creator runs on Windows and macOS. Rather than treating conversion and disc authoring as separate steps the way the VLC workflow does, it handles local video import, menu authoring, and disc writing inside one program. It can also save the authored project as an ISO image or VIDEO_TS folder instead of writing a physical disc.

Use DVDFab DVD Creator only with local video you are authorized to use, and follow applicable law and platform terms.

How to burn a DVD with DVDFab DVD Creator

Step 1: Install DVDFab on your computer.

Step 2: Open the program and switch to the Creator module. The default mode should be DVD Creator.

Step 3: Use the Add Source button to add video files, or drag and drop those videos you want to create a DVD. Add external subtitles to the video if needed.

Step 4: Open the Advanced Settings panel to set video quality. You can customize the size or choose "Fit to Disc" and set the output to DVD-5 or DVD-9.

Step 5: In the Menu Settings panel, you can change the title name, add text, or change the background.

Step 6: In the Video Edit and Trim module, you can crop and trim footage, adjust color settings, and add a text or image watermark.

Step 7: Choose your burner in the target field in the lower area. Besides burning to blank DVDs, you can also save the DVD as a folder or ISO image file on your hard drive. If you want a physical disc, insert compatible blank media that matches the DVD-5 or DVD-9 output selected in the previous step.

For ISO or folder projects used in a media library, DVDFab DVD Creator can synchronize title, cast, and cover information into an .nfo sidecar for PlayerFab or Kodi.

Step 8: Wait until the process is complete. Depending on the target selected in Step 7, the result is a DVD-Video disc, ISO image, or VIDEO_TS folder.

DVD-Video authoring re-encodes video for standard-definition playback, so output quality depends on the source and disc-capacity settings. Adjust Advanced Settings or Fit to Disc to balance capacity and quality. A free trial is available; some features are limited.

2. DVDStyler (Windows and macOS)

DVDStyler is a free, open source DVD burner for building menu-driven DVD-Video projects. It provides Windows downloads and a Mac installer for Mac OS X 10.15 or later, with tools for arranging titles, selecting PAL or NTSC output, and creating disc menus.

3. CDBurnerXP for Prepared DVD Files (Windows)

CDBurnerXP is a Windows disc-writing program for prepared DVD output. Use DVD authoring software first to turn source videos into a VIDEO_TS folder or DVD ISO; CDBurnerXP can then record that authored output onto compatible blank media. It does not turn an MP4 or other source video into a menu-authored DVD-Video project.

Conclusion

VLC can convert and play video, but it cannot author a DVD-Video structure or write a finished disc. The free DVD Flick and ImgBurn workflow separates authoring from disc writing, with DVD Flick creating VIDEO_TS output and ImgBurn recording the prepared files; both are legacy components with older published support details. CDBurnerXP also starts with an already authored VIDEO_TS folder or DVD ISO. For menus and disc, ISO, or folder output in one program, DVDFab DVD Creator provides a combined Windows and macOS option. 

For a wider look at complete authoring and disc-writing options, this comparison of the best DVD burner software explains how the available workflows differ. VLC is suitable for conversion and playback, while a complete authoring program is the clearer choice when you need menus and a finished DVD. Whichever workflow you pick, burn a short test disc and check its audio, menus, chapters, and playback in the destination DVD player before committing a full project to disc.