Preparing sources for Bombono DVD

To have your videos on DVD their format needs to be MPEG2. Since version 1.0 Bombono DVD has built-in ability to convert files like .AVI, .MOV and .FLV before authoring. Or, if you wish you can make transcoding with external programs; here are several good programs you can use for that.

For tech-advanced users, here are full requirements for DVD-compliant video files.

Imagination

Imagination is a lightweight and simple DVD slide show maker. If you want photos on DVD then use it for generating slide show video. Afterwards you can import the result into Bombono DVD and finish your work.

Gnome Subtitles

Gnome Subtitles is a subtitle editor for the GNOME desktop. It supports the most common text-based subtitle formats and allows for subtitle editing, translation and synchronization. You can add ready subtitles to a video in Bombono by clicking right mouse button on a video in Media List and selecting Add Subtitles.

OpenShot

OpenShot Video Editor is a free, open-source video editor for Linux licensed under the GPL. To make output from OpenShot DVD-compatible choose profile "DVD". Check other options like target (NTSC or PAL) etc before exporting video.¹

Winff

Winff is simple and straightforward GUI wrapper about FFmpeg converter. Converting videos of any type for DVD is very easy. Just add as much videos as you can with Add button, choose DVD for "Convert to ..." field and select one of DVD presets² by 3 parameters:

• choose NTSC or PAL for your TV system;
• choose HQ for full resolution (720p width) or half (352p width)
• choose right format 4x3 or 16x9

Ok, now choose where to save results (Output folder) and press Convert button to begin transcoding process. It may vary from seconds to hours, depending on your video file size.

Troubleshooting. If you come across an error like "Unknown encoder mpeg2video" then you have stripped FFmpeg due to legal issues. Usually, a Linux vendor makes two FFmpeg versions, full and stripped. The last one is default, so you need to install full FFmpeg explicitly. For example, installing package ubuntu-restricted-extras on Ubuntu will suffice.

Kdenlive

Kdenlive is nonlinear video editor. Its primary target is not converting videos but it can do this task too:

• add video by Menu -> Project -> Add Clip

• drag the clip from Project Tree to Timeline

• press Render button and choose:

  • DVD for Destination field

  • fill in Output file name

  • choose other settings like Format

  • when ready press Render to File button

Kino

Kino is nonlinear video editor for DV sources only (that a camcorder shoots). To make output from Kino DVD-compatible choose Export -> MPEG -> File Format -> 8 - DVD.

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