Question about Mac and iDVD

[BigRedBuster]

I recently purchased my first Mac computer for work and I'm actually loving it compared to the last few PCs I've had. However, I have a question. I have been taping my son's basketball games and have been watching with him on the computer. I would like to burn them to a DVD so that I we can watch them on a bigger screen at home. It would be easier to go through the film with him on a bigger screen instead of on the computer.

 

I realize that currently, I do not have a DVD burning software on my computer and I am reading that Apple doesn't distribute and support iDVD anymore. I then read that I can get something to do what I want by purchasing something called iLife. I see that iLife has iPhoto, iMovie and Garage Band. I already have all of those on my computer.

 

Do any of you have experience with this? what exactly do I need to do to be able to do this? I downloaded another program that was offered as "Free". Now that it's downloaded it is claiming it's just a trial and I need to purchase the product for around $70. If I'm going to purchase something, I would rather purchase something that was specifically made by Apple to go with my other apps like iMovie.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Landlord]

There are literally dozens of ways of doing this, depending on what you are using to film, what kind of tv you have, etc.

 

Here's a good starting point - this is free software: http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net/Pages/English/home.html

[hskerholic]

Your new computer should have an hdmi out put on it just plug it into the tv directly and go from there.

[BigRedBuster]

Your new computer should have an hdmi out put on it just plug it into the tv directly and go from there.

 

I know I can do that and it appears that is what Apple wants you to do. But, this is my work computer and I don't want to have to take it home to watch the video. So, I want to burn onto a DVD and play it on my DVD player.

 

Thanks for the response.

[BigRedBuster]

There are literally dozens of ways of doing this, depending on what you are using to film, what kind of tv you have, etc.

 

Here's a good starting point - this is free software: http://burn-osx.sour...glish/home.html

 

 

Thanks, I'm trying that now. It asked me to convert it to Mpeg. Is that what I need to do to play it on my DVD player at home? I'm burning it then to DVD-video.

[BigRedBuster]

OK...Burn allowed me to burn a DVD but it wasn't in a format that I could play on my DVD player at home. The other burner that I downloaded, that claimed to be free but isn't, allowed me to burn a DVD that did play but there is a huge watermark on the video so in essence, it isn't usable until you pay. So....I know it's possible to burn one and play it, but I don't know what format to burn it on. I looked on the DVD that worked and it's confusing on what to do.

 

Any ideas? It looks like I have the video on my computer in both MP4 and MPG formats. I think it was MPG that didn't work.

[BigRedBuster]

I think I finally figured it out.

[MLB 51]

OK...Burn allowed me to burn a DVD but it wasn't in a format that I could play on my DVD player at home. The other burner that I downloaded, that claimed to be free but isn't, allowed me to burn a DVD that did play but there is a huge watermark on the video so in essence, it isn't usable until you pay. So....I know it's possible to burn one and play it, but I don't know what format to burn it on. I looked on the DVD that worked and it's confusing on what to do.

 

Any ideas? It looks like I have the video on my computer in both MP4 and MPG formats. I think it was MPG that didn't work.

Use the MP4 format. And those programs that want you to buy the software, will always have a watermark. Most of them tell you that when you start to author or burn your new DVD.

[Branno]

Just curious to see if you had resolved your issue. I was a little angry with Apple when they deprecated iDVD, as without it you can't really make a DVD that will play in any standard DVD player (I have a tendency to make videos for friends and family when they have special events).

 

Luckily I still have my iLife 09 installer which includes iDVD, but you can easy use http://www.iskysoft.com/create-dvd/idvd-mountain-lion.html to author the DVD. You will still use iMovie or whatever to create the movie but this will author a DVD that will play in any player.

[BigRedBuster]

Yes...I have to say it's not the easiest to do though.

 

I used Burn.