NERO NEROVISION EXPRESS 3 User Manual

User's Guide

NeroVision Express 3

Bringing the world of video closer to home - Creating

your very own DVD, VCD, SVCD and miniDVD

Ahead Software AG

The NeroVision Express 3 User's Guide and the NeroVision Express 3 Software are copyrighted and the property of Ahead Software AG, Im Stoeckmaedle 18, 76307 Karlsbad, Germany. All rights are reserved.

This Quick Start Guide contains materials protected under International Copyright Laws.

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REV. 3.0

Contents

1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 6

1.1

2 Installing NeroVision Express 3 ......................................................... 7

2.1

2.2

2.2.1 Installing from CD................................................................................8

2.2.2 Installing from hard disk ......................................................................8

2.2.3 Deinstalling NeroVision Express 3 ......................................................9

3 Getting Started................................................................................... 10

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.3.1 'Help' button.......................................................................................15

3.3.2 'Export' button.................................................................................... 15

3.3.3 'Save' button......................................................................................15

3.3.4 'Undo' button .....................................................................................15

3.3.5 'Restore' button .................................................................................16

3.3.6 'Back' button ......................................................................................16

3.3.7 'Next' button....................................................................................... 16

3.3.8 'Burn' button ......................................................................................16

Welcome to NeroVision Express 3 ..................................................6

System Requirements.......................................................................7

Installation / deinstallation ...............................................................8

Opening NeroVision Express 3 for the first time..........................10

Getting to know the user interface ................................................11

Buttons.............................................................................................15

3.4

Extended section.............................................................................16

3.4.1 Normal and sticky mode....................................................................17

3.4.2 Use no black miniature images .........................................................17

3.4.3 Create menu on disc .........................................................................17

3.4.4 Create chapters automatically...........................................................17

3.4.5 Elements on the timeline ...................................................................17

3.4.6 Time stamp of DV files ......................................................................18

3.4.7 Effects in the timeline ........................................................................18

3.4.8 'Configure button' ..............................................................................18

3.4.9 'Default Video Options' button ...........................................................19

3.4.10 'Erase disc' button .............................................................................20

3.4.11 'Disc info' button ................................................................................20

3.4.12 'Make covers and labels' button ........................................................21

NeroVision Express 3 Contents • 3

4 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video

devices ............................................................................................... 22

4.1

Capturing .........................................................................................22

4.2

Digital video vs. Analog video .......................................................22

4.3

Setting up your hardware ...............................................................22

4.3.1 Digital Video ......................................................................................22

4.3.2 Analog Video .....................................................................................23

4.4

Capturing your first video ..............................................................24

5 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD .................. 28

5.1

Choosing the right format ..............................................................28

5.2

Information on the DVD-Video plug-in ..........................................30

5.3

Starting a video project ..................................................................31

6 Open Existing Project ....................................................................... 43

6.1

Open Existing Project .....................................................................43

7 Editing Your Video............................................................................. 45

7.1

Editing Your Video ..........................................................................45

7.2

Trimming video titles ......................................................................47

7.3

Adding Chapter Marks ....................................................................50

7.3.1 Creating chapter marks manually...................................................... 50

7.3.2 Adding chapter marks automatically .................................................52

7.3.3 Working with chapters .......................................................................52

8 Create your first slide show.............................................................. 54

8.1

Create your first slide show ...........................................................54

9 Create your first movie...................................................................... 64

9.1

Create your first movie ...................................................................64

9.2

Exporting the movie........................................................................75

10 DVD-Video (VR).................................................................................. 79

10.1

DVD-Video (VR) ...............................................................................79

10.2

Making DVD-Video (VR) disc from videos stored on the hard

drive or on disc................................................................................80

10.3

Adding videos stored on the hard drive to a DVD-Video (VR) disk82

10.4

Making a DVD-Video (VR) disk directly from a capture source ..84

NeroVision Express 3 Contents • 4

11 Menu Layout ...................................................................................... 87

11.1

Menu Layout ....................................................................................87

12 Preview Settings................................................................................ 97

12.1

Preview Settings.............................................................................. 97

13 Technical Support ............................................................................. 99

13.1

13.2

F.A.Q.’s.............................................................................................99

Contact Information ......................................................................101

14 Glossary ........................................................................................... 102

15 Index ................................................................................................. 106

NeroVision Express 3 Contents • 5

1 Introduction

1.1 Welcome to NeroVision Express 3

NeroVision Express 3 is the new video capturing, authoring and burning software

with an incredibly user-friendly interface that allows you to 'capture' your videos from DV cameras and other external video devices, and record them to DVDVideo, Video CD (VCD), Super Video CD (SVCD) and miniDVD. With the many features offered in this powerful multimedia software, you will have numerous options for creating and collecting your memories. Even for those who are new to the world of video will find that NeroVision Express 3 is fun and easy with no worries!

With NeroVision Express 3 you can …

 Trim your videos in a fast and flexible way

 Create chapters using automatic scene detection and/or set chapter marks

manually

 Create video discs with your own and customize menus using pre-defined

layout templates and button frames

 Add your own background pictures and text design

 Use the preview mode and the handy remote control to view your video project

… and much much more!

Once you have your DV camcorder, 1394 Firewire card, and appropriate hardware, you are on your way to creating your own movies. If you have a DirectShowcompatible Video Card, you can use NeroVision Express 3 to capture video from the Video Card directly. If you don´t have any video hardware at all, you will still be able to work with video files that are on your system or that you downloaded from the internet.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the easy-to-use features of NeroVision Express 3!

NeroVision Express 3 Introduction • 6

2 Installing NeroVision Express 3

2.1 System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

With your system should come a pre-installed operating system. Below you will find a list that NeroVision Express 3 supports. Please check to make sure that you have one of the following operating systems:

 Windows 98/SE

 Windows ME

 Windows 2000

 Windows XP

 Windows 2003 Server

In addition, DirectX 9.0a should be installed. To download the latest version of DirectX please visit

Minimum Hardware Requirements

 Your PC must have a 500 MHz processor or higher. 800 MHz (for capturing to

hard disk), 1.6 GHz (for capturing to DVD). A faster processor is recommended for best performance.

 You must have at least 128

 Hard disk space: 100 MB for the standard installation and up to 9 GB (for DVD

projects, VCD/SVCD projects require up to 800MB) of HD space for temporary files.

 To burn a DVD-Video disc, you need to have a supported DVD recordable drive

connected to your system. To burn VCD/SVCD/miniDVD discs, you need to have a supported CD and/or DVD recordable drive connected to your system. (Please visit do not have a recorder capable of burning DVD and/or VCD/SVCD/miniDVD discs, you can still burn a disc image on your hard drive and save it for future use. Once you have the appropriate recordable drive connected to your system, you can open disc images using Nero and/or Nero Express at any time, and burn real video discs.

www.microsoft.com/directx/default.asp.

MB RAM memory. Generally, more would be better.

www.nero.com or the list of currently supported drives). Even if you

 Graphics card (800x600 display, 16-bit color) with 8 MB or higher

 Sound card

 Firewire (IEEE 1394) and/or USB port (optional)

 DirectShow compatible video capture card (optional)

NeroVision Express 3 Installing NeroVision Express 3 • 7

2.2 Installation / deinstallation

2.2.1 Installing from CD

Step 1: Insert the NeroVision Express 3 CD-ROM into your CD/DVD drive on

your PC.

 If you have a feature called 'Autorun' activated, this will start your installation

process automatically.

 If you do not have 'Autorun' activated, you can go to My Computer > Click on

the drive letter of the CD/DVD drive > click setup.exe

Step 2: Follow prompts until you are finished installing the software.

NOTE: NeroVision Express 3 works with the same serial number as Nero Burning ROM and/or Nero Express. If Nero Burning ROM and/or Nero Express are already installed on your system, you do NOT need to enter a NeroVision Express 3 serial number. If you have no serial number, you can get one at

www.nero.com Some versions of NeroVision Express 3 that are delivered together with the hardware (OEM versions) may have an integrated serial number, in which case you will also not be requested to enter a serial number. Simply enter your name and company to personalize your software. Then click OK.

Step 3: Restart your PC.

2.2.2 Installing from hard disk

Step 1: Download the NeroVision Express 3 installer from the www.nero.com

Website onto your hard disk and double-click on the 'NVE2xxx.exe' file.

Step 2: Follow prompts until you are finished installing the software.

Step 3: Restart your PC.

NeroVision Express 3 Installing NeroVision Express 3 • 8

2.2.3 Deinstalling NeroVision Express 3

Step 1: Go to Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.

 In some operating systems, you will find - Start > Settings > Control Panel.

Step 2: Highlight the installed program 'NeroVision Express 3' and click on the 'Add/delete' button.

Step 3: In some cases, you will find that when removing software, there will be one or two files that the operating system will ask if you want them removed since they may be shared by other programs. If you are unsure, always opt to keep these files.

NeroVision Express 3 Installing NeroVision Express 3 • 9

3 Getting Started

With the many features offered in this powerful multimedia software, you will have numerous options for creating and collecting your memories.

3.1 Opening NeroVision Express 3 for the first time

Now that we are ready to start recording your first disc, let us begin by opening the program NeroVision Express 3.

There are two ways to start the software program:

(1) Go to the Start > All Programs > Nero > NeroVision Express 3 then >

NeroVision Express. For some operating systems, you will find - Start > Programs > Nero > NeroVision Express 3 > NeroVision Express.

(2) You can also create a shortcut for NeroVision Express 3 on your desktop by simply going to My Computer > Local Disk (C) > Program Files > Ahead >

NeroVision Express 3 > NeroVision.exe.

F.Y.I.! The path how to open NeroVision Express 3 described above can differ in

some versions.

Click the right mouse button on this file and select Send To > Select Desktop (create shortcut). An icon for NeroVision Express 3 will now be placed on your desktop!

To start NeroVision Express 3, go to your desktop and click on the newly created icon:

NOTE: If you have a demo version, please click the 'Demo' button for your trial period. Please visit are able to register your software copy after the trial period is over.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 10

www.nero.com to purchase a serial number online so that you

3.2 Getting to know the user interface

NeroVision Express 3 uses a user interface style that you will find very familiar

and easy to use. It basically consists of choosing a task from the START screen, and then completing the task by navigating through various steps (each step consisting of a new screen) using the 'Next' button on the navigation bar. You can move back and forth throughout the various steps of the task by clicking on the 'Back' and 'Next' buttons in the navigation bar. On those screens where you can carry out a number of different actions, you can use the 'Undo' and 'Restore' buttons. These let you easily cancel out an action or restore the last actions undone. This lets you try out a large number of the NeroVision Express 3 features without having to cancel the entire project if you are not satisfied. Be adventurous and discover all the things that NeroVision Express 3 can do.

Step 1: Choose a task: Choose what you would like to do by moving your mouse over the items in the task selection menu. As you move your mouse pointer over a project entry, an explanatory text will pop up underneath. Once you have made your choice, simply click your left mouse button to start the task.

For each task, you will find a chapter in this manual that explains all the steps involved to complete it.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 11

Step 2: Complete a task: depending on the task, you will have to go through

various steps until you reach the end. Each step consists of a new screen. To move to the next screen or to go back to the previous screen, simply use the 'Next' and 'Back' buttons on the navigation bar.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 12

To help you know where you are and what you need to do, each screen comes with a name and a brief description.

Some screens include a menu. As you move over each entry, an explanatory text will pop up underneath.

This is the navigation bar that lets you move through the various steps of a project.

NOTE: Each screen contains tooltips, detailed information regarding the buttons, icons or menus and what they are for. Simply hold your mouse pointer for a few seconds over such item, to learn more about them.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 13

Step 3: Burning. The conclusion of any project is always the burning process –

whether to disc, as an image file or by writing the data in a file on the hard disk. Specify the burning parameters, insert a disc and click on 'Burn' – it's as simple as that.

Step 4: Following the burning process. Once burning is finished, you can decide on what you would like to do next. Launch Nero ShowTime and examine your project

- or use Nero Cover Designer to create a cover and label for the disc. Of course, you can also save the project or start a new one.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 14

3.3 Buttons

3.3.1 'Help' button

When you open the NeroVision Express 3 help file, or enter a new serial number, or would like know the version number, then access the Ahead homepage www.nero.com, click on the 'help' button and select the appropriate command.

3.3.2 'Export' button

If you have added at least one video to a project, you can export the contents of this project. In the window that now opens, you can specify the export settings and then export the project. More detailed information is contained the 'Exporting the movie' section.

3.3.3 'Save' button

If you would like to save your DVD-Video, VCD or SVCD project with all the changes and modifications that were made, click the 'Save' button and your project will be saved to a file with the extension of .NVC, which is the acronym for NeroVision Express 3 Compilation. This option is also great for times in which you are not able to finish your layout and would like to continue at a later time. See the 'Open Existing Project' section for more on how to open a saved project.

3.3.4 'Undo' button

If you have changed something in a project and find you do not like the changes, you can cancel them by clicking on the 'Undo' button. With NeroVision Express 3 you can undo many actions so that you can restore the desired condition even after having made a large number of changes.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 15

3.3.5 'Restore' button

If you have reversed a change that you made to a project but would prefer to keep it as it had been, then you can restore things to the way they were before by clicking on 'Restore'. With NeroVision Express 3 you can restore many actions that have been undone, so that you can get back to the original condition even after having made a large number of alterations.

3.3.6 'Back' button

You can navigate through a NeroVision Express 3 project by clicking on the 'Back' and 'Next' buttons. If you want to return to a previous page, then click on the 'Back' button. It is possible you will be prompted to save the project, as the changes you have made will otherwise be lost.

3.3.7 'Next' button

You can navigate through a NeroVision Express 3 project by clicking on the 'Back' and 'Next' buttons. If you have carried out al the actions and made all the settings that are possible on the current project page, then click on 'Next' to move on a page.

3.3.8 'Burn' button

After you have compiled the project and specified the settings for burning, start the burning process by clicking on the 'Burn' button.

3.4 Extended section

The NeroVision Express 3 interface contains only as many buttons and elements as are needed. As a result, the user interface is simple to use. An additional, extended section with further options appears when you click on the 'More' button. Depending upon which window you are currently in, it may be that not all the options and icons will be shown.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 16

3.4.1 Normal and sticky mode

If the extended section is displayed by clicking on the 'More' button, then it will be closed again as a default once you change to the next window. In the so-called 'sticky mode', the extended section will be displayed until it is closed once more by clicking again on the 'more' button.

The pin in the extended section displays the mode in which NeroVision Express 3 is in. Clicking on the pin changes the mode.

The extended section is in normal mode.

The extended section is in sticky mode.

3.4.2 Use no black miniature images

If this checkbox is ticked, no black miniature images will be used in the menus. Instead, NeroVision Express 3 will search for an image and use it as the miniature.

3.4.3 Create menu on disc

If this checkbox is ticked, a menu will be created automatically, allowing you to easily call up the individual videos.

3.4.4 Create chapters automatically

If this checkbox is ticked, chapters will be created automatically, so that you can later jump easily from one chapter to another.

3.4.5 Elements on the timeline

If you tick this checkbox, the elements in the timeline will be held together as if by a magnet when you compile a film. This ensures that text, audio and effects, for instance all start at the same time.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 17

3.4.6 Time stamp of DV files

If this checkbox has been ticked, the automatic scene recognition feature will distinguish individual scenes in DV files thanks to the time stamps stored in the file and adopt them.

3.4.7 Effects in the timeline

When inserting effects into the timeline, two options are possible, though these will only become effective if one effect is inserted before an already existing one. If a new effect is inserted, this can shift the subsequent one so that it is used at a later stage, or the new effect will only fill the space available until the next effect starts.

3.4.8 'Configure button'

Clicking on this button opens the general NeroVision Express 3 application settings.

Here you can specify, among other things:

 The directory in which the temporary files created and

 Where the saved media files should be stored.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 18

 The format to be used to store the saved files.

 That when selecting the image recorder, all supported recorder formats are

displayed and not only those offered by the installed CD/DVD recorder.

 Specify the language in which the NeroVision Express 3 program entries

should appear following program restart (on the 'Country settings' tab).

 Which remarks will be displayed (on the 'Message' tab)

3.4.9 'Default Video Options' button

Clicking on this button opens the standard options available for creating a video. As long as you have not selected any kind of disc, the video options for all the supported formats will be shown. After you have chosen a particular type of disc, only the 'General' and disc type tabs will be shown.

 Color system to be used for recording the video (on the 'General' tab)

 The aspect ratio of the video

 Quality settings for reproduction

 Bitrate used

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 19

 Line resolution

 Encoding mode

 Audio format (not with SVCD)

3.4.10 'Erase disc' button

Clicking on this button starts a dialog to erase a rewritable disc.

In order to erase, there must be a rewritable disc in the recorder drive. The erasure procedure will start once you have selected the method of deleting and clicked on the 'Erase' button.

3.4.11 'Disc info' button

Clicking on this button will display information on the disc that has been inserted, such as the type of disc, its available capacity and the number of sessions and tracks.

Insert the disc that you want to know more about and select the drive where it is located. The information will be displayed automatically.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 20

3.4.12 'Make covers and labels' button

Clicking on this field will open the Nero Cover Designer program.

Included with your version of NeroVision Express 3 is Nero Cover Designer. With Nero Cover Designer, you can create professional-looking labels and covers for your CD/DVD discs with the pre-designed templates or create your very own designs. Please see the dedicated Nero Cover Designer manual (included on your NeroVision Express 3 CD-ROM) for more details.

In addition, there are also two other possibilities to start the program:

(1) As a stand-alone application: Go to the Start > All Programs

Nero > NeroVision Express 3> then > Nero Cover Designer. For some operating systems, you will find - Start > Programs > Nero > NeroVision Express 3 > Nero Cover Designer.

(2) From NeroVision Express 3: When you have completed a task and are on the FINISH screen, just select 'Make Covers and Labels' from the menu and click your left mouse button.

NeroVision Express 3 Getting Started • 21

4 Capturing Video from DV cameras and

4.2 Digital video vs. Analog video

There are two types of video sources – analog video and digital video (DV) which have different hardware requirements.

Digital Video (DV): a DV source means that the video signal is delivered by the device to your computer in a digital format. Such devices would typically be DV Camcorders. All you need to transfer video to your PC is a connecting cable and respective sockets on your PC.

Analog Video: video signals from an analog source need to be converted to a digital format for your computer to be able to work with them. Examples of analog video sources include VHS video recorders, TV, VHS-C, 8mm and Hi-8 Camcorders. Unlike DV sources where the device itself delivers digital video signals to your PC, you need to have a video capture card installed in case of analog video signals. The capture card then converts the analog video signals into digital signals.

4.3 Setting up your hardware

4.3.1 Digital Video

Step 1: Please make sure that you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions

on installing your Firewire (IEEE 1394) card or USB card unless it is built-in to your computer or laptop.

NeroVision Express 3 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 22

Step 2: Attach your DV device to the Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable (or USB cable)

then connect it to the corresponding socket on your PC. If your camera is not turned on, please do so now.

4.3.2 Analog Video

Step 1: Please make sure that you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions

on installing your video capture card unless it is built-in to your computer or laptop.

Step 2: Connect your analog video device to the video input socket of your capture card using the necessary cables (please check manufacturer´s instructions regarding which cable is required).

Step 3: Turn on your analog video device.

NeroVision Express 3 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 23

4.4 Capturing your first video

Step 1: Start NeroVision Express 3 and select Capture Video to Hard Drive

NOTE: Capturing video by selecting 'Capture Video' from the CONTENT screen of

a DVD, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD project works exactly the same way, the only difference being that your captured video is automatically added as a video title in that particular project.

Step 2: Please select your capture device (i.e. the device that delivers the video signals you want to capture such as your DV Camcorder or video capture card) from the menu.

Depending on your capture device, it will either be in 'camera' mode, or in 'VCR' mode.

NOTE: Camcorders can be set to either 'camera' mode or 'VCR' mode. Please check the manufacturer’s instructions on how to do this.

'Camera' Mode

In 'camera' mode, video signals are constantly being sent by the device to your PC and you can preview the current video signal in the preview window. In case of a DV camera, whatever you are pointing at would be displayed in the preview screen. A TV card would similarly be in camera mode as there is a constant video

NeroVision Express 3 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 24

signal coming in and there is no way of pausing, rewinding/fast forwarding or restarting the video signal.

'VCR' Mode

In 'VCR' mode, the video already exists on tape (or another medium). To capture that video you need to insert the tape into your video device and play it back. You can also rewind/fast forward through the whole tape to play back specific video scenes.

Step 3: After the device has been selected, please decide which hard drive and folder where you would like to save your video capture to, and enter a suitable name. If you are happy with the default settings for name and location, you can just leave the entry as it is.

NOTE: Capturing video requires a lot of drive space. Please make sure that you have enough drive space to capture all your video. Capturing video from a capture card requires about 3-30MB of hard disk space per second depending on the resolution and the data format of your video. DV capturing via a Firewire card (IEEE 1394) requires about 3.6 MB of hard disk space per second.

Depending on whether your selected device is in Camera or VCR mode, certain control buttons will be available and others will not.

Button function

Play

Stop

Record

Rewind

Fast forward

Full picture

Capture timer

Next channel

Previus channel

If your device is in 'Camera' mode, you can preview the current video in the preview monitor.

NeroVision Express 3 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 25

If your DV device is in 'VCR' mode, you can use the buttons to control the tape. In addition, by selecting these buttons, you can move the video to where you would like to start capturing.

To start captures from an analog device, you must start the play back from the video source. You will see the current scene in the preview monitor.

Step 4: When you are ready to capture your video, please click on the 'Record'

button

and you will see the picture you are recording displayed in NeroVision

Express 3.

Step 5: You can finish capturing video at any time by clicking the 'stop' button

NeroVision Express 3 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 26

Step 6: Following the end of the recording process, the captured file will appear in

a special section of the window containing captured files that have not yet been assigned to any project. If the captured file has been highlighted, you will be able to see it in the preview area. If you wish to record more video files from the same source, click on the 'Record' button again.

Step 7: To exit the 'Capture Video' task, click the 'Next' button on the navigation bar. You will be taken to the START screen where you can decide what to do next.

NeroVision Express 3 Capturing Video from DV cameras and other external video devices • 27

5 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD

or miniDVD

This chapter will help assist you in creating your first DVD disc and/or image. The easy-to-follow steps will show you just how easy the procedure is!

5.1 Choosing the right format

NeroVision Express 3 supports a number of formats:

DVD-Video

Using MPEG-2 technology to compress video files, a DVD-Video can hold up to 135 minutes of video on a 4.7GB DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW in a quality far superior to VHS video or VCD (see below). You are able to view your disc on most DVD players which makes it wonderful for storing all your home videos in the highest possible quality! You can also play DVD’s on your PC if you have the appropriate software and DVD-ROM drive.

With DVD+R9 discs, the capacity of the discs is doubled, so that there is enough space for a DVD-Video.

DVD-Video (VR)

DVD-Video (VR) is a particular type of DVD-video. It can only be created with DVD+RW or DVD-RW discs. This option is only available if the installed recorder supports the burning of DVD VR format. The DVD VR offers three possibilities that are not available with DVD-Video.

 Direct recording of videos onto disc in real-time is possible (Option: direct

recording on VR).

 The data on the disc can later be edited and altered.

 More videos can be added if space is still available on the disc.

The DVD VR is thus comparable with a video recorder (or a video cassette) but with a much higher quality.

However, there are differences between DVD+VR and DVD-VR media. With DVDVR there is no menu, instead a playlist can be created. Besides this, the audio track cannot be changed with DVD-VRs, in other words the existing track cannot be edited and no new track can be added.

NeroVision Express 3 Making your first DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD or miniDVD • 28

miniDVD

In principal a miniDVD is the same as a CD-R or CD-RW written in UDF format with a DVD structure. It offers the same technical options and qualities as a DVD, can create chapters or animated menus and support subtitles and multiple audio tracks (including real digital multichannel sound). While compatibility with all DVD players is not guaranteed, miniDVDs can be played by computers without any problem.

Video CD (VCD)

Using MPEG-1 technology to compress video files, a VCD generates a quality roughly similar to VHS video and can hold up to 74/80 minutes on 650MB/700MB CDs respectively of full-motion video along with stereo sound. VCD’s can be played on most DVD players and on your PC if you have the appropriate software and a drive that can read CD-R/CD-RW discs.

Super Video CD (SVCD)

Very similar to a VCD, this format uses MPEG-2 technology to store video files in a quality roughly similar to S-VHS and can hold around 35/40 minutes on 650MB/700MB CDs respectively of higher quality full-motion video along with stereo sound. SVCD’s can be played on a growing number of DVD players and on your PC if you have the appropriate software and a drive that can read CD-R/CDRW discs.

HD-BURN

In principle, an HD-burn CD is nothing other than a CD-R or CD-RW, where a special procedure is used to double the capacity of a CD and which has a DVD structure written on it in UDF format. It offers the same technical options and qualities as a DVD, can create chapters or animated menus and support subtitles and multiple audio tracks (including real digital multichannel sound).

NOTE: To burn a DVD-Video disc, you need to have a supported DVD recordable drive connected to your system. To burn VCD/SVCD/miniDVD/HD-BURN discs, you need to have a supported CD and/or DVD recordable drive connected to your system. (Please visit

www.nero.com for the list of currently supported drives). Even if you do not have a recorder capable of burning DVD and/or VCD/SVCD/miniDVD/HD-BURN discs, you can still burn a disc image on your hard drive and save it for future use. Once you have the appropriate recordable drive connected to your system, you can open disc images using Nero and/or Nero

Express at any time, and burn real video discs.

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5.2 Information on the DVD-Video plug-in

In order to create and encode video to DVD-Video and/or Super Video CD (SVCD) and/or miniDVD and HD-Burn standard, the source video files need to be encoded into the appropriate MPEG-2 format. SVCD's, miniDVD and HD-Burn and DVDVideo discs can then be created on the appropriate hardware for playback on compatible DVD players. If the original data is not available in a computable format, you will need to create the DVD-Video plug-in. You can acquire this at www.nero.com.

The DVD-Video plug-in is already included in retail version.

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