Nero Recode User Manual

Manual

Nero Recode

This document, like the software described therein, is provided as a license and may only be used or reproduced in accordance with the licensing agreement. The contents of this document, as well as the associated software, is subject to change without prior notice. Nero AG rejects any responsibility for the correctness of the contents of this document and rejects any claims that transcend the clauses of the guarantee agreement.

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Nero Recode

Table of contents

Start Successfully

1.1

About the Manual

1.2

About This Application

1.3

Versions of Nero Recode

1.4

Working With Nero Recode

Starting the Program

User Interface

3.1

Main Window

3.1.1

Extended area - Main window

3.2

Basic Settings

3.2.1

General Tab

3.2.2

DVD Tab

3.2.3

Nero Digital Tab

3.2.4

Audio Tab

3.2.5

File I/O Tab

3.3

Import Screen

3.3.1

DVD-Video Files/Nero Digital Titles Tab

3.3.2

Data Files Tab

3.3.3

Title Import Profiles

3.4

Burn Settings screen

3.4.1

Extended Area (Burn Settings)

3.5

Recoding And Burning Screen

3.5.1

Extended Area - Recoding and Burning

Recoding an Entire DVD

4.1

Setting Options For Recoding an Entire DVD

4.2

Recoding an Entire DVD to DVD

Recoding a main movie to DVD

5.1

Setting Options For Recoding a Main Movie to DVD

5.2

Trim Movie Window

5.3

Default Streams Window

5.4

Recoding a Main Movie to DVD

Compiling a DVD

6.1

Setting Options for Compiling a DVD

6.2

Compiling a DVD

Recoding a DVD to Nero Digital

7.1

Setting Options for Recoding a DVD to Nero Digital

7.2

Nero Digital Video Settings

Nero Recode

7.2.1

Deinterlace Tab

7.2.2

Frame Rate Tab

7.2.3

Crop Tab

7.2.4

Resize Tab

7.2.5

Plug-ins Tab

7.3

Encoder Settings

7.3.1

General Settings

7.3.2

Encoding Tools

7.3.3

Visual Enhancements

7.3.4

Multithreading

7.4

Nero Digital Audio Settings

7.5

Nero Digital Subtitle Settings

7.5.1

Subtitle Formats

7.6

Chapters Window

7.7

Recoding DVDs And Videos to Nero Digital

Recoding a Main Movie to Nero Digital

8.1

Setting Options For Recoding a Main Movie to Nero Digital

8.2

Recoding a Main Movie to Nero Digital

Technical Information

9.1

System Requirements

9.2

Key Combinations

Index

Contact

Nero Recode

1 Start Successfully

1.1 About the Manual

This manual is intended for all users who want to learn how to use Nero Recode. It is process-based and explains how to achieve a specific objective on a step-by-step basis.

To make best use of this documentation, please note the following conventions:

Indicates warnings, preconditions or instructions that have to be precisely followed.

Start Successfully

Indicates additional information or advice.

1. Start … The number at the beginning of a line indicates a prompt for action. Carry out these actions in the order specified.

Indicates an intermediate result.

Indicates a result.

OK Indicates text passages or buttons that appear in the program

interface. They are shown in boldface.

(see…) Indicates references to other chapters. They are executed as links and

are shown in red and underlined.

[…]

Indicates keyboard shortcuts for entering commands.

1.2 About This Application

Nero Recode allows you to copy non-copy-protected DVD videos to DVD, which is a method of archiving your content. If the source video is larger than 4.7 GB, it is compressed to fit on a single-layer DVD without loss of quality.

You can also exclude unwanted material on the source DVD from the copying process (including subtitles or soundtracks) thereby making space for additional videos or for better video quality. The target DVD can also be written to the hard drive as a DVD video index or as a so-called disc image.

Of course, you can also compile content from different (non-copy protected) DVDs, export them to the innovative Nero Digital MPEG-4/H.264 AVC format and burn them to create your own collection.

No matter whether the video is intended for playing on mobile devices or HDTV, the various export profiles allow you to adjust the output format to your requirements - and you always get the best quality for your respective file size thanks to the various export profiles.

Nero Recode

Thus, Nero Recode lets you copy, recompile, and recode the content of DVs and DVDs and then to burn the results to disc.

1.3 Versions of Nero Recode

Nero Recode is also offered in versions different from the full version. These versions differ from the full version in the scope of their features, i.e. they cannot perform all the tasks described in this manual, and the user interface is adapted to the specific version.

The following versions are available:

Nero Recode

 Full version

Nero Recode Essentials

The following features of the full version may not be included:

 PSP export function

 iPod export function

Nero Recode Essentials SE

Exclusive features:

 Recode an entire DVD to DVD

 Burn function (via Nero API)

Nero Recode Essentials CE

The following features of the full version are not included:

 Recode an entire DVD

 Recoding a main movie to DVD

 Change the structure of a DVD

Start Successfully

1.4 Working With Nero Recode

Basically, choose the task you wish from the selection in the Nero Recode main window. This manual contains a chapter for each task that describes all of the steps required for its completion.

To complete the task, you simply navigate through the different steps (a new screen is displayed for each step). For each screen, the manual contains a chapter in which all areas are described in detail.

All the tasks that you can carry out with Nero Recode are basically divided into four steps:

 Selecting the required task

 Importing the files you want to recode

 Setting the options for Nero Digital and for the burn process

 Recoding and burning the disc

Nero Recode

Start Successfully

The best way to create a simple 1:1 copy of a DVD is by using Nero Express or

Use the Next and Back buttons to move back and forth through the three screens while performing a task. This means that you can also change settings that you have already made and undo actions.

Each screen contains tool tips, detailed information and explanations for the buttons, icons and menus. Move the mouse pointer over a control element for a few seconds to see the tool tip.

You should know the following definitions in Nero Recode:

Encoding Means the conversion of a video of any format into another format,

e.g. MPEG-2 or Nero Digital (MPEG-4). A corresponding encoder is required for each target format.

Transcoding Means the conversion of a video from one particular format into

another, e.g. from Xvid to MPEG-2.

In this manual transcoding is used synonymously with encoding.

Recoding Means the conversion of an existing video with certain properties

(e.g. bit rate 2500 kbps) into the same format with different properties (e.g. bit rate 1990 kbps).

Decoding Means opening or playing a video that has been encoded in a

particular format.

Nero Burning ROM. There is no compression whatsoever in this case. The recordable disc used must have as much free disk space as is shown for the content of the original DVD.

You can find detailed instructions on how to work with the application in the separate Nero Express and Nero Burning ROM user manuals.

Unless you possess the copyright yourself, or at least have the permission of the copyright holder, the unauthorized reproduction of discs may be a breach of national or international law and may lead to severe penalties!

Nero Recode

2 Starting the Program

To start Nero Recode via Nero StartSmart, proceed as follows:

1. Click the Nero StartSmart icon.

 The Nero StartSmart window is opened.

2. Click the button.

 The list of Nero applications is displayed.

Starting the Program

3. Select the Nero Recode entry in the selection list.

 The Nero Recode window is opened.

 You have started Nero Recode via Nero StartSmart.

Nero Recode

Nero StartSmart window

3 User Interface

3.1 Main Window

The Nero Recode user interface consists of a main window and an extended area. After selecting a task in the Nero Recode screen, complete the task by navigating through the various steps with a new screen displayed for each.

User Interface

The following selection options are available in the Nero Recode main window:

Recode an Entire

DVD to DVD

Imports DVDs including their menus and extras. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Recode Main Movie

to DVD

Imports the main movie on a DVD without menus and extras. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Nero Recode

Main window

User Interface

Each screen contains tool tips, detailed information and explanations for the

Compile a DVD Imports video titles and compiles an individual DVD from one or

more DVDs. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Recode DVDs and

Videos to Nero

Digital

Imports video titles from one or more DVDs and converts them to Nero Digital (MPEG-4) files. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Recode Main Movie

to Nero Digital

Imports the main movie from a DVD without menus and extras and converts it to Nero Digital (MPEG-4) files. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

The following buttons are available:

More Opens and closes the extended area in which the basic Nero

Recode settings can be made.

? Displays the online help as well as the version and manufacturer

information.

Exit

buttons, icons and menus. Move the mouse pointer over a control element for a few seconds to see the tool tip.

Closes Nero Recode.

See also

 Extended area - Main window → 10

3.1.1 Extended area - Main window

The Nero Recode user interface consists of a main window and an extended area. Clicking the More button opens the expanded area.

The following buttons are available in the extended area:

Options Calls up a window containing various tabs that allow you set the way

the program operates.

Erase Disc

Erases a rewritable disc.

Nero Recode

User Interface

Each screen contains tool tips, detailed information and explanations for the

Disc Info

Nero

CoverDesigner

buttons, icons and menus. Move the mouse pointer over a control element for a few seconds to see the tool tip.

See also

 Basic Settings → 11

 Main Window → 9

3.2 Basic Settings

The Nero Recode Options window has the General, DVD, Nero Digital, Audio, and File I/O tabs available. You can customize Nero Recode according to your preferences in this

window. To open the window, click the Options button in the extended area.

Calls up information about the disc in the drive.

Launches Nero CoverDesigner in a new window.

Nero CoverDesigner is an application in the Nero Multimedia Suite and is automatically installed during the main installation procedure. Nero CoverDesigner allows you to create and print labels and booklets for burned DVDs and CDs. Please see the separate Nero CoverDesigner user manual for full instructions on how to make professional looking covers and labels.

Nero Recode

Nero Recode Options window

See also

 Extended area - Main window → 10

 File I/O Tab → 15

 Audio Tab → 14

 Nero Digital Tab → 13

 DVD Tab → 12

 General Tab → 12

3.2.1 General Tab

On the General tab, you can define general Nero Recode settings.

The following setting options are available:

Button

Enable All

User Interface

This enables all warnings if these have been disabled manually.

Check box

Do not eject the disc

encoding/burning is

Check box

detailed report after

See also

 Basic Settings → 11

3.2.2 DVD Tab

The DVD tab is divided into the Import DVD and Output DVD areas. You can define the settings for DVD importing and outputting in this tab.

after

complete

Show help dialog

boxes

Offer to save

successful burn

process

If this check box is selected, the disc is not ejected after the burn process.

If this check box is selected, brief explanation texts appear when you move the cursor over individual items of the Nero Recode interface.

If this check box is selected, Nero Recode offers the option, after each burn process, of saving a report that was created during the burn process.

Nero Recode

The following check boxes are available on the Import DVD area:

Prompt to include

DVD data files when

If this check box is selected, content is transferred, i.e. copied as well, when a DVD with data content is imported.

importing

User Interface

Relax DVD-Video

specification to

allow 16-bit Unicode

for the volume label

If this check box is selected, limitations on the use of character sets are relaxed.

Nero Recode does not use characters from languages like Japanese or Korean, which have a 16-bit Unicode character set that does not comply with DVD-Video requirements.

The following check boxes are available on the Output DVD area:

Remove P-UOPs (Prohibited User

Operations) from

target disc

If this check box is selected, the locked areas of a DVD are made accessible to the user when the DVD is copied.

For example, if the original DVD contains an area that cannot be skipped, you can use Nero Recode to remove the block so that users can skip or fast forward through the area.

Remove Layer Break If this check box is selected, Nero Recode removes the layer

break.

If the original DVD consists of two layers, there is a command on the DVD to freeze the image briefly to allow the laser to switch from the first layer to the second. When Nero Recode is used to copy to a DVD with just one layer, this command is redundant and can be removed.

See also

 Basic Settings → 11

3.2.3 Nero Digital Tab

The Nero Digital tab is divided into the Import presets and Misc settings areas. You can define the settings for conversion into the Nero Digital format here.

The following setting options are available in the Import presets area:

Check box

Analyze files while

importing

Check box

Keep interlaced

content if possible

If this check box is selected, Nero Recode performs an analysis of the video file during the importing process.

If this check box is selected, Nero Recode keeps the interlaced content of a video file, provided that this is possible.

Nero Recode

User Interface

Check box

Keep input

resolution for

interlaced encodings

Check box

Prefer motion

adaptive

deinterlacing

method

Drop-down menu

Default resizing

If this check box is selected, Nero Recode keeps the input resolution of the video file if encoding should be carried out with the interlaced feature.

The resolution is not changed and picture edges are not trimmed.

If this check box is selected, Nero Recode selects the motion- adaptive deinterlacing method as the preferred encoding method.

Even quick motion sequences are extremely sharp and detailed. However, burning is slower.

Selects the method for changing video resolution.

Bilinear interpolation is selected by default.

method

The following check boxes are available in the Misc settings area:

Enable classic set of

Nero Digital profiles

Activates the classical set of Nero Digital profiles, available in the screens My Nero Digital Disc and My Nero Digital Film Backup in the drop-down menu Nero Digital Profiles.

If the check box is deselected, Nero Digital AVC and Nero Digital

Standard are offered.

Auto-close iTunes after iPod transfer

Never write extra

track to allow low-

memory device

See also

 Basic Settings → 11

3.2.4 Audio Tab

The Audio tab is divided into the Preview and Decoding areas. You can define audio quality settings in this tab.

The Preview area features a drop-down menu. You can use this menu to choose the preview mode for audio that is best suited to your hardware and to your speakers.

The Decoding area features the Apply Dynamic Range Compression when decoding Dolby Digital(TM) tracks check box. If this check box is selected, the level control for Dolby Digital tracks is adjusted in order to reduce hissing and static noise.

If this check box is selected, iTunes is automatically closed after transcoding into Apple iPod video.

If this check box is selected, the creation of a special extra track is prevented.

Certified players with low RAM can play long movies.

playback

Nero Recode

See also

When read with SPTI/ASPI, non-copy-protected DVD that feature a copyright bit

The screen varies depending on the selected task. Following is an explanation of

 Basic Settings → 11

3.2.5 File I/O Tab

On the File I/O tab you can define the method for accessing a drive for direct conversion.

You can choose the SPTI/ASPI or Windows File System entries from the drop-down menu.

will display a message stating that the DVD cannot be copied due to copy protection. In this case, you should choose the Windows File System option when reading.

See also

 Basic Settings → 11

3.3 Import Screen

In the screen for importing files, you can add your DVD video title, add data files, adjust the required video quality for the title, and transfer or remove audio tracks and subtitles from the selection of the original DVD.

User Interface

the setting options that are always shown on this screen. You can find the explanation for the setting options that are displayed depending on the selected tasks in the description for the individual tasks.

The screen is divided into the DVD-Video Files/Nero Digital Titles and Data Files tabs.

A capacity bar below shows how much space is occupied on the disc graphically. As long as the bar is green, all the content fits on the disc. If a red bar is shown on the display, the data volume is larger than the disc's capacity. The Total size area, located to the right of the capacity bar, is also used to indicate the space that is already occupied, in MB.

Clicking the More button displays the extended area. In this area, you can use the Title

import profile area to create and save required quality settings in your own profile.

Nero Recode

User Interface

The screen varies depending on the selected task. Following is an explanation of

See also

 Title Import Profiles → 19

 Data Files Tab → 18

 DVD-Video Files/Nero Digital Titles Tab → 16

3.3.1 DVD-Video Files/Nero Digital Titles Tab

You can use the DVD-Video Files and Nero Digital Titles tabs to add your DVD tracks and video files.

Both tabs are divided into a content area, a preview area beneath it to the left, and the Audio/Subtitle/Info tabs, which show the audio tracks and subtitles on the original DVD, to the right.

Nero Recode

The following setting options are available:

Button

Opens a window to import the required DVD and/or video title.

Import DVD /

Import Titles /

Import Files

User Interface

Check box

Fit to target

If this check box is selected, the content of the imported disc is recoded automatically in such a way that it can fit on the inserted recordable disc. The check box is selected by default.

If the check box is deselected, the size of the copy can be defined irrespective of the limitation of a disc. Although it may not be possible to burn the resulting DVD structure onto a typical commercial blank disc, the DVD-Video title could certainly be played from the hard drive.

Drop-down menu

Fit to target

Shows the target medium.

This drop-down menu is active when the Fit to target check box is selected.

The imported video titles are shown on the content area. The following information on the individual titles is available:

Column

Shows the structure transferred from the DVD.

Content

Column

Shows the duration of the respective area, folder, or video title.

Duration

Column

Video quality

Size

Shows the memory size of the respective area, folder, or video title.

Feature limitation.

Shows the quality (in percentage) in which Nero Recode can recode the area, folder, or video title.

If the content of the imported disc must be recoded in such a way as to fit it on a smaller target recordable disc, the quality of all video titles is adjusted uniformly.

Nero Recode

User Interface

The screen varies depending on the selected task. Following is an explanation of

You can play a preview of the imported video title in the preview area. The following setting options are available:

Button

Ends playback.

Button

Starts playback.

Slider

Skips to particular points.

Button

Enlarges/reduces the preview area.

The Audio/Subtitle/Info tabs show the audio tracks and subtitles on the original DVD. You can select any desired video title in the content area in order to see the corresponding audio and subtitle tracks. These are imported according to the profile chosen during the import process. The following tabs are available:

Audio

Subtitles

Info

Displays the audio tracks imported in line with the import profile.

Displays information about the imported video title.

See also

 Import Screen → 15

3.3.2 Data Files Tab

Data files can be burned onto the disc as well as the film. These files are imported using the Data Files tab.

Nero Recode

The following buttons are available:

Add Files

Opens a window for adding the desired data files.

User Interface

Delete

See also

 Import Screen → 15

3.3.3 Title Import Profiles

You can select the desired profile for importing a DVD or create and manage your own import profile in the Title import profile area.

Clicking the Profiles button opens the Nero Recode Profile window. You can make adjustments in the Video, Audio, and Subtitle tabs.

The following buttons are available:

Drop-down menu

Current profile

Removes a selected data file.

This is enabled only if at least one data file has been added.

Returns to the next higher level in the folder structure.

This is only active when the user is located in a subfolder.

Opens a window for creating a new folder inside the disc's data area.

Opens a menu for changing the way/view in which the files appear in the folders.

Shows the current selected profile.

If you create your own import profiles, these are listed in the dropdown menu as entries.

Button

Calls up a window where a new profile can be created.

New

Button

Delete

Deletes the current profile displayed in the Current Profile dropdown menu.

The following settings are available on the Video tab:

Quality distribution

Defines the quality ratio between the main movie and the extras.

Menus Indicates whether the menus contained in the video file can be

copied in original quality.

Nero Recode

The following setting options are available on the Audio tab:

Check box

Preselect the

If this check box is selected, only audio tracks in the specified languages are imported when the DVD is imported.

following audio

tracks

User Interface

Button

Add

Opens a window in which the desired languages for importing audio tracks can be selected.

This button is enabled only if the Preselect the following audio tracks check box has been selected.

Button

Remove

Removes languages from the list box.

This button is only enabled if the Preselect the following audio tracks check box is selected and at least one language has been selected for removal from the list box.

Drop-down menu

From multiple

Specifies the audio format used if there are several audio tracks in the same language on the DVD.

tracks of the same

language select

Check box

Select all tracks if

none meets my

If this check box is selected and none of the audio tracks on the corresponding DVD meet the defined criteria, all audio tracks are imported as an alternative.

selection criteria

The following setting options are available on the Subtitle tab:

Check box

Preselect the

If this check box is selected, only subtitles in the specified languages are imported when a DVD is imported.

following subtitle

tracks

Button

Add

Remove

Opens a window in which the desired languages for importing subtitles can be selected.

This button is only enabled if the Preselect the following subtitle tracks check box is selected.

Removes languages from the list box.

This button is only enabled if the Preselect the following subtitle tracks check box is selected and at least one language has been selected in the list box for removal.

Nero Recode

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