how to compress video to fit on dvd

I have the same question, but I do not actually understand the response you gave! I am using my hubby's 2015 iMac and I have lots of episodes of video (taping a full day of classes) to put onto a DVD. When I open the card from the video camera, ti shows 12 episodes of film. I insert a DVD, then click and drag one episode to the DVD. I can then burn that one short episode. If I try to put two episodes on, it says that is too much so I have to remove the second episode.

Each episode shows as 2.2 GB. The DVD says it is 4.7 GB, but I understand that the math is different and when you cont actual bits, the DVD can hold only 4.3.

So I want to compress the videos before burning them so that I do not have to use 12 DVDs ! Your response said "share > DVD" which did not actually tell me what to do! Would you be so kind as to help me understand how/what to do?

Thank you.

Susan

I can't figure out how to edit my previous post so I need to tell you that the iMac is my hubby's 2009 iMac (sorry I put 2015 in the original post.) It has a DVD slot in the side and it has a slot for the card from the video camera. So I am using those slots.

Each time I burn an episode it is an MP4. I don't know what that means, but I'll bet you do!

🙂

Susan

When you drag a file to a blank DVD, you're copying it and making a data DVD that will only play on a computer (not on a DVD Player). The disk might alternatively be filled up with text documents if that's what was needed. In other words, the disk is a storage device – just like a thumb drive.

If that's what you want and you need the videos to fit on fewer disks, you have two options: 1) compressing the video files further (which is a pretty deep subject) or buying disks that hold more – say, dual layer DVDs or Blu Ray disks (which hold far more than DVD).

My response to the OP was not about making data DVDs, but rather DVDs that would play in a DVD player. Those are kind that use the MPEG2 compression that I mentioned. As a general matter about 2 hours will fit on a single layer disk without sacrificing too much quality.

Russ

What I am trying to do is copy the video that I made on a camera and put it onto a DVD that can be played on a DVD player. Students who miss the 6-hour long class need to view the video in order to make up their absence.

Obviously I am a babe in the woods when it comes to this. I know how to get the card (I think it is called and SD card) out of the camera and insert it into the iMac. What do I do next? Help!

Thanks.

Susan

Russ,

I just watched a couple of You Tube videos that say to use the software Burn. So should I take the MP4 files and convert them using the software "Burn" and then save to DVD?

Also, they recommend DVD-R. I have DVD +R. Does it matter?

Susan

The determining factor in fitting on a disk is the length of the video. When you share > DVD, the video is compressed to an MPEG-2 file. It should fit easily on a single layer disk.

Russ

I don't understand what you mean.

Are you getting error messages?

Russ

OK. Our posts crossed.

Russ