Burning ISO Disc Images to Disc

This guide walks you through converting a video file into a DVD-Video compatible ISO image and then burning it to a physical DVD. The steps include:

Table of contents

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Step 1: Transcoding the Source Video with FFmpeg
    1. Example Command
    2. What This Does
    3. Note on Scaling
    4. Simplified Command
  3. Step 2: Authoring the DVD Structure with dvdauthor
    1. What This Does
  4. Step 3: Creating the ISO Image with mkisofs
    1. Options
    2. Adding Chapters
  5. Step 4: Burning the ISO to a Physical DVD
    1. On macOS
  6. Step 5: Testing the DVD
  7. Additional Notes

Prerequisites

  • FFmpeg:
    Install via Homebrew: 
    brew install ffmpeg
  • dvdauthor: 
    brew install dvdauthor
  • mkisofs (via cdrtools): 
    brew install cdrtools
  • A DVD Burner and Blank DVDs (single-layer 4.7GB discs).

Step 1: Transcoding the Source Video with FFmpeg

DVD-Video requires MPEG-2 video, AC-3 audio, a resolution of 720x480 (NTSC), and specific formatting. If your source is not already DVD-compliant, you must transcode it.

Example Command 

ffmpeg -i "path/to/source_video.mp4" \
       -vcodec mpeg2video -pix_fmt yuv420p -flags +ildct+ilme -top 1 \
       -b:v 6000k -minrate 6000k -maxrate 8000k -bufsize 1835k \
       -vf "scale=720:480,setsar=32/27" -r 24000/1001 \
       -g 15 -bf 2 -dc 10 \
       -acodec ac3 -b:a 192k -ar 48000 -ac 2 \
       -output_ts_offset 0 \
       output_widescreen.mpg

What This Does

  • Encodes video as MPEG-2, interlaced, with a DVD-friendly bitrate.
  • Rescales and sets the aspect ratio for 16:9 widescreen.
  • Sets the frame rate at 23.976 fps. Later, the DVD player will apply pulldown for 29.97 fps NTSC output.
  • Encodes audio as AC-3 stereo at 48kHz and 192 kbps.

Note on Scaling

If your source video is already at a suitable resolution (e.g., already DVD resolution), you may omit the scaling and setsar filters.

Simplified Command 

ffmpeg -i "path/to/source_video.mp4" \
       -target ntsc-dvd -aspect 16:9 \
       -b:v 4500k -b:a 192k \
       dvd_compliant.mpg

This uses presets for DVD output. Adjust -b:v if the final file is too large.

Step 2: Authoring the DVD Structure with dvdauthor

After transcoding, create the DVD file structure (VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directories, IFO/BUP files).

dvdauthor -o /path/to/dvd_structure -t dvd_compliant.mpg
export VIDEO_FORMAT=NTSC
dvdauthor -o /path/to/dvd_structure -T

What This Does

  • Creates the initial DVD title set.
  • Sets the VIDEO_FORMAT environment variable to NTSC before finalizing, ensuring a proper VIDEO_TS directory.
  • Finalizes the structure, resulting in a properly authored DVD folder structure.

Step 3: Creating the ISO Image with mkisofs

Once the DVD structure is ready, convert it into an ISO image.

mkisofs -dvd-video -V "MyDVDTitle" -o dvd.iso /path/to/dvd_structure

Options

  • -dvd-video: Ensures a DVD-Video compliant ISO.
  • -V "MyDVDTitle": Sets the volume label displayed by DVD players.
  • -o dvd.iso: Specifies the output ISO file.

Adding Chapters

Chapters must be set during the dvdauthor step, using -c:

dvdauthor -o /path/to/dvd_structure \
          -t -c 0,5:00,10:00,... dvd_compliant.mpg
dvdauthor -o /path/to/dvd_structure -T

Replace the times as needed. Then run mkisofs as above.

Step 4: Burning the ISO to a Physical DVD

On macOS

  1. Insert a blank DVD.
  2. In Finder, right-click the dvd.iso file.
  3. Select “Burn ‘dvd.iso’ to Disc…”.
  4. Follow prompts to burn.

Step 5: Testing the DVD

Test the burned DVD on a standalone DVD player (e.g., a Pioneer DVD player) to ensure it plays correctly. Check menus, chapters, and video quality.

Additional Notes

  • File Size Considerations: If the final MPEG-2 file is larger than 4.7GB, reduce -b:v (video bitrate) in FFmpeg so the final ISO fits on a single-layer DVD.
  • Aspect Ratio and Scaling: Adjust scaling and aspect ratio parameters to match your source. The provided commands assume a widescreen (16:9) target and scaling from a higher resolution source to standard DVD resolution.