Defining DVD Authoring

DVD authoring is the process of creating a DVD video capable of playing on a DVD player. DVD authoring software must conform to the specifications set by the DVD Forum group in 1995. The complexity of these specifications results from the number of companies that were involved in creating them.

DVD authoring is the second step in the process of producing finished DVDs: Step 1 is the creation of the movie (or programme); Step 2, the authoring, is the creation of user menus, insertion of chapter points, setting autoplay and/or repeat options; Step 3 is the manufacturing (replication) process to mass-produce finished DVDs.

Strictly speaking, DVD authoring differs from the process of MPEG encoding, but as of 2009 most DVD authoring software has a built-in encoder (though separate encoders are still used when better quality or finer control over compression settings is required).

Most DVD-authoring applications focus exclusively on video DVDs and do not support the authoring of DVD-Audio discs.

Stand-alone DVD recorder units generally have basic authoring functions, though the creator of the DVD has little or no control over the layout of the DVD menus, which generally differ between models and brands.