How to burn AVI files to DVDs?

With the right software tools, you can transform your home videos to professional looking DVDs. This gives you a higher quality result than transferring video footage from your camera or camcorder to video cassette tapes. You also have greater flexibility in editing AVI files than you have with VHS footage.

Instructions

Create DVDs from your home video footage

Step 1

Connect your video source to your computer with the included cable. USB and firewire cables are the most common ways to connect video sources to your computer.

Step 2

Download the AVI files from your video source onto your computer. Depending on the length and quality of your video, it can take more than an hour to transfer your files.

Step 3

Launch your video editing software and import the AVI files into its library. If you will be using the same AVI files to create different DVDs, the AVI files will be in the software's library the next time the program is launched.

Resources

Software suite for Macs with video editing and DVD authoring tools

Step 4

Edit your raw AVI files. You can remove unwanted video footage, as well as insert effects including transitions and fades. You can also combine multiple AVI files into a continuous video stream.

Step 5

Save your edited video files. You can choose to save them as new AVI files or as DVD projects.

Step 6

Open your DVD authoring software and import the files created in Step 5.

Resources

Software suite for Macs with video editing and DVD authoring tools

Step 7

Create a DVD menu with your DVD authoring software. This can be a menu with static images and text, or feature animation and clips of your AVI files.

Step 8

Burn your complete DVD project to blank DVDs.