How to Create a DVD with DVD Flick in 10 Minutes

How to Create a DVD with DVD Flick in 10 MinutesCreating a playable DVD quickly can be handy when you need a physical copy for a presentation, gift, archive, or to play on older DVD players. DVD Flick is a free, lightweight Windows application that simplifies the process of turning video files into a standard DVD. This guide walks you step-by-step through creating a DVD with DVD Flick in about 10 minutes. Times below are estimates and assume you already have your video files ready and a functioning Windows PC with a DVD burner.

What you’ll need (quick checklist)

• A Windows PC with a DVD burner
• Blank DVD-R or DVD+R disc (4.7 GB single-layer for most projects)
• DVD Flick installed (download and install DVD Flick)
• Optional: ImgBurn installed (DVD Flick uses ImgBurn to burn discs; DVD Flick can install it or you can install separately)
• Video files in common formats (MP4, AVI, MKV, WMV, etc.)

Step 1 — Prepare your files (1–2 minutes)

1. Gather the video files you want on the DVD and put them in a single folder for convenience.
2. If files are very large or in an uncommon format, consider quickly checking one plays in a media player. DVD Flick supports many formats; transcoding will occur during DVD creation.

Step 2 — Launch DVD Flick and create a new project (30 seconds)

1. Open DVD Flick.
2. Click “Project settings” and set:
   • Target size: DVD (4.3 GB) or custom if using dual-layer.
   • Encoding profile: choose “Fast” or “Normal” depending on speed vs. quality. For a quick build, select Fast.
   • Aspect ratio: set to Auto or select 4:3 / 16:9 based on your source.
3. Click OK.

Step 3 — Add your videos (1 minute)

1. Click “Add title” and browse to the folder containing your videos.
2. Select one or multiple files — they’ll appear in the Titles list.
3. Optionally reorder titles by selecting and using the up/down buttons. Each title corresponds to a DVD chapter or track.

Step 4 — Add a simple menu (1 minute)

1. Click the “Menu settings” tab.
2. Choose a template from the built-in menu themes. For a 10-minute workflow, pick a simple template (less rendering time).
3. Give the menu a title if desired. You can skip advanced customization to save time.

Step 5 — Configure audio/subtitles (optional, 30 seconds)

1. Select a title and click “Edit title.”
2. Under Audio tracks, confirm or add the audio stream you want.
3. Under Subtitles, add .srt files if needed.
4. Click OK.

Step 6 — Create the DVD project files (2–4 minutes depending on length and settings)

1. Click “Create DVD.”
2. Choose a temporary folder for the project files. DVD Flick will start encoding: it converts your videos into the MPEG-2 format used on DVDs and builds the VIDEO_TS structure.
3. Encoding time depends on:
   • Total video length (shorter = faster)
   • Encoding profile (Fast vs. Normal)
   • Your CPU speed
     For a short video or a fast profile, initial encoding may complete within a few minutes.

Step 7 — Burn to disc using ImgBurn (1–3 minutes)

1. After DVD Flick finishes creating the VIDEO_TS files, it launches ImgBurn automatically (if installed).
2. In ImgBurn:
   • Insert a blank DVD into your burner.
   • Confirm the source (the VIDEO_TS folder) and destination (your DVD drive).
   • Click the burn button.
3. Burning a single-layer DVD usually takes 3–10 minutes depending on burn speed and drive.

Quick troubleshooting tips

• If DVD Flick can’t find ImgBurn: download and install ImgBurn, then re-run the burn step.
• If the disc doesn’t play on your player: check region compatibility, try a different blank disc brand (Verbatim often works well), or reduce burn speed in ImgBurn.
• If encoding fails: ensure source files aren’t corrupted and you have enough free disk space in the temporary folder.

Expected total time

• Short video (under 10–15 minutes) using Fast profile: ~10 minutes (preparation + encode + burn).
• Longer videos or Normal profile: 15–60+ minutes depending on length and CPU.

Tips to speed the process

• Use the “Fast” encoding profile.
• Use short source videos or split long files.
• Close other CPU-heavy applications while encoding.
• Use a fast CPU and an internal DVD burner rather than USB external drives.

Creating a DVD with DVD Flick is straightforward: add titles, pick a menu, create project files, and burn. With a short source and the Fast profile, you can often have a playable DVD in about 10 minutes.