Rating: 5

Version tested: 1.2.0 build 260 final

Description: DVD Flick is a free, open-source DVD authoring tool that can convert and write almost any video file or files into a DVD (or ISO) playable on any hardware DVD player

This program will let you (a) combine a single file or multiple files into a playable DVD, (b) add subtitles, and (c) add secondary audio tracks. It has a number of definite strengths, as follows:

• Simple, straightforward interface design. It is remarkable how simple and intuitive this UI is, especially for a DVD authoring tool. This alone is reason enough for me to switch to this program.
• Will convert almost any video file, which means that you are extremely likely to be able to put any video that you may have on your hard drive on DVD. This is not to be taken for granted, as I recently tried to convert a video file to DVD using another favorite program of mine, AVI2DVD, only to find that it was not able to handle the audio.
• A partial list of supported formats are as follows: AVI, MPG, MOV, WMV, ASF, FLV, Matroska and MP4. Supported codecs are amongst others, MPEG-1\2\4 (Xvid, DivX, etc.), Windows Media Audio\Video. MP3, OGG Vorbis, H264, and On2 VP5\6.
• You can convert to ISO image on hard disk if you do need want to burn to DVD or there’s not one handy.
  Read more »

Rating: 5

Version tested: 0.5.1.build 2845

Description: Mediacoder is a free universal transcoder that can be used to convert across many different audio and video formats. It offers advanced features including batch encoding and extendability through plugins.

If you’ve ever wanted a program that can convert any media format to another (audio and video), this is the program that you’re looking for. Here are some of the most important features this program offers:

• Fully standalone; all codecs, filters and/or media players it needs are built it. This means that (a) it will not install a bunch of codecs and filters on your system that you may or may not use or need, and (b) there is less of a liklihood that your conversions may suffer from any conflicts and/or problems with the codecs that may exist on your machine.
• Allows for batch encoding
• Allows you to convert audio across multiple formats. Reads and writes the following: MP3, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, AAC+, AAC+V2, MusePack, WMA, RealAudio, FLAC, WavPack, Monkey’s Audio, OptimFrog, AAC Lossless, WMA Lossless, WAV/PCM. Read more »

Rating: 5

Version tested: 2.5.047

Description: MagicDisc is a program that can create disc image files from CDs and DVDs as well as mount disc image files of various types through a virtual CD/DVD drive.

Here’s what you need to know about this program:

• Will work with both CDs and DVDs
• Allows you to open and use disk image files without the need to burn them into CDs; will create a virtual drive that will behave exactly as a normal CD/DVD would. Read more »

Rating: 5 

Version tested:  0.4.4 Beta

Description: AVI2DVD is a tool that will convert your AVI files into playable DVDs, VCDs, or SVCDs, or alternately convert DVDs into VCDs or SVCDs. It will generate an ISO file that you can burn into DVD or CD media.

AVI2DVD is a a front-end GUI that utilizes a number of freeware tools to do the conversion. For the purposes of testing I converted a 700 meg Xvid-encoded AVI file into DVD format. It took AVI2DVD 2 hours and 45 minutes to do the job, and the final product was excellent! Note that the time it takes will depend on your source file(s), your chosen settings, and the processing power of your hardware.

Note that AVI2DVD is still BETA software, and may be buggy. Having used it I can report that I have not found any problems with it so far. Read more »

Rating: 5 

Version tested:  2.1.6.101

Description: AVS Disk Creator is a simple yet powerful CD/DVD burning program that offers many useful features including data verification, multisession support, and ISO support. AVS can read/burn a wide variety of media formats, including dual-layer and the new Blu-Ray.

This is one of the most powerful and best looking CD/DVD burning solutions; my definite choice for freeware programs in its category.

What this program offers:

• A straightforward design that is simple and easy to use. Working with files and folder (adding, deleting, renaming, etc.) is very intuitive.
• A clean, compact sleek look (comes replete with a handful of skins).
• Support for a wide variety of drives and media formats, including dual layer the next generation Blu-Ray formats. Supported media formats include: CD-R/RW, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, Double/Dual Layer DVD and the latest Blu-ray technology BD-R and BD-RE.HD-DVD format support promised in future versions. Read more »

Rating: 5 

Version tested:  2.1.0.0

Imgburn is a program that will burn any image file into CD’s or DVD’s.

It will burn ripped DVD images generated by DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink. It will also burn to DVD or build an image from ripped VOB files on the hard drive.

Moreover Imgburn can burn 8 gigabyte double-layer DVDs. For these, it can either use the layer break in the IFO file (which can be user-specified) or it can calculate the best break location on its own. Read more »

Rating: 5 pick

Version tested:  1.5.1.0

Description: Ripit4me is a program that works with either DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink to rip copy protected DVD’s onto the hard drive.

RipIt4Me acts as a front-end for those other ripping programs and will not do the ripping itself; RipIt4Me’s added value is that it enables these programs to handle stronger copy protections that some newer DVD’s come with, such as ARccOS and RipGuard DVD. It will can adjust the ripped DVD files into better DVD compliance – I’m not sure exactly what that means but I know that in some cases this will enable you to fix an issue where burned DVDs would have problems working on a standard DVD player even when they play just fine on the computer.

Read more »

Rating: 5

Version tested: 2,0,9,360

GOM Player is a freeware player for DVDs and Video Files.

• It offers advanced features and a really slick look-and-feel
• Comes with its own resident codecs, meaning that you WILL be able to play pretty much every format without needing to find, download, and install different codecs for different formats.
• Also purports to have patented technology that allows you to play partially downloaded files! I haven’t tried this, but it sounds good to me.

Read more »