What Is DVDStyler and What Does It Do?

Updated

DVDStyler is a cross-platform, free, open-source DVD authoring application for Linux and Windows. It lets you turn video files into a DVD that plays on standalone DVD players, and it adds interactive menus rather than just burning files to disc. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is described on its own site as completely free.

What "DVD authoring" means here

Authoring is the step between having video files and having a finished DVD. DVDStyler handles that step: you bring in your video, arrange it into a DVD structure, design the menu, and then burn the result.

The site states it supports burning video files to DVD in a form that can be played practically on any standalone DVD player, and that you can also create individually designed DVD menus.

Main things you can do

  • Create and burn DVD video with interactive menus
  • Design your own menu, or pick one from a list of ready-to-use templates
  • Build a photo slideshow
  • Add multiple subtitle and audio tracks
  • Put files with different audio/video formats on one DVD (titleset support)
  • Import an image file as a menu background
  • Place buttons, text, images, and other graphic objects anywhere on the menu screen
  • Change font, color, and other parameters of buttons and graphic objects
  • Scale any button or graphic object, and copy any menu object or a whole menu
  • Customize navigation using DVD scripting

Format support

The site lists support for AVI, MOV, MP4, MPEG, OGG, WMV and other file formats, plus MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, Xvid, MP2, MP3, AC-3 and other audio and video formats. It also notes multi-core processor support, and that MPEG and VOB files can be used without reencoding (with details in the FAQ).

Who it is for

DVDStyler is aimed at video enthusiasts who want professional-looking DVDs. The combination of menu templates, drag-and-drop, and flexible menu creation on the basis of scalable vector graphics suits people who want control over the disc menu without a commercial authoring suite.

Practical notes before you start

  • Platforms: Linux and Windows, described as cross-platform.
  • Cost: Free software under the GPL; the site states it is completely free.
  • Reencoding: If your source is already MPEG or VOB, the site says you can use it without reencoding — worth checking the FAQ, since avoiding reencoding saves time and preserves quality.
  • Menus: You are not limited to templates; you can build menus from scratch and position objects freely.

Related tool on the same site

The site also points to MP4Joiner, a simple free tool for joining multiple MP4 files into one. It joins without reencoding and without quality loss, which is useful if you want to combine clips before authoring a DVD.