How to Burn PowerPoint to DVD with Wondershare PPT2DVD ProConverting a PowerPoint presentation to a DVD can be useful for sharing slideshows with audiences who don’t have PowerPoint installed, creating archival copies, or playing presentations on a TV via a DVD player. Wondershare PPT2DVD Pro is a dedicated tool that simplifies this process by converting PPT files into DVD-compatible video formats and offering menus, templates, and timing options. This guide walks you through every step — from preparing your presentation to burning a polished DVD — and covers tips for best quality, common issues, and troubleshooting.
Before you begin: what you’ll need
- A Windows PC (PPT2DVD Pro is Windows software; Mac users will need a Windows environment or alternate tools).
- Microsoft PowerPoint installed (recommended so PPT2DVD Pro can access animations, transitions, and embedded media properly).
- Wondershare PPT2DVD Pro installed and activated.
- A blank DVD-R or DVD+R (single-layer) or dual-layer DVD if you need more space.
- A DVD burner on your PC and DVD authoring/burning rights.
- Optional: an external microphone if you plan to record narration, and external speakers if you’ll test audio levels.
Step 1 — Prepare your PowerPoint presentation
Good source material prevents problems later.
- Remove hidden or unused slides.
- Check animations and transitions — note that complex or custom animations may not translate perfectly to video; test them first.
- Embed fonts and verify media: go to File > Options > Save > Embed fonts in the file (PowerPoint). Ensure audio and video files are linked and playable within PowerPoint.
- Rehearse timings and record narration (if needed): use Slide Show > Rehearse Timings or Record Slide Show to capture slide durations and voiceover. PPT2DVD Pro can use these timings during conversion.
Step 2 — Launch PPT2DVD Pro and import your presentation
- Open Wondershare PPT2DVD Pro.
- Click “Create DVD from PowerPoint” (or similar main option).
- Add your PPT/PPTX file(s) via the Add button or drag-and-drop. You can import multiple presentations into one DVD project if you want a menu to switch between them.
Step 3 — Configure conversion settings
PPT2DVD Pro offers several output options. Choose the ones that fit your needs.
- Output format: Select “DVD” for disc creation or choose “Video” (MP4, AVI, WMV) if you want a file instead of burning immediately.
- Video resolution: For best compatibility with DVD players, pick NTSC (720×480) or PAL (720×576) depending on your region. Higher resolutions are available for video files but won’t apply to the DVD-Video standard.
- Frame rate: Keep at standard settings (usually 25 fps for PAL, 29.97 fps for NTSC).
- Quality settings: Choose a higher bitrate for clearer visuals; note that higher bitrates increase file size.
- Use recorded timings and narrations: Check the box to use slide timings and narration if you rehearsed or recorded them in PowerPoint.
- Looping and advanced options: Set the DVD to repeat if desired.
Step 4 — Create a DVD menu
Menus make the DVD user-friendly.
- Click the Menu tab.
- Pick a template from the built-in library. Templates often include placeholders for titles, thumbnails, and chapter buttons.
- Customize text (title, chapter names), background image, and background music. Keep text readable and buttons large enough for TV display.
- Preview the menu to ensure navigation works: test Play, Chapter selection, and any submenu items.
Step 5 — Preview the conversion
Before burning, always preview.
- Use the built-in preview player to simulate the final DVD playback.
- Check slide timing, transitions, animations, embedded video/audio, and menu navigation.
- If something’s wrong, return to PowerPoint to fix media or timings, or adjust PPT2DVD settings.
Step 6 — Convert PowerPoint to DVD-compatible video
- Click Convert or Create to start encoding. PPT2DVD Pro will render each slide (and its animations) into video frames and combine them into a DVD-Video structure (VOB files).
- Conversion time depends on presentation length, resolution, and PC performance. Close unnecessary apps to speed up processing.
- After conversion completes, the software will either produce VIDEO_TS/Audio_TS folders or an ISO image suitable for burning.
Step 7 — Burn the DVD
- Insert a blank DVD into your burner.
- In PPT2DVD Pro, choose Burn to Disc (or Export to ISO, then burn with third-party software).
- Select disc type (DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW) and burning speed — choose a moderate speed (4x–8x) for better burn reliability.
- Start the burn process. Wait until finalization completes before ejecting the disc. Finalization ensures the disc is playable on standard DVD players.
Step 8 — Test the DVD
- Test on a DVD player or TV-connected DVD drive to confirm playback, menu function, audio sync, and video quality.
- If issues appear (e.g., missing audio, choppy video), check the original PPT media, re-convert using lower bitrate or different settings, and reburn.
Tips for best results
- Use standard fonts and embed them. Custom fonts can cause layout shifts.
- Compress large embedded videos into formats friendly to the encoder (MP4/H.264 is preferred) before embedding.
- Keep slide aspect ratio consistent (4:3 for standard DVD; widescreen DVD players support 16:9 but ensure template and TV compatibility).
- Use a quality blank disc and avoid maximum burn speed.
- For long presentations exceeding DVD capacity, split across multiple discs or use dual-layer DVDs.
Common problems & fixes
- Audio missing on DVD: ensure audio is embedded and playable in PowerPoint; enable “Use narrations” in PPT2DVD settings.
- Animations lost or altered: simplify complex custom animations or pre-render animated sequences as video and embed them.
- Menu buttons not responding: rebuild the menu template and ensure chapters were created.
- Burn fails: try a different disc brand, lower burning speed, or update DVD burner drivers.
Alternatives and when to use them
- Create MP4/AVI files instead of DVDs if sharing online, via USB, or for higher resolutions.
- Use dedicated DVD authoring tools (e.g., Adobe Encore alternatives) for advanced menu customization.
- If on Mac, use a Windows virtual machine or third-party Mac software to create DVD-Video.
Short checklist before burning
- Presentation reviewed and finalized.
- Timings and narrations recorded (if needed).
- Fonts embedded; media playable in PowerPoint.
- Menu customized and previewed.
- Blank compatible DVD and burner ready.
Converting and burning a PowerPoint to DVD with Wondershare PPT2DVD Pro is mostly straightforward when the source file is well-prepared. Following the steps above will help you produce a reliable, TV-playable DVD with menus and preserved timing.
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