Computer Help. DVD Burning

My folks have a large .mts file saved on the computer. It was originally on a mem dick for a camcorder. They want to burn it to DVD so that we can watch it on a widescreen HD Television.

First of all, do I need a special kind of DVD burner or will the one that came with this Dell work?

Second, if I have to convert the .mts file what format should I pick? (my free software can convert to .avi, .mp4, .flv, .swf, PAL DVD .mpg, and NTSC DVD .mpg)... my dad tried burning the .mts on a dvd and it wouldn't play on any of our DVD players that way

If you're in the UK you'll probably want PAL DVD mpg, or NTSC DVD mpg for the US. Will the software also author/burn the disc or is it just conversion? The burner you have is fine but it won't be in HD (obviously, since it's just a DVD) and the converted file will have to be under 4.9 GB or you'll need dual-layer discs which are a headache.

Also of note--in order for things to play on a DVD player, they need to be burned as DVD-Video discs, which are a specifically-arranged set of folders and files. DVD burning software will set this up for you if you select "DVD Video" as the type of thing you want to burn, but if you just try to burn it as a file it'll just be a data disc.

hmmm the converter I downloaded doesn't let you convert it to 16:9 in either PAL or NTSC (and 16:9 is better in PAL according to this chart).

I'm gonna have to find and download a different converter. Are you saying that PAL won't work on most US peoples DVD players and I and I should look for NTSC 16:9?

yeah, I'm gonna use DVD burning software, but I don't know what is already on this computer... I'll find something if this current software sucks

Well the thing with NTSC and PAL is, most all US DVD players and televisions ONLY support NTSC; same with UK and PAL, so you have to do it depending on what country you're in. It's bullshit regional formatting standard mumbo jumbo based on old broadcast standards. Also, 16:9 describes the ratio of the picture's width:height; it's widescreen. The old camcorder almost definitely shot in 4:3 (which is what TV shows and VHS tapes usually are), so if you convert it to 16:9 it will either stretch/skew the picture or chop some of it off.

the .mts is already in widescreen supposedly because that's how I videotaped it
but yeah, I'll try NTSC because of the regional difference

Ah right, I just realized that. What make/model of camcorder? Maybe there's something in the manual abt DVD conversion? Did the camera come w/ software? But yeah if you convert to NTSC mpg it theoretically should work smoothly when you go to author the DVD

I'm gonna eventually use Windows Movie Maker to burn the dvd

The most recent converter I downloaded is offering different outputs... all of which can be burned using Windows Movie Maker
but I don't know what the best output is here:

# HD Video Encoding and Decoding
Support HD video conversion to convert video from MTS and M2TS to HD AVI, HD ASF, HD H.264, HD QuickTime, HD MPEG-2/4.
# MTS converterConvert MTS Videos to Popular Videos
Convert MTS files to AVI, MPEG, MOV, e.g. convert MTS to AVI, MTS to MOV, MTS to MPEG-1/2, MTS to MPEG-4 AVC.

I shouldn't bother with HD right?

I had to download yet another converter (I had to find freeware because the trial stuff won't burn a whole video)
This time I have the options to convert to Avi (High Quality) or DVD NTSC. I'm trying .avi first and if this works find I'll not bother trying DVD NTSC

maybe I shold of tried DVD NTSC first... I dunno.

No, don't bother with HD since you'll just have to reconvert it. The files that eventually get put on the DVD-Video discs are .VOB, which are essentially renamed MPEG files, so yeah do DVD NTSC first. If you're on AIM you can webmail me your screen name, that might be easier?

The best option seems to be this program called ConvertXtoDVD which technically costs $49 but I could probably help a brother out

okay thanks, saw your e-mail too
I'm already in the middle of .avi conversion so I'm just gonna finish this first