User Manual Nero Recode www.nero.com Copyright and Trademark Information The Nero Recode 2 User Manual and the Nero Recode 2 Software are copyrighted and the property of Ahead Software AG, Im Stoeckmaedle 18, 76307 Karlsbad, Germany. All rights are reserved. This User Manual contains materials protected under International Copyright Laws. It is expressly forbidden to copy, reproduce, duplicate or transmit all or any part of the Guide or the software without the prior written consent of Ahead Software AG. All brand names and trademarks are properties of their respective owners. THIS MANUAL IS PROVIDED 'AS IS,' AND AHEAD SOFTWARE AG MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR TITLE; THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE MANUAL ARE SUITABLE FOR ANY PURPOSE; NOR THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH CONTENTS WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS OR OTHER RIGHTS. AHEAD SOFTWARE AG WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY USE OF THE MANUAL OR THE PERFORMANCE OR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTENTS THEREOF. The name and trademarks of Ahead Software AG may NOT be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to this manual or its contents without specific written prior permission. Title to copyright in this manual will at all times remain with Ahead Software AG. Ahead Software AG accepts no claims for the correctness of the contents of the manual. The contents of the enclosed software and the manual are subject to change. If you are neither in possession of the copyright nor have authorization from the owner of the copyright, unauthorized copying of CDs or DVDs violates national and international legislation and can result in severe penalties. Copyright © 2003 by Ahead Software AG REV 1.0 Table of contents 1 About Nero Recode 2 ........................................................................ 6 1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4.1 1.4.2 What is Nero Recode 2? ................................................................ 6 Nero Recode 2 as a copying program ............................................. 6 Nero Recode 2 as a compilation program........................................ 6 Nero Recode 2 as a conversion program ........................................ 6 System requirements..................................................................... 6 Installation ...................................................................................... 7 Launching Nero Recode 2 ............................................................. 7 Opening Nero Recode 2 with Nero StartSmart ................................ 7 Launching Nero Recode 2 separately .............................................. 7 2 The Nero Recode 2 interface ............................................................ 8 2.1 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.3 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.4 2.4.1 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.5.5 2.5.6 2.5.7 2.5.8 Introduction .................................................................................... 8 Copying an entire DVD .................................................................. 9 DVD-Video ....................................................................................... 9 DVD data........................................................................................ 12 Creating your own DVD ............................................................... 14 DVD-Video ..................................................................................... 14 DVD data........................................................................................ 16 Create a Nero Digital disc............................................................ 17 DVD-Video ..................................................................................... 17 Advanced display......................................................................... 19 Selecting an import profile.............................................................. 19 Selecting a Nero Digital profile....................................................... 19 Shutting down the computer once burning has been completed ... 20 Setting the burning priority ............................................................. 20 Configuring Nero Recode 2............................................................ 21 Erasing the contents of a disc ........................................................ 24 Obtaining information on the inserted disc ..................................... 25 Nero Cover Designer ..................................................................... 26 3 Import profiles ................................................................................. 27 3.1 3.2 3.3 Creating an import profile ........................................................... 27 Editing an existing import profile ............................................... 34 Deleting an import profile............................................................ 35 Nero Recode Table of contents · 3 4 Copying a DVD ................................................................................ 37 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.3.1 4.3.2 General information ..................................................................... 37 Copying without changing the DVD structure........................... 37 Copying (and changing the DVD structure)............................... 38 Importing a DVD............................................................................. 38 Changing the structure of a DVD ................................................... 41 5 Creating a new DVD ........................................................................ 48 5.1 5.2 5.2.1 5.2.2 5.2.3 Creating a new DVD ..................................................................... 48 Further options............................................................................. 51 Shortening videos .......................................................................... 51 Merging individual titles.................................................................. 52 Separating merged titles ................................................................ 53 6 Converting DVD-Videos to MPEG-4 files with Nero Digital.......... 54 6.1 6.2 6.2.1 6.2.2 6.2.3 6.3 6.3.1 6.3.2 Converting DVD-Video titles into MPEG-4 format..................... 54 Additional conversion options.................................................... 56 Selecting an audio track................................................................. 56 Selecting the subtitle ...................................................................... 57 Information on the DVD-Video title................................................. 57 Specifying the Nero Digital encoder settings............................ 58 Specifying the video settings.......................................................... 58 Specifying the audio settings ......................................................... 61 7 Burning a disc ................................................................................. 62 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.3.1 7.3.2 7.3.3 Burning a disc .............................................................................. 62 Burn options................................................................................. 62 Nero Digital settings .................................................................... 67 Nero Digital settings ....................................................................... 67 Normal mode.................................................................................. 68 Expert mode................................................................................... 69 8 Keyboard shortcuts......................................................................... 73 8.1 Keyboard shortcuts ..................................................................... 73 Nero Recode Table of contents · 4 9 Service.............................................................................................. 74 9.1 9.1.1 9.1.2 9.1.3 9.1.4 9.1.5 9.1.6 9.1.7 9.1.8 9.2 FAQs.............................................................................................. 74 The copied DVD does not contain the audio tracks I selected. What did I do wrong?............................................................................... 74 The copied DVD does not contain the subtitles I selected. What did I do wrong? .................................................................................... 74 The DVD I made does have a DTS soundtrack but I cannot hear any sound. What went wrong during recording? ............................ 74 It takes different lengths of time to recode DVDs, depending on the DVD involved. Why is that?............................................................ 74 I have inserted a DVD and want to copy it but Nero Recode 2 does not recognize it. What am I doing wrong? ...................................... 74 I created an MPEG-4 file but I only have one soundtrack. What went wrong? ........................................................................................... 75 I would like to obtain a newer version of Nero Recode 2. Where can I find out if an update is available and download it?....................... 75 Where can I get help with technical problems?.............................. 75 Contact.......................................................................................... 76 10 Index ................................................................................................. 77 Nero Recode Table of contents · 5 1 About Nero Recode 2 1.1 What is Nero Recode 2? Nero Recode 2 is a program that performs three different tasks in connection with DVD-Video titles that are not copy-protected. 1.1.1 Nero Recode 2 as a copying program Nero Recode 2 is a program for copying and archiving DVD-Video titles that are not copy-protected onto a 4.7 GB DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW or DVD-RAM disc. If the source DVD is larger than 4.7 GB, Nero Recode 2 can compress its contents so that it fits on an empty DVD disc ­ normally without any noticeable loss of quality. In addition, you can remove soundtracks and subtitles with Nero Recode 2 in order to achieve maximum image quality, for example. What is special is that even the DVD menu of the source DVD remains complete if individual titles have been removed. The target DVD can alternatively be written on the hard disk in the form of a DVD-Video directory - or as a so-called disk image on the hard drive. 1.1.2 Nero Recode 2 as a compilation program Nero Recode 2 is a program for compiling DVD-Video titles (that are not copyprotected) onto other media (CD and DVD). If you have DVD-Video titles on different DVDs and would like to compile your favorite titles onto one DVD, you can use Nero Recode 2 to have the desired DVD-Video titles in a new compilation which you can then 'burn'. It does not matter whether you burn the compilation on a DVD or a CD. 1.1.3 Nero Recode 2 as a conversion program Nero Recode 2 is a program you can use to convert DVD-Video titles that are not copy-protected into the Nero Digital Format (MPEG-4) and to burn them onto discs. 1.2 System requirements Nero Recode 2 is installed together with NeroVision Express 2 and its system requirements are the same. You can find more detailed information on the system requirements in the NeroVision Express 2 manual. In addition, you will need to have a computer with a built-in DVD-ROM or DVD recorder, as otherwise you will be unable to read or burn DVDs. About Nero Recode 2 · 6 Nero Recode 1.3 Installation Nero Recode 2 is not installed separately but together with NeroVision Express 2. In other words, after installing NeroVision Express 2 you will also automatically possess Nero Recode 2. 1.4 Launching Nero Recode 2 You can start Nero Recode 2 in two different ways ­ either via Nero StartSmart, the 'command centre' of the Nero family of products, or directly. 1.4.1 Opening Nero Recode 2 with Nero StartSmart Open Nero StartSmart, select 'DVD' as recorder format and click the field with the 'Recode DVD' text. 1.4.2 Launching Nero Recode 2 separately Proceed as follows to launch Nero Recode 2: Click on START > ALL PROGRAMS > NERO > NeroVision Express 2 > Nero Recode. Nero Recode About Nero Recode 2 · 7 2 The Nero Recode 2 interface 2.1 Introduction The Nero Recode 2 interface is independent of the chosen task. This means that there are different commands present on the different interfaces. The individual interfaces are described in the order they appear in the selection area of the start window. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 8 2.2 Copying an entire DVD A DVD may not only contain video files that can be played on a DVD player but also other kinds of data. This data cannot be played on a normal commercially available DVD player but only on a DVD-ROM/DVD burner drive in a computer. When copying a DVD, Nero Recode 2 is capable of copying both the video as well as the data contents. Of course, you can just copy the video element if you wish. You will reach the area for copying an entire DVD by clicking on 'Copy entire DVD to DVD' in the start window. 2.2.1 DVD-Video After clicking on the 'Copy entire DVD to DVD' field in the start window, the DVDVideo area of the backup window for your DVDs will open. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 9 By clicking on 'DVD-Video Files' you will move to the Nero Recode 2 video area. By clicking on the 'Import DVD' button you will open a dialog to import the selected DVD. This button is only enabled if a DVD-Video title has been imported. Clicking on the 'Disable' button will remove titles that were originally present so that they will not be included when you burn your copy. This button is only enabled if an imported DVD-Video title has been deactivated. Clicking on the 'Enable' button will activate titles that were originally disabled so that they will be included when you burn your copy. This button is only enabled if a DVD-Video title has been imported. Clicking on the 'Lock Ratio' button will stop the recorder quality of a DVD-Video title being changed automatically. However, it is still possible to change the quality setting manually by moving the slider. This button is only enabled if a DVD-Video title has been imported and automatic modification has been prevented. Click on the 'Unlock Ratio' button to unblock the automatic modification of the recode a title's quality. The 'Fit to Target' check box is ticked as a default. This means that the disc inserted will later be automatically recoded to fit the size of the blank disk inserted (where technically possible). Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 10 If the 'Fit to Target' check box has been ticked, you can select the target by clicking on the dropdown button. The level indicator will be adjusted depending on the target. If the 'Fit to Target' check box has been disabled, the size of a copy can be specified independently of the disc's size limitations. It may be that it is not possible to burn the DVD structure thus created on a normal, commercially available blank disc. However, this method is suitable for playing a DVD-Video from the hard drive. This information field indicates how much space is currently available on the disc. The Nero Recode 2 level indicator shows how much space on the disc is occupied. As long as the bar of the level indicator is blue, the entire contents will fit onto the disc. If a red bar appears in the indicator, the amount of data is larger than the capacity of the disc. Clicking on the '?' button will tell you more about Nero Recode 2. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 11 2.2.2 DVD data By clicking on 'DVD Data Files' you will move to the Nero Recode 2 data area. In contrast to the video area, the following elements are present in the 'DVD Data Files' area. You can open a dialog to import the selected data files by clicking on the 'Add Files' button. This button is only enabled if a data file is present. Clicking on the 'Delete' button will remove any data files that have been added. Clicking on this icon will start a dialog to let you name a folder to be created in the data section of the disc. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 12 This icon is only enabled in a subordinate folder. If you click on this icon, the contents of the parent folder will be displayed. Clicking on this dropdown button will open a menu and let you choose how the available files will be displayed in the folders. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 13 2.3 Creating your own DVD With Nero Recode 2 you can quickly and easily create a new DVD from DVDVideo titles (provided they are not copy-protected). This allows you to burn a 'Best of' DVD from existing DVD-Video titles and data files. Naturally enough, you can remove any subtitles and audio tracks that you do not want, just like when copying a DVD. You will reach the area for creating your own DVDs by clicking on 'Remake a DVD' in the start window. 2.3.1 DVD-Video After clicking on the 'Remake a DVD' field in the start window, the DVD-Video area of the compilation window for your own DVDs will open. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 14 In contrast to the copy window for a DVD, the following new buttons are present in this compilation window. This button is only enabled if a DVD-Video title has been imported. Clicking on the 'Start / End' button will open a window in which the titles can be shortened ­ you must specify the first and last frame. You can find more detailed information on shortening DVD-Videos in the 'Shortening videos' section. This button is only enabled if a DVD-Video title has been imported and at least two titles have been highlighted. Clicking on the 'Merge Titles' button will merge the two titles to one. You can find more detailed information on mixing DVDVideos in the 'Merging individual titles' section. This button is only enabled if a DVD-Video title has been imported and two titles have been merged to form one single one. Clicking on the 'Separate' button will separate the merged titles so that the original titles are available again in their original form. You can find more detailed information on separating DVD-Videos in the 'Separating merged titles' section. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 15 2.3.2 DVD data By clicking on 'DVD Data Files' you will move to the Nero Recode 2 data area. In contrast to the data window in the copy area, this window does not contain any new areas and buttons. Therefore we will not describe it in further detail here. 2.4 Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 16 Create a Nero Digital disc You can use Nero Recode 2 to convert DVD-Video titles (not copy-protected) with Nero Digital quickly and easily into MPEG-4 files. Like when making your own DVD compilation, you can shorten existing titles if you only want to use certain parts of a DVD title. Unlike a DVD, an MPEG-4 file created with Nero Digital can only have a soundtrack and subtitles in one language. You reach the field for creating a Nero Digital disc by clicking on 'Copy DVD to Nero Digital' in the start window. 2.4.1 DVD-Video After clicking on 'Copy DVD to Nero Digital' in the start window, the DVD-Video area of the compilation window for converting DVD-Vides into MPEG-4 files will open. The Nero Digital Disc import area only has one window for importing DVDVideos as data files cannot be converted to MPEG-4 files. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 17 Two new buttons are now present that are not to be found in the DVD copy and compilation windows. The two buttons are only enabled if a DVD-Video title has been imported. Clicking on the appropriate button will open a window in which you can determine the video and audio settings to be used when converting. You can find more detailed information on Nero Digital settings in sections on 'Specifying the video settings' and 'Specifying the audio settings'. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 18 2.5 Advanced display Clicking on the 'More' button will extend the Nero Recode 2 user interface. Additional options are available in the Nero Recode 2 advanced display mode. You can use it to adapt the program to your personal needs and to start other functions related to DVDs. The content of this area depends on the element of Nero Recode 2 where you clicked on the 'More' button. The following diagram shows the field where all the profiles and commands are displayed. 2.5.1 Selecting an import profile This area allows you to select the profile you want, the settings of which will determine the result of the finished DVD. A special explanation is provided of how to specify a profile. Please read the following section on 'Creating an import profile'. You can change the profile by clicking on the dropdown button and selecting the chosen import profile. 2.5.2 Selecting a Nero Digital profile This profile is only available when the 'Copy DVD to Nero Digital' task has been chosen. This area allows you to select the desired conversion profile. Depending on the purpose of the converted DVD title, the size of the final result can vary. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 19 You can change the profile by clicking on the dropdown button and selecting the desired profile. 2.5.3 Shutting down the computer once burning has been completed In the Nero Recode 2 burning dialog, the user can decide whether the computer is to be shut down once the burning procedure is finished. This check box determines whether or not the computer will be shut down once the burning procedure has been completed. In the default setting, this check box is disabled. In other words, the computer will not be shut down after burning but remains switched on. 2.5.4 Setting the burning priority In the Nero Recode 2 burning dialog, the user can decide how the computer's resources should be employed when burning the disc. This area allows you to select the desired priority. You can change the profile by clicking on the dropdown button and selecting the desired priority. Nero Recode The Nero Recode 2 interface · 20