Smart DVD Creator FAQs

Q. Can I use simple conversion software to create an mpeg file from my multi-media files and burn a DVD to watch on my DVD player?
A. No - Converting a multi-media file like wmv to mpeg just creates a data file. If you burn it on a DVD or VCD, you create data DVD, not a movie format that you can watch as a movie. To create a movie DVD, you need the special authoring and recording capabilities of Smart DVD creator. So you can play it on your home or computer DVD player and watch it on your TV or PC

Q. What is MPEG?
A. MPEG or Moving Pictures Entertainment Group video is cross-platform compatible - you can play it on all computer systems. It uses special compression techniques to achieve high quality viewing at smaller file sizes.

MPEG 1, a popular format for VCD recording, is playable on any Pentium computer. It stores about 70 minutes of quality audio/visual data at a significantly reduced file size.. A low-resolution format popularly used in the many of the clips you see on the Internet, it's also the technology that digital cameras and camcorders use to record small video clips.

MPEG 2, used in recording SVCDs, hold more data than a VCD (about 35-45 minutes or 650MB of video and stereo quality audio). Its quality falls between that of VCD and DVD, with SVCD images roughly two times better than that from a VCD.

MPEG 2 also records DVDs and digital satellite TV It is half the size of MPEG 1, and twice as good in terms of resolution and quality. But, it needs a Pentium 350-450 for viewing, as it is a much higher resolution format. MPEG 4 cuts MPEG2 file sizes to one-tenth of the original at the high visual quality and speed. An advanced streaming and downloading format with a multi-language support codec, is popular on the Internet -- you can download DIVX, its popular variation, to play on your computer, share it over the Internet, and even play it on some of the newer DVD players. DIVX supports 3D animation, text and a host of other media, including portable video recorders.
File extensions: .mpg or .mpeg

Q. What is AVI?
A. AVI or Audio Video Interleave format stores audio and visual data in a particular way to allow simultaneous playback. Created by Microsoft for Windows, AVI files can be large, and their usage is popular in DIVX and MPEG. Its more commonly used variation, DV AVI creates digital video transfers between computers and cam recorders without compromising, or losing quality (losslessly).

AVI is not a codec, but it can use multiple combinations of codec (compressor/depressor). This makes it versatile, for use with many different codecs in media like ClearVideo/Realvideo, Cinepak Intel Real Time Video, motion JPEG, Editable MPEG full frames (uncompressed), RealVideo, MPEG-4 among others.
File extensions: .avi

Q. What is QT?
A. Quick time, a high audio/video quality multimedia streaming file format created by Apple Computer, supports most encoding formats and is the closest to a standard cross-platform movie format, after Jpeg. This and its support for integration of dynamic components makes it popular for use in 3D animation, real time, special effects and virtual reality and more on the Internet, but you will need to download an application that uses quick time to use it
File extensions: .mov

Q. What is RM?
A. RM or Real Media transfers live video and audio over the Internet using streaming technology. A copyrighted format developed by Real Networks, it's easy to use with both IP connections and multicast IP connections, but you will have to download software for real time playback.. Its later versions create high quality files and smooth playback. So much so, that it can sharpen video images at any Internet connection speed. This is why it is so popular in web cams, reality shows, and on the Internet -- over 85% of audio/video files on the Internet use the RM programming format.
File extensions: .rm .rmvb

Q. What is WMV?
A. WMV, or Windows Media Video, a Microsoft creation for Windows, uses the ASF streaming format, delivering audio/visual data in a continuous flow that you can download. Designed for networks like the Internet, it is a highly compressed format that does not compromise quality, even at the smallest of file sizes. It can therefore correspond to many bandwidths, and supports all types of video content, including audio, synchronized events and slide shows.
File extensions: .wmv or .asf

Q. What is codec?
A. Codec instructs your computer on how to encode (or compress) your file when you save it, and how to decode (or decompress) it when you open it. The codec that opens your video file also plays it on your computer. The choice of your codec is very important. You will need to install the relevant codec on your computer to ensure you can play your video files.

Q. Which MP3 encoder does Smart DVD Converter use?
A. Smart DVD Converter works with LAME.

Q. What are the limitations of the trial version?
A. The trial version helps you assess the flexibility, ease of use and output quality of your files firsthand. It converts 70% of the input file as an indicator of its performance, though it comes with all the other features of the full version of Smart DVD Creator. Remember, it's backed by a 100% money-back guarantee unlike most other DVD creators on the market!

Q. I've lost my registration! How can I get it again?
A. Please contact us by Email:, We will re-send the registration instructions to you.

Q. Is online ordering secure?
A. Yes, absolutely -- Our server software encrypts all of your personal information to make it secure, so no unauthorized person can view your confidential information as it is transmitted over the Internet.