Why Linux? There are lots of encoding tool for Windows including codec pack. Usually, I use Windows for playback and also desktop work. My Windows is not as fast as you think. It is just a laptop. I don"t want to use my laptop to create a DVD! Fortunately, I have many linux account. The linux machines seem to be slower than my laptop but there are more that one of them! That means I can create a DVD faster by encoding several tracks simulteneously on multiple hosts.

The key software is ffmpeg for encoding video in any formats into mpeg2 codec. It depends on only output format of your choice. NTSC or PAL. Widescreen or Fullscreen.

NTSC Widescreen

ffmpeg
   -i ${VIDEO}.avi
   -hq
   -pass 2
   -target ntsc-dvd
   -aspect 16:9
   ${VIDEO}.mpg

NTSC Fullscreen

ffmpeg
   -i ${VIDEO}.avi
   -hq
   -pass 2
   -target ntsc-dvd
   -aspect 4:3
   ${VIDEO}.mpg

PAL Widescreen

ffmpeg
   -i ${VIDEO}.avi
   -hq
   -pass 2
   -target pal-dvd
   -aspect 16:9
   ${VIDEO}.mpg

PAL Fullscreen

ffmpeg
   -i ${VIDEO}.avi
   -hq
   -pass 2
   -target pal-dvd
   -aspect 4:3
   ${VIDEO}.mpg

Part 1, Part 2.

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