“Q: iDVD video encode error when burning to DVD.
I am trying to burn a new copy of a project I successfully burned to DVD 2 years ago. I have not changed the source material. After the menu renders and video encoding begins I immediately get an error message ‘video encoding error.’ What gives?”
The question above directed that someone online had been trapped by the iDVD video encode error and was looking for the solution. He would not be alone. There must be so many others who are pursuing the solution on how to fix iDVD error since iDVD is an excellent DVD burning program which brings a lot of fun and convenience for people.

iDVD is a discontinued DVD-creation application for Mac produced by Apple Inc. iDVD allows the user to burn QuickTime movies, MP3 music, and digital photos to a DVD that can then played on a commercial DVD player. However, “video encoding error” often occurs when someone burns video to DVD disc from iDVD like the problem mentioned above. Then how can you get rid of iDVD error and fix it while you burn a DVD with iDVD?

Part 1: Possible Reasons That Cause iDVD Freezing Error

iDVD freezing error is the most widely iDVD errors during burning DVD content on Mac computer. When we come across the iDVD freezing error, it’s important for us to get to know the possible reasons that cause iDVD freezing error. Here we have collected the possible reasons as below:

  1. Software update: the iDVD, QuickTime player or iMovie on your Mac might have been out of date that produces video files iDVD can’t access to.
  2. Something may have gone wrong with the iDVD preference file. Try deleting the following files in the following locations: Macintosh HD > Users > [i]yourusername[/i] > Library > Preferences > com.apple.iDVDLSSharedFileList.plist/ com.apple.iDVD.plist file.
  3. The input video files might be incompatible with iDVD. Format incompatibility issue results in iDVD freezing error sometimes.
  4. Your computer hardware might need some update to support the iDVD burning process.
  5. The target hard drive has not enough free storage to load the disc burning within iDVD.

There are also other reasons that cause iDVD freezing errors. Whatever the reason is, you could refer to the below solutions to see if you can solve it or not.

Part 2. How to Fix IDVD Error?

Generally speaking, “video encoding error” often displays when you burn a video to DVD with the Mac built-in DVD converter - iDVD if you’ve never started iDVD before. To avoid this trouble, you’d better ensure that you have started iDVD before. To fix iDVD error, just follow these three steps below.

  1. Exit and then restart your iDVD at first.
  2. Try a different video file for burning.
  3. Update your iDVD, iMovie or QuickTime player to the latest version.
  4. Lastly return to iMovie and add the Video to iDVD over again.
  5. Restarted your MacBook or iMac in "safe mode" - press and hold Shift key upon restart. That cleans out caches and various other things. Then, restart normally and proceed.
  6. Try burning the project to a disk image to see whether the ISO image file is too large for burning.
  7. Try to adjust the burning drive and output folder for DVD folder or ISO image file.
  8. Turn to an iDVD alternative that could perfectly handle DVD burning on Mac computers.

If there is no other problem, you would have fixed the error and could burn a DVD from IDVD at this time. Turn to Apple Support for help if you have tried all the above suggestions but the iDVD freezing error still exists.

Part 3. Best iDVD Alternative to Burn Videos to DVD on Mac - Leawo DVD Creator

We all know that iDVD has been discontinued. Nevertheless, if this doesn’t work well, there is another way to get rid of iDVD error - to burn video to DVD disc better on Mac with alternatives to iDVDLeawo DVD Creator for Mac is one of the best iDVD alternatives for Mac users to burn video to DVD disc on Mac easily. It enables you to burn video to DVD disc on Mac conveniently in either DVD-5 or DVD-9 format in accordance with your demand from various video formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, and M4V to DVD, etc. You don’t need to fix iDVD error at all since videos from any source could be burned to DVD on Mac with this video to DVD burner by the following guide.

Tip: You can download and install Leawo DVD Creator first now by click the download buttons below. Leawo DVD Creator has been built into Leawo Prof. Media.
   
Step 1: Load video files.
Kick off Leawo Prof. Media after installation. Then open the “Burn” module. Add single video file or a video folder to this Mac DVD Creator by clicking the “Add Video” button or direct drag-and-drop.

Note:  After loading videos, at the bottom, select to burn video to DVD-5 or DVD-9 and choose a suitable aspect ratio 4:3 or 16:9. You can even choose the burning speed (fit to disc/2/3/5/7/9 Mbps). Space in need for DVD burning can be accessed here.

Step 2: DVD Creator Mac program settings
There is an option “Preferences” to choose for program settings before burning, where you can select “General” which is for a program language from preset UI languages, “Conversion” to enable Priority native codec or not, “Burn” to choose default DVD video mode from NTSC and PAL conforming with the place you locate and “Others” which can add external subtitle, choose encoding and thumbnail (screenshot) location and format as well.

Step 3: Video to DVD burning settings
Hit the big green “Burn” button to go to the burning setting sidebar, where you could set Burn to, Disc Label and Save to options. To burn video to DVD disc on Mac, you need to insert a blank writable DVD disc into the disc recorder drive, and then select it as target under the “Burn to” option.

Step 4: Burn video to DVD
After you inserted a blank DVD disc to your DVD drive, choose path to save to, and typed the disc label, and then start to burn video to DVD disc on Mac by clicking on the “Burn” button. Next it will start to burn video to DVD disc immediately.

Eventually, you got a DVD with which you can enjoy your videos at any time and never worry about the computer crash. It is steady and fast to burn video to DVD disc with the DVD Creator and you won’t be afraid of the video encoding error that may occur when you burn a DVD from iDVD. Actually, as one of the most popular DVD creators on Mac, Leawo DVD Creator offers far more features than simple DVD burning that iDVD could do, such as video editing, disc menu designing, 3D movie effect applying, etc.

Part 4: Other DVD Burring Tools Recommendations

Besides Leawo DVD Creator for Mac, there are also other iDVD alternatives that could help you easily convert and burn videos to DVD on Mac without being bothered by iDVD errors. We have collected 2 more iDVD alternatives for you.

Roxio Toast

Roxio Toast is the easiest way to burn CDs, DVDs or Blu-ray discs. Copy discs with one click, compress & convert video. Expand your iTunes library with web audio capture. Watch your video, movies and TV shows anywhere. Convert your media for iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, Xbox 360, PS3 & more Pro features: High-Def/Blu-ray Disc Plug-in. Sonicfire Pro soundtrack creation. SoundSoap SE audio noise reduction. FotoMagico high-def slideshows. LightZone visual photo editing

Cisdem DVD Burner

Cisdem DVD Burner is great DVD burning software with more functionality but fewer steps to master than iDVD. It can burn any videos to DVD with subtitles/menu and background music and also provides an array of DVD menu templates to suite all your occasions. With its editing functions, you can crop, rotate, trim, remove letterboxing, and add special effects or watermarks, and then easily burn your high-quality personal DVD.

Part 5: Comparison and Conclusion

Check the below steps to learn the differences between Leawo DVD Creator and iDVD for burning videos to DVD on Mac.

 

Leawo DVD Creator

iDVD

Burn videos to DVD disc

Yes

Yes

Burn videos to DVD folder

Yes

No

Burn videos to DVD ISO file

Yes

Yes

Burn photos to DVD

Yes

No

Edit videos before burning

Yes. Trim, crop, add 3D, add watermark, adjust effect, etc.

No

Add disc menu

Yes

No

Design disc menu

Yes

No

Edit photo slideshows

Yes

No

Burn audios to DVD

No

Yes

Select subtitles and audio tracks

Yes

No

Add external subtitles

Yes

No

Play back loaded videos

Yes

No

Take screenshots

Yes

No

Set output DVD video mode

Yes

Yes

Availability

Windows, Mac

Mac only. Discontinued now

Obviously, you could see that Leawo DVD Creator has all features iDVD has. It helps you easily burn videos/photos to DVD on Mac without being frozen at all. There are no other errors during video/pictures to DVD burning on Mac with Leawo DVD Creator.