How to Use GiliSoft Home DVD Converter
Convert DVD content to video, extract an audio track, or edit a clip before export. Choose a task below for its settings and illustrated steps. DVD discs, ISO images, and VIDEO_TS folders are supported sources.
What Would You Like to Do?
Convert a DVD to MP4 or Another Video Format
Use this tutorial to save a DVD movie, episode, or lesson as a video file. Choose MP4 for everyday playback, or another video profile required by your player.
The screenshots show the Movie DVD Converter 5.3.0 interface. The current product is named GiliSoft Home DVD Converter; control placement can differ by version.
Load a DVD disc, ISO image, or VIDEO_TS folder
Open GiliSoft Home DVD Converter and click Load DVD. Choose Open DVD Disc, Open DVD Folder, or Open DVD ISO to match the source. Select the drive, DVD folder, or ISO file, then wait for the title list to load.
A physical DVD needs a working optical drive. The source menu labels are Open DVD Disc, Open DVD Folder, and Open DVD ISO. For folder input, select the DVD folder containing the complete VIDEO_TS structure rather than separating its files.
If no titles appear, check the source before changing output settings. A disconnected drive, unreadable disc, or incomplete image/folder will not be fixed by choosing a different MP4 profile.
Select titles, audio tracks, and subtitles
Select the checkbox beside each title you want to convert. Compare running times and preview the content rather than selecting every title automatically. Choose the intended soundtrack in Channel and the required DVD subtitle track in Subtitle, or choose None when subtitles are not needed.
The title row shows the source and output duration and picture size. Start with a likely title, use the preview to identify its content, and check the Channel and Subtitle lists for that selection.
- One movie
- The longest title is a useful starting point, not proof. Preview it so a bonus feature is not mistaken for the movie.
- Episodes or lessons
- Select the individual programs needed. Several similar-length titles can be the intended content, not duplicates.
- Soundtrack
- Listen to the selected Channel. Track labels can be unclear, especially on home recordings or discs with multiple soundtracks.
- Subtitles
- Choose a source subtitle track when needed or None to omit it. Adding an external subtitle file is a separate editing task.
Merge video files together is a separate option in the main window. Leave it unchecked when you want titles kept as separate outputs, and verify the combined order if you choose to merge them.
Choose the output format, settings, and destination
Choose a video profile in Output Format, such as MP4 Video With H.264 or an AVI profile. Open Output Settings to review video and audio quality, then click OK. Use Browse beside Output Folder to choose a writable destination with enough free space for the converted files.
For a normal video file, use Video Files in Output Type and choose the required profile. MP4 with H.264 is a practical starting point for everyday playback; AVI, MOV, MKV, WMV, and other profiles serve different players and workflows. For sound without a picture, follow Extract DVD Audio to MP3 instead.
- Video size and shape
- Keep the original size and aspect ratio as a starting point. Crop only when removing real unwanted edges; enlarging DVD video does not recover missing detail.
- Quality and bitrate
- Balance image detail and file size. Test a representative segment with motion and dark areas before lowering the bitrate for the entire DVD.
- Audio settings
- Review channels, sample rate, audio bitrate, codec, and volume. For a video with sound, keep Disable Audio set to No.
- Destination folder
- Use Output Folder and Browse in the main window to choose a writable folder with enough free space. Keep the source until you have checked the exported files.
MP4 conversion is not a lossless disc copy. A new video profile re-encodes the picture. Choose settings appropriate to the DVD source and intended player; a larger resolution or file is not automatically a better result.
Start conversion and check the exported files
Click Start and let the selected titles finish converting. When the completion message appears, click Open Output. Play the exported files from beginning to end, checking the selected content, picture shape, soundtrack, subtitle timing, and sound synchronization before relying on the result.
Keep the source connected and the computer awake while the job is running. The example below shows a completed conversion and its Open Output action; it is not a progress estimate for your DVD.
Open the files in the player or device you plan to use, not only in the converter preview. Check an opening scene, a middle section, and the ending, then verify the complete recording before discarding any source copy.
Extract DVD Audio to MP3
Save the sound from a lecture, performance, or interview without keeping the video picture.
- Load the DVD and select the content
Click Load DVD and open the disc, ISO image, or DVD folder. Tick the title you need, then choose the soundtrack in Channel. Preview it to confirm the language and recording. See the title and soundtrack controls.
- Choose MP3 in Output Format
Select an MP3 audio profile rather than MP4 or AVI. For a shorter recording, open Cut and set the start and end times before export.
- Review the audio settings
Open Output Settings and review audio quality, channels, sample rate, bitrate, and volume. The output-settings screenshot identifies these audio controls; the selected profile in that example is MP4. Click OK after choosing the settings for your MP3 output.
- Export and listen to the MP3
Choose an Output Folder, click Start, and use Open Output when conversion completes. Listen to the saved MP3 and check its duration, soundtrack, and volume. An audio-only export has no picture or subtitles.
For a dedicated format guide, see DVD to MP3 conversion.
Convert a DVD ISO or VIDEO_TS Folder to Video
Use a DVD image or folder already stored on the computer. No optical drive is needed for these file-based sources.
- Open the matching source type
For an image, choose Load DVD > Open DVD ISO and select the ISO file. For a DVD folder, choose Open DVD Folder and select the folder containing the complete VIDEO_TS structure. The Load DVD menu screenshot shows both entries.
- Select a title, language, and video profile
After the titles load, preview the required movie or episode and select its checkbox. Choose the intended Channel and Subtitle, then select an MP4, AVI, or other video profile in Output Format.
- Set the destination and convert
Review Output Settings, choose an Output Folder, and click Start. Use Open Output to play the completed file and check its picture, sound, and subtitles. The video output instructions show the settings in detail.
Keep the DVD folder's files together. This task converts an existing ISO or folder into a video file; it does not create a new disc image.
Edit DVD Video Before Conversion
Trim a DVD Video
- Choose the title and open Cut
Load the source and select the title to shorten. Click Cut in the top toolbar to open the Video Edit window.
- Set the retained time range
Drag the start and end markers or enter the Start and End times. Check Duration and preview both boundaries.
- Apply the cut and export
Click Apply, then OK. Choose the output profile and folder in the main window, click Start, and check the beginning and ending of the exported clip.
Crop a DVD Video
- Open Crop for the selected title
Load the source, select a title, and click Crop. Use the preview to identify the unwanted borders or edges.
- Adjust the crop area
Set Top, Bottom, Left, and Right. Watch Crop Area Size and use Keep Aspect Ratio when needed.
- Apply and check the exported picture
Click Apply and OK, then choose the output profile and folder and click Start. Play the result to check that important subjects and captions remain visible and the picture is not stretched.
Adjust Brightness, Contrast, and Saturation
- Open Effect for the selected title
Select the loaded title and click Effect to open its picture controls.
- Adjust the picture in preview
Change Brightness, Contrast, and Saturation. Compare bright and dark scenes so the adjustment suits more than one frame.
- Apply the settings and convert
Click Apply and OK. Choose the output profile and folder, click Start, and play the export to check detail, color, and brightness.
Add a Text or Picture Watermark
- Open Watermark
Load the source, select the title, and click Watermark.
- Choose and position the watermark
Select Add Text Watermark and enter text, or select Add Picture Watermark and choose an image. Adjust the horizontal and vertical position; use Font to style a text watermark.
- Apply and export the watermarked video
Check placement against the picture and any subtitles, then click Apply and OK. Choose the output profile and folder and click Start. Check the saved video for the intended watermark.
Select DVD Subtitles or Add a Subtitle File
- Choose an existing DVD subtitle track
For a track already on the DVD, select its language in Subtitle in the main title row. Choose None to omit source subtitles. See the title-row screenshot.
- Load an external file when needed
To add a separate subtitle file, open Subtitle from the top editing toolbar and select the file in the Video Edit window. This is a different control from the title row's subtitle list.
- Set the appearance and preview
For an external file, adjust Vertical Position and Font. Preview timing and placement, then click Apply and OK.
- Convert and check the subtitles
Choose the video profile and output folder and click Start. Play the saved video to check the language, timing, and placement. Check the exported result rather than assuming it has a separately switchable subtitle track.
MP4 or MP3 Output vs. a DVD Archive
Choose Video or Audio for Playback
MP4 and AVI are normal video files. MP3 and WAV contain audio only. Use these outputs when you need a movie, episode, lesson, or soundtrack without navigating the original DVD structure.
Converting a selected title does not preserve an interactive DVD menu. MP3 output also removes the picture by design.
Choose ISO or DVD Folder for Disc Structure
For a loaded disc, use the relevant ISO image or DVD folder output when the goal is a DVD archive. An ISO holds the structure in one image file; a DVD folder keeps it as files and directories.
Do not confuse the Load DVD input menu with choosing an archive output. Likewise, Main Content Copy is not a promise to retain the full disc and all menus. Check the archive in a DVD-capable player.
For a format-specific walkthrough, see DVD to MP4, DVD to MP3, or DVD to AVI.
Final Playback Checklist
- Content and length
- The correct movie, episodes, or time range is present, in the required order, without missing the beginning or end.
- Sound and language
- The intended soundtrack plays at a usable level and remains synchronized with speech and action.
- Picture and captions
- The image is not stretched, cropped subjects remain visible, and any subtitles use the expected language and timing.
- Actual playback device
- The exported file plays on the intended computer, phone, tablet, or media player. Verify that copy as well as the original export.
DVD Conversion Questions
How do I convert a DVD to MP4 on Windows?
Load the disc, ISO image, or DVD folder in GiliSoft Home DVD Converter. Select the required titles, soundtrack, and subtitles, then choose MP4 Video With H.264 in Output Format. Review Output Settings, choose the Output Folder, and click Start. Use Open Output to check the finished MP4.
Can I convert an ISO image or VIDEO_TS folder without a DVD drive?
Yes. Use Load DVD > Open DVD ISO for an image file or Open DVD Folder for a complete DVD folder. These file-based inputs do not need an optical drive. Keep the complete DVD structure together; selecting a single loose VOB file is not the same as loading the DVD folder.
Which title contains the main movie or episode?
Compare durations and preview the likely titles. The longest title is often the main movie, but an episodic or training DVD can contain several separate programs of similar length. Select the titles you actually need rather than treating the longest title or Select all titles as a universal rule.
Why is the converted video in the wrong language or silent?
Check Channel in the selected title row and preview the intended soundtrack. In Output Settings, confirm that Disable Audio is No for a video that should include sound, then review the audio profile and volume. Test the exported file in the intended player; a playable DVD source alone does not verify the export.
How do I keep DVD subtitles or add a subtitle file?
Use Subtitle in the title row to choose an available DVD subtitle track. Use the separate Subtitle editing tab to load an external subtitle file and adjust its position and font. Preview the language and timing before conversion and check the exported result; do not assume it contains a separately switchable subtitle track.
Why will my DVD, ISO image, or folder not load?
Check that the optical drive can read the disc and close other programs using that drive. For an ISO or folder, check that the source is complete and choose the matching Load DVD option. If loading still fails, record the error message, source type, and Windows version for GiliSoft support; not every unreadable source can be converted.
Can I reduce file size without making the video blurry?
Convert only the titles and time ranges you need, then choose an appropriate output profile. Compare a short export before lowering bitrate or picture size. A lower bitrate can reduce detail, and a larger resolution cannot restore detail missing from the DVD. MP4 conversion re-encodes video; it is not a promise of a lossless copy.
Should I choose MP4, MP3, ISO, or a DVD folder?
Choose MP4 for a normal video file or MP3 when you only need the sound. ISO and DVD folder output are for keeping a DVD-style structure rather than creating a normal MP4 or MP3. For a disc archive, choose the relevant archive output instead of assuming that converting the selected main title preserves the full disc and menus.
Is GiliSoft Home DVD Converter free?
A Windows trial download is available. Check the installed version for its current conversion and trial limits. The Buy Now buttons here show the $29.95 lifetime license for 1 PC and link to the official purchase page; downloading the trial does not make every feature permanently free.
