Q DVD-Author

Overview

Q DVD-Author is a video DVD creator and graphical frontend for dvdauthor, aimed at advanced end users. Its menu and slideshow tools make it a fit for people building authored DVDs; the MPEG-2 source requirement and supporting tools narrow its appeal.

Key features

DVD projects can combine movie sources with menu buttons that link to either a source or another menu. That gives authors a way to build navigable DVD structures rather than simply place video files on a disc. Menu and submenu support is useful for multi-part projects, though chapter tools are manual, so this is better suited to users willing to control authoring steps than those seeking an automated workflow.

Photo slideshow and qslideshow features extend it beyond movie-only projects. The project also names qplayer, qrender, and dvd-slideshow among its components. Subtitle support and both DVD standards are included, while disc output is to a folder.

The guide’s documented version requires MPEG-2 movie files as sources. That is a significant constraint for anyone whose footage is in another format: source preparation would be needed before authoring. It also depends on dvdauthor, mjpegtools, and ImageMagick++, so users should be comfortable setting up those tools.

Pricing

Q DVD-Author costs nothing under the GPL-2.0 license, with no free trial. There is no paid tier to unlock; the trade-off is that the user takes on the dependencies and manual authoring workflow. The license distributes the software without warranty.

Platforms

Q DVD-Author is described as cross-platform, with Linux, macOS, and Windows support, and is available in Qt5 and Qt6 versions. Linux packages are linked for Arch Linux, Debian, Mageia, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu. The plan identifies Linux, so Linux users have the clearest package detail; users on macOS or Windows should weigh that against the broader platform claim.

Who it's for

This is a stronger fit for advanced end users who want direct control over DVD menus, submenus, and slideshow projects and can work with MPEG-2 sources and the required tools. It is a weaker choice for anyone expecting a guided workflow, automated chaptering, or unrestricted video-source formats.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Menu and submenu authoring, slideshow features, subtitles, and support for both DVD standards cover several core DVD-creation needs in free GPL-2.0 software.
• Pros: Folder output and a documented preview-and-burn path give users a route from authored project to disc.
• Cons: The documented MPEG-2 input requirement can force format preparation before authoring.
• Cons: Manual chapter tools and dependencies on dvdauthor, mjpegtools, and ImageMagick++ make setup and project assembly more involved.

Alternatives

Browse DVD Authoring Software for more options. DVDStyler is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows if you want an alternative open-source DVD authoring application. Open Burning Suite is a free, open-source disc burning application for those prioritizing disc burning over Q DVD-Author’s menu-authoring workflow. WinX DVD Author is worth considering for Windows 10/11 users seeking a free option described as having no limits or watermarks.

PyBurn Studio, DeVeDe NG, Scenarist SD, AVS Video Editor, and DVDBuilder SDK are also alternatives to compare.

Verdict

Choose Q DVD-Author if you are an advanced user who wants free DVD menu and slideshow authoring and can manage its dependencies and MPEG-2 source requirement. If your videos need no format preparation, your workflow should be less manual, or you want a simpler burning-focused tool, look elsewhere.