Q DVD-Author

Q DVD-Author is a graphical tool for creating video DVDs through dvdauthor. Users can add movie sources, build menus and submenus, and link buttons to videos or other menus before authoring a DVD. The project also lists photo slideshows and qslideshow, along with qplayer, qrender, and dvd-slideshow. Its legacy guide describes previewing an authored DVD with xine and gives a growisofs command for burning it. That guide requires MPEG-2 movie files and lists dvdauthor, mjpegtools, and ImageMagick++ as required tools. The project says QDVDAuthor is available in Qt5 and Qt6 and links to Linux packages for Arch Linux, Debian, Mageia, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu. Listed platforms are Linux, macOS, and Windows. The repository identifies the software as GPL-2.0 licensed and distributed without warranty. The project names advanced end users as its intended audience. Q DVD-Author is free, with no free trial.

Q DVD-Author offers a menu-based DVD authoring workflow and related slideshow tools. Check the legacy guide’s input and dependency requirements before using that workflow.

Q DVD-Author suits advanced end users who want to author video DVDs with menus and submenus. The documented workflow is relevant to users working with MPEG-2 movie sources.

Overview

Q DVD-Author is a graphical tool for building video DVDs around menus, submenus, and photo slideshows. It best suits advanced users who want control over disc structure and are comfortable with a toolchain; its free GPL-2.0 license is appealing, but the documented workflow has a narrow MPEG-2 input requirement.

It is a focused choice for authored DVD projects, not a general-purpose video editor or a low-friction route from arbitrary footage to disc.

Key features

The workflow centers on adding movie sources and making menu buttons that lead to a source or another menu. That structure gives users a way to organize a disc into navigable sections; manual chapter tools mean the author must handle chapter work rather than expect it to be automated.

Photo slideshow and qslideshow features broaden the tool beyond video menus. The project also names qplayer, qrender, and dvd-slideshow among its components. Subtitle support and both DVD standards are supported, and the stated disc output is a folder. That output can suit an author who wants a prepared DVD structure before burning, but it is not direct disc output.

The legacy guide documents previewing an authored DVD with xine and gives a growisofs command for burning. It says the version it covers requires MPEG-2 movie files as sources, which can add conversion or preparation work for footage in other formats. It also requires dvdauthor, mjpegtools, and ImageMagick++, so setup is a real part of using the workflow.

Pricing

The Q DVD-Author plan costs nothing and uses the GPL-2.0 license. There is no paid tier or free trial; the software is free rather than a time-limited evaluation. That makes it suitable for users willing to manage the required tools themselves, while there is no paid option for a more supported or automated workflow. The GPL v2 license text distributes the software without warranty.

Platforms

Q DVD-Author is presented as cross-platform software, with Linux, macOS, and Windows among its platforms. The project page says it is available in Qt5 and Qt6. For Linux users, it links packages for Arch Linux, Debian, Mageia, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu. The legacy guide's requirements remain important regardless of platform: confirm that its dependencies and MPEG-2 source workflow fit your setup.

Who it's for

This is for advanced end users creating a DVD that needs menus, submenus, or slideshows, especially when folder output and manual control are acceptable. It is a poor fit for someone who needs an automatic chaptering process, direct disc output, or a workflow that accepts video in formats beyond the documented MPEG-2 requirement without preparation.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Menu and submenu authoring supports structured, navigable DVDs rather than a flat set of videos.
• Pros: Slideshow tools, subtitle support, and support for both DVD standards cover several needs in a single authoring workflow.
• Pros: The GPL-2.0 software is free, and the project offers Qt5 and Qt6 versions.
• Cons: The documented version requires MPEG-2 movie sources, limiting convenience for users starting with other formats.
• Cons: Required external tools and manual chapter work demand more setup and author involvement than a streamlined consumer workflow.
• Cons: Output is to a folder; burning is described separately through a command-line tool.

Alternatives

DVD Authoring Software is the broader category to consult when comparing DVD-authoring options.

DVDStyler is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Open Burning Suite is also free and cross-platform, with a disc-burning focus. For Windows users, WinX DVD Author is free and states no limits or watermarks, though it supports Windows 10/11 rather than the broader platform set described for Q DVD-Author.

DVDBuilder SDK is a freemium Windows alternative. AVS Video Editor is a freemium Windows option with a listed 1 year subscription at $49 a year; choose it only if its editor-oriented offering and subscription fit your needs. Linux users can also consider DeVeDe NG, a free alternative.

Scenarist SD is a paid Windows option with a Scenarist Live plan at $99 a year. Aiseesoft DVD Creator is a paid macOS and Windows alternative, with a 1 Month License at $12.45 a month and a Lifetime License at $39.96, paid once.

Verdict

Choose Q DVD-Author if you are an advanced user who wants menu-led DVD projects and slideshow support without paying for the authoring software. Its strongest reason to choose it is that combination of structured menus and a free GPL-2.0 license; look elsewhere if MPEG-2 preparation, dependency setup, or manual authoring steps are more effort than your project warrants.