Wondershare PPT2DVD Pro Review: Features, Pros, and Cons

Best Settings for Wondershare PPT2DVD Pro to Preserve AnimationsPreserving animations when converting PowerPoint presentations to DVD can be tricky: timing, transitions, embedded media, and layered effects may behave differently after conversion. Wondershare PPT2DVD Pro is designed to export slides into video and burn DVDs while retaining as much of the original animation and multimedia behavior as possible. This article walks through recommended settings, practical tips, and troubleshooting steps to maximize animation fidelity when using PPT2DVD Pro.

1. Prepare the PowerPoint file before conversion

A clean, well-structured source file is the foundation for preserving animations.

• Use the most compatible animation types. Basic entrance, emphasis, exit, and motion path effects usually convert more reliably than complex triggers or interactive animations.
• Avoid animation triggers tied to mouse clicks that don’t have a simple timing fallback. If an animation relies on a click, set an automatic delay alternative (e.g., appear after 0.5–1 second).
• Consolidate complex multi-step effects where possible. Multiple sequential effects can sometimes be merged into a single, timed sequence.
• Embed or link media correctly:
  • Embed audio and video whenever possible to avoid broken links.
  • Use widely supported codecs (MP3 for audio, MP4/H.264 for video) to reduce conversion issues.
• Standardize fonts or embed fonts if your PowerPoint uses unusual typefaces to avoid layout shifts.
• Test animations inside PowerPoint’s Slide Show mode to confirm timings and order.

2. Use PPT2DVD Pro’s “Record Timings and Narrations” feature

PPT2DVD Pro can record slide timings, narration, and laser pointer movements. Recording timings captures interactive click-based sequences as time-based events for the exported video/DVD.

• In PowerPoint, run Slide Show → Rehearse Timings (or use the built-in recorder).
• Walk through each slide exactly as you want the DVD to play, triggering animations and pauses.
• Save the recorded timings. PPT2DVD Pro will detect and use them when converting.
• If you prefer not to record, set slide transition timings manually in PowerPoint (Slide Show → Set Up Slide Show → advance slides after X seconds).

Why this matters: DVDs and videos are linear — they don’t support live click-driven interactions. Recording timings translates clicks into timed events so animations occur in the intended order and delays.

3. Conversion output: choose video format and quality settings

PPT2DVD Pro gives options for output as video (which then becomes the DVD content) or directly burning slides to DVD. For best animation fidelity, export to a high-quality video first, preview it, then burn.

Recommended video settings:

• Format: MP4 (H.264) when available — good balance of compatibility and quality.
• Resolution: Match the target display. For DVD, standard DVD resolution is 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL); however, export a higher-resolution MP4 for archive and future use (e.g., 1280×720 or 1920×1080) then downscale when burning to DVD if needed.
• Frame rate: 25 fps (PAL) or 29.⁄₃₀ fps (NTSC). Use a standard frame rate to avoid judder.
• Bitrate: Use a higher bitrate for slides with many animations or embedded video (e.g., 4–8 Mbps for 720p). For DVD-specific output, follow DVD bitrate guidelines (combined audio + video must fit DVD capacity).
• Audio: Export at 48 kHz, 192–256 kbps (stereo) for consistent playback across DVD players.

Preview the exported video to confirm animations, timings, and audio sync before burning.

4. Preserve transitions and animation timing settings

In PPT2DVD Pro:

• Enable the option to “Use recorded slide timings and narrations” (or similar wording).
• Ensure “Convert slide animations” or “Preserve animations” is checked.
• If available, enable “Convert transitions” to preserve built-in slide transitions (Fade, Push, Wipe, etc.).
• For slides with auto-advance, confirm the slide duration in seconds matches what you recorded or set.

If PPT2DVD Pro offers per-slide timing overrides, use them to fine-tune slides that need more time for multi-step animations.

5. Handle embedded videos and audio carefully

Embedded videos are commonly the source of failure during conversion.

• Convert embedded videos to MP4 (H.264/AAC) before embedding if they are in uncommon formats (WMV, AVI, MOV with uncommon codecs).
• For long or high-bitrate videos, consider linking to an optimized copy and embedding that instead.
• If videos are set to play on click, either record timings to include the click or set them to start automatically with a proper delay.
• Keep audio tracks single-layer where possible (avoid overlapping narration + background music unless intentionally mixed).

6. Menu, chapter, and navigation options (DVD specifics)

DVDs are linear media with menu-driven navigation. To keep animations intact:

• Create chapter points at slide boundaries if you want quick access. Chapters will not interfere with animations inside a chapter, but jumping to a chapter will start at that slide’s beginning.
• Avoid interactive elements that depend on PowerPoint features (like embedded clickable objects with triggers). DVD menus can provide navigation but won’t reproduce slide-triggered interactions.
• If PPT2DVD Pro supports slide-based menus, use simple thumbnails. Complex menu animations in PowerPoint won’t translate.

7. Troubleshooting common issues

• Missing animations or animations out of order:
  • Re-record slide timings and narrations.
  • Replace any uncommon animation with a standard equivalent.
• Stutter or dropped frames:
  • Lower output resolution or increase bitrate/frame rate consistency.
  • Ensure sufficient CPU/RAM during conversion; close other applications.
• Embedded video won’t play or shows black screen:
  • Re-encode video to MP4 H.264; re-embed and test in PowerPoint before conversion.
• Audio out of sync:
  • Re-record timings, export to video first, check sync, then burn DVD.
• Fonts or layout shifts:
  • Embed fonts or use system-safe fonts and test the exported video.

8. Workflow checklist (quick reference)

• Clean and standardize animations in PowerPoint.
• Embed/convert media to MP4/MP3 (H.264/AAC).
• Rehearse and record timings (include narrations if needed).
• Export to MP4 (H.264), preview for animation and audio sync.
• Adjust per-slide timings if necessary.
• Burn to DVD using correct region/frame rate settings (NTSC/PAL).
• Test final DVD on target players.

9. Final tips and best practices

• Always keep an archived high-resolution MP4; it’s easier to repurpose later than a DVD.
• Make a short test DVD or disc image containing a subset of slides to validate settings before committing a full disc.
• Document the settings that worked (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) so future projects follow the same workflow.
• Consider distributing via USB or streaming video when possible — they preserve animations and interactivity better than DVD.

By preparing your PowerPoint carefully, recording precise timings, exporting first to a high-quality MP4, and using PPT2DVD Pro’s animation-preservation options, you’ll maximize the chance that your GIFs, motion paths, transitions, and layered animations survive the conversion intact.