what exactly is a video DVD??

[david456103]

A competition I'm applying to requires a video DVD. It also specifies that CDs and tape recordings are not acceptable. My question is, is a DVD something that only plays on DVD players? Would something that plays video, but on a computer(like QuickTime Movie) also count as a DVD?

[j_menz]

I would think they mean one that plays in a DVD player.  It's not as hard as it sounds, and Windows Movie Maker or Apple equivalent will take pretty much any movie format you have and create a playable DVD, assuming you have a DVD writer, which most PCs made in the last 5 years should have.

[faulty_damper]

A DVD only plays on DVD players (and also on most computers with CD/DVD players).

I don't understand the second question about the computer.  A QT movie is not in DVD format.

[david456103]

@jmenz: so if I have a good-quality video recording of my playing in QuickTime format, or some other non-DVD format, is it possible to change my recording to DVD format(WHILE maintaining the quality) on a PC to a DVD?
I'm so confused though since apparently DVDs are outdated

[j_menz]

If the QT vid is higher quality than DVD format, it will lose some of that in the conversion - DVDs don't encode higher than DVD quality, which is the same as an SD TV, I think - but DVD quality is still perfectly adequate. 

The program that you use to write the DVD will handle the conversion.

[quantum]

Most likely referring to a DVD that can be played in a standalone device.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-Video

If you have already recorded the video, convert it and burn to a DVD video.

If you have not yet recorded, just keep in mind the final format.  1080p will not look as great when converted to a DVD compatible resolution such as 480p.

Since this is primarily a music video, I'd put more focus on the sound recording then the video.  Use good mic techniques, and test the recording before you play your pieces.