The DVD format:

Video data

Format	Resolution	V. Codec	Max V. Bitrate	FPS	Aspect
NTSC DVD	720x480, 704x480, 352x480, 352x240	MPEG-2	9800 kbps	30000/1001, 24000/1001	4:3, 16:9 (only for 720x480)
NTSC DVD	352x240	MPEG-1	1856 kbps	30000/1001	4:3
PAL DVD	720x576, 704x576, 352x576, 352x288	MPEG-2	9800 kbps	25	4:3, 16:9 (only for 720x576)
PAL DVD	352x288	MPEG-1	1856 kbps	25	4:3

Note: One feature which is currently not supported in dvdauthor is multiple angles.

Audio data

A DVD can contain up to 8 audio tracks. This is most commonly used for different audio formats -- 5.1 DTS, 2.0 AC3, etc. -- as well as for commentary and audio tracks in different languages.

Language Settings:

It is possible to tag the tracks according to ISO-639, to indicate which language they represent. You may have multiple tracks with the same language code.

Audio codecs :

While PAL DVDs must contain at least one audio track using the PCM, MP2, or AC-3 format, NTSC DVDs do not require MP2 support.

	Linear PCM	Dolby Digital AC-3	Mpeg1	Mpeg2	DTS	SDDS
Sample Freq	48kHz 98kHz	32kHz 44.1kHz 48kHz	48kHz	48kHz	48kHz	48kHz
Resolution	16, 20, 24	Compressed	Compressed	Compressed	Compressed	Compressed
Max Bitrate	6144 kbps	448 kbps	384 kbps	912 kbps	1536 kbps	1280 kbps
Max number of channels	8	5.1	2	7.1	5.1	7.1

Subtitles

The DVD specification supports up to 32 subtitle streams which are multiplexed into the transport stream. Just like audio tracks, subtitles can be asigned a language code.

The maximum bitrate for a DVD, including subtitles, audio- and video streams, must not exceed 10080 kbps.