Is Elements 2024 backwards compatible

[Woodie65]

I have made many family DVDs using older versions of Elements, the last version was, I think, 2013.   I got a Mac in 2014 and Elements was not available for a mac.  I therefore used Final Cut Pro.  My home DVDs go back 20 years and some are no longer playing.  So, there is a bright shining 2024 version I could buy for my mac, but from what i have read, it looks more suited to films for "socials" rathe than DVD.  Also, key quetion,  would I be able to import my old Elements DVDs into the new version.  I am unable to import them into Final Cut Pro to fix and reburn. Thank you.

[Glenn 8675309]

All the information below should help get you going.   I offer a bit caution:  People generally upload videos to youtube or some other online service now.    People generally don't like sitting around watching dvd's of old family videos.  People have generally stopped making DVD's to share as well.  I've converted 20 years of family videos to digital and upload them as people asked.  I haven't burned a dvd in close to 15 years. 

I would make dvd's for something like a 50th wedding anniversary- some older folks aren't  users of fb or yt- but they can pop in a DVD to a dvd player.    Other than that making physical dvd's doesnt make much sense anymore in todays digital world. 

DO WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY-- IF YOU LIKE MAKING DVD'S MAKE TONS AND BE HAPPY ABOUT IT. 

My home DVDs go back 20 years and some are no longer playing.--- the average lifespand of dvd's is typically 10-20 years.    

If you have old project files from Piremiere elements saved onto dvd's really is no reason why they wouldn't work--- of course the newest version has capabilities that earlier versions do not.

This article discusses it quite clearly:

https://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub121/sec4/

 would I be able to import my old Elements DVDs into the new version?   Depends upon the data format of the dvd.  More than likely, yes. 
Here are the formats of stuff you can open / import:


You can just pop a dvd into a drive and import it into the program. 

Here is what the advaced view of exporting looks like:

[Glenn 8675309]

I FORGOT ONE THING:  You won't find "Burn to DVD" anywhere- it's not an ability of PE. 

[Woodie65]

Thank you so much for this info. It's really helpful. I like FCP but preferred Elements. I had other programmes before that. Can't recall their names. I'm an oldie myself, 74. 🙄
yes the deterioration of the discs is sad. Grandchildren were wanting to see old discs and that's how I discovered the condition. I've made about 80 family ones. A hobby.  Unfortunately I haven't kept the project files. The early ones were not widescreen, though I reckon I could get round that. You say there is no burn to disc. I have lately saved to file anyway and burned from there.

 FCP is very picky in what it will import. I downloaded a conversion app to get round it but it still says no.  You have been extremely helpful and I appreciate you taking the time. 

[Woodie65]

Me again, Do you know if the programme will import videos with ext. MTS.  So many of my old films have that and though I have downloaded a couple of conversion programmes I havent been successful in converting them to a suitable ext.  Too many years have passed and I get confused about the different Proigrammes i have used too.

Thank you

[Peru Bob]

Do you know if the programme will import videos with ext. MTS.  

By @Woodie65

Photoshop Elements won't, but Premiere Elements should.

Download the trial and see if it works.  You will have to export a file and then burn to DVD with other software, as Premiere Elements no longer burns to DVD.

[Woodie65]

Thank you. I'll see if I can download a trial.  

[Peru Bob]

Let us know how it works for you.