Trouble with Nero 7

[suaresh]

Hey Folks,

I have been experiencing problems in burning DVDs ever since I decided to update my Nero from v.6. to v.7. Before posting this thread I did go through previous relevant messages so now I know that I am not alone here... I also learned that it would be useful to save the error log that is generated and offer it here (upon deleting proprietary data sources) in support of my kind request for some expert advice.

It's not that I were fully unable to burn DVDs though. DVD Shrink works actually fine. Things get however problematic whenever I try to create a Video DVD using video clips (MPEG Layer 3). Is it possible that I am simply missing the appropriate plug-in??? As far as I recall, I'd never needed to install it for v.6. ...

Thanks a lot in advance!

Suaresh

P.S. I am not able to attach the error log and I am not sure why. Perhaps I can just e-mail it later on...

[Macarse]

I usually create an image file with ImgTool Classic (http://www.coujo.de/ib2/index.php?act=module&module=include&incl_name=download) and afterwards burn it with ImgBurn (http://www.imgburn.com/)

[setarip_old]

Hi!whenever I try to create a Video DVD using video clips (MPEG Layer 3).MPEG Layer 3 (".MP3") is an audio format...

[CWR03]

I remember a post reflecting this same problem not long ago - if I remember correctly, the poster had to revert to version 6.

[suaresh]

Many thanks to All for your prompt replies!
Let me try to address them briefly:

I will definitively download and check out ImgTool Classic. Thanx for the link!

Yes, of course, MPEG - Layer 3 is the audio format included in my video clips. I just thought that ref. might help...

And yes, I also read a number of similar threads, actually. including the one that led back to v.6. As I mentioned, I had been happily using v.6., until I started downloading TV programs from www.shift.tv. Nero 6 could convert and burn them, but it would take around 8 hours for a one-hour program..! I thought that might improve with v.7., and in fact it did, at least according to the prgress bar...

Can anyone perhaps take a minute to look through my error log? I am not familiar with such protocols...

Cheers,

Suaresh

[r0lZ]

Use a good program to encode, and to burn.
Nero is really not the best tool to encode, and it is well known to be very problematic to burn DVD-Video.

There are many good guides on how to convert AVI or MPEG movies to DVD format, using only free and good tools.

ImgBurn is probably the best DVD-Video burning app today. You can use PgcEdit or ImgTool Classic to create the ISO (but ImgTool is not suitable for a double layer DVD.)

[suaresh]

Appreciate that. As I've said before, I will try that other software. I just need to have a quite minute at home... BTW, does ImgBurn cover all video formats that Nero can encode, so that I can in fact get rid of the latter?

Cheers,

Suaresh

[r0lZ]

No. Currently, ImgBurn can only burn an ISO image on DVD-R/RW (or CD.) It is not an encoder.
To encode, see the guides on the main Doom9 site.

Basically, you have to do several steps:
1) Encode to MPEG 2
2) Build a DVD structure
3) Create an ISO image
4) Burn the image
Personally, I do point 1) with VirtualDubMod and CCE, 2) with Muxman, 3) with PgcEdit and 4) with ImgBurn. (CCE is not free, but there are free MPEG encoder around...)

Nero is supposed to do everything at once. The free alternatives are less easy to use, but the result is really better.

[suaresh]

how long does it approx. take you to go once through steps 1-4?

[r0lZ]

1) depends of the encoder and the quality you want (number of passes...) CCE is relatively fast, but the free alternatives are slower. IMO, this job should be made during the night.

The duration of steps 2 and 3 depends of your hard disc. You have to write 4GB+ each time.

[suaresh]

Gottcha. Is there not a way to convert IFOs (e.g. created with DVD Shrink) directly into a burnable Image? That would help accelerate the process at least for DVD files, wouldn't it?

On the other hand, would you not consider using Roxio Easy Media Creator (http://www.cdfreaks.com/software/10) as a workable alternative to performing your steps 1-4?

Cheers,

Suaresh

[r0lZ]

Gottcha. Is there not a way to convert IFOs (e.g. created with DVD Shrink) directly into a burnable Image?
Yes: PgcEdit!
Note that you can create an ISO directly with Shrink, but it doesn't work for double layer DVDs.

I don't know Roxio, except that it is not better than Nero to burn a DL DVD-Video!

[CWR03]

I don't think the Roxio will burn dual layer at all, but you can definitely use it to create your project and output to .ISO for burning with another program.

[r0lZ]

I don't think the Roxio will burn dual layer at all, but you can definitely use it to create your project and output to .ISO for burning with another program.
If roxio cannot handle DL DVDs, you cannot use it to create the ISO image neither. Don't forget that the DVD-Video files must be prepared for DL so that the layer break position is standard compliant.

[CWR03]

r0lZ, good point that I hadn't thought of. I'll admit I haven't yet tried Roxio Easy Media Creator 8, but my version of their DVD Builder will allow a creation of an ISO file greater than 4.7GB, useless without a layer break.

[suaresh]

I'm a bit surprised to heard that none of you guys have apparently tried Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 as an "all-in-one" alternative to Nero thus far...

Anyway, I'll get the software, check it out and run a couple of burning trials, and subsequently report back to you.

:thanks:

suaresh