HELP: DVD Authoring Woes... Media Problem?

[luca143]

Hello.

This may be a long post, but to those that take the time to read it and reply with any suggestions, I will thank you up front.

THE SETUP:

I have a A04 and use it to author my own videos (this is not a ripping problem). I have 25 video clips that I've made and am trying to make a compilation DVD. Each video (of various lengths) is it's own chapter. The total length is 1 hour 55 minutes. I used a bitrate calculator to figure out the data rates and have encoded my clips using Cinema Craft Encoder.

I put together my DVD using Sonic's Reel DVD, exported the DVD files to a folder and used Nero 5.5.9.9 to burn the DVD-R.

THE SCENERIO:

I burned the DVD on my R/W and gave it to my friend to test on his consumer DVD player (mine doesn't play DVD-R/W). He played it through and everything seemed flawless except on the last chapter of the disc; at the same spot, the disc would freeze (about half way through the chapter).

I figured it was just his DVD player, or a piece of dirt on my R/W.

Went back and burned it on a $10 (CDN) FujiFilm DVD-R. Tried it in my consumer DVD player and it played flawlessly, except on the same chapter as my friend's, the video would freeze (except my DVD player will go to the next track if this happens).

I went back to ReelDVD and noticed that the chapters were sorted improperly and that the video it froze on (although in the middle of my disc) was the last chapter (chapter 25) of the DVD, so I fixed it, burned it to my R/W and played it in my computer. Worked perfectly.

So I thought: "If the last chapter is giving my grief, I'll just create a black video clip and make that the last chapter". I did that and then burned it on a cheap $3 Ritek DVD-R.

Since the media's cheap, there are glitches in the video, but around the 25th chapter the video would glitch (with the added video at the end there are now 26 chapters).

THE QUESTIONS:

My question is this: why would this be happening, and why does it play fine in my computer?

Is a computer DVD player able to reach the far extents of a DVD whereas the consumer models' laser can only go so far?

Perhaps I'm using too much of the disc? I'll admit that the size of my video is basically kissing the limits of the DVD-R. If I shorten the length, though, will I still run into this problem, or will it fix it? (it's going to be a lot of work to adjust the length, but if it'll fix the problem, I'll do it).

Any suggestions would be great. I'm just getting frustrated because we're not talking about 50 cent CD-Rs anymore... this trial and error method is costing me money :)

Thanks,

Michael

[TRILIGHT]

I was not aware that any burning software out there allowed for any "overburning" of a DVD-R disc. I was under the impression that 4,700,000,000 bytes is what you got and that's it. I can only imagine that something else is going wrong to cause your problem. 1hr 55min is a lot to fit though. May I ask what you are setting your video and audio bitrates to? Perhaps you have a problem with your ReelDVD software? Have you done a project like this before with no problems? What did Sonic tech support have to say? It may be a known issue for which there is a patch or something. I've only worked with ver.2.5 but have not noticed a problem like this.

[luca143]

Thanks for the reply.

As far as I can tell, I have not "over-burned" the DVD. I'm just under the wire.

Using CCE, my settings are: 2-pass VBR, Min:2000 Max:8000 Avg:5037; The audio is 224 kbits/s Joint Stereo

Since this is my first DVD project, I'm probably a little over my head.

The Sonic software seems to be fine since it gives no error messages to any of the footage that I've provided (I'm also using ver 2.5.1). As well, Nero burns the disc fine without any errors of it's own.

It just puzzles me that my PC drive will play it fine, but the problem exists with consumer players.

In the meantime since my first post, I discovered the Maestro software. The website description mentions something about "being able to create discs with the difference between DVD and DVD-ROM drives" (para phrase). Would this help me, if I switched to this software?

As well, I read a post on VCDHelp that says he never had a problem burning discs using Gear Pro 6 DVD. Is Nero not the program to use when burning the TS_VIDEO folders? Should I switch to something else?

Thanks for your help so far...

[TRILIGHT]

Well, it's a personal preference really. Some people like Nero and others do not. Since this is an original compilation, you should not have any issues with any version of Nero after 5.5.8.0. Simply choose the "DVD Video" option and drop your files into the respective folder.

[auenf]

this problem is sounding more like a standalone problem with burnt discs rather than an authoring/encoding/burning problem.

give me a list of standalones you have tried it on (all were bad at last chapter i guess)

also im guessing you encoded the video at about 5mbit (or just under) for almost 2hrs to fit on a single layer ;)

Enf...

[luca143]

Enf,

Thanks for the reply.

The DVD player I have at home is a Hitatchi DV-P415. I don't know the model of my friend's, but he just bought it and it's a newer Toshiba model.

Your post makes it sound like last chapter problems are common. Is this true? Do some players have problems with the last chapter?

Also, my avg bit rate was 5037. Since this is my own stuff that I shot on DV, I cannot tell a difference between the original tapes and the DVD that I burned, even at such a "low rate".

I'm of the mind to spend another day reworking my DVD and splitting it up across two discs. Besides the extra available bit rate I could throw onto it, do you feel that this would solve my problem (because the video wouldn't get as close to the end of the disc as it does presently)?

Thanks for your time folks,

Mike

[TRILIGHT]

I'm having a hard time believing it has anything to do with how full your disc is. Unless your media has some defect towards the end of it or something. I for one, have burned projects that resulted in less than 50MB free. I've heard from others that have pushed it even further. I have not seen anyone say they've had a problem with filling the disc and I know I have not.

[luca143]

That's good to know....

Again, I'm new to all of this so it's good to know that you've filled a disc and did not have a problem.

Maybe I'm just having bad luck with the two consumer DVD players I've tried using; just pure coincedence (i can never spell that word).

What about my audio encoding? It sounds perfectly fine on my friend's home theatre, but maybe I should be encoding it differently? (I'm currently using CCE to do the audio). The audio is just plain ol' stereo.

Thanks,

Mike

[TRILIGHT]

Everyone I know either owns a Sony or a Panasonic DVD player. I've not had trouble playing my discs on either brand (they are newer models, bear in mind). I also do not have trouble playing my discs in my Compaq Armada's (laptop) DVD player. That one was really picky about the media.

As for audio, I use a piece of software called "SoftEncode" for encoding my audio to Dolby Digital AC3. Unfortunately, they don't sell it anymore. I got my copy from a friend when his company upgraded to a hardware solution. You might be able to find it used somewhere.

[auenf]

all the bad manuf. discs we got at work (couple of thousand actually) all displayed problems after the halfway point, but most of them played all the way thru on some newer players. thats where i got my reasoning from ;)

as for the standalones, im not sure how toshibas stand on dvd-+r/w compatibility, but it might be just the standalones ;), you need a rich friend with the latest stuff ;)

Enf...

[auenf]

Originally posted by auenf
all the bad manuf. discs we got at work (couple of thousand actually) all displayed problems after the halfway point, but most of them played all the way thru on some newer players. thats where i got my reasoning from ;)

as for the standalones, im not sure how toshibas stand on dvd-+r/w compatibility, but it might be just the standalones ;), you need a rich friend with the latest stuff ;)

Enf...

seems that a toshiba a friend has doenst like and + media at all, so its looking like the most likely problem ;)

Enf...

[luca143]

Enf,

Thanks for the reply.

I guess, as Trilight suggested, I should get myself a Sony or Panasonic DVD player? Have you had any good/bad luck with those models?

[herbsman]

I went out and bought a Sony DVP-NS305 to play my DVD-R's on & it does it superbly well for an entry level player (£149:95) If you search for it you can get it already multi-regioned aswell otherwise it comes as Region 2 from High St shops... So I can only speak for the Sony brand mentioned but rate it quite highly :D All DVD's burnt on my Pioneer A04 play in stand alone player ... ALL of them !:cool:

[auenf]

Originally posted by luca143
Enf,

Thanks for the reply.

I guess, as Trilight suggested, I should get myself a Sony or Panasonic DVD player? Have you had any good/bad luck with those models?

personally the only dvd players ive used are:

Mossimo (unknown model)
Samsung (not even worth mentioning the model, it doesnt play DVD-R(A))
Sonken DV2800 (i think) (plays verbatium +r, doesnt play laser +rw)
Conia M350 (plays both + discs above)
Pioneer DV-535 (didnt try the + discs, sorry)

all 4 work fine with DVD-R(A) as well, i havent had time to test, only got a DVR-S201 at work, so i cant really test much else ;), the + discs were a test for a friend that neither worked on his toshiba.

the conia is a cheaper player, which i can get for cost thru a friend and i would toss up between that and a pioneer, altho im not sure if pioneers will work with + media at all.

Enf...

[Private Cowboy]

I've had the same problem as Luca, I've tried several different players with this (seems crappy) Ritek media. Plays fine in the computer and its a no-go in the set-tops. I've tried Apex and Electrohome models, all be it both are rather cheap entry levels. I tried some Pioneer media and it worked fine (ofcourse it costs an arm and a leg per disc). Can you guys suggest a good media?

Thx

[herbsman]

As previously mentioned in link before , I have Sony DVP-NS305 (basic model) & burn onto BULKPAQ DVD media and nothing has failed to burn or not play in my stand alone player at all . :D www.bulkpaq.co.uk <-- plain white general purpose 4.7GB (although we know it's 4.37GB really) Hope my ramblings help... Peace we outta here