DVD Writing Help Please

[Tranton]

hey, i've just come onto the boards, i'm needing help with writing my mpg's onto dvd-r disks, i've tried to write disks in a number of programs, including, newest nero, dvd decrypter, clad dvd, dvdxcopy and a number of others, but each time i get a different error msg, i've tried two types of media both to no avail, i know its not my drive cos i can back up data ok, my drive is a ricoh mp5125a. any help would be appreciated, if you have any good programmes, or knjow where i'm going wrong then that would be great. i know its pretty vague, but even a step by step guide of how you copy the mpeg to the dvd, i've read the tutorials on the site but maybe i'm too stupid, i still cant do it.

cheers

[Arky]

Unfortunately, you can't simply dump MPEGs onto a DVDR and expect a standalone to play them back (although a PC will). What you need to do is make sure they are in the correct MPEG1/2 format (and that means making sure they actually comply with the DVD Standard's specifications for MPEG streams), and having established this, you need to import them into a DVD-authoring application, and actually author a DVD project, with Menus etc., if you want them. Alternatively, there are some freeware tools, such as IFOedit, which will give you a very simple shortcut into getting MPEGs to play without menus. It's up to you.

Have a look here (http://www.doom9.org/mpg/dvdauthoring.htm) and here (http://www.doom9.org/mpg/dvdencoding.htm) for starters. If you need any more help (which, doubtless, you will, then feel free to repost here and someone will help you out. You really do need to take the time to do some background reading first, though, using the first link above, just to familiarise yourself with basic procedures. Don't be disheartened by the seemingly-massive amount of information for you to take on board. DVD authoring can be as complex or simple as you like. A good program to get started with would be 'SpruceUp'. It's actually not sold anymore, but that doesn't mean it's totally impossible to get hold of the demo.

Read, then come back and ask some more specific questions and we'll get you up and running. :) Incidentally, when you read the guides, don't bother reading the stuff about Scenarist - it's the most powerful, but also the scariest and most complex authoring solution in existence, and definitely not something you want to start learning from the beginning with! :eek: lol

All the best.


Arky ;o)