Close GOPs

[tl007]

Hi,

Can I force DVD-RB to use CCE with all close GOPs? The reason I asked is because I found that most of my backup DVDs does not work well in my Sony DVD Player. It simply freezes most of the times. I believe the open GOPs has to do something with this problem.

[writersblock29]

@tl007

According to DVD Remake (which I use whenever I wish to alter a DVD's content before giving 'er the ol' Rebuilder treatment), pretty much all studio DVDs use open GOP structures. Since Rebuilder doesn't deviate from the DVD's original structure under normal circumstances, what you wind up with after processing is pretty much the same as what the original disk offers. Since factory DVDs need to be readable in all set top players with a matching region code... I can only conclude that this isn't your problem.

(Please correct me if I made any incorrect statements, guys; I don't mind learning new things!)

I'm positive that you'll recieve some replies here echoing this sentiment -- but it's sounding like a media issue to me. If you're buying media by the spindle, you may do well to ensure that the actual manufacturer of your disks matches the brand name printed on them: There have been reports that even reputable names are actually cheapo imitations. Of course, first you'll want to make sure that your DVD brand IS from a reputable name first, and compatible with your burner to boot. Either way, Nero has a few devices availible that will let you know the manufacturer's ID on your blanks -- as well as a program that will scan the surface of a problem disk to see if bad sectors are to blame. The demo's fully-functional and free if you don't already have it... so at least trouble-shooting won't cost anything more than time.

Other tricks include burning at a slower speed (sometimes reduces burning errors), and leaving your computer unattended while burning (reducing CPU and memory load). Your method for burning may be experimented with, as well: Burning from ISO images instead of files, for example.

But my money -- which doesn't amount to much, true -- is on your media being the culprit. Good luck to you!

[tl007]

@tl007

According to DVD Remake (which I use whenever I wish to alter a DVD's content before giving 'er the ol' Rebuilder treatment), pretty much all studio DVDs use open GOP structures. Since Rebuilder doesn't deviate from the DVD's original structure under normal circumstances, what you wind up with after processing is pretty much the same as what the original disk offers. Since factory DVDs need to be readable in all set top players with a matching region code... I can only conclude that this isn't your problem.

(Please correct me if I made any incorrect statements, guys; I don't mind learning new things!)

I'm positive that you'll recieve some replies here echoing this sentiment -- but it's sounding like a media issue to me. If you're buying media by the spindle, you may do well to ensure that the actual manufacturer of your disks matches the brand name printed on them: There have been reports that even reputable names are actually cheapo imitations. Of course, first you'll want to make sure that your DVD brand IS from a reputable name first, and compatible with your burner to boot. Either way, Nero has a few devices availible that will let you know the manufacturer's ID on your blanks -- as well as a program that will scan the surface of a problem disk to see if bad sectors are to blame. The demo's fully-functional and free if you don't already have it... so at least trouble-shooting won't cost anything more than time.

Other tricks include burning at a slower speed (sometimes reduces burning errors), and leaving your computer unattended while burning (reducing CPU and memory load). Your method for burning may be experimented with, as well: Burning from ISO images instead of files, for example.

But my money -- which doesn't amount to much, true -- is on your media being the culprit. Good luck to you!

Thanks for the information.

But I used the brand name media from Verbatim 8X and 16X DVD+R using NEC 3500A to burn. Usually, I used ImgTool Classic 0.91.5 to create the ISO image, and then use DVD Decrypter 3.5.4.0. It's weird that If I tried to use DVD Shrink to encode the DVD, then the backup DVD does not have any frozen problem on my Sony DVD Player, but of course qualify is lower. I could not think of anything else that caused the frozen problem if encoding using latest DVD-RB.

By the way, I tried to burn at 4X and not using the computer while it's burning. My PC is Dell Dimension 8400 3.2Ghz 1GB RAM and RAID 0 with 2 Maxtor 160GB SATA. I suppose my PC should be sufficient for the burning task.

[wmansir]

You can't force DVD-RB to do this, but you can manually adjust the encoding settings to see if it fixes the problem.

The encoding settings are generated during the Prepare phase (in 3-click mode) and stored in a file, Rebuilder.ecl, in the D2VAVS folder inside the working folder. It's a simple text file with a .ini type format that you can edit yourself. Save the changes and then start the Encode phase.

The Rebuilder.ecl file contains all the settings for each segment encode job. There are usually several dozen jobs for a single DVD. The specific setting for closed GOPs may be different for each version of CCE, but it should be some thing like:

all_closed_gop=0

which you can change to

all_closed_gop=1

using search/replace to do so for every job.

Sony players are known to be picky in some cases, but I think jdobbs himself uses a Sony himself to test DVD-RB output.

[Rockas]

OT:
If I was in jddobs' pants I would make commercial like this
"Buy DVD Rebuilder for $55... I offer you a ($25) DVD Player for free"
:D

[writersblock29]

My last two set tops have been Sonys. Never had a problem, and still don't.

@tl007

Okay, so it's not the media and/or burner (the NEC 3500AG's my baby, too). Sorry to *nearly* insult your system, too -- but since I don't know you from Adam, I can hardly know what you're using. Just covering some of the most tripped-over bases, is all. Hope you find a solution to what ails ya.

[tl007]

You can't force DVD-RB to do this, but you can manually adjust the encoding settings to see if it fixes the problem.

The encoding settings are generated during the Prepare phase (in 3-click mode) and stored in a file, Rebuilder.ecl, in the D2VAVS folder inside the working folder. It's a simple text file with a .ini type format that you can edit yourself. Save the changes and then start the Encode phase.

The Rebuilder.ecl file contains all the settings for each segment encode job. There are usually several dozen jobs for a single DVD. The specific setting for closed GOPs may be different for each version of CCE, but it should be some thing like:

all_closed_gop=0

which you can change to

all_closed_gop=1

using search/replace to do so for every job.

Sony players are known to be picky in some cases, but I think jdobbs himself uses a Sony himself to test DVD-RB output.


Thanks for this tip. I'll try this tweak to see if it will help.

[tl007]

Hi,

I believe the "all_closed_gop=1" option help to solve the problem with my picky Sony DVD Player. I am not sure someone else having the same problem as me, but the output TV is also my Sony 46" HD-DVD.

Thanks for your help, wmansir.