Is there a minimum DVD compliant size? (apparently not)

[Taelon]

I've searched everywhere I can think of and can't find an answer other than minimum file size is 32k. What I'm wondering is if there is a minimum size requirement when burning to a DVD-5 disk that will reliably work in standalone players?

[setarip_old]

Are you referring to individual filesize (which can actually be -0- bytes) or a minimum total filesize that has to be burned to a DVD?

Since there are 3" DVDs with a MAXIMUM capacity of 1.46Gb, this would indicate that total filesize could be 1.46Gb or less...

[Taelon]

setarip_old,

I'm asking about the total compilation size. For example a 10 min. video of your kid in an after-school function, or maybe a short demo reel, etc. that you want to distribute to friends or family members. The total compilation size may be well under 1 Gb. To minimize compatibility issues I would want to make it DVD-Video compliant, burnt to a standard 120mm DVD±R or R/W disk, so I'm wondering if there is a minimum compilation size spec?

0 byte .VOBs are bad news, in fact Nero will complain if you have them, also if the .VOB is less than 16 sectors long the .BUP can become unreadable. Please see this page (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/third_party/blutach/Burning%20With%20PgcEdit.htm) which explains further about the 32k gaps and how to ensure your backups include them.

[goonix]

@Taelon

In NERO you have an option "Force DVD video high compatibility mode" (recorder selection -> options).
At least 1 GB of data will be written (padded if the user data are shorter).
This should be used because some set top DVD players can have problems if the DVD is shorter.

I did'nt know if this is part of the DVD standard.

goonix

[Taelon]

That's exactly the kind of information I've been searching for, thanks goonix!

[r0lZ]

I have already burned some DVDs with only a couple of still frames. Works well.

Also, the option in Nero forces the program to write at least 1GB. It doesn't mean that your compilation size must be 1GB or more. If the size is too small, Nero will simply pad it with empty sectors.

[setarip_old]

@Taelon

Thanks, but I'm quite familiar with the theoretical problem regarding 32K gaps.

Also, although regarding -0- byte files, NERO will issue a "File Reallocation" notification, as you may know, you can choose to "ignore and continue" - and will typically generate a perfectly fine burned DVD...

[blutach]

@Taelon

Short answer to your original question is "no". I've made a DVD with just 10k video in it (plus IFOs and BUPs).

Regards

[Taelon]

blutach, thanks for the info, but I liked goonix's answer better. If there is no minimum, then I put somebody through a lot of pain for nothing :(

[blutach]

I'll try to make more likeable answers in future. :D

Regards

[goonix]

Hi blutach, peace...:D

You're right, I have burned such small DVDs for testing purposes too and my DVD player has accepted them without problems.
But it does not mean that all set top players are able to play them correctly.

This seems to be the reason for NERO to have this option.

goonix

[r0lZ]

Anyway, as I said, it is not necessary to worry about the compilation size. If it is too short, Nero will padd it with empty sectors. That's all.
Also, I remember the Test SPRM 7 DVD (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/third_party/r0lz/TEST_SPRM_7_PAL.zip) I have distributed some times ago. It was very tiny in size (about 220K). It was tested by various users on approx 30 different standalone players. Nobody has reported a problem related to his size.

[Taelon]

Thanks for all the info guys.

Unfortunately, the advice I gave to the guy over at digital-digest (basically to increase the compilation size), didn't help with the problem. :(

But at least he knows how to add a presentation menu to Reauthored content from Shrink now ;)
Which, btw r0lZ, is a Great Guide, I refer to it every time I do a 'movie only' backup.

[blutach]

Hi blutach, peace...:D

You're right, I have burned such small DVDs for testing purposes too and my DVD player has accepted them without problems.
But it does not mean that all set top players are able to play them correctly.

This seems to be the reason for NERO to have this option.

goonixYep, you could be right goonix :)

Goodness only knows what Nero does. I'll never use it - it's just plain horrible IMHO. I have several hundred (if not a thousand) burns now, all with PgcEdit/DVD Decrypter and am still waiting for folks at my house to be able to put their coffee cups on a badly burned DVD!

Regards

[r0lZ]

I know that an old piece of code used under Linux has problems with compilation that are not padded with empty sectors. Maybe it's the reason for this option in Nero.
BTW, it's a Linux bug when reading CDs, or data DVDs, not Video-DVDs!

[int 21h]

More interestingly, this idea of padding discs may be related to the mechanics of drives. The farther out you pad your data, the faster you can load it. This could be directly applicable in the time it would take to seek from a menu to a chapter. It's hard to imagine this actually being applied to non-data discs but its used in gaming console discs pretty regularly.