Help, I’m in DVD hell…

[Walter Biscardi]

We have several DVD Forums on the Cow, I would suggest you post your question there as well.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Creative Genius, Biscardi Creative Media
https://www.biscardicreative.com

Now in Production, “The Rough Cut,” https://www.theroughcutmovie.com

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

The problem many times is the PLAYER.
DVDs and CDs that can be “Burned” are a completely different composition as commercially-made “printed” DVDs.

There are MANY DVD players out there that simply WON’T play “burned” DVDs.

There are several workarounds.

Try various other brands of burning media and/or using x1 and x2 (older, slower) media (but then you might end up with a brand clients A,B, and C can now use, but (formerly-happy) clients X, Y, and Z suddenly
now CAN’T.

On larger orders, have the DVDs “mastered and printed” by a local dub-house.
The most creative solution I’ve heard is (for “regular clients”) go to a discounter and BUY several inexpensive DVD players (under $30, especially if you buy several at once).
Test the player in the store to make sure it will play your burned DVDs.
I’ve found that many new inexpensive players work GREAT with my burned copies.
If you work with many clients over and over (and they can’t play your DVDs) GIVE them one of these inexpensive players.

[Tom Matthies]

Although “New” is not necessarily better when it comes to players. I bought a standalone DVD burner that used the +R media. I use it to burn quick “check” DVD’s for clients. When I checked the recordings from this deck, a brand new, yet inexpensive, Cyberhome player cannot read the +R discs. I also have a nearly four year old Pioneer player that plays the +R’s without any problems.
It seems to depend entirely on the decks. Burned disc’s just aren’t universally playable.
Tom

[Mitchji]

Hi,

Using high quality media (Maxell, Verbatim, Taiyo Yuden), burning at a lower speed, keeping the max bit rate to about 7 with AC3 audio is about all you can do.

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Chris Babbitt]

The fact that you mention “SP quality” suggests to me that you are producing your DVDs on a standalone recorder. Based on my own experience, a 90% compatibility rate is very good. Mine was more like 80%. One of the reasons for this is that some of the recorders do not put an Audio_TS folder on the disc. Although it’s just an empty folder, some players look for this. Since I switched to burning DVDs on my Mac and my duplicating tower, my success rate has been 100%.

[David Rowan]

Oh, and make sure your not using paper lables. You know, the CD stomper Glue on type sticky lables? They are a big no-no on DVD’s.

DWR

[Andrew Wise]

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like I need to rethink the way I do my DVDs. Could I ask you to point me in the right direction for learning that process? I don’t mind learning on my own, I just need a starting point. Are you using DVD Studio Pro?
Thanks
Andrew

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

Hi Chris (and all),

Just to keep things in perspective, my experience is just the OPPOSITE of Chris’.

I was having trouble getting my Mac-burned DVDs to play on several other players.

I bought an inexpensive set-top DVD Recorder (Sansui from Sears!) and the DVDs I burn on it will play on virtually ALL my various clients DVD players.
The thing about set-top DVD Recorders is that they burn in 1-to-1 (“Real-time”) and that can mean a disc is being burned “deeper” by the laser so that might make is easier to read on more machines.
Also, my Sansui burns DVD-R’s (like the Mac) and DVD-R media is supposed to be more compatible.
Many set-top units burn DVD+R and that could mean more problems with compatibility.

Some of the players in my preview will play the Mac discs, most will play the Sansui discs, and some units will play BOTH source’s discs.

[Evie]

Hi, if you don’t use a label, what do you use? Is there another approach that will make them look equally professional?

[Andrew Wise]

Hi Matte,
Thanks for your post and thanks to everyone else who responded. This is the kind of stuff you won’t find in the manuals.
A couple of questions, if you don’t mind. Are you putting discs out at SP quality or LP. Secondly, what is your success rate (roughly) percentage wise?
I put my discs out on SP. I like the quality but I get 10 to 15% of the discs back. I redo those on LP. It does the trick but I’m not satisfied with the quality of LP. I’m just looking for a better way of working.
Thanks all,
Andrew