Pioneer DV-444 won't play VCDs

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My new Pioneer DV-444 is ejecting my VCDs. I made a standard VCD using TMPGEnc (352x240, 224 audio, 1150 video @29.97) burned to cd with Nero 5.5.5 using the VideoCD template. All the VCDs I've made this way play fine on my computer using both PowerDVD and WinDVD, but will not play on the Pioneer DVD player. After inserting the cd the player displays "loading" for about 5 seconds and then ejects the cd. I've tried it with both CD-R (PNY, Fujifilm, Imation)and CD-RW discs. None work.

Is my DVD player bad? Do I need to change any settings in Nero before burning?

Philip

[Yellow911GT2]

the only time it ejects cds is when they are empty. I have the same player. Or maybe the bitrate is too high? My player didnt play Shrek svcd, but it would play fine on my dvdrom, I think the bitrate was too high thats why. try using another burning software, it could be that?

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These are standard VCDs (1150 kbit/sec) using the 'VideoCD (NTSC).mcf' template in TMPGEnc. I've used both Nero 5.5.5 and Easy CD Creator 5. I even downloaded the 'sample' VCD NTSC file from this site and burned using CDRWIN. They all play fine on my computer but the Pioneer ejects them.

Also, isn't the DV-444 suppose to play MP3's? I put some MP3's on cd and the Pioneer ejects this cd also! The only thing that plays is DVD's.

Philip

[jwhitlow]

I have a Pioneer DV-444. I play my VCDs just fine. My VCDs are not even standard, they are 1850 VBR.

I have only seen a problem like yours when I used a Yamaha 16X disc burned at 4X. When I burned another of the same disc at 6X, it worked just fine.

[corwin1]

you could try to lower the burn rate to 4x or 6x. typically if it is a compliant vcd it should work providing the dvd player is compatible with the vcd/svcd format. The other thing may be your media. what type of discs are you using? some dvd players will play vcd/svcd but only if they are a certain layer type for the media that they were burned on. Some pioneers do not player "all layer" types (silver layer, black layer, green layer etc.)Check the compatibility chart on the dvdplayers list on this site.

On the side, I did try out the DV440 instore. I assume(since pioneer never answered my email) that it is the same model as the DV444 as there was no specs for the DV440 on their site, although they may have only been color types(DV440 grey, DV444 silver etc). When I tested the DV440 in store, it did not like any of the templates used from this site. Although it did not spit them back out, they didn't play or there were sync/jitter issues. It may be a defective unit. Personally I chose the DV343. It has played everything I've thrown at it. But alas it does not play MP3's...can't have your cake and eat it too.....

[vireas]

The VCD's i've made with nero 4.0.91 were played fine on the dv444. i burned them with 6x speed and nero checked them for vcd 2.0 compatability.