Grundig GDV95 SVCD compatibility using CDR vs. CDRW

[ion tichy]

Hello,

I'm experiencing problems playing SVCD CDs I made on my Grundig GDV 95, specifically - the video stream has severe glitches.

Some information:
1. The video was encoded using TMPG encoder using the standard CBR settings for SVCD (using the wizard with the parameters stated in this site)

2. I tried speeds from X24 to X4 (slowest it can go) with my BenQ CD-writer

3. When I used a CDRW media, the video was perfectly good, but obviously I cannot afford having a didigal library made of CDRW

4. I tried 5 brands of CDR media including TDK, Memorex, Verbatim, and others, but all have the same problem

5. I tried pasting a sticker on the media to eliminate the transparency, but it didn't help

I'm pretty desparate by now, as you can imagine. The problem cannot be the encoding paramaters or DVD limitations since it supports the CDRW, on the other hand I tried some media from respectable vendors, and it does not work.

Could it be that the DVD model only supports CDRW ? do you think I should upgrade the firmware ?

Please help

Thanks
Ion

[poopyhead]

more info on your dvd player here:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers


have you considered encoding with VBR, instead of CBR. since SVCDs have lower bitrate to play with (vs. DVDs), you will need to allocate your bitrate as efficiently as possible, which means using multi-pass VBR... (CQ VBR, at the least). CBR is bad if you're using lower bitrates.

[ion tichy]

Thank you for your reply.

I tried using VBR at 1950 average speed and the results were a little better, but still non-usable.

One more fact I neglected to mention:

When I insert a SVCD that was made using a CDR media, there is a strange physical whirring sound during the entire time the CD is inserted (event before I hit the play). When I used the CDRW media (which displayed great) there was no such sound.

I tried looking in DVD list (before I sent the original post), but GDV95 (my model) is not mentioned. the closest model was GDV100, but I dont know if that counts for anything.

I also browsed previous posts, and there was something about a whirring sound, but with no conclusions, and on a different make and model of DVD.

--------
My guess is that my DVD is sensitive to the color the media - a fact thatr causes disturbance in reading the CDs, which also manifests in the form of this strange sound. In lower bitrates, it can manage to some degree the stream due to its reading buffer.

the CDRW i used successfully is coated dark gray. Do you know of a similar media with such coating, or do you have a differnt opinion ?

thanks
ion

[poopyhead]

CD-R and CD-RW are completely different.....

CD-R only allows you to record once because the pits burned into the dye is permanent

CD-RW uses phase change (NOT DYE) technology which allows you to rewrite...

so, you can't base solely on the color of the bottom.

here's a couple of quick tests...

1) test on your computer...same problems???

2) test on friend's dvd player...same problems???

[ion tichy]

Plays great both on my computer, and any other DVD player I tried so far ...

[poopyhead]

Plays great both on my computer, and any other DVD player I tried so far ...

if the CD-Rs work on your computer and other DVD player correctly, then i have to assume it's your standalone.

here are some more quick tests....sorry, since CD-R is your problem, you may need to waste some:

download standard, compliant VCD 2.0 sample here...burn to CD-R and test.

https://www.videohelp.com/vcd

download SVCD sample here and burn again.

https://www.videohelp.com/svcd

see if any of these works.

[ion tichy]

Ok, I tried both VCD and SVCD images, but with same resutls. video was jerky, and the strange whirring sound persists.

I also tried a commercial VCD I got, and it was fine ! - no strange sounds.

I also tried an MP3 CD - and got 2 results: on one cd which is coted dark blue (an old verbatim datalife) - the sound did not exist, and on a regular TDK - the wirring sound was there.

could it be that my standalone player is just sensitive, or could it be protected from recorded media ?

[poopyhead]

could be your dvd player is just not liking CD-Rs..

however, how fast you burning the media??? try limit to 4X and see if it works.

[ion tichy]

yeah, I switched to X4 a while ago..

I think we covered most of the possible checks, and I dont suppose its fixable...

any other ideas ?

[poopyhead]

sorry...i'm all outta ideas...

most common is dvd players support R, but not RW...never really heard of the opposite, until now...

[ion tichy]

Thank you anyway for the time and effort

ion