Playing a VCD on a Panasonic DVD-RV31K

[TAllee]

Hello.

Maybe someone can help:

I have a Panasonic DVD-R31, that is VCD compatible. Just purchased Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum to record VCDs. It records and burns without any errors (other than a Validate Layout message - which comes up with no errors).

But, it won't play in the DVD player.

I was able to make a partial VCD using Pinnacle Express DVD(that programs really is buggy - very inconsistent, out of 20 discs, I've only been able to get it to completely burn 1, and there it hesitates between chapters (screen selections)- but that's another story - anyway, that VCD will play, but none of the ones using EZ CD creator (roxio) will work, the LCD and screen just sit there with the "Reading" message.

And with the software return policies from Best Buy (unable to return), I would like to get this thing to work.

And please, no remarks such as ". . . should have gotten a Pioneer, etc." these remarks are not very constructive, and don't help to fix the problem w/ the current equip. Thanks.

Thanks in advance.
Thomas

[Langley]

I have the same DvD player and I use Nero to burn my VCD's... it works fine. I use TMPGEnc to encode my mpeg files though.

[TAllee]

Here's a techie question:

I noticed that after I burned the VCD using Easy Creator 5 Platinum, that the .DAT files are name MUSIC01.DAT and MUSIC02.DAT

However, when I got Pinnacle Express DVD to work once (out of a couple dozen times), I noticed that the two files were named AVSE01.DAT and AVSE02.DAT (same mpg files being burned).

Thanks in advance.

Thomas

[Busdriver101]

I also had the same general problem with my Phillips DVD718 and vcd produced with EZ CD Creator. My solution was to produce my vcd with Nero 5. Never had a problem since. Try to experiment with different burning software and/or blank media until they work, and try not to count on EZ CD Creator being the only solution. Hope this offers some help. Best o Luck.

[pcs333]

ez cd is useless for creating vcd`s, try nero or if you want to do menus and chapters use ulead movie factory.Its easy to use and does a good job.

[lusid]

Had an interesting experience witha Panasonic dvd player myself. This was a similar model. RV36 I think, belongs to my mother.

I will not play any VCD burned with EZCD5, but it played all my older ones that were burned on EZCD4.x. It doesn't seem to understand the PBC code generated by EZCD5. Seems like a significant bug in the burning software.

That player will play CDR, CDRW, DVDR and DVDRW though, as well as MP3 and VCD. Maybe more, but thats all I tested. MP3 sounds great on it too. Makes me wonder if it'll play MP3 files burned on a DVDR. It also played right through mpeg errors that my Phillips player chokes on.

[jayace]

I have same DVD Player and have used Nero to burn Audio, Mp3, and VCD and have had no trouble. What OS are you using. If XP download all the updates from http://www.roxio.com/en/support/ecdc/xpup.jhtml#xp for EZCD5. I haven't been able to get EZCD5 to run on XP but the downloads apparantely solve the problem according to a friend, haven't had time to try myself.

[BxB]

I had a Panasonic RV21K (basically the same player, sold through Costco) and it played VCDs burned with EZ-CD, as well as XVCDs burned with Nero. Could play cheap CD-Rs and CD-RWs.

You might want to try getting the VCD sample from vcdhelp and see if it plays that. Maybe it a problem with your player.

The only odd thing was, when I fast-forwarded it wouldn't go back to play unless I hit pause, then play. Other than that it worked.