Greetings!
A year ago I bought a LiteOn 4x DVD burner, for creating home videos to DVDs. I remember having a lot of frustration that I gave up the hobby. The DVDs I would create would playback fine using computer based DVD players, but would play poorly and randomly lock up (it might start out correctly, but freeze up in the middle of watching, or it wouldn't play at all) using retail living room DVD players. I tried many different forms of media, but that did not seem to fix the problem.
What I learned from reading the FAQs here was that the reason retail players had no problem playing "Hollywood" DVDs, but had lots of problems playing my DVDs, was the "Hollywood" DVDs had a second layer for extra redundancy. I wasn't able to burn this "redundancy" layer using my burners, so my DVDs wouldn't always play correctly on retail players.
I am curious, buy purchasing a Double Layer DVD burner; will I be able to author DVDs with this extra layer of redundancy? I want to be able to distribute them to family members without worrying that they might have the same frustration…
Thanks so much in Advance!
Joey
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 30 of 33
-
-
pioneer 108 - best burner out there(does DL at 2.4,and 4*when released).
decent media,*it sounds like a media problem you had,might be the players liked + or- but you were copying the opposite.
and as for a redundant layer,dont know what faq you were reading,but they use both layers,not many films are released on dvd5-single layer.
id lay bets on a poor writer,poor media,and poor burning software.
as well as maybe a problem with compatibility with your player,but i reckon with the right stuff it would have worked fine.
and im sorry,but the "redundant" layer thing just makes me laugh.
thats just plain stupid. -
I really hate being called 'stupid' for the first post I make in a discussion group, but I would like to apologize if I phrased my original question in an ignorant way. Let me TRY to rephrase my question after reviewing some terms from the FAQ…
-------------------
I have been having real frustrations burning DVDs using my DVD burner (a LiteOn LDW-411s) that I have had for one year now. I believe my burner creates DVDs in DVD-5 format. I have tried a wide multitude of brands of DVD +R and DVD -R media. My DVDs play fine on my computer and on some players, but not on all players. Yet the DVD players that don't play the DVDs I create will play commercial DVDs without a problem.
My question is if I buy a Dual Layer DVD player, will I be able to author DVD-9 DVDs, and will these DVDs be more playable to a wider range of generic DVD players?
Thanks! I hope the question made sense this time!
Joey -
Double-layer DVD+R media will be less compatible, often FAR LESS compatible.
You need to figure out the other issues. It can be many things:
- players
- authoring, burning mode
- file specs are DVD-Video
- DVD+R vs DVD-R
etc.Want my help? Ask here! (not via PM!)
FAQs: Best Blank Discs • Best TBCs • Best VCRs for capture • Restore VHS -
Is the Double-layer DVD media different than the media that commercial DVD-9s are made on?
-
Originally Posted by Joey04
-
Commercial DVD-9s are pressed not burned like the dual-layer disks. They don't have anything in common other than storage capacity.
You may want to update the latest fimware for your current burner.Got my retirement plans all set. Looks like I only have to work another 5 years after I die........ -
[quote="Joey04"]
I have been having real frustrations burning DVDs using my DVD burner (a LiteOn LDW-411s) that I have had for one year now. I believe my burner creates DVDs in DVD-5 format. I have tried a wide multitude of brands of DVD +R and DVD -R media. My DVDs play fine on my computer and on some players, but not on all players. Yet the DVD players that don't play the DVDs I create will play commercial DVDs without a problem.
[quote="Joey04"]
Hello Joey04, What you are saying about YOUR home DVD player is a common problem. Maybe get a new DVD player that plays most every format.... try the Philips 642/17 at Walmart - it's less than $70.00. Look it up in the DVD hacks board. Mine plays everything I toss at it...! Including my homemade DVDs.
You could also take your homemade DVDs to the TV/DVD store & see which DVDs will play them...!
Doc_BReach for the Starz -
tug_hill2,
I think that is the problem, but that’s not the solution I want...
You see, I am not just making these family DVDs for myself, but I also want to be able to send them out to family members, who have DVD players.
For example, Uncle Cletus, Aunt Sookey, and Grandpa Joe who bought their DVD player at the town-day flee market... They have no problems when they drive into town and rent DVDs at the fancy Blockbuster Video (next to the town's main attraction, the stoplight.)
I want to be able to burn DVDs that they can play on THEIR players... They will believe their DVD players are fine, they wont want to buy a new DVD player, and they will simply think there is something wrong with the DVDs I am sending them.
Instead of asking anyone to exchange their players just for my DVDs, will a better burner and better media make DVDs that they can play on their players?
Thanks again!
Joey -
I can't help thinking that this sounds like a "bit setting" problem.
As I understand it:
1) The bit-type is the very first thing any DVD reader reads. It tells the machine what type media to expect.
2) ALL DVD players (the "set-top" type) can actually read most any type DVD (+R, -RW, ROM, etc.) BUT were often programed to ignore (NOT read) anything except DVD-ROM.
3) Some DVD Burners (esp. the + types) can "SET" THE BIT-TYPE ether automatically or through a utility.
Some burners may need a "hacked" firmware to do this, for others it's built-in from the manufacture.
I know this sounds kinda wierd - the exact same data, the exact same blank disk, the same settings in the same burning software ... but set the bit-type to +R and your player chokes, set the bit-type to DVD-ROM and all is fine!
That just seems to be what happens. -
You'll be hard pressed to find media-burner combination that will work for ALL DVD players.
Updating the firmware is a good idea. But buying a DL burner is not going to make things any better. Lots of player currently have problems reading DVD+RW DL discs.
My suggestion is to buy a new better burner. Use this site to research burners and media and test them for yourself. -
buy a better dvd burner or flash your liteon 411 to a 811 drive. check out the LITEON FORUM at cdfreaks.com
http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=44 -
Not that this helps much, but I made the "family" DVDs for Christmas last year. Used a cheap all-in-one package (Roxio Easy CD/DVD Creator) to author and burn. Used Fuji and Maxell DVD -R's (sorry, no media IDs handy), so no bit setting. Every family member's player played them. Of course, most of them had Apex 1100's which would play a bagel if you could fit it in the tray.
Point of the story is: I guess it's hit-or-miss, but you need to look at your entire process. Computers are very forgiving in terms of encoded quality, DVD authoring, and media quality. Many of the members here are brilliant when it comes to spotting flaws in procedure. Maybe if you outlined your process from capture to burn, someone might spot a problem. -
Use bitsetting Like what arklab said.
I use a Benq and it is set at DVD-ROM for +R(W), all what gets burned play on my mates old antique dvd player perfectly, but if i burn it as DVD +R or on DVD -R media the same player says "NO DISC". -
I produced and distributed my video creations to hundreds of clients. I only distribute DVD+R disks that are bitset to DVD-ROM. I'm not going to say that it's perfect, but I will say that I never had any returned for playback problems.
In my opinion, the compatability for +R is high, for -R, it's a little higher, but for the most compatabilty, +R bitset to DVD-ROM wins out.Got my retirement plans all set. Looks like I only have to work another 5 years after I die........ -
arklab, I just went to the FAQ, and did separate searched for "bit" and "setting", and nothing came up looking like "bit setting". Where can I find out more about this hack you are talking about? If I understand correctly, you are suggesting that regardless if I buy "DVD +R" media, or "DVD -R" media, when I burn the DVD, I tell my burner to program the disk as a "DVD-ROM"
Everyone else,
The frustration I had wasn't that it would simply say "no disk", but that it would sometimes play correctly, sometimes freeze up in random spots, sometimes complain that the disk/media was dirty, frustrations that
(1) would never happen with a commercial DVD,
(2) would never happen when playing the same DVD back on the computer, and
(3) didn't seem to matter if it was +R, -R, or RW media.
I was using a version of Sonic MyDVD that came with the DVD burner, and was using capture software that came with my Sony digital camcorder.
I understand that I can't expect to make a DVD that will play on every player... Why is it that commercial DVDs will play on every player?
Several people from this group mentioned I should get the Pioneer DVR108, which I am planning to order online today. The LiteOn 4x burner probably wasn't the problem, but I want to rule it out anyway. Does anyone know if the DVR108 will bit-set? -
joey
from everything i have read some players somewhere out there will have problems with burned media much easier then commercial discs but with the latest burners and advances in media those problems will be few and far between. Since I started burning about a year ago my success rate over the last few months has been much higher with my new Pioneer then it was with my first NEC. Media has made big advances as well. As long as you get a respectible burner and solid media you should not have any concerns with skipping and freezing but noone can say with any combination of burner and discs that they can guarantee a 100% success rate.
Hope this helps. -
Originally Posted by budzIf God had intended us not to masturbate he would've made our arms shorter.
George Carlin -
What DVD player do you have and what media have you been using? The LDW-411 is not exactly known to have good write quality so that might be the reason your freezing problems although it should work decent with some media. It might be that your DVD player simply doesn't like burned DVDs at all.
The Pioneer DVR-108 does not support bitsetting for single layer DVD+R unless you flash it with a Piodata firmware. I'd recommend a BenQ DW1620 instead if you want bitsetting, great write quality and great media support. -
Also, make sure you run tests on your burns. This will show if your getting bad burns from the drive, or if the media is bad. This could be an important step that you are missing.
Also remember, that older DVD players say from 5 years ago or longer will not play DVD+R at all! If you or your aunt May's cousin's dog has a older DVD player. Chances are the DVD+R will not read in the player, and you would be better off using DVD-r!
The main thing about this hobby is it takes patience. Lots and lots of patience. After 3 years I still run into issues, (media related). You will too, and it will be frustrating! But just keep at it and eventually you will see results. -
How many standalone players have you tested playback on? Try at least three or four.
What speed are you burning at? Go to 1x or 2x.
What resolution, framerate, and bitrate are your video files? 720x480, 29.97, less than 9000 MAX.
What type of audio, and what frequency? Must be 48K, AC3 or LPCM preferred, though most players will play MP2. But perhaps not yours.
Have you tried using a different encoder and authoring prog? I use Sonic for authoring but never tried its encoding features.
I have used the Sony software, and was not impressed. Remember the PC will play any MPEG file, the standalone player MUST remain within very specific limits.
Before spending money on possibly unneeded parts, test and eliminate those things you can do for free. -
Hey Joey,
Why is it that commercial DVDs will play on every player? realmad.gif
Commercial DVD-9s are pressed not burned .....
[4.3.1] Is it true there are compatibility problems with recordable DVD formats?
Yes. None of the writable formats are fully compatible with each other or even with existing drives and players. In other words, a DVD+R/RW drive can't write a DVD-R or DVD-RW disc, and vice versa (unless it's a combo drive that writes both formats). As time goes by the different formats are becoming more compatible and more intermixed. A player with the DVD Forum's DVD Multi is guaranteed to read DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM discs, and a DVD Multi recorder can record using all three formats. Some new "super combo" drives can record in both plus and dash format, and a few "super multi" drives can record all 5 disc types (DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM).
In addition, not all players and drives can read recorded discs. The basic problem is that recordable discs have different reflectivity than pressed discs (the pre-recorded kind you buy in a store -- see 5), and not all players have been correctly designed to read them. There are compatibility lists at CustomFlix, DVDMadeEasy, DVDRHelp, HomeMovie.com, Apple, YesVideo.com, and elsewhere that indicate player compatibility with DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. DVDplusRW.org maintains a list of DVD+RW compatible players and drives. (Note: test results vary depending on media quality, handling, writing conditions, player tolerances, and so on. The indications of compatibility in these lists are often anecdotal in nature and are only general guidelines.) There is insignificant compatibility difference between the "dash" and "plus" formats (see 4.3.6). There are much bigger compatibility differences between brands, so be careful about buying cheap discs.
Very roughly, DVD-R and DVD+R discs work in about 85% of existing drives and players, while DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs work in around 80%. The situation is steadily improving. In another few years compatibility problems will mostly be behind us, just as with CD-R (did you know that early CD-Rs had all kinds of compatibility problems?). -
Joey04;
I understand that I can't expect to make a DVD that will play on every player... Why is it that commercial DVDs will play on every player?
Use this link:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters
Then look in the upper right hand corner for BookType/BitSetting in RED.
If you click on the words, you will see an explaination and link to further help.
If you check the box (and any other features you want); then "search", you will see what DVD burners already HAVE the bitsetting.
Good Luck -
Ok, after doing some internet price checking
I can get the Pioneer DVR108, just the bare drive for $78
Or
The BenQ DW1620, in the retail box, for $86
(both prices I found include free 2-day shipping)
I am reading that users in this forum who have either of these drives swear these are the best drives for a home author who wants to distribute DVDs.
The major difference I understand is that
(a) The BenQ has the Bit Setting feature as a standard
(b) The Pioneer requires 3rd party firmware to use Bit Setting.
That would lean me towards paying the extra 8 bucks for the BenQ. Anything else I should consider?
I am looking forward to ordering one tomorrow (Wednesday) so I should have it Friday or Saturday. I really appreciate all the feedback I have been getting!
Joey -
i just bought a BENQ 1620 drive and so far it's great. the one feature that sold me was the automatic bitsetting for DVD+R/RW media. i've read great reviews about this drive and decided to buy one to see for myself what the drive is capable of doing. i also have a PIONEER 107 that burns great DVD-R media and a PLEXTOR 708A that burns great DVD-R & DVD+R media which plextor now has bitsetting capability for +R media.
in my opinion i would get the BENQ 1620 there is no need to flash the drive with any hacked or 3rd party firmware for bitsetting. i just flashed the 1620 with the official firmware from BENQ. -
Ok, laugh away! I've had my BenQ 1620 for three weeks, and haven't burned a single DVD with it yet! Haven't even tried!
I'm actually working on a project that requires DL media, which I won't have until Christmas. -
Hey Fellow Texan. Didnt realize that you were in Coppell. I use to live over there when I first moved to Texas. Currently out in Fort Worth (actually its Keller)...
I looked over your posts (from your original) and I thinkt that I know what the problem is from start to finish. SonicMyDVD. Not saying its a bad program (actually I am), but there are better alternatives out there for the pulling in of DV footage (I believe that is what you are doing) and then converting over to mpeg and then putting into DVD format.
Have you tried other methods for doing this? Hell, windows media player has something that will pull in the DV footage. Then you can use TMPGENC other some other encoder to convert it to a compliant MPEG. Then, just author. I would actually recommend using TMPGENC DVD Author or something other than Sonic (had the same issues that you did).
If you need any advice/info, let me know. -
tekkieman wrote:
Ok, laugh away! I've had my BenQ 1620 for three weeks, and haven't burned a single DVD with it yet! Haven't even tried! redface.gif
I'm actually working on a project that requires DL media, which I won't have until Christmas.I couldn't wait to test out the BENQ 1620 and I am very satisfied with the quality of the burns. I burned a 8x Sony DVD+R disc at 16x speed thinking it probably would have problems playing back on my standalone dvd players.
It played back flawlessly.
-
Joe - STRONGLY RECOMMEND you investigate some of the other possible issues before buying another burner.
While it is possible your burner is indeed the problem, it is equally likely the problem is something completely different, as outlined in previous post.
This DL "redundancy" issue is ABSOLUTELY NOT your problem, and I am curious how you came to this conclusion from info on this site. The only guess I have is related to the error-correction contained on a data disc versus a video disc, but this is irrelevant to your problem.
Cap a short vid with something besides Sonic, encode with TMPGenc, author with something besides Sonic, test on several players.
Answering some of the important questions regarding framerate, resolution, bitrate, audio specs., etc would be very helpful in pinpointing your problem. -
Nelson37,
I know I was wrong about the DL redundancy issue. The reason I thought it might have been the issue was that just about all DVD player’s play DVD-9s, and I thought a DL drive would write in DVD-9. From the help I got here, I understand I was clearly mistaken. Second, I agree that there is a very good chance my LiteOn burner is just fine, and I appreciate that you want to help me save money. However, because of the money and time I am going to be spending with new software, video editing, burning, waiting for burns, testing different medias, playing on different players, etc. $86 to get the burner most recommended by this forum is hardly even a drop in the bucket.
Macleod,
I work in Southlake, just north of you!
Tekkieman,
I can't laugh... My wife and I bought a Nintendo Gamecube last year and we just bought our first game for it last month... I spent $800 on a good mountain bike before I got married, and I am lucky if it gets one ride a year. Heck, I built my PC for video editing and DVD burning, and one year later, look where I am!
Ok, several of you have been asking about the process I have been using. My Sony digital camcorder actually records to Digital Tapes (Digital 8 ) and not to .MPG files. I use firewire to capture it to .AVI files on the PC. I have some software to cut, edit, and reorder the .AVI files into smaller .AVI files. I don't have any complaints about the .AVI files I create.
Sonic MyDVD was bundled with my LiteOn player, and when I called LiteOn tech support, they told me it was the ONLY software they would support with the DVD player. I am sure others will work though. So I guess what I need now is some good DVD authoring software. One thing I really didn't like about Sonic was it didn't give much flexibility for creating menus. It looks like "TMPGENC DVD Author" (that Macleod recommends) is free, and free is always good. Are there any other good authoring software I should consider for the BenQ DW1620 writer?
I also need recommendations for DVD +R media, that I will bit set to "DVD-ROM" using the BenQ DW1620 writer.
I just ordered the BenQ writer this morning. It should arrive Friday or Saturday depending on if it ships out today or tomorrow. I am excited about getting a new toy!
Similar Threads
-
Double-sided, double-layer. Are they the same thing?
By ibzomie in forum MediaReplies: 8Last Post: 5th Feb 2011, 16:13 -
HP DVD+R Double Layer Discs
By SEE_Studios in forum MediaReplies: 57Last Post: 15th Apr 2010, 08:56 -
Burning Double Layer DVD with no Layer Break.
By aspen matthews in forum Authoring (DVD)Replies: 12Last Post: 24th Oct 2009, 13:26 -
DVD+R9 Double Layer first burn: problems with layer switch
By Edmund Blackadder in forum DVD RippingReplies: 400Last Post: 4th Oct 2009, 11:27 -
Double Layer DVD
By nagihcim1 in forum Newbie / General discussionsReplies: 1Last Post: 7th Sep 2007, 19:09