backups have stalls or places where video freezes for a bit

[AbbyLee]

After I backup my DVD's using MacTheRipper, DVD2oneX, and Toast
Some of my backups at some point in the movie stall or freeze for a few moments then go on. What causes this?

[AbbyLee]

I did not link to the warez...it was done automatically?

[rumplestiltskin]

Just a guess - Perhaps the "stall" is at the point where the original DVD9 movie had its layer change. I'd think not because once MTR did its thing, the layer change isn't part of the action, so to speak. Is the stall happening between scenes?

Try DVDRemaster instead of DVD2oneX and see if the problem goes away.

[AbbyLee]

I will try DVDRemaster, thanks for the tip. The answer to your question is no, the stall usually happens in the middle of a most important scene...Murphy's law ya know 8)

[thoughton]

Is it always the same brand of media? That would be my first avenue of investigation.

[From a Buick 8]

Try the same disc on other players. I have a new (last christmas new) JVC player that will play every backup i have made. I have an older Toshiba that does just what you have described on about a third of them.

[AbbyLee]

I was using Fast DVD Copy but started having problems after I upgraded to OS X 10.4 so I went to MTR, DVD2oneX, and Toast.

I'm thinking DVD2oneX needs to be upgraded but I'm not wasting money only to find out there is no problem with the version I have. I'm also not buying DVDRemaster for the same reason.

DVD2oneX new version gives you one free copy not enough for testing...DVDRemaster has a Demo version that gives you free screwed up copies. I need something I can test on multiple copies and get good copies while deciding to buy. What ever happened to the 30 day trial?

[albloom]

I've seen this happen with original DVDs with flaws
or smudges. Most of the time cleaning the bejeezuz
out of the disc will cure the problem. I had one that
needed a dozen cleanings. Boring!

[AbbyLee]

Now this sounds very logical...will try it. Thanks!

[MerlinMacuser]

I too started having this problem on certain back ups of disks I own. Aviator and Be Cool gave me lots of problems. I use MTR and DTOX or MTR and Popcorn. I made several experiments to try and pin down the source of the problem. I buy disks at Sam's club in spindles of either 75 or 100 blanks depending on what's available.

I used silver Verbatim disks (with MTR and Popcorn) then switched to Sonys. Strange that the cheaper Sonys had no artifacts or freezes while the Verbatims back ups would pixelate and freeze at the same spot no matter what. I always clean the master disks before using MTR.

Upgrading to the Beta of MTR r12 helped with the problem disks. I found that Popcorn produces more "coasters" than DTOX.

I started using the Sony disks exclusively then started having problems with them too. I bought more Verbatims but this time went for the more expensive 16X versions with the printable white face on them.

I found that if I set the final size feature on DTOX to slightly less than the default of 4400 MB, I could contiune to use the Sonys for back ups. For some reason, the problems and freezes would always appear in the denoument scenes near the end of the movie and so at the edge of the disk!

I just bought a new spindle of Verbatim 16x white faced DVD-Rs and my Sony firewire DL 16x burner can't read them! So I have to use them in the stock internal Superdrive which is only 4-8x! Next time I will buy the DVD+R spindle to see if that makes a difference.

I cannot recommend Popcorn. Stick with DTOX. In my experience, the cause of the pixellation can be either the media, the compression program or problems with the rip...either an old version of MTR hitting a wall or encountering a scratch/smudge on the master disk. The newest MTR seems to be able to error correct bad sectors (deliberate or accidental) better than previous versions.

[terryj]

I'm thinking DVD2oneX needs to be upgraded but I'm not wasting money only to find out there is no problem with the version I have. I'm also not buying DVDRemaster for the same reason.

DVD2oneX new version gives you one free copy not enough for testing...DVDRemaster has a Demo version that gives you free screwed up copies. I need something I can test on multiple copies and get good copies while deciding to buy. What ever happened to the 30 day trial?

Huhn? I don't understand this statement.
I bought DVD2ONEX with version 1.3 for the Mac,
and EVERY upgrade up to the one I run currently
(v. 1.42) was FREE and worked FULLY without flaws.

Please elaborate on your statement.
If your copy of DVD2ONEX is registered,
you get the updates to the current version FREE,
using your same, REGISTERED, serial number.

[rumplestiltskin]

I can't use Verbatim white-tops for ANY movies. They are fine for data but, for some reason, they don't play in any of my players.

[tahoe]

problem is multi-faceted.

1. media. certain media will do this more often than others

2. DVD players. older dvd players do not like many of the dvd-r

3. burn speed. it takes longer, but the slower burn speeds will help alleviate this problem. I usually burn at 1x or 2x.

media is the biggest part, and the easiest to fix.

[AbbyLee]

So what is the best media to use?

I've been usine verbatim thinking it was the best....I clean the originals a couple of times...and burn at 1x.

[albloom]

So what is the best media to use?

I've been usine verbatim thinking it was the best....I clean the originals a couple of times...and burn at 1x.

After Imation stopped making the 1-X, I thrashed around for a while
before one of our colleagues here pointed me to Samsung DigitAll 1-X
from meritline.com (DRG47250CKN) at about 50 cents each.

But meritline just put them on sale, which scared me. When OfficeMax
put the Imations on sale, it was a closeout. So I quick ordered another
hundred.

[terryj]

albloom, it was me who pointed you to the Samsung's ,
and they still make the Samsung BeAll's that burn perfectly
at 1x in older Pioneer Superdrives.

Samsung currently is the only manufacturere that still makes
media for older burners. Most others have "phased out"
the older media to make current ( 8x, 16x) media.

Shop4tech.com also carries 1-4x Taiyo Uden brand media, which is
also reliable for older burners, in case Meritline ever
runs out.

[AbbyLee]

I have a new mini Mac...and just bought a new duel layer burner.

Are you saying that dvd's created for older burners (or are made to burn at 1 or 2 x) do a better job in the new machines?

[terryj]

By default, ANY DVD burned at 1x speed will insure
the most COMPATABILITY in the WIDEST range of players
built from the time of the first consumer DVD Players
( circa 1998) to current models on the shelf.

Older Superdrives such as the Pioneer -103 and -104 models
could only top out their burning speed at 1x-2x, which
was fine for most consumer model players manufactured at
the time.

AFAIK, if you don't know the manufacture date on the
consumer player your Mac authored DVD is going to
play on, then it is best you burn it at a minimum of
2x, or at least 1x to be safe.

[AbbyLee]

So I ask the question again.
It has been suggested that I get stalls in my movies because of the media (verbatim) because:

I always burn at 1x
I use latest version of MacTheRipper, DVD2One, and Toast
I have a new mini mac (which had the problem)
I got a new duel layer (same problem) haven't used the duel layer part yet.

So what is the best media for burning movies?
I've looked over the DVD Media User Report...seems someone likes and dislikes every brand. Help me Ob1

[terryj]

Your Answer to your question WILL vary, based upon
personal experience and preference
( ie., a person's willingness to be cheap).

That said, universally I think MOST will agree on the following
brands:

Taiyo Uden
Apple
TDK (made in Japan)

My personal prefs are:

Taiyo Uden
TDK (made in Japan)
Samsung/BeAll