DL disc menus don't work on standalone DVD players

[JohnnyBob]

I've had good luck using DVDFab Decrypter followed by DVD Shrink to make backup copies of various protected commercial movies on single layer DVD-R (Taiyo Yuden 16x). That process has always worked OK for me, no problems, using my computer's internal DVD burner (LG GSA-4167B).

However that loses the menu operations and access to special features and extras when the size is over 4.7GB, unless I compress the movie. I would greatly prefer to retain the original quality, and not compress...

So I've been trying to duplicate the entire movie intact onto DL discs (Verbatim DVD+R DL 2.4-6x) but with mixed results, generally poor. The resulting DL copies play generally OK with full menu functionality on my computer's LG DVD drive using PowerDVD, but there are almost always problems playing them on standalone DVD players. They would not play at all of my older Emerson DVD player (EWD7003), so I just ordered a new Sony DVD player (DVP-NS57P) which advertises compatibility with DL media. The DL movies play on the new Sony but the menus are usually messed up. Out of a half-dozen movies I've tried so far, only one has a fully functional menu on the Sony. I also tried a couple on my son's Memorex DVD player (mvd2040) with the same result - the movies can be played somehow, but the menus are non-functional or screwed up.

So, what's the trick to make the DL disc menus work correctly on standalone DVD players? Is that a reasonable goal and expectation, or just an impossible dream.

[ntscuser]

If you can make any kind of DVDR play properly on a Sony you will have done well

[JohnnyBob]

I take it you're not a Sony fan. Before I ordered the Sony player, I researched compatibilities with DL media at VideoHelp and it seemed like a fair bet.

I've checked a few of my single layer DVD (Taiyo Yuden) movies, and the menus work OK on all standalone DVD players that I've tried so far, including the Sony. So it's a special problem peculiar to the DL DVDs (Verbatim). Verbatim has a good rep, so I guess I'm doing something wrong. But what...?

[Obviously I need to do more reading, any steering appreciated...]

[oldandinthe way]

I've had to use imgburn to make DL DVDs whose menus work on my player.

But mine is not a SONY so I would not suggest that it will work fpr you.

[t0nee1]

As oldandintheway stated, I would try IMGBurn for DL media! IMO I'd use IMG for all my burns....
Just my 2 cents. And BTW I use Nero occasionally ok! just not for DVD video. Oh no,now the $**t is gonna hit the fan.....

[JohnnyBob]

I've had to use imgburn to make DL DVDs whose menus work on my player.

But mine is not a SONY so I would not suggest that it will work fpr you.

Thanks for your and the other person's response. I imagine it's good advice, but I'm having major problems trying to understand ImgBurn and iso files...

Here's my first problem when trying to "Build" an iso file with ImgBurn. It confronts me with several options regarding the layer break and I have no idea which one to choose.

Ignore Layer Break Options - apparently this is the wrong one because it says it won't be suitable for DL media

Seamless - "You should ONLY enable this option if know for a fact that your player does not need the layer break cell to be marked as non-seamless". I have no idea what that means!

Don't update IFO/BUP files - "You should ONLY enable this option if the IFO/BUP files have been prepared in advance with the necessary layer break information!". I have no idea whether they have been prepared in advance, or not. I'm starting with the VIDEO_TS folder prepared with DVDFab Decrypter.

So which option do I choose, or what do I need to do, regarding the all-important layer break!!??

[TBoneit]

So far my +R DL copies one to one have been using DVD Decrypyter iso read, iso burn and they play ok on the two players that support that format. The Phillips 5960 Plays divx/xvid/mpgs burned to +R DLs with nero 6 with no glitches too. Fo rmy next test I'll be authoring a DL movie with TDA 3 now that it is out and I have it and see how that works. So far burning with a Pioneer 109 and Memorex Dls was poor results. Burning the rest of the DL spindles with a LiteOn and Burning Verbatim Dls with the LiteOn has been truble free for burning and playback. IMHO the burner does make a difference. My Pionee results were not as good as the LiteOn results.

[JohnnyBob]

(Sorry but that last post is over my head. I'm a relative newbie, just started in this area of interest and burned my first DVD Video about 30 days ago. I am overwhelmed by the voluminous technical verbiage involved and my old brain shuts down fairly quickly in such situations.)

If I make an iso file with DVD Shrink (from the VIDEO_TS folder prepared with DVDFab Decrypter) then try to burn it with IMGBurn, it confronts me with the following caution with a yellow triangle...

Optimal L1 Data Zone Start LBA: None Found (VTS_03)
This Image has not been mastered correctly for burning onto a double layer (OTP Track Path) disc. None of the cells meet the 'DVD-Video specification' criteria for a potential layer break position. Do you want to continue anyway? Yes No

Of course I clicked 'No', which produced a frustrated lady's voice saying "Oh, No!". I guess that's funny to someone but not to me. I'm just trying to figure out what's happening here and how to do it!

[TBoneit]

Have you tried RipIt4Me ?

I use to rip, then DVD Decrypter to burn. I'd not use shrink unless you wanted to shrink it to fit one disc.

Other suggestion You don't need to make a ISO to use Imgburn. Try ripping with DVDFabDecrypter and then just burn with ImgBurn. Tutorials at
https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?searchtext=&tools=852&madeby=&formatconversionsele...or+List+Guides

One of them should help you. Good Luck

[JohnnyBob]

Yes I've used RipIt4Me. It gives some feedback and options when there are read errors. DVDFab Decryptor just hangs in such cases. I really don't know which one is best except the latter is updated frequently.

I didn't realize DVD Decrypter could burn a DVD, but will give it a try.

I know they claim that IMGBurn can burn a VIDEO_TS folder/files but not insofar as I can figure out. I've read tutorials til I'm blue in the face! Almost everything I try with IMGBurn fails with some kind of built-in feedback comment/message from the author saying it won't work, but there is no corresponding help. It's necessary to go searching for tutorials in a maze of tutorials. If I recall correctly, I succeeded with it once to "Mount" then burn to a single sided disc, but the complications with DL discs are too much for me.

This is all getting put onto the back burner til I can get another standalone DVD player that will play DL discs. I'm returning the Sony DVP-NS57P which I was using for recent tests. It doesn't have a S-Video connector, an error on their website. My other old DVD player an Emerson EWD7003 won't hardly play DL discs. I got about 1 out of 10 DL discs to play on it. The DL menus have never worked correctly on any standalone player I've tried, only on my computer's internal LG burner.

------------------

P.S. This is difficult for me wee brain.
But I persisted and found the following link for burning with IMGBurn, a stepwise procedure which I can probably understand & follow...
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?s=5462b2e1116d71bf307a288077ef987d&showtopic=1780

[Jim44]

Yes I've used RipIt4Me. It gives some feedback and options when there are read errors. DVDFab Decryptor just hangs in such cases. I really don't know which one is best except the latter is updated frequently.

As is RipIt4Me - just updated today

I know they claim that IMGBurn can burn a VIDEO_TS folder/files but not insofar as I can figure out.

Really? Hmm, just select "Build" mode and add the parent folder of the VIDEO_TS/AUDIO_TS folders. Burn.

I'll add to what TBoneit said, if you are backing up a DL DVD to a DL blank, skip DVD Shrink. Just backup/decrypt with either RI4M or DVDFab. Then load the parent folder into ImgBurn. Let it take care of the layer-break. See the guide here:
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=1780

I'm no "expert", having only burned a hand-full of DL DVDs, but every one as worked just fine. Certainly there's a lot of "depth" to the subject of DVD back-ups, but if you merely want a full-disc backup (DL to DL), it's pretty straight-forward.

And, I have to say, ImgBurn is very user friendly, especially the guides that cornholio made over at the ImgBurn forums. I've burned SL & DL, both video and "regular" data backup discs, images/ISOs and discrete files. Only problem is when I forget to change to "Write" mode when I'm burning an ISO of a video, doh

Hope that helps,
Jim
[Edit: Sorry, JohnnyBob, just saw your "PS". You found the guide I pointed you to. Carry on ]

[JohnnyBob]

That step-by-step guide did the trick I'm over the learning hump with IMGBurn and coasting down the other side. I've now burned several DVD+R DL movies and they work just fine (including the menus) on my old Emerson DVD player, which wouldn't accept them before. Thanks to all for the tips and encouragement.

[t0nee1]

IMHO, stick with IMGburn, it hasn't let me down for my DL back-ups.. In fact I can't remember when I last used shrink, Nero or anything else to burn!!!!! try IMGTools burn as well..... 8)