Burning Double Layer DVD

[anfield7]

I am using PGC edit and image burn to burn double layer dvd movie which I create myself. Is there any other way to burn double layer dvd? I mean do I really need to use PGC edit and image burn to set the layer setting and create a iso file to burn a double layer dvd?

If I copy a 7g dvd movie to my hard drive, do I need to set the layer break again and create a iso file before I can burn to my double layer disc? Or can I just burn the 7g movie using nero. Thank you.

[jman98]

I use the same method you ask about. The reason is that I know that PgcEdit puts a 32k gap between BUP and IFO files. Why might you care about that? Well, BUPs are backup IFO files and they will be used if an IFO is unreadable due to a bad block on a disc. If you lose an IFO, the BUP will save you and you can still play the DVD - that's why they exist. Yes, you can certainly burn with Nero and Nero will set a layer break for you, but it will also put the BUP and IFO in the same block so if that block goes bad, your disc is now unplayable. So Nero has found a neat way to destroy the entire reason for having BUPs in the first place. Yea Nero. There is a long technical explanation at the bottom of this web page if you are interested:
http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/pgcedit_guide/burning_with_pgcedit/burning_with...pgcedit_v2.htm

I use this method because using PgcEdit is the only way I know for sure to have BUPs and IFOs in separate blocks. It is theoretically possible if you decrypt is ISO mode that if the original DVD was authored with the IFOs and BUPs in separate blocks that the decrypted ISO will preserve this. I asked here once if anyone knew a way to use a software program to tell if BUPs and IFOs were in the same or different blocks and nobody knew how to do it.
So the PgcEdit -> ImgBurn method is the only way I know of to be safe.

You should also be aware that Nero had a lot of problems early on in settting the layer break correctly on DL media and nobody seems to know for sure if they ever got it right on DVD-R DL discs. It seems that they did get the layer break right finally for DVD+R DL discs. You can let ImgBurn burn your DVDs without using PgcEdit and it will set the layer break for you if it can (you'll get an error message if it can't), but I don't know if it will put the BUPs and IFOs in separate blocks.