Big Arse Cookies

[Rhysfire]

Nice subject eh?

Ok... 20$ via paypal to the first person who gives a working solution!

Here it goes: I can't copy my own made DVD+Rs. I'm using Fujifilm DVD+R. Hope that's ok. If I'm missing any more specs. just ask!

1) I encoded my avi's to mpeg with TMPGnc
2) Then I used Sonic MyDVD 4.5 to author my DVD (maybe where I went wrong. I allowed it to re-encode my audio, since I thought I was saving time by encoding mpeg-1 with TMPGnc- instead of mpeg-2 only because I saw that Sonic MyDVD encoded the audio previously)
3) Then, I let Sonic MyDVD burn/write the CD. (again probably where I went wrong)

Ok I figure now that I should have used other methods ie TMPGnc DVD authoring or such but my question is ... why can't I copy these DVDs?

Also, they play well on my Philips DVDR 75 Recorder AND on my PC's writer using PowerDVD but noy my Apex 600A. I know my Apex player plays DVD+Rs because I tried it with a DVD+R someone made for me. But mine seem to enjoy being Coasters.

SO PLEASE HELP. I'm sort of in a time jam. I'll check this every chance I get but if possible feel free to email me smeagollum@sbcglobal.com

and please please please feel free to Suggest/recommend me anything. I've tried different software but nothing seems to help get the right results. I've tried all the different software, DVDclone, DVDXcopy.... etc...

Also, on a separate note I used DVD Decrypter to rip a DVD but it only copies one VOB/chaper thing...? how do I rip the entire DVD?

Thank You,
Mary
smeagollum@sbcglobal.net

[housepig]

try DVD Decrypter in ISO mode - it should copy the whole disc as one image file, and allow you to burn it to a fresh disc.

if you're in File mode, make sure all files are selected. If neither of those works, try SmartRipper - it usually works for me on discs that Decrypter has problems with.

good luck.

[Rhysfire]

Hey thanks,

I'll try that now.

- Mary

[Gazorgan]

I suspect your Audio got re-encoded to PCM and Voila'....your too big to fit on a disk. If the disk was 3 GB to start (Say...Austin Powers #1), then you would still have enough room.

[FOO]

Yep, dump MyDVD. It insists on PCM.
and definitely encode MPEG2 , you are non compliant if you tried
720 x 480 mpeg1


Have you tried copying your DVDs as if it was a data disk , not a video ?
Surely you have burning program that will just do a 1:1 copy.

[mkelley]

Yeah, this sounds nutty.

If you made the disk yourself, you can copy it. Just open it up in file explorer (right click to open in explorer) and you'll see two folders: VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS. Drag these folders onto your hard drive.

Now you have the two folders on your hard drive. Open up your burning program (Nero or Record Now) and record those two folders. That will do it, I promise you.

[Rhysfire]

Wow ok, thanks guys. I'm trying everything. I'll let you know what works and I'll of course make good on my word and payup.

- Mare

[macleod]

use dvd2svcd to convert your avi to DVD quality (you will need a copy of TMPGENC or CCE or procoder to do the conversion piece, but it sounds like you already have something for conversions).

Use the avi template and under misc. click advanced, go back to the framserver tab and click dvd (I'd actualy do CVD depending on the avi resolution). on the number of CD's change them to 1 at 4200 bits. And then click go. There is a guide in the guides section for using dvd2svcd to convert avi to dvd. After that is done, use an application like movie factory 2 to import the mpeg2 and then burn it to dvd+R. Very easy.

If this is the one that "works" for you, send the donation to dvd2svcd. They really deserve $$$ for what they did with the app.

[Rhysfire]

Hey guys,

Ok I tried most of everything suggested here, and my discs sort of work, but ok here's my thing:

I'm gonna put aside the dvds I made with MyDVD because they only seem to work on my PC and Philips Recorder but not my Apex600A so I'm thinking it's a compatibility issue AS WELL.

But the DVDs my friend made for me, which are basically tv episodes and I ripped off his label to see what media he used and I see that they're DVD+Rs which is the same media I'm using and someone mentioned that I should have some proigram that would just copy the disc- is that what was meant? I do- I tried Nero and InterVideoCopy and countless different similar programs that just copy DVDS. I checked to see if there was some sort of protection (in case my friend might have made a mistake) but there was nothing, why do his DVDs play on my Apex player but when I copy them mine do not. Am I copying them wrong? Anyone have any further software suggestions in DVD+R to DVD+R copying? I'm fairly new obviously, please let me know.

Oh and I'm still trying out suggestions.


Thanks,
Mare

[Rhysfire]

Oh! One more thing, I'm guessing that I have to re-encode my avi files, well that sucks. LOL I have 115 of 20 minutes episodes to encode to DVD/mpeg-2 format, does anyone have any suggestions?

Aside from tossing my PC out. ;p - Mare

[Rhysfire]

Oops I mean what's the best method in converting the avi files to mpeg-2/DVD? TMPGenc? I've always used this.

Sorry about the multiple posts! - Mary

[mkelley]

You have to copy DVDs that play on a standalone player in a very specific manner.

First of all, you need to copy those two directories to your hard drive as I mentioned earlier (yes, there are other ways to approach this, but just do as I say :>).

Now the trick is to let your burning program know you will be creating a DVD meant to be played (as opposed to a data DVD). Every program that does this does it differently -- Record Now recognizes those two directories and will work automatically even though you tell it it's a data disk (one of the reasons I really like Record Now -- nearly impossible to screw it up). I don't use Nero (hate it -- it's *much* too complicated for just burning a DVD) so I don't know, but I'm sure there is a wizard or setting somewhere that says "Hey, this is a playable DVD I'm making." Once you find it, just burn those two directories and you'll be okay.

You don't need any other programs -- no tricks, nothing, just copy those directories onto your hard drive and burn them with your burning software.

[mkelley]

Oops I mean what's the best method in converting the avi files to mpeg-2/DVD? TMPGenc? I've always used this.

Sorry about the multiple posts! - Mary

I like EOVideo. It does batch, is fast, and can read and write most anything.

If you have enough disk space it won't be a big deal to convert those AVIs (just batch process for two or three days).

[obiron]

I use MyDVD 4.5 ('cause it's all I have right now); I'm at work and don't have access to any of the DVDs I've made but I remember that MyDVD burns an "OpenDVD" compliant disk. Is this somehow different than standard DVD? Their marketing blurbs say they use this format so that the resulting DVD will play on more settop players. Could this have anything to do with why Rhyfire can't copy one?

EDIT: Oops, just saw the last post where Rhysfire used Nero and still could not play on the Apex

My MyDVD discs play in my Apex 3201 and all the others my family has tried.

[Rhysfire]

Hi Obiron & all,

Ooh ok you have Sonic too. OK yeah for some reason the discs it writes won't play on my Apex. I'll check the compatibility media for mine, since mine is older.

Ok... now on to try MKelley's suggestions ...

I'd reply faster if I wasn't doing ten things at once, thanks to all by the way!

Sincerely,
Mary

[g_shocker182]

Try donating to this site...you wouldn't've gotten your responses w/o it!

[The village idiot]

I use MyDVD 4.5 ('cause it's all I have right now); I'm at work and don't have access to any of the DVDs I've made but I remember that MyDVD burns an "OpenDVD" compliant disk. Is this somehow different than standard DVD? Their marketing blurbs say they use this format so that the resulting DVD will play on more settop players. Could this have anything to do with why Rhyfire can't copy one?

EDIT: Oops, just saw the last post where Rhysfire used Nero and still could not play on the Apex

My MyDVD discs play in my Apex 3201 and all the others my family has tried.

Does that mean it does not finalize the disk? That could be a problem right there. Or I could be mistaken on the "OpenDVD"compliant disk phrase?

[obiron]

Does that mean it does not finalize the disk? That could be a problem right there. Or I could be mistaken on the "OpenDVD"compliant disk phrase?

tvi, you may be right about the finalization question. Here's what Sonic MyDVD help file says about the format:

All discs created in MyDVD are OpenDVD-compliant, which means you can edit the disc at any time -- even years later -- using the same version of MyDVD or any other OpenDVD-compliant application.

Here's a link to a white paper about OpenDVD:
http://www.sonic.com/pdf/OpenDVD_Whitepaper_9_13-02.pdf
It's definitely not a technical spec but maybe this helps to answer your question.

I took a look at a DVD I made and the directories there are: (Sorry, directories are the same as folders)
JACKET_P
Pictures
OpenDVD
VIDEO_TS

No AUDIO_TS is included. The audio is contained in the .vob files under the VIDEO_TS directory.

[mkelley]

Those other directories are part of a "mixed format" DVD -- they are not required (not do they work or do anything) on a standalone player, but can be read and/or used on a computer.

For a standalone you only need VIDEO_TS (which includes ALL of the files needed to play a DVD) and AUDIO_TS, which will always be empty (the theory is that this was for audio-only DVDs, but even those don't use it). You don't absolutely need AUDIO_TS, but there are some standalones that will not play without it (at this point probably only very old players) -- it never hurts and is always recommended to include it.

Having these two folders (and these two only) means to most burning programs this is a DVD meant to be played on a standalone, and they will react accordingly. A DVD meant to be played in this manner must be formatted differently than a data DVD, so it's important the burning progam you are using either understands this or you directly tell it. With a mixed media mode DVD you will need to explicitly tell your burning program this, because it won't guess correctly.

As I keep saying -- copy only the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS (and if you have no AUDIO_TS, just create a blank folder). Take these two folders and burn them using your burn program. The program (like Record Now) should correctly recognize these are meant for a standalone player (since there are only the two folders and they have the right names -- note, they must both be in upper case, since it is case sensitive) and not only format but also close the disk correctly. Record Now definitely does this -- Nero confuses me so much I don't really know if it does it or not. But, yes, the disk needs to be finalized to be played on a standalone, so you need to use the correct template for that or make the appropriate settings (this again is why I like RecordNow -- if you attempt to burn a DVD meant for a standalone *without* finalizing, it will warn you dramatically).

[zenith52]

Using DVDINFO Pro to look at the bitsetting on the DVDs your m8 gave you.
It may be that his burner defaults to burning DVD+R as DVD ROM, if this is the case that will be why it plays on your APEX machine.

For you to make copies that are as compatible as his you will need to set your DVD+R burner bitsetting to DVD ROM.

This is only possible on +R only burners (RICOH based type)

Zen

[FOO]

If your burning program will do an IMAGE copy
all the discussion about DVD formats is a waste
of time. In fact you want to avoid any DVD aware
programs.
I have Primo which has a button that says "Disk Copy"
RecordNow should be the same.

[Srembecki]

I also have the Apex 600A and it IS all in the bitsetting. Until I replaced the BIOS in my Sony DVD writer with the duplicate BIOS made by Ricoh, my Apex600A wouldn't even recognize a DVD+R. But since I changed the bitsetting/book type to DVD-ROM it will play everything I record. Just my 2 cents worth.



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