Apex/Nero 5.5.4.0/scandata.dat - heads up

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The new version of Nero contains a scandata.dat file in the EXT folder for SVCD burns. I thought that was good news for FF/RW issues for SVCD burns and Apex DVD players. Problem is that is doesn't work. At least not on my 703.

I wasn't able to delete the Nero version of scandata.dat in order to relace it with my version so I had to go back to using my previous version of Nero.

Just a heads up. If anybody can get FF/RW to work in 5.5.4.0 let me know.

[AntnyMD]

What happened when you put a second SCANDATA.DAT file in the EXT folder of your SVCD? Did Nero reject it?

[bewley]

Where can I get a copy of a SCANDATA.DAT file that works with the Apex 703? I am using the one from the AUTHOR guide on this site and it doesn't work.

Thanks!

- bewley

[AntnyMD]

As the scandata.dat file only has the text SCAN_VCD in it, what about it will not work for you?

On most if not all Apex players, adding this file only enables the use of the FF/RW keys, but as a side effect, it disables your GOTO function.

[bewley]

Well, as I said, it doesn't work. I drag and drop the SCANDATA.DAT file into the EXT directory. I then drag and drop my MPEG. Press burn and go. While watching the SVCD, I try to scan forward and the thing usually rewinds... Often back to the start of the disc. Most of my SVCD's are DVD to SVCD conversions using TMPGEnc.

Hmmmm... Thinking about it, I am running an older version of Nero (like 5.0.3.x)... Is there a minimum version required to make the SCANDATA.DAT file work?

Thanks,

- bewley

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: bewley on 2001-08-27 13:47:23 ]</font>

[AntnyMD]

When creating your scandata.dat file, its important to not insert a <RETURN> after the text SCAN_VCD. Also make sure you use an underscore, not a dash.

[macca]

I used the scandata.dat file using Nero 5.5.4.0 and it worked ok. I also tried it before on the previous version and could not get it to FFWD..etc..

Purhaps update Nero!

[bewley]

Yup. It is 8 bytes long. I am pretty sure the file is good, so I will have to chalk this up to an earlier version of Nero -- thanks for the info macca.

Anyway, I will go out and grab a demo version of Nero 5.5 and see what happens. If it works, I'll report back here.

Thanks!

- bewley

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<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-08-27 13:26:30, AntnyMD wrote:
As the scandata.dat file only has the text SCAN_VCD in it, what about it will not work for you?

On most if not all Apex players, adding this file only enables the use of the FF/RW keys, but as a side effect, it disables your GOTO function.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

This has been my experience as well.

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<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-08-27 12:36:05, AntnyMD wrote:
What happened when you put a second SCANDATA.DAT file in the EXT folder of your SVCD? Did Nero reject it?
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

When I attempted to drag my version of scandata.dat Nero rejected it.

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<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-08-27 13:52:01, macca wrote:
I used the scandata.dat file using Nero 5.5.4.0 and it worked ok. I also tried it before on the previous version and could not get it to FFWD..etc..

Purhaps update Nero!

</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

With my version of 5.5.4.0 the Nero scandata.dat file in the EXT folder did not work for FF/RR on my Apex 703. It's really crazy how people get different results. Maybe I'll try it again. When I went back to my previous version of Nero my scandata.dat file that I created worked.

[bewley]

It's really not that crazy at all (I think). There are two versions of the 703, each with a couple different versions of firmware -- including hacked versions. I would imagine that bugs/differences can exist from machine to machine due to the level of the firmware used.

I could be wrong here, but I would think this is the reason for the success/failure of the people in this thread. Just a guess..?

- bewley

[bewley]

OK. I just spent several hours playing around and here is what I have learned. (Warning: I am quite a newbie at SVCD so please bear with me)

I upgraded to Nero 5.5.3.5 (avoiding 5.5.4.0) and burned a test SVCD using the SCANDATA.DAT file from this site (a 1:28 MPEG from the movie Hannibal). Same results as using Nero 5.0.3.5. That is to say, scanning did not work at all! Hmmm...

After searching through the forum, I found that the problem (for me at least) is not Nero, but rather the fact that I am going from SmartRipper > DVD2AVI > TMPGEnc > Nero. As I understand it, there is an offset issue with TMPGEnc and the resulting MPEG is not compatible with non-Chinese players as far as "scanability" goes. Hmmm...

An offered solution is to demux the MPEG with TMPGEnc and then re-encode it with bbMPEG to set the correct offsets. Sadly, I was not very successful with this. The end result was a file about 20% smaller than the original and the quality was poor on my PC... I am sure I screwed something up, but alas I decided to look at other tools and not bog myself down here.

I ended up going back to using VCDImager (using TSCV as the GUI), a tool I have had problems with in the past. I put together some quick chapters and clicked the "Update scan offsets" checkbox (this allows for scanning) and created a BIN. I burned the BIN with Nero and put the CD in my 703... The time showed correct (never had that happen before with an XVCD or SVCD), but when I pressed Play, I got nothing. Just a blue screen. Nothing else. Zip. Zilch. Hmmm...

I hit the forum (AGAIN) and found out that Nero is a bad choice for burning BIN files. A recommened solution was to download FireBurner and give it a try... Why not, eh?

I did so and... Perfection! FF and FR both work like a charm -- plus I can now skip to the chapter points I created. There are still some usability issues with the TSCV software, but the newest version by far is the easiest to figure out. For the first time I am completely happy with an SVCD. I can create one now (actually my test was an XSVCD encoded using CQ @ 3500 max) with chapters and the ability to fast forward... Even the Goto time worked great. Heck, now I may even go and figure out how to create a menu or two!

Anyway, I suppose none of this really answers the original issue of the SCANDATA.DAT file not working properly in Nero 5.5.4.0. Sorry I couldn't be of help with that one.

- bewley

[wildcatfan]

All this is why (among other reasons) that I use I-author. Works perfect everytime in my apex 703.

Michael

[hvr]

I've taken a look at Nero5540's scandata.dat.... well... I wonder which genius had the idea to add it... they shouldn't have added it at all, if they didn't intent to do it right...

[dgraham]

I have Nero 5.5.4.0 and the apex 703, too. Nero 5.5.4.0 adds a scandata.dat file that is EMPTY - NO CHARACTERS. This is the problem with FF/RW on my apex 703 I believe.

I've emailed Ahead about it twice, but I haven't heard back from them. Thanks goodness I am only running the demo, and haven't given them any $.

[ejai]

Find another authoring software to burn SVCD's, like Ulead's DVD addon. The only problem with using this patch is that you must have Media Studio or Video Studio to attach it to. I used this product and created menus and chapter points using VCD, SVCD and DVD formats. They worked perfectly on all the DVD players I tested them on with no problems. Before I used this product I was making coasters everyday.

ej

[themamboman]

Why did you re-encode with bbmpeg after demuxing? You could have just remuxed with bbmpeg in much shorter time with no loss of quality.

Here's a good method:

- Encode with your encoder of choice (mine is TMPGEnc)
- Demux with TMPGenc mpeg tools
- remux with bbmpeg 1.24b18
- Use TSCV to build a cue / bin
- You can either burn with Fireburner/cdrwin/etc, or you can use ISOBuster to extract the correct SCANDATA.DAT from the EXT folder in the bin file. This can be dropped into older versions of Nero to give a good SVCD.

[dgraham]

this is old news (2 weeks) by now, but the newest version of Nero (5.5.5.1) solves the empty scandata.dat file problem, and produced an SVCD that can be FF and FR on my Apex AD-703. Cool.

[el-Dia]

I'm still having a problem. I upgraded to 5.5.5.1 to try the scandata.dat included. The problem now appears to be that the contents of the file is in upper case (SCAN_VCD) and should be lower (scan_vcd), at least for my player. Yamaha s510. (Phillips 711 based)

Any suggestions on how to have the scandata.dat file replaced on 5.5.5.1??
If not, which was the latest version that did not include a scandata.dat file?

Thanx for all help!

el-Dia