Burn Dual Layer DVD+R Help

[db02]

I've got a Phillips 8631 DVD+-RW burner and I am trying to burn a duallayer dvd that is over 4.5 GB on some verbatim media. I made the dvd files with DVD-lab but when I go to burn them with nero it tells me the compilation wont fit on the DVD. However the DVD files are only about 7 gigs. What am I doing wrong? Thanks

[garryheather]

Is your version of Nero compatible with Dual Layer media ? Don't forget all this DL lark is quite recent - if you're using a vintage version of Nero that would explain a lot.

[db02]

Hmm, I guess I should check the version. There is nothing you have to do different though for burning DL?

[Denvers Dawgs]

nope, same as dvd+r. Check to see if in the settings it gives you the option to from single to dual layer burning?

[DVWannaB]

I believe you have to have Nero 6 or beyond to burn dual-layer. A good way to check to see if Nero recognizes your media as dual-layer is after you have placed all your authored files into the Video Folder, check the bottom right of the the Nero window. It will tell you if it reads the disc as 8.5GB or 4.7GB.

Word of caution burning dual-layer with Nero, once you figure out whats wrong. There have been more than a handful of reports of Nero not properly burning at the layer break. This leads to discs stop playing or stuttering at that point. I too have had this dreaded mishap.

I would recommend a tool called CopyToDVD, which is offered by the creators of DVD-lab at a slightly discounted price. Check at Mediachance.com. Burns my dual-layer discs perfect every time.

[greymalkin]

I still have my back to the future trilogy on my hard drive and unfortunately i need to do a little more shrinking to get it to DL size, but once I have the my dvd compliant mpeg file small enough to fit on DL, this copytoDVD would be the proper software to use?

[DVWannaB]

I still have my back to the future trilogy on my hard drive and unfortunately i need to do a little more shrinking to get it to DL size, but once I have the my dvd compliant mpeg file small enough to fit on DL, this copytoDVD would be the proper software to use?

I would recommend it BIG TIME over Nero. I still use Nero 6.xxx to burn my regular single layer 4.7GB discs, but I no longer trust it to burn dual-layer discs. Its hit or miss with Nero. I have been told that Nero places the layer break (through its intricate calculations) in the wrong place. So when your DVD player gets to that point, it gets confused because it does not see whatever code should be there and this causes anything from a pause, a stutter or a complete stop. The dual layer discs are much too expensive to miss on your burns.

I have been using CopyToDVD for 2 months now, with about 10 burns and all 10 or so have been home-runs (for non-Americans, thats a GREAT thing ). No layer break probs.

[greymalkin]

this is good news..i have ordered a dual layer burner and as soon as I find a good price on some dual layer media (mine will do DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL..any preferences?) I'll finally get this thing to disc!

[Denvers Dawgs]

I still have my back to the future trilogy on my hard drive and unfortunately i need to do a little more shrinking to get it to DL size, but once I have the my dvd compliant mpeg file small enough to fit on DL, this copytoDVD would be the proper software to use?

read copytodvd works fine for both SL & DL

[db02]

Worked, thanks for the advice on alternate software

[greymalkin]

i checked out copytodvd's site and it seems to be strictly for burning the a dvd once it's already structured as a dvd and not authoring from an mpeg file. Could I just author with TDA then burn with copytoDVD?