Whose fault is it? AVI? Softwares? Discs? Players? Or...?

[moviebuff2]

Hi everyone:

I have a strange problem with many DVDs I created from my AVI files. The DVDs will play flawlessly in all DVD ROMs (cheap & expensive) and in some cheap stand-alone DVD players, like Terapin or Digix. But the same DVDs will choke in many expensive stand-alone DVD players like Sony, Philips, Yamaha - sometimes the picture breaks for 1 or 2 seconds, sometimes the picture freezes then several frames are skipped.

First, I suspect the original AVI files. But these AVI files play flawlessly in all DVD ROMs and many stand-alone DVD players that play DivX, like Philips DVP642. So, it's not AVI, is it?

Second, I suspect the softwares. I use DivXToDVD (free version) to convert my AVI files to VOB files. Then I use either Nero or CopyToDVD to burn VOB files onto my discs. If the softwares are bad, how come the DVD ROMs do not have any problems playing the discs?

Third, I suspect the blank discs. However, the problems happen to all grades, +/-R, - from the cheap GQ to the expensive Fuji Film.

Fourth, I suspect the burner. I use either HP or Emprex DVD burner. Both produce problematic DVDs.

Last, I suspect the players. Now this really surprises me. How come the more expensive players cannot play my DVD as well as, if not better than, the cheap ones?

I would like to hear your suggestions on this issue.

Thank you


p.s.: my O/S is Windows98SE, mobo is Pentium IV with +1GHz CPU and +1GB RAM.

[daamon]

Last, I suspect the players. Now this really surprises me. How come the more expensive players cannot play my DVD as well as, if not better than, the cheap ones?

I believe it could be because more expensive players are less forgiving (possibly read as "less tolerant" or "more fussy") and so, despite being more expensive end up spitting their dummy out more than cheaper players.

p.s.: my O/S is Windows98SE, mobo is Pentium IV with +1GHz CPU and +1GB RAM.

Put these details in your profile - then you'll get a "Computer Details" button every time you post.

[moviebuff2]

Thanks daamon

I just chatted with a friend. He suggested to me that the cheap stand-alone players I mentioned (Terapin and Digix) probably used a variation of DVD ROM inside their machine. That's why these machines have no problems playing my DVD.

I opened up my late Terapin TT1800 , it surely looked like a DVD ROM was used.

Too bad Terapin is no longer available. This cheapo played every DVD I threw at it.

Cheers

[daamon]

No problem. Where in the world are you? [Hint: Update your profile even more... ] I ask coz there's a brand called Cyberhome that have a reputation for playing pretty much anything that's put in it...

Good luck.

[InXess]

Software? I doubt it especially that you used different ones ... AVI's seem to be OK if play on PC and other players. Bad luck with media possible but having the same issue with different media would suggest... the burner(s). Take one of the suspected DVDs and replicate it on your friends machine (different burner). Important is that you use as a source: 1. best disk that plays everywhere else and 2. problematic disk. See what the outcome is (compare).

[moviebuff2]

daamon:

I am in the USA. I did buy a Cyberhome ($24.99). It choked on many DVDs I burnt too. I will update my profile soon.


InXess:

All AVI files play flawlessly in both DVD ROMs and stand-alone players which are equipped to play DivX. So, it would be safe to rule out AVI files, I think.

From AVI to DVD, there are just so many factors to consider. Softwares (converting and burning), media (DVD disc), players (ROM and stand-alone). I am just putting on the table everything I can think of for discussions.

Thanks for your inputs.

[Krispy Kritter]

I assume by DVD ROMs you are referring to PC drives. If you are, then you are comparing apples to oranges. PC DVD ROM drives do not play videos. They read the data from the disc, then your OS/playing software/codecs actually play the files.

Standalones vary greatly in the types/brands of discs they will read and tend to be more picky than DVD ROMs.

Your first step should be to download and burn the divx test cd from here: https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers
This will allow you to test all of your players and see which types of files they can and can't play.

FYI: Not all AVI files are the same. The DVP642, for example, can play many AVI files, but not all.

[InXess]

Keep in mind that AVI's may be OK but this is not what ultimately ends up on a DVD disk. You need to thoroughly check MPEG2/VOB files that are the result of your conversions.

Some DVD players choke on sound format and bitrate (LCPM vs. MPEG sound). Play DVD's locally (PC) with on screen display (like PowerDVD) enabled and verify sound format and that the bitrate is not too high.
Change sound format if necessary (if you have LCPM encoded sound change to MPEG or AC3 or vice versa). In my case any playability issues that I've encountered were due to LCPM sound for some reason (even though combined bitrate was OK, below 9 Mbps). Changing to MPEG 1 Layer 2 sound or AC3 always remedied the problem.

Get your best and worst converted DVD and compare the differences in encoding (PowerDVD OSD). The process is simple. You need to amplify and isolate problems.
If you can duplicate a good disk without errors then burner/media may be still OK.
Another thing is that you may be repeating the same error (settings) over and over again without noticing it.

Make sure that:
1. source is OK and plays flawlessly
2. converted material plays OK before burning (from HDD)
3. media is OK and burned disk plays without any hiccups in your PC (also in different DVD ROM drives)
4. feed different DVD's into your standalone and try to see if there's any pattern to errors you get
5. isolate all bad DVD's and check them on your PC thoroughly, group in error categories.
6. are all disks burned displaying the problem. are you using the same process (software/hardware) to make these disks?

Again, there's got to be a pattern to it and you need to sort out all your data/results to detect it.

[moviebuff2]

Thanks, Krispy Kritter & InExpress

I will do those tests.

Just a note here on choking issue. This happened only once or twice per disc; and each time it lasted only a few seconds. The same problematic discs were tested on several brand-name stand-alone players. All of these players choked at the same spots, although the severity levels varied. For example, at one spot on one particular disc, the Philips DVP642 froze for about 2 seconds with almost the entitre screen broken then skipped a few frames. The same disc was played in the JVC XV-N322S, the player also showed broken picture but it did not freeze and it did not skip any frame.

[InXess]

You would need to scan DVD's (Nero, KProbe etc.) for errors to find out what is your media and burn quality on this "problematic' disk vs a good one.
What media do you use? Same batch or you switch media? How many different brands have you tried? What speed do you burn at? Have you installed hacked/original firmware on your burners?

Same spot freezing would suggest some damage to the disk. If as you say disks play in other players without problems it means that some players are able to correct the error. That would point to disk readability -> I would continue with media and/or burner investigation.

This issue is really easy to track down and eliminate. Examples of troubleshooting techniques are above, all you need to do is apply/expand them.

[moviebuff2]

I use 2 brands: Fuji Film and GQ. Both of them show problem with broken/frozen pictures. I just bought some Memorex. I will find out what happens.

I used Nero to scan the blank discs (both Fuji Film & GQ), Nero did not find any problems with the discs I scan.

I burn the same files onto a GQ and a Fuji Film. Both have problems at the same spot. So I think, the problem is with the file, not disc.

A friend of mine is pointing to... Windows 98SE. Has anyone had any problems using Windows 98SE to convert AVI files to VOB files and to burn these VOB files onto DVD discs?

This OS mess really disturbs me. I like to change to WinXP but I have many peripherals that do not have drivers for WinXP! So, I am stuck with Windows 98SE!

[InXess]

I'd switch to a more reliable brand (Sony, Maxell ? both widely available). Not saying your disks are bad but sticking with a better brand won't hurt. Memorex is definitely not one of them (generally: junk)!

Having an error on 2 media brands in the same spot points as you indicated to the disk content rather then anything else.
Trouble is, as you say, disks play flawlessly in your PC (or do they?)...

If you exclude media and burner and convert your project AVI once again (from scratch) what are the chances you will get an error in exactly the same spot...? If you do, then your source file is not as flawless as you may think.

Have you tried DivX repair utilities (can be found in Tools section) before encoding your project? Would conversion of the same file with 2 different utilities (e.g. NeroVision and DivXtoDVD) result in an error in the same spot? Again, points to the source.

You said your PC is not fully XP compatible. Could this be Win98SE? My guess only if you were low on resources (not enough memory could theoretically cause a hiccup while paging swap file but that's just a wild speculation). Conversion software should interrupt the process and compensate preventing data loss.

Going back to your original post:

1. it could still be the AVI, the fact it plays well doesn't guarantee a perfect conversion

2. since you use only one utility to convert you would need to try to replicate an error with another one like NeroVision (you own Nero)

3. and 4. media or burner are most likely to cause playback issues if source is OK as per your words, but assuming they are not the culprit you should change your workflow (use different software) to see if the outcome is still the same.


Edit: errors you're talking about occur on your disks regardless of source (DVD backups?) or are specific to DivX converted to DVD's?

[Abond]

I think it is the software

[moviebuff2]

Thank you so much for take your time to help me.

I thought Memorex was a good brand! Oh, well...