No disc message on standalone DVD player with Dual layer DVD+R

[renard1501]

I would really appreciate some help........I'm getting desperate.....

I have recently burned several video files (AVI & Mpeg) on to dual layer 8.5gb DVD+R (manufactured by DataWrite) firstly using Nero Vision & when my standalone DVD player showed the message 'no disc' then I tried using Power Producer to the same discs. I get the same message on the DVD player. I have tried my Philips PET700 portable but get the same message - the specs for both players say they support DVD+R. Would there be a problem with dual layer 8.5gb in the +R format? Should I try -R or am I doing something fundamentally wrong?? The DVD's play no problem on my PC but only on the dual layer burner on which they were originally created.

I know there's a clue in there somewhere!!! I'm just too much of a Noob to pick up on it!!

Many thanks

[Noahtuck]

First off many say nero is very bad for burning Double Layer disc's, i would never use nero for either burning DL r's or authoring anything.

Second, are you sure your player will play Double Layer R's ??
Also Double Layer R's are less compatible than any of the formats, +R, -R or RW's.

& when you say you "burned several video files (AVI & Mpeg) on to dual layer" are you saying you converted to dvd spec's and authored then burned or you just burned the raw files to the disc's ?

[renard1501]

Thanks Noahtuck

I have to admit I have had many problems with Nero, hence trying Power Producer (from the PowerDVD people , it came free with my last graphics card - not sure what else to use)

I'm not sure if the players will play dual/double layer - how do I find out? I just assumed that the player recognised the additional capacity. Is dual layer an additional spec I should look out for on a player??

I used the create DVD functions in both Nero & Power Producer, which asks for a file to decode and then spends a couple of hours decoding & then it automatically burns the output to DVD. This has worked fine for 4.7gb discs (except for jumping near the end of movies) but compromises the quality on longer movies - so I assumed changing the disc size in the software 'wizard' to 8.5gb in Power Producer & DVD9 in Nero, would work. As I say, I can play them on my PC which upon disc insertion, auto runs Power DVD, which shows it is recognised as a DVD format - but does not workt on a player, so I assume the burn process has worked.

Any help appreciated - Thanks again Noahtuck

[Krispy Kritter]

You can try looking up your standalone in the DVD Players section to the left and see what it supports. The info should also be found in your manual and/or the manufacturers website.

[Noahtuck]

What he said..... or if you can find other people that have had them work on the same player(s).

Although the owners manual may pretty much be worthless as far as knowing for sure what format's it will and won't play as i have some players older than DVDR media and they play all formats perfectly.

What kind of burner are you using and are you changing the booktype to read as a dvd-rom ?
I have a standalone recorder that will absolutely not recognise +R or +DL, but with the booktype changed it read's them perfectly.

I would maybe try some other encoding programs and definately a diff. authoring program, then depending on what the final output is you also have to set the layerbreak and burn with something like ImgBurn that can set the layer break, although i preset my layer break, make an ISO and burn.
Everybody pretty much say's nero suck's for DL media and setting LB's although i use it for single layer media i never tried DL media with it.

You said what one player was, Philips PET700 portable, but you never said what your other player was.
And you seem to be using good DL media, so the trick is to get them to read the DL at all or if they even will read DL media before worrying about all that other stuff.

I have a player that's a few years old and will play +R & -R but will not read DL no matter what i do.

[renard1501]

Thanks again guys - I will give your suggestions a try - What is a layer break Noahtuck?

The standalone model is an Alba DVD129 - Cheap & cheerful I know but I have a sophisticated Philips taht matches the TV etc but it is too fussy & wont play anty homemade DVD's - so I got the Alba, which normally plays anything you throw at it!!

Thanks agin for taking the time to help

[drjtech]

According to the specs listed here the Alba DVD129 does not play DVD+R DL or DVD-R DL.

-drjtech

[renard1501]

Thanks drjtech - Much appreciated

[Noahtuck]

A layer Break is an area in the video or dvd structure where it is set to change from the first layer to the second layer. The less free space there is on the DL the less places you have to choose where to place the layer break,
Here is a guide for using PgcEdit to set a layer break and then it will make an ISO.

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/dl_burn_guide2/dl_burning_with_pgcedit_v2.htm

I'm kind of suprised this info is not in the Glossary here

[renard1501]

I really do appreciate your help Noahtuck - Thanks & Regards

PS - Got them to play on my original Philips player - The Alba does not play DL anything!!

Thanks again