Problems copying DVD's with DL 8.5gig Discs

[Mark97213]

Greetings all;

I have been making "back-up" copies of DVD's in my collection for a couple years now, using AnyDVD & CloveDVD and these applications have worked flalessley. Since the most recent 8.5 Dual Layer discs have come out, I've been able to put longer DVD's onto one blank DVD instead of as in the past, having to break up my copy onto 2 blank 4.7gig discs.

However, although cloning onto these new 8.5's have seem to be working fine . . . during playback, the copy seems to glitch around the 1 hour run time point and just freeze on every 8.5 I burn. I can usually getting the movie to get going again by forwarding to the next chapter but dependant upon where I am at in the run time, I can miss up to 5minutes of material. My PC has plenty of memory (1gig), I've slowed down recording speed, switch brands of disc's but the problem always seems to occur when I record onto these. Is this just an inherent problem with this size of disc or . . . is there something I can do to prevent these glitches?

[MysticE]

Sounds like a problem at the layer break. You might want to try ImgBurn, and for movies use Verbatim +R DL discs.

http://tinyurl.com/ymo9cx

[Mark97213]

What's the best nway to use Imgburn if I want to simply copy a DVD. Do I need to pre copy the DVD using a differnt application?

[MysticE]

Was there a problem with the link? Here it is again.

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?s=eedba02bde1e72542691a462e04653b6&showforum=4

And another.

http://www.ripit4me.org/guide.html

[VegasBud]

Mark97213,

ImgBurn is just for burning. Use your normal ripping and cleanup routine to prepare the content, then use ImgBurn for the burning part. This guide steps you through how to burn the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directories using ImgBurn.

If the layer break selection window (in ImgBurn) doesn't offer a choice with a "green star" and the SPLIP column says "No" (or there is more than one selection with equal rating), you might want to use PgcEdit to select the layer break as it lets you preview the video for the layer break choices. PgcEdit will then create an ISO and hand it over to ImgBurn for the actual burning. This guide will step you through using PgcEdit for the layer break selection.

Sometimes (if the disk is very full, for example) there isn't a suitable place for the layer break listed (in ImgBurn or PgcEdit). In that case, PgcEdit will recommend a cell to split. You can use the "Split Cell" function in VobBlanker on the recommended cell, and both ImgBurn and PgcEdit will then offer the new location as a layer break selection.

[Mark97213]

Vegas, thanks for the additional info. Since I'm somewhat of a novice and have just been using AnyDVD and Clone DVD for a long time, it's been suich a simple task, I'm not positive now on a new process to acheive the same result.

With that, where do I start, in order to simply copy from a Source dvd to by pc in order for imgburn to burn onto my blank DL DVD? Sorry for the ingorance.

[VegasBud]

Mark97213,

There's no reason to apologize for ignorance, which is just a temporary lack of knowledge.

Since the only problem you mention is connected to improving the layer break selection, there isn't any need to radically change your current procedure. If AnyDvd + CloneDvd is otherwise working for you, keep using it. There's only one change you need to make. When you get to the "Output Method" page in CloneDvd, on the top right select the "Dvd files" button, not the "Dvd writer" button. When CloneDvd is done, use the first guide I mentioned to select the layer break and burn the CloneDvd generated files to dvd using ImgBurn (or the second guide to use PgcEdit to select the layer break and ImgBurn to burn to dvd).

The reason you need to add this extra step is that any program that chooses the layer break automatically for you is not likely to consistently produce the same results as if you add the human touch to making the layer break decision, as you've seen with CloneDvd, but also applies to other programs as well.

[Mark97213]

Ahhh, I see...... Well, that sounds preety simple! And you're right, I like that definition of ignorance... sooo true!

Hey, Many thanks Vegas! Another question though... is there REALLY that much difference in disc manufacturer's? I mean, doesn't TDK, Memorex, etc,, all have to meet the same strict processing in their discs as say a Verbatim disc?

[VegasBud]

Mark97213,

I can't think of a way anyone could overstate the importance of media selection. Most likely, the #1 reason for dvd burning/playback problems would be media related. While there are specifications for burnable dvds, they don't specify the dye to be used, just the size, thickness, minimum reflectivity, etc.

Going by brand name isn't the best way to determine good disks. The media code/ID is what really matters. Lordsmurf has an excellent website (nomorecoasters.com) that can be invaluable for separating the dvd wheat from the chaff. The Blank media quality guide in particular is a very handy reference.

Personally, I've never had a problem with Taiyo Yuden single layer disks, or Verbatim +R dual layer. I do, however, have a whole box full of different brand name disks (single and dual layer), that are useful only for a reminder of how many kinds of inferior disks there are.

[Mark97213]

Interesting! I'll take a look at that site!

Thanks again!

[Mark97213]

Vegas; When it comes to writing speeds, I've not noticed any differences in writing speed 2x or the other end, all the way up to 16x which my DL burner can supposidly handle.

The speed seems to generate no differnce in copying (backing up) a dvd when actually burning, at least in my experiences thus far. When I am writing in CloneDVD2 for example, what -if any, considerations should one use when it comes to actually burning a DVD?

[VegasBud]

Mark97213,

I'm sure you phrased your question properly, but my brain is seeing two possible questions you might be asking, so I'll answer them both, and you pick the one that fits.

If you're saying that the burn takes the same amount of time regardless of the speed setting chosen, then that would indicate a problem. If burning a full single layer dvd takes about an hour, your drive is probably set to PIO, which can (probably) be fixed by setting the drive to DMA in the Device Manager. For any other time period, it would help if you would post a burn log.

If you're asking about a difference in burn quality by burning at higher speed, opinions differ, but it seems to me that the best speed to burn at is the speed the drive and media were engineered for. If you have a 16x drive, and (good) 16x media, by all means burn at 16x. I've never had a problem using that philosopy. For a more scientific answer, OSTA and the NIST have been testing the effects of burn speed for quite some time, and hopefully their report will be released in the next year.

[Quantum]

An easy way to retain the proper layer break setting when writing to a DVD+R DL disc is to create an image from the original disc. You can accomplish that by using either DVDecrypter in ISO mode or CloneCD (yes it does DVD's too).

[Mark97213]

Ya, I re-read my post and it wasn't too clear! Fortunately for me, you were able figure out what I was actually attempting to ask . . . thank you! (smile)

Yes, I was curious as to if there was any advantage in the burn quality, if there would be any, from burning slower to faster., so thanks for the input on that. I can generally copy and burn a DVD pretty fast, generally under 20mins. But you guys have shown me a better method, even using CloneDVD, by creating an image instead of a direct write so I'll do some experimenting.

I also ordered a 100 disc cake of Verbatim's so, I'm hoping that would take care of my layer break problems.

[VegasBud]

If backup ease and speed are the prime considerations then you can just set RipIt4Me to output an ISO with MDS file, open the MDS file in ImgBurn, and burn away. The layer break will be in the same place as the original, and the only difference between the backup and the original will be the dummy sectors on the backup that replace the ARccOS or Ripguard sectors on the original.

Of course, that means your backup will also make you sit through all the previews, warnings, etc., just like the original. If that doesn't bother you, there is no faster, easier way to backup a dual layer disk.

[viking1442]

i have a Philips DVP642 DVD Player. I always have problems during playback of DVD+Rs.
The playback stops for periods of time and the only way to get through the "stuttering" is to hit next and sometimes that doesn't work.

I've used Philips DVD+Rs and HP Dual Layer +Rs

I copy DVDs using Nero or CloneDVD2/AnyDVD on my PC with either an NEC 3540A DVD Recorder or a Sony Dual Layer Recorder.

Before I go buy another DVD player, has anyone had similar issues?
Is it a problem with the Player, the media orthe recording method?

Secondly, Why does Nero or Clone DVD only allow you to use Dual Layer DVD+Rs?

[VegasBud]

viking1442,

What you're describing sounds more like a media problem than anything else. For single layer media, Taiyo Yuden seems to work for most members here, and is held in high regard. The same can be said for Verbatim dual layer.

Both Nero and CloneDVD should let you burn to single layer or dual layer. If you want to try something else, ImgBurn is an excellent burning program.

I see this was your first post here, so welcome to VideoHelp.

[viking1442]

Thanks for the response.
Nero and Clone want DVD +R DL. There is no choice for -R
I'll try IMGburn

[Mark97213]

Vegas, seems that AnyDVD, CloneDVD and ImgBurn is, with the help you've given me, a pretty good way to burn DL's, thank you, but I do have a question with regard to the prep.

When I am using CloneDVD and creating DVD files instead of continuing to writing, why is preferable to create DVD files as opposed to a, creating an ISO image instead. Would I be able to get a better layer break with an image instead built files from CloneDVD?

[VegasBud]

Mark97213,

ImgBurn will accept either the "AUDIO_TS - VIDEO_TS" structure or an ISO as input, but either way, it's ImgBurn that sets the layer break. The "file output" from CloneDVD is, in a way, the "purest" because they have had the least amount of processing required to accomplish the task. Adding ISO creation to your process won't help ImgBurn do its' job, and may actually hinder it. As an example, DL ISOs created by DvdShrink can even cause ImgBurn to be unable to find a layer break at all. In short, outputting an ISO from CloneDVD would take longer, and might introduce a potential problem, without adding any benefit.

I'm happy to hear things are working out for you.

[Mark97213]

Ahhhhh I see.... makes sense. Thanks for the info!!