Cannot burn a simple DVD

[hygieneboy]

Ok, heres the scoop. I have a Dell computer with 4 GB of memory, 500 Gig hard drive, running Vista. I have some home movies taken with a Sony DCR DVD 405 camcorder, recorded directly on a mini DVD. I copied the mini DVD files to my hard drive, and am now trying to create a DVD.

I have used the following products, none have worked:

-Windows DVD maker-horrible, tells me during encoding that "DVD cannot be made".
-Ashampoo-Said it completed the DVD, but when I played it, there was no sound, and the entire DVD played in slow motion. Incidentally, the video I did see was horrible quality, very pixelated.
-Nero 8-shuts down on me before I can even select the files to copy to the DVD. Message says it has "encountered and error".
-Adobe Elements 3.0-says it completed the DVD, but when I put it in the dvd player, it does not recognize the disk.
-Sony software that came with my camcorder....awful, did not work

In all cases, I used Memorex DVD-R disks.

I am trying to play these disks in two different machines....a panasonic DVD player, and a Sony PS3.

Does anyone have any advice? I fear that Vista is the issue, but regardless I figured I could get a basic DVD completed.

[jman98]

A few random comments, but unfortunately none of them will help you much...

Memorex DVDs are crap. They may not be the worst on the market, but they are one of the worst. You're not helping yourself here. Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden (you'll have to mail order these) would be a lot better.

Never used Ashampoo, but based on another post here, I don't have a lot of confidence in it.

Nero ie easy to use, but it truly sucks otherwise. Giving non-helpful errors is par for the course for Nero.

Vista really sucks and isn't making this easy for you although that may not necessarily be the root cause of your problems.

I don't know anything about camcorders, but my first guess would be that either the camcorder isn't really recording in DVD format and that's the problem or something with your copy went wrong given the errors you are getting. Also be sure you are finalizing your discs when burning as failure to do that is a sure problem.

[hygieneboy]

I recently went out and bought some Sony DVD-R's. Are those any better?

One other note.....my camcorder records the files in VOB format. Would this have any bearing on my problems?

[powerpc123]

What do you use to copy your mini DVD files to your hard drive?
Once on your hard drive do the files play with sound on your computer?
Do you need to edit your video footage or burn to DVD exactly as it is?

[hygieneboy]

I just put the mini dv into my dvd drive, and then copied those files into a folder on my computer.

Yes, I can play them on my computer with sounds.

I do not need to edit, just want to burn direct to a dvd.

[powerpc123]

Try this:
Install and start up Imgburn and check these settings:
Mode > Build
Output > Image File
File > Browse for a folder... (select the dvd drive your mini DVD is in)
File > Build

Give your disk (.iso) a name


After your iso has been built:
put in your blank DVD
Mode > Write
File > Browse for a file... (select the iso you just made)
File > Write

try to use good media and a reasonable burn speed

[hygieneboy]

ok, i have the first part done.....I have my iso file on my desktop. I will try the burn tonight. I am planning on using Sony DVD-R's for this......do you think that will be ok? I am also planning on burning at the lowest speed I can...ive heard that will provide for a better potential outcome.

[redwudz]

You can also playback the ISO file with a player like VLC to see if it seems OK before burning. Depending on your rated DVD media speed, I would just burn at one speed below it's rating if you like. Such as 16X burned at 12X. Most newer burners don't perform that well at 1X or 2X, especially with 16X media.

Sony media should be better, if you can't find Verbatims locally.

You should end up with a exact copy of your mini DVD, just on a full size disc.

[hygieneboy]

First of all, a big thank you to powerpc123 and redwudz for your help. I did all the steps both of you told me and it worked like a charm!!

I do have a couple of follow up questions however....

I noticed that there are some small "skips" (for lack of a better word) in the video. About every 2 or 3 minutes, there is a little hiccup in the footage that was not in the original. Is there a way I can reburn it and hopefully make those go away? Im going to get some verbatim disks tomorrow.

I have two different ISO files I want to put on the same DVD. I put both the files on the que, but it only recorded the first one onto my dvd. Is there a way to burn multiple ISO files onto the same DVD?

Again, thanks so much for your time to help me out.

Michael

[powerpc123]

First of all, a big thank you to powerpc123 and redwudz for your help. I did all the steps both of you told me and it worked like a charm!!

You done good work... and you are welcome.

Is there a way to burn multiple ISO files onto the same DVD?

Try this:
Install and start up DVD Shrink and check these settings:
File>Open Disc Image... (find and select your first .iso)
Click Reauthor (now doubleclick Title 1)
File>Open Disc Image... (find and select your next .iso)
Click Reauthor (now doubleclick Title 1)
Click Backup!
On the Burn Settings Tab - Type in a name for your new DVD
On the Target Device Tab, You will see Select backup target ... choose ISO Image File
On the Target Device Tab, You will see Select target image file... choose a new name for your new ISO file > OK

I noticed that there are some small "skips" (for lack of a better word) in the video. About every 2 or 3 minutes, there is a little hiccup in the footage that was not in the original. Is there a way I can reburn it and hopefully make those go away?

Did you follow redwuz's advice? Did you play the iso with vlc media player before burning it? Does your iso file show skips when you play them in VLC? Small skips are usually caused by using lower grade media or burning too fast or both. Certain standalone DVD Players just have better luck with different brands of media. Find a brand your player likes and stick with it. Verbatim should do you well.

Other notes:
We've made the basic presumtion your two .iso files are small enough and actually fit on a standard blank DVD
Follow good methods and use good tools the nice folks here at Videohelp.com recommend.
You said "Im going to get some verbatim disks tomorrow" - I say smart move! Now your learning!

redwuz's advice is, as usual - spot on, So here it is again..
"You can also playback the ISO file with a player like VLC to see if it seems OK before burning. Depending on your rated DVD media speed, I would just burn at one speed below it's rating if you like."

[hygieneboy]

Hey there, Im back.

OK, I followed the steps on combining two iso files on one DVD. Two things:

-I can watch it on my computer using VLC player, but there is no sound, and no scene selectors.
-I burned it on a DVD, and I tried to watch it on my ps3, and it just said "data disk", and would not play any of it.

Can you think of anything else I might be able to try?

thanks
Michael

[aedipuss]

how much are you willing to learn? if you have the time, patience and some cash you can start on the road to authoring dvds. get an authoring program like dvd-lab pro and you will be able to import your vobs, make chapters, menus and combine your minis. dvd-lab pro has a 30 day full demo you can download. or try a different one like dvd author.

[powerpc123]

DVDShrink and Imgburn have their strengths - neither are the preferred tool for authoring DVD's. As aedipuss suggested, consider reading up on more capable authoring tools.

As for your audio dropping - backtrack (or change) your workflow to see when it happened - stranger things have occured.

[loster]

DVDShrink and Imgburn have their strengths - neither are the preferred tool for authoring DVD's. As aedipuss suggested, consider reading up on more capable authoring tools.

As for your audio dropping - backtrack (or change) your workflow to see when it happened - stranger things have occured.

umm neither of those programs support authoring

you could also try some of the freeware authoring programs on this site i like gui for dvdauthor

[powerpc123]

umm sorry, I meant to say they are Not a preferred or even appropriate tool for authoring.