How do i ensure DVD's will play in all standalone DVD players

[fletch367]

Is it possible what the title suggests? Are there general programs, methodologies that allow for creating VOB files that allow most any DVD player to play them?

I am currently using DVD Flick to convert AVI to VOB. Ive used both Vertabim DVD + R and Vertabim DVD - R DVD's. I'm burning the DVD's with Imgburn. These DVD's will 100% of the time play in my PS3 but will not play in my any of my other 3 DVD players.

I've varied the burn speed (seems to be an area of contention) with no difference in end result. I have not made menu's just to keep it simple.

Does there need to be an autorun feature on the DVD?

I'm sure I didn't give enough info above so............... whatever info is needed please ask and I will get. I've downloaded many freeware programs such as mediainfo (which btw gives a lot of useful info; just wish I knew what the hell it meant!!)

Any help would be appreciated - thanx - fletch

[fletch367]

edit-- I get an error message in all of the other 3 dvd players. DISC ERROR: Playback may not be available OR DISC ERROR: no data on disc, etc......

[Richard_G]

You are obviously not authoring the discs properly and a DVD player needs the correct file structure. Have a look at one of your discs and see if it meets the standard as below:

[Baldrick]

Are you burning it correctly, see http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=4632

Post also the full details from mediainfo, view->text and copy everything.

[fletch367]

my dvd contains 2 folders audio_ts & video_ts

audio_ts is empty

video_ts contains:

video_ts.bup
video_ts.ifo
vts_01_0.bup
vts_01_0.ifo
vts_01_1.vob
vts_01_2.vob
vts_01_3.vob
vts_01_4.vob
vts_01_5.vob

all files and folders are in CAPS (if that matters)

[fletch367]

the steps in the imgburn link look like the steps that I use. I'll burn another dvd just to ensure.

here is the data for vts_01_1.vob

General
Complete name : E:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.VOB
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 1 024 MiB
Duration : 30mn 9s
Overall bit rate : 4 747 Kbps
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : N=14
Duration : 30mn 9s
Bit rate : 4 440 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.429
Stream size : 962 MiB (94%)
Audio
ID : 189 (0xBD)-128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : DVD-Video
Duration : 30mn 9s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 41.4 MiB (4%)
Menu

[Selur]

Scan type : Progressive
+
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
-> Normally one would go for:
Scan type : Telecine
and
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
for NTSC DVDs not sure whether all DVD Players support 30p content.

[fletch367]

I'll try and figure out how to change the progressive/telecine setting when I get off work. Is that the only issue you see?

[Selur]

rest looks normal

[Baldrick]

I doubt it matters. Many have used dvd flick without problems.

But you could also try convert with avstodvd and see if it works any better.

[sanlyn]

People love to mess around with established standards because...well, I don't know why. The established 100% compatible standard for SD NTSC DVD is 29.97 FPS, either interlaced or progressive with 3:2 pulldown. The standard for single layer DVD is DVD-R.

When it comes to double layer, I understand the disc standard to be DVD-R/DL. Offhand I haven't come across any of those discs, they must be sold somewhere because people say they use it. But I've never had a problem with Verbatim DVD+R\DL Azo. Your mileage might vary. Mine hasn't.

I've encoded with HCenc and TMPGenc. If I don't follow the standards for NTSC SD DVD encoding I get an error message that tells me I'm bucking the system and I'm not in compliance with established standards, so I act accordingly. Never a problem after that. I've always authored with TMPGenc software. If I don't follow the standard for NTSC SD DVD I get an error message that tells me I'm bucking the system and am not in compliance with established standards, so I act accordingly. Never a problem after that. I've always burned with TMPGEnc and ImgBurn. If I do somehing silly with those apps I get a message that tells me I'm trying to buck the system, and I act accordingly. No problems.

[fletch367]

I followed the directions for imgburn exactly as they are on the link below and apparently that was my problem. I've burned 3 different movies from avi to vob and burned them to dvd's. All 3 work on all of my DVD players.

I'm trying to convert an mp4 file to vob and then i've got an mkv file to convert to vob. Are there any differences in converting these types of files as opposed to avi's?

Also, do you guys have any suggestions on what reading I could do to learn the basics for conversion. I know the definition for many of the terms now just not how they apply to video. Like if I change setting x what does this have in the end result of the video.

THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!! I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

[sanlyn]

Apparently you don't understand what "vob" is. Basically, "vob" = MPEG2 organized for SD DVD disc playback.

mp4 and mkv are containers that use different encoding technology. IF those videos were encoded with h264 or some other codec/encoder, you would use an app that re-renders them into MPEG2 for standard DVD. There are apps that do this, but not without quality issues. You're talking about different encoding altogether.

[fletch367]

You are absolutely correct that I don't understand and thank u for explaining.

With that in mind how do I get these files onto a DVD for playback? It seems you are saying that I don't convert to vob?

Do I need to convert to avi or am I still missing the point?

[sanlyn]

To maintain some degree of quality, or at least a decent encoding quality, you would convert the mp4/mkv to lossless AVI, then encode with an MPEG2 encoder, then author for DVD. There are tools that can make this conversion, with varying degrees of quality. Take a look at Avi2DVD, AVStoDVD, or ConvertXtoDVD, among others.

[yoda313]

I would suggest avstodvd for converting h264 mp4/mkv files as sanlyn has suggested.

Oh and by the way it looks like it hasn't been mentioned here in this thread but burned dvds won't necessarily run on EVERY SINGLE DVD PLAYER you throw at it. If you use quality blanks like verbatim (not the life series) and its a dvd player made in the 2000s or more recently you should be able to play any disc. (also early models that would play dvdrs would have problems with - or + r discs but virtually not an issue with later models)

But you may run into ancient early dvd players that don't like burnt dvds - at the very least there are those early models that don't play dual layer dvds of any type so dvdr dls won't work.

But suffice it to say you should be able to play a properly authored dvdr on virtually ANY dvd player, just perhaps not ALL dvd players.

I know kind of splitting hairs here but have to point it out so you don't think its the same as a store bought factory made dvd.

[sanlyn]

I know kind of splitting hairs here but have to point it out so you don't think its the same as a store bought factory made dvd.

True. Commercial DVD's aren't burned. They're pressed.

[fletch367]

Alright I think I've got it figured out. Well at least it is working. I'm converting mkv n m4p to avi with Xvid4PSP. I tried using avi2dvd and avs2dvd with varying results (mostly bad ones). But this XVid4psp seems to convert them to avi fairly seamlessly. This program takes a long time though. Then I convert the avi to the DVD file structure with dvdflick. Then burn to DVD with imgburn.

So thanks of all of your assistance. Hopefully it'll be smooth sailing from now on.