DVD recorder compatibility problems - JVC DRMV7

[LoneCyclist]

I have just purchased a JVC DRMV7 DVD recorder and am having trouble playing the DVD's in some older players. I have changed to using JVC R- DVD's only and this has eliminated 20% of the compatability problems. I have already returned a Panasonic DMR-ES35V as the problems were worse with this model. I sell DVD's around the U.S. and am trying to find a recorder and media combo that will be the most compatible with the majority of the players made, I thought that maybe Sony would have the best compatibility. Additionally, is there a way to change settings on a burner or recorder to format in the "old mode" or to make them comply with the older players. Thanks for the advice.

[FulciLives]

I have two suggestions.

1.) Try using either Taiyo Yuden DVD-R media (8x is best) or Verbatim DVD-R media (16x is best). My guess is that the Taiyo Yuden 8x DVD-R will give "best" results. You can buy Taiyo Yuden direct from RIMA.COM

2.) Use DVD-RW media on the JVC stand alone then RIP to your computer (using DVD Decrypter). You use a DVD-RW so you can do the process over and over again. Anyways after getting it to the computer you re-author with something like TMPGEnc DVD Author (i.e., do NOT re-encode) and then burn to a DVD-R using your computer's burner. Make sure you use quality media (like the aforementioned Taiyo Yuden or Verbatim media) and burn with proper tools (like ImgBurn).

When it comes to stand alone DVD recorders I think the computer re-author trick is often the only way to make a more "universal" DVD Video (i.e., one that is more widely compatible). For some reason it seems that stand alone DVD recorders create DVD Video discs that are not the most compatible ... as you have found.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[LoneCyclist]

That sounds like great advice, I will try that this weekend. The number one complaint I get from people is that the DVDs play for 4 minutes and then stop/ skip and go back to the start. Would this have to do with the chapter change or is it a media issue? Is there a way to fix this?

[trhouse]

I have to agree. Having burned about 1,000 dvd's for a big family project where the disks have to be distributed for use with almost every imaginable player, Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim dvd-r are my only choices. If it is dvd+r DL, Verbatim is it.

[edit]Try freeware dvdinfopro to analyze these skipping disks for errors. If there are no errors, I have just copied the skipping disk to a TY disk and the skipping disappears.

[FulciLives]

That sounds like great advice, I will try that this weekend. The number one complaint I get from people is that the DVDs play for 4 minutes and then stop/ skip and go back to the start. Would this have to do with the chapter change or is it a media issue? Is there a way to fix this?

I would re-do the chapters but I don't think that matters much really.

As for DVD authoring there are many programs to pick from but I find TMPGEnc DVD Author to be very easy-to-use and it also makes working with DVD Rips very easy. For instance you can read the original chapter marks OR you can create your own chapter marks. I usually create my own based on the running time. For instance TMPGEnc DVD Author has an option to put "X" number of chapters equally across the running time. I usually pick enough chapters so that I get at least one chapter every 5 minutes (or less). TMPGEnc DVD Author also is the easiest DVD authoring program for selecting your own chapter points. What I mean is that it is very easy to scan the video and put chapter marks EXACTLY where you want them. No other program makes it so easy (in my opinion).

Now you can use another DVD authoring program. The trick is to make sure that your DVD authoring program will not attempt to do any re-encoding and to make sure you properly create your VIDEO_TS folder and burn correctly. I suggest using ImgBurn to create an ISO IMAGE FILE then burn that ISO IMAGE FILE with ImgBurn. Use high quality DVD-R media and you end up with a very well burned DVD Video that will be very compatible.

As far as NOT using a computer ... try Taiyo Yuden. Way back in the day I had one of the very early Panasonic DVD recorders (the DMR-E20 ... second gen unit) and I had an old Pioneer DVD player that could never ever play back any of the DVD Videos that the Panny would "spit out" unless I used Taiyo Yuden ... then it would work! Taiyo Yuden is really the best media around with Verbatim 16x media being a close 2nd if not just as good (knock on wood).

I still say that a quick re-authoring on the computer is the way to go though. Once you get used to using TMPGEnc DVD Author you can very quickly import your ripped DVD and create a simple menu and bingo have a burned DVD-R within a fairly quick workflow. Of course this isn't as quick as just using the stand alone itself but it does seem to ensure better compatibility which is of extreme importance when creating DVD Videos for other people.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[LoneCyclist]

Wow, that is a wealth of excellent advice. I have been troubled with this issue for a month and this forum has given the information I needed instantly. I really appreciate the help, I will test this out and get back to the forum with my results.

[FulciLives]

I have to agree. Having burned about 1,000 dvd's for a big family project where the disks have to be distributed for use with almost every imaginable player, Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim dvd-r are my only choices. If it is dvd+r DL, Verbatim is it.

[edit]Try freeware dvdinfopro to analyze these skipping disks for errors. If there are no errors, I have just copied the skipping disk to a TY disk and the skipping disappears.

I just wanted to point something out here ...

I am saying to actually "wrap" the original recorded DVD Video within a new menu using a DVD authoring program such as TMPGEnc DVD Author.

You (trhouse) are saying to simply copy the original to a new Taiyo Yuden DVD disc.

It is my opinion that the wrapping up of the original DVD Video within a new menu (using a DVD authoring program) is what helps to correct any "errors" in the original structure of the DVD Video that may be causing playback issues.

From all that I have read it seems that stand alone DVD recorders often have a less than "perfect" DVD structure and re-authoring (using a DVD authoring program) will fix this as the re-authoring process will create an all new DVD disc structure.

Simply making a copy (without re-authoring) will not fix any authoring errors (or should I say irregularities) in the original although using high quality media (like Taiyo Yuden) can of course help with compatibility in almost any and all instances.

I just wanted to make that "distinction" as I think it is rather important!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Again it is important to note that you want to use a DVD Authoring program that is capable of importing a ripped DVD Video and one that can this without re-encoding the video nor the audio. This is yet another great feature of TMPGEnc DVD Author.

[trhouse]

There is of course more than one source of potential problems with disks that do not play correctly and I am not implying that there is the one solution. I just wanted to point out that when using less than high quality disks, one avenue I found was to check the disk for errors and if there were no errors, then just copying to a high quality disk did solve a class of problems but it is not an all inclusive solution. It certainly is not a solution if you do find errors.

I used this solution with some fake TY disks that skipped but tested error free. They were copied to real TY disks and the problems vanished.