DVD+R newbie question

[unstuck2]

Hi All,
I am not sure which forum this question belongs in, so I'll start here.
I just put a PC together with a Verbatim DVD+R/W.
I'm running WinXP SP1 and the burning software that came with the drive (Nero and NeroVision Express).
I have maganaged to capture video from my DV/firewire and using NeroVision burned it to a DVD.
I've also managed to rip a DVD using DVDShrink and burned the Vob files to a DVD using Nero.
Both DVDs run fine on my PC DVD-Roms.
Neither DVD run on my set top player (Apex AD-660).
According to the information on the players here, The AD660 should be able to run DVD+R. (Also I had read that DVD+R's had somethig lke >80% compatibility with stand alone players which is why I thought this would be agood way to backup our home movies and share with family.)
I get strange errors ranging from "no disk" to "parenatl controls" or "wrong region".
Am I doing something wrong with the software I have?
Is this software not optimal for the purpose?
Is my player (AD-660) the problem?!
I'll take the disks to circuitcity or someplace and see if they play on any of their players.
I'm guessing that I'm doing something wrong with the software and would appreciate some pointers of things I should look for before I make too many more $1 coasters.
thanks!

[mkelley]

The wrong region errors are probably caused by RCE protection on your disks you're ripping. DVDShrink doesn't remove RCE so most of us using it are first using DVDDecrypter to rip all the files to disk (in File mode -- press F and then do a select all with Ctrl-A) and then pointing DVDShrink to those files.

If you do this with an entire movie (that is, use DVDShrink but don't use the reauthor mode) and then burn it properly to disk it should play on most machines -- taking it to Circuit City or Best Buy would be a good test.

I can't tell you about what else you're doing or trying -- something in my gut tells me the problem is with Nero (perhaps settings -- perhaps you should check the site to make sure you have the very latest version) but because I use Record Now I can't help you further.

[Cornucopia]

Just a wild guess: Maybe the Verbatim's DVDbook bit setting is wrong for your player.

Scott

[unstuck2]

thanks for the replies.
I did simply use DVDshrink in re-author mode (level7 compression) to fit the movie w/o bonuses, menus etc on one disk.
I wasn't really banking on too high a success chance, since it was my first time. I'll try DVD devrypter first and see how it goes. Although my gut also tells me it's nero too, I just don't know where to look for the possible source of the problem.

I am more concerend with the video I captured not playing on the set top player. The read me file with the bundled software states a few times that it does not come with the mpeg2 plug in. But NeroVision Express recognized my camcorder, captured, encrypted and burned the vob files anyway, and plays like a regular DVD on my PC DVD-Rom. So I am confused if there really is something missing or not and why does it not run on the set top Apex AD660. Maybe the problem is again with the burning component of Nero.
what do you think?
where would I look for the DVDbook bit setting and what would I change it to?
ah! I see more coasters in my future....

[Cornucopia]

Until you figure out your problems, don't use any R media, just use RW. THen you won't make coasters.

Read the past forum threads on bitsetting. There's plenty there.

Try the miniDVD discimage sample in the tools section, and burn with Nero. If it works, then you aren't encoding or authoring correctly, but at least you will know that the player accepts your discs. If it doesn't work, maybe you should try different brands of discs or a different burner software.

Scott

[orbital517]

I would also suggest trying a different Software (besides Nero) to burn your DVDs. Nero has many compatibility problems and don't always work well when burning DVDs. I would recommend RecordNow Max 4.5


I also know that the newer versions of Nero are a little better, so you might want to update to the most current version (5.5.35). Or there are certain settings that you must set in Nero to make it more compatible.

[unstuck2]

I am not sure what version of nero I have. It's nero express anyway, which is probably not the full nero. Don't you love bundled software?
Anyway, can yuo elaborate on the "settings" that need to be set within nero? My attempt was simply with all the defaults right after the installation of the software.
thanks.

[tompika]

I've also managed to rip a DVD using DVDShrink and burned the Vob files to a DVD using Nero.

Maybe I`m reading this plural (Vob files) wrong but were these Vob files in a VIDEO_TS folder?

[unstuck2]

I'm sorry, I just can't remember. I'll have a more inteligent reply for you tonight.
Whatever they where, they "looked" right (I've ripped a few DVDs to vcd before) and as I said, the resulting durned DVD does run on my PC DVD Rom, just not on the set top player.
I am very interested to know what settings is it that I should be checking on.
thanks!

[tompika]

I'm sorry, I just can't remember.
Whatever they where, they "looked" right (I've ripped a few DVDs to vcd before) and as I said, the resulting durned DVD does run on my PC DVD Rom, just not on the set top player.

I`m sure they looked terrific but if you don`t remember then probably nobody told you to put them in a VIDEO_TS folder.

Or if you used Nero properly (making a DVD movie) it should have done it automatically???
The latest Nero is able to change the booktype to DVD-ROM. (bitsetting)

And USE RW media first.

[Marco33]

I have the Verbatim DVD+R/W drive. Been using it for 6 Month's now. Runs fine. Just reinstalled XP, I let XP pick the drivers for the drive and I used the same software you have, NERO Express, to burn my disks (NO update). I only use Verbatim disks.

I would say your drivers are ok...But you might want to check their site and ask some question. http://www.verbatim.com/
Tech support is good. They had me trying all kinds of stuff... turns out the batch of media was bad.

I tried Philips DVD+RW to test the "bad batch theory" so I know they work also.

[vance43211]

try this

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=127624

through it might not work if u don't have the full version

or the newest version

[unstuck2]

vance, that link looked very promissing, but I can't find anything resembling the directions in my version of nero express.
In the top of the first page there is drop down of "which recorder would you like to use" and giving 4 choices including image recorder (DVD) and E:\NEC DVD-R/RW (the other two choices are CD related).
Last time i tried this I think I used the image recorder (DVD) option to burn the files generated by DVDShrink.
NeroVision Express does not give these choices.

Marco, happy to hear it's working fine for you. I also use the drivers from XP. Of it works for you, then it must be a setting I have wrong somewhere. BTW I used both Verbatim and HP brand DVD+R disks.
They both work fine in my PC DVD-Roms. Have you been able to find the UDF1.02 setting in Nero Express?

Thanks for all the help guys!

[disturbed1]

Apex 660 doesn't always play DVD+R.

My brother in law has both an Apex 660, and a Sony DRU unit. His Apex 660 won't load the disc. It says "No Disc", and "Wrong Region".

When he pops in a DVD-R it works like a dream.

It isn't your player, it's the DVD+R format. The Apex 660 is an older unit.

[unstuck2]

thanks for the info.
I'm not sure if that's good news or not
I loaned the disks to a friend tonight to try on his player (he's not sure which model Sony it is, but he got it a couple months ago).
I really do need to go to an electronics store and try a variety of players then.
Meanwhile, I downloaded the mpeg2 plugin and was going to burn another one to a DVDRW as was suggested above (do i format the RW first?)
If it turns out that the disks I make run on *most* dvd players, I wouldn't mind replacing my old 660 anyway.
I've been looking through the nero software all night and can't find any reference to settings that were mentioned by others here that I could change.
I'll keep you all posted. thanks.

[disturbed1]

It's a bit setting. The NEC might not be able to use it. Some of the HP burners can't either.

In Nero it could be called High compatibility mode.

There's newer Apex's for $50, that should play your +R's with out a problem.

[Lexus]

I have a NEC 1100 burner and I'm using Nero 5.5.10.28 without any problems.

I read somwhere that you cannot change the book type using NEC drives and there's nothing I can see in Nero to allow this. For the highest compatibility, in the 'New Compilation' window, select DVD-Video and on the ISO tab select ISO Level 1 and ISO 9660, and make sure 'Relax ISO Restrictions' are all un-ticked. On my setup, the Joliet box is also ticked, however I'm not sure what diffrence, if any, that makes.

I've checked the book types of DVDs I've written, they are: DVD+RW for DVD+RWs and DVD-ROM for DVD+R.

Lastly, I've found that the type of media used is important on older DVD units. For example, my newer Pioneer unit seems to play anything you put in it but an older Samsung refuses to play DVD+RW, saying 'No Disc'.

Hope this helps.

[Lexus]

Sorry, correction to my last post.

In the 'New Compilation' window, selecting DVD-ROM(UDF) has a tick box for 'Force DVD-Video Compatibilty Mode'. I'm going to try writing a DVD and see what difference, if any, it makes.

[Marco33]

you been able to find the UDF1.02 setting in Nero Express?

Never realy looked for it.

[vance43211]

for some reason

the newest version of nero doesn't have it

to see if u have it

click on the nero sign next to the more sign

if it don't change

u don't have it

[Smabbage]

I own a Verbatim DVD+R/RW drive and initially had issues with disc compatiblity. I then went to DVDplusRW.org and obtained a program called "bitsetter" that fixed all my problems as long as I was using +RW discs. No more compatability issues, even when burning with Nero. Awesome program.

http://www.dvdplusrw.org/resources/bitsettings_pc.html

[unstuck2]

well, it looks like I'm in hte marker for a new DD player. Any suggestions?
I was just at CircuitCity with my disks. None of their stand alone players are attached to TVs so I couldn't actually see my videos, but the players recognized the DVDR disk and would play and skip chapters. So I am hoping that means that my burning was OK and that disturbed1 is correct: the problem is my Apex AD660. Although the info for the palyer on this site says that it should handle DVD+R.
Oh well, I'm feeling encouraged for now.

One more questions: As far as video quality goes, does the capture software have much on an impact? I've only used the nerovision express so far, and having looked at the final product on a PC monitor can't say that I'm too excited with it.

Thanks a lot for all the help on this thread.

[cdb]

I also have an Apex AD-660, and it plays all my DVD+Rs fine, both FujiFilm and Memorex media.

I use
- DVD Decrypter to rip the files to the HD
- DVD Fab to split the movie if necessary
- imgTool to create a disc image
- DVD Decrypter to burn to DVD+R

They're all free downloads, though DVD Fab has a 10 second wait screen asking you to buy it (for all of $12) before letting you proceed at various points (minor inconvenience and minor cost to purchase).

[unstuck2]

well now I'm confused again.
when did you buy your AD660? Mine is about 18-24 months old. Perhaps we have different firmware or something (?!)
I didn't know dvd decrypter also burned DVDs. I'll give that a try. It is still possible that the problem is with my nero express burning software.
Of course if I don't have to buy a new DVD player, that would be a good thing.

[vance43211]

I also have an Apex AD-660, and it plays all my DVD+Rs fine, both FujiFilm and Memorex media.

I use
- DVD Decrypter to rip the files to the HD
- DVD Fab to split the movie if necessary
- imgTool to create a disc image
- DVD Decrypter to burn to DVD+R

They're all free downloads, though DVD Fab has a 10 second wait screen asking you to buy it (for all of $12) before letting you proceed at various points (minor inconvenience and minor cost to purchase).

that mean u need to burn your dvds as udf 1.02 as that is what DVD Decrypter does

i now the older version of nero, instant cd/dvd 6.5 or 7.0, gear pro 6

can give u that option

or u can use DVD Decrypter as it is free

[Drumhellar]

just to add my two cents worth. i bought an LG burner and have an Apex AD 660 that will not play any dvd i have burned. they will work in other peoples stand alones and our PS2 just fine. i have tried Nero with force compatability mode, TPGEnc DVDauthor, gear, DVDit , recordnow max and B's dvd.
i've tried memorex maxell and tdk. i've tried +R, -R, +RW and -RW.
i've looked at about a dozen lists of what media to use with the apex, and they are very inconsistant, but the majority says they will play -R.
i get the feeling that even though some of us have an AD 660, there are a lot of different submodels.
i've also tried the bitsetter mentioned in this thread but it didn't like my burner.
still not gonna give up. there's gotta be a way,