Burn utility, CopytoDVD, Nero 5.10, Recordnow Max-No Bashing

[DUKE107]

I am an old SVCD author changed to DVD -r/w +r/w. I have made two backups from dvd to dvd -r and they were beautifull. I used DVDShrink 3.0 and CopytoDVD to burn. I have been doing lots of reading here and get the felling I should be using Nero 5.10 or Recordnow Max for burning. (Please no bashing of burning programs here, I'v already read plenty) I have two DVD players in my home theater setup, one 3 year old Sony DVP S360 which is not known for playing much more than a comercial DVD and a Apex 1100W that plays even paper plates. Now the Apex plays the DVD-r fine and the Sony gives no disk error. My question about burning is in relation to compatibility with players and future players. Should I use something other than CopytoDVD for burning or is that a good burn utility?

[Srembecki]

I've been using CopytoDVD for almost a year now I guess, maybe more, and I use it about 4 to 5 times a day. I found it to be almost bullet proof when recording and it plays on every machine I've tried, maybe a dozen or two. I've tried other burning programs but always come back to it. I can do anything I want while it burns and it always comes out good. What more can you ask?

[David_B]

I rip with DVD Shrink and burn with Nero Express 5 with little trouble. Nero Express 5 even makes the Video TS and Audio TS folders for me and moves the files into the correct folder, nice and easy.

I haven't used Record Now Max but my brother uses Nero 5 and swears by it. Just avoid Nero 6 for now, lots of grumbling about bugs/lockups/etc..

[Gurm]

If CopyToDVD is working for you, stick with it.

Nero is best left alone for DVD's unless you don't have another program - just too many people have issues with it. You don't see too many people saying "yeah all the DVD's I burn with RecordNow Max don't work in my Sony" or "copytodvd's burns won't play except in my PC".

You're fine.

- Gurm

[vega1970]

When I have to burn a DVD-video structure that's on my hardrive,
I use ImgTools Classic to make an .iso image, and I burn the image
with DVD Decrypter (using "Iso Write Mode").

Both programs are freewares and are easy to use. Up to know, I've
burnt 10 DVD-Rs and 5 DVD+Rs using this technique and didn't have
any problem playing the resulting disks in various standalone players.

I got Pinacle Instant DVD with my Pioneer drive, but I haven't tried
it yet for burning DVD-video structures.

[The Miracle Man]

I think it mostly boils down to which udf format the software is going to burn the dvd in. UDF 1.02 seems to be the most friendly of versions. Most software supports this version, but you have to set up the software to use it. Prassi Primo works well from my experiences, but is a little hard to find now-a-days.

Currently I am using Nero Ultra 6 and with a little setting up I am able to burn udf/iso 1.02 and they all work fine even in the playstations. I have a Pioneer DV-F727 300+1 DVD changer and talk about PICKY.... SHEESH!!! It even has a selection for writing XBox abled discs, which I have difficulty when writing with other software.

Just make sure you are using UDF 1.02, ISO level 1, and ISO9660 (Standard ISO) and your discs should come out much better than your average bar style coaster.

[DUKE107]

Thanks all,

I have had no problems with CopytoDVD except wont play in my Sony but that is to be expected ( Never again will I pay Sony's price for such a limited player - Comercial DVD it is fantastic though) I just thought one burning program may produce a more compliant DVD-r then the other. I will stick with my current selection of programs for now.

By the way, someone was talking about making sure the TS folder was created with the files within it. I never did that and the DVD-r were fine so I wasn't sure if that was something I was doing wrong. I only used DVDShrink to change my DVD9 to the max 4.34 Gig (something like that) file size, saved it to hard drive, used CopytoDVD to burn it, no file or folder creating manually done by me?