Am I doing this right? Please check my setup------

[firebirdude]

Obviously, I'm very new to this. I'm using TMPGenc with the TooLame Audio plugin. I set most of the settings using this link:

http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html

NTSC DVD with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Rate control:CBR And I'm using the ES(Video+Audio) stream type. I heard that TMPGenc's audio encoder wasn't very good so I'm using TooLame's. After the encoding is done, I use TMPGenc's Multiplex feature link the audio and video together. Then I use VirtualDub to cut out the end credits to reduce file size. From there, I use TMPGenc DVD Author using this walkthrough:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/172123.php

I use TMPGenc DVD Author to burn also. I burned my first DVD on a DVD-R and it plays fine on my computer, but I can't get it to play on my home APEX 600A, which I can't find on the DVD player list here. The APEX 600 plays DVD-R's so I assume the 600A does too. But for some reason mine doesn't. Basically, I'm asking did I do something wrong to where it won't play on my home DVD player? And do I have everything set up to my best interest? Because I know having even one setting wrong could make all the difference. Also, using the Motion search precision setting at "high" and ES(V+A) it takes nearly 5 hours to finish a regular movie. Is this normal? Click my computer detail button to see my hardware setup. Sorry for all the newbie questions guys. Before long I'll learn the ins and outs and be asking "real" questions. :P Thank you! [/code]

[terminator911]

Hi there,

If you are just backing up a DVD don't make your life so difficult and use DVD Shrink for ease of use... If you are not, please be more specific as to what exactly you are trying to burn to a dvd-r

[firebirdude]

Hi there,

If you are just backing up a DVD don't make your life so difficult and use DVD Shrink for ease of use... If you are not, please be more specific as to what exactly you are trying to burn to a dvd-r

I'm trying to burn AVI and DIVX movies that are converted to MPEG2. I want to be able to play them on both my computer and home DVD player.

[firebirdude]

Come on guys. Somebody help me out here...

[Hardcoreruss]

It could be a problem with your media, have you tried changing it.

Does the disc you created play on a friends player ?

[daamon]

Hi firebirdude,

Basically, I'm asking did I do something wrong to where it won't play on my home DVD player?

The process, in the detail you've stated it, sounds fine. Expand on what you mean by "won't play" - what exactly happens?

And do I have everything set up to my best interest?

I use the same (dvd-hq) guide, tools and pretty much the same approach with no problems. Only difference being that I mux my audio and video during authoring, not just before.

Also, using the Motion search precision setting at "high" and ES(V+A) it takes nearly 5 hours to finish a regular movie. Is this normal?

What's a "regular movie" - i.e. how long is it in time? If it's around 1.5 hours, 5 hours encoding at that setting on your system seems in the right area...

Get yourself a re-writeable to do test burns.

[firebirdude]

Get yourself a re-writeable to do test burns.

That seems like a good idea, but if my Apex 600A won't play DVD-RW's at all, it won't matter what's on the disk right? :P When I put my burned DVD-R in my player it just searches forever. Trying to read the disk. Are there any advantages to multiplexing during authoring vs. right before authoring? I'm going to try some different media. Maybe trade a few with friends cause these damn discs are expensive!

[kyemeng]

Try to use different media and when buying media for the first time, try buying a few pieces to test for compatability. And it is advisable to stick to branded or good quality media. You can try doing a search in the bar on your left under DVD Media.

[daamon]

...but if my Apex 600A won't play DVD-RW's at all, it won't matter what's on the disk right?

Correct.

When I put my burned DVD-R in my player it just searches forever. Trying to read the disk.

Sounds like dodgy media - but it plays OK on your PC. So, sorry to ask this: How old is your DVD player? Or (not knowing the APEX brand), how good is it considered to be? I ask coz it might be your player... Might just be the laser needs a clean or, even if it's supposed to accept DVD-R's maybe it's not really up to the job.

Try your disc that works in the PC in a friends DVD player - preferably one of a trustworthy brand (no offence to APEX, or your choice of it).

Are there any advantages to multiplexing during authoring vs. right before authoring?

Not generally. But it's worth trying, just to eliminate it (try the finished article with good media / good player). It could be one of those quirks that "just is"...

Good luck.

[firebirdude]

Sounds like dodgy media - but it plays OK on your PC. So, sorry to ask this: How old is your DVD player? Or (not knowing the APEX brand), how good is it considered to be? I ask coz it might be your player... Might just be the laser needs a clean or, even if it's supposed to accept DVD-R's maybe it's not really up to the job.

Try your disc that works in the PC in a friends DVD player - preferably one of a trustworthy brand (no offence to APEX, or your choice of it).

Admitingly, Apex is probably the worst brand DVD player there is. And it's about 1 1/2 years old. It plays regular unburned DVDs first time every time though. So I don't think it needs cleaning. I tried my disc in a friends JVC player and it worked perfectly. I guess this means my player really can't play DVD-R's? Or could the brand of media still be the problem?

One last question, while watching my DVD on my friends player, I noticed some slight....."blurryness?" while switching scenes. Like everytime the camara would switch angles, it kinda "took a long time to respond". No matter if the scene was action packed or not. It wasn't horrible or anything. I could barely notice it. But I did. That has got to be an encoding problem of some kind right? Any thoughts on how I can improve this? Thanks for all your replies thus far guys. You've been a great help!

[daamon]

Hi firebirdude,

I guess this means my player really can't play DVD-R's? Or could the brand of media still be the problem?

Either it can't, or it's supposed to but doesn't do a good job of it. Either way, sounds like your player is high in the suspects list (as you say it plays OK on your mates JVC). The other likely (though less so) is your media - but it plays OK on your PC and your mates JVC. My guess would be your player... But, if you spend loads on a new one and it's not, that's only my opinion (disclaimer ).

One last question, while watching my DVD on my friends player, I noticed some slight....."blurryness" ... That has got to be an encoding problem of some kind right?

Possibly. What's your source footage (i.e. home shot DV, divx AVI etc.) for that particular footage (I know you're using AVI and divx fom earlier)? Using GSpot or AVICodec might help with this.

I ask because if there's anything "unruly" in the source, then it could manifest itself more obviously after encoding. Can you post some screen shots?

When you say:

Like everytime the camara would switch angles, it kinda "took a long time to respond"

Do you mean it freezes? Not sure what you mean here...

[RabidDog]

I would suspect your media .. apex are a cheap brand BUT are meant to be high on media compatibility.. Email apex and ask them for their recomendations. Also some companies do sample packs of 3 or 4 diff media.. and get at least 1 DVD -rw.

[firebirdude]

When you say:

Like everytime the camara would switch angles, it kinda "took a long time to respond"

Do you mean it freezes? Not sure what you mean here...

No. No. It doesn't freeze at all. It kinda gets a little "blurry" when the camara angle switch. Like I said, it's BARELY noticeable. I almost think my eyes are playing tricks on me, but my friend saw it too. It's so un-noticable it doesn't even really bother me, but if I can get rid of it why not? That movie was in AVI format that I encoded to MPEG 2. And I'll be sure to buy a DVD-RW next time I hit the store. Thanks guys!

[daamon]

That movie was in AVI format that I encoded to MPEG 2.

"AVI format" isn't specific to one type of video - it can contain Divx, Xvid, DV etc., as well as audio in different formats. Each of these separate formats vary in quality (i.e. DV is much higher quality than Divx or Xvid).

So, by using GSpot or AVICodec on your source AVI you'll be able to tell what type of AVI it is. Why do you need to know this? Well, if it's lower quality (say Divx or Xvid) then you're more likely to see these departures from perfect quality once it's encoded to MPEG2.