DVD to DVD-R playback problems

[Visceral]

My sister and I have copied a few movies from DVD to DVD-R with her Mac laptop. We used DVDBackup, DVD2OneX, and Toast 6 Titanium, choosing "MOVIE ONLY" in DVD2OneX. What happens varies slightly depending on how they're played. On her standalone player, at certain points in a movie part of the picture will turn to gigantic pixels and the movie will either skip forward a second or two or it will jump back a few seconds and go forward again, then repeat this twice and continue to play normally after that (until the next such hiccup). On my standalone player, the pixelation happens and it just skips a second or two forward, but the hiccups don't happen in the same places as on her standalone. On her Mac, the movie will just freeze up for a few seconds, but sometimes it will cause the whole computer to lock up. On our Dell PC, the movie just freezes up, sometime for several seconds. The hiccups happen at different times on the computers than on the standalones. All the movies we've copied have this issue (The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions). The media is Verbatim, 2x rated DVD-R. If anyone knows what's going on here and how to fix it we'd really appreciate your help. Thanks.

[AntnyMD]

How old is the settop DVD player and Dell laptop? I would also question the brand of media though I'm a fan of Verbatim CD-R. I've only used one Verbatim DVD-R, the one that came with my first external DVD burner ... The burn failed and made a coaster.

[goat]

I am having a similar problem with BARBERSHOP 2 in "movie only" mode (DVD2One). In the first scene it does this hiccup over and over. I copied it in "Disc Copy" with no hiccups .... I'm trying to find out why also. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

[justadam74]

I'm having the same problems with the matrix, alien (from the quadrilogy) and stargate. a kind of hicup. did ya'll figure this out?

I tried using dvdbackup (and MTR as a test), dvd2onex and toast. I didn't burn the last matrix backup knowing what happens with the skip thing. I watched the backup file and it was o.k. Then processed it with dvd2onex (movie only), watched it again and the hicup thing started. It is definitely a problem with dvd2onex. What should I do? Or what should have I done?

Thanks.
AB

[maetel99]

These sound like MPEG video coding bugs in DVD2OneX. Report the bugs to them so they can fix them.

[terryj]

I have done five of the movies posted.
( Matrix 1-3, stargate, Barbershop).
I have used Mac The Ripper 2.0,
DVD2ONEX 1.4, Toast Titaninum 6.07,
and I am using TDK 2x Branded Media.

I have ZERO Problems.

I used to encounter this problem when I used
Verbatim, CompUSA branded, or MEMOREX
branded media.

My suggestions: Go with another brand of media.
Burn at a slower speed, say 1x or 2x to insure
compatibility with those with older players.

Most oldsters on this board use TDK, Maxell,
Ritek or Apple, and going great.

Also, are you guys ( or gals) Keeping up
with running your daily crons and general maintenance?
I usually do the following before doing
a huge batch: Run Onyx or Macaroni to run daily crons,
and fix permissions. Restart. Run MTR, doing say
five at a time. Restart. Run DVD2OneX doing say
five at a time. Then Process with Toast.

This has worked for me solid ( knocking on wood)
since I started, and 355 dvds later, things are
still good.

hope this give you some insight.

[thoughton]

Also, are you guys ( or gals) Keeping up
with running your daily crons and general maintenance?
I usually do the following before doing
a huge batch: Run Onyx or Macaroni to run daily crons,
and fix permissions. Restart. Run MTR, doing say
five at a time. Restart. Run DVD2OneX doing say
five at a time. Then Process with Toast.

I think this is kinda overkill, especially the constantly restarting thing I only restart a couple times a month (only when some installer or security update insists on it), all the time running MTR and DVD2OneX many (more than 20) times each, without any of the above problems. And the same Mac is serving my website throughout all this.

This must be a dvd2onex movie-only problem. I always use full disk mode and have done all the matrix movies without any issues. Have you tried reinstalling dvd2onex? Are you using the latest version?

[MacDSL]

I too run into this a lot. Although I usually use a PC and PC-related tools for backing up certain DVD's I really care about, I run inot the same playback issues.

My best advice and/or suggestion is to be sure and burn at the slowest speed possible. Although it takes a lot longer, the chance for the "skipping and locking up" is greatly reduced. Also, be very careful about dust on the unburned DVD. If anything gets on that unburned DVD before or during the burn, well...

The lst thing I come across is that the "locking up" usually happens at the end of the movie. Because I compress the "movie only" track I think that some players have trouble reading all the way to the end of the DVD. I would suggest compressing the movie juat alittle bit more so that the burn will "comfortably" fit on the DVD and not necessarily burn all the way to the edge....

Hope this helps...

[terryj]

I think this is kinda overkill, especially the constantly restarting thing I only restart a couple times a month (only when some installer or security update insists on it), all the time running MTR and DVD2OneX many (more than 20) times each, without any of the above problems. And the same Mac is serving my website throughout all this.

This I am suprised at, but to each his own.

To Note: I have pushed the G4 further in using MTR and DVD2ONEX,
my above posting was a non typical workday of how I might
use MTR and DVD2ONEX in a simplistic fashion.
I have personally pushed my G4 with more intensive stuff
( Constant encoding video, Photoshop high end work,
PDF distilling and Creation from large Res PSD files)
as well as checking email, composing invoices,
AND ripping and burning DVDs.

The restarts, NOT AT ALL CONSTANT THOUGHTON,
are just my being overtly cautious and insuring for my own
piece of mind and well being.
the restarts not only give me a break now and again,
but with everything elese going on, I limit my chances of a KP
now and again.

Here's an example of what I'm doing now:

1. Answering e-mail
2. posting this in Safari
3. ripping a DVD ( my fourth so far)
4. Photoshop is saving a Catalog Cover proof in EPS format ( 36MB)
in the background.
5. Distiller will pick it up and make a PDF out of it.

Once that is done, I would probably restart, just to clear out
my Memory caches and start DVD2ONEX to do it's thing,
while beginning work on the next catalog page in PS,
finishing up my invoicing, and then hopping over to
a ebay to check my auctions and possibly print invoices from there.

As I said, not necessarily a bad thing, but to each his own.

But back to the topic at hand, I too think its mostly media related again,
and or as MACDSL pointed out tagain, Burn speed with older players.

[thoughton]

Sorry Didn't mean to start anything. I'm just saying it is unusual, that's all. Getting OT here, but you also mentioned kernel panics. If you are getting these even semi-regularly then something must be wrong.

Just to illustrate the point, my Powerbook has been on 24hrs/day for the last 2 years and I've never had a single kernel panic. Don't get me wrong, it has occasionally locked up despite OS X's vaunted stability, but I've never had the KP message. I have a mass of stuff installed as well, my Apps folder currently contains 384 items, I just counted 17 menu extras in my menubar, and there are 3 extra rows of icons in my System Prefs.

[terryj]

Sorry Didn't mean to start anything. I'm just saying it is unusual, that's all. Getting OT here, but you also mentioned kernel panics. If you are getting these even semi-regularly then something must be wrong.

No problem, old friend.

Basically, I was just saying I was HEDGING my bets AGAINST
KPS, not that I was having them. The last KP I had involved
10.2.5, my Belkin USB hub, and that was easily remedied
by going to 10.2.3, and waiting until 10.2.6.
Since I have been on 10.3.5 these last four months,
everything has been rocksteady, and I don't notice
any performance issues. Could it be that in my being
OVERTLY CAUTIOUS and PROACTIVE, by doing my steps
I have outlined, that I don't encounter any problems?

Possibly, very likely to my particular set-up.

Would things be any different if I went hog wild and let it run
until it hit (he proverbial) brick wall?

Possibly, depends on what apps and actions and tasks I perform in
that time period.

[thoughton]

Message understood! I was just wondering since my PB takes sooooo long to boot up I cant imagine rebooting more than necessary.

[justadam74]

Thanks ya'll. I was using dvd2onex 1.3. have updated it and will let you know if it works (as soon as I get a chance, school is killing me).

Also, this isn't a media problem, cause it does the hicup thing when I play it from my hard drive and dvdr (I use TDK).

this forum is G R E A T ! Thanks again.

A.B.

[justadam74]

Well, it didn't work. I've tried everything I've read, even from other posts. I updated all of my software, repaired permissions, cleaned up my computer, deleted preferences an reentered my serial, etc. I guess certain dvd's will just not be backed up. and that is what upsets me the most, it is just these certain dvd's. Does anyone have any idea why it is just these movies? I have noticed that they are all Fox dvd's. Anyway, thanks again.

[thoughton]

Did it also produce these glitches when you use dvd2oneX in disc-copy mode?

[terryj]

Sounds more like your particular setup.
DVD's I owned that I have backed up
that are 20th Cent. Fox:

LXG
Stargate
28 Days Later
Never Die Alone

All have backed up flawlessly without a hitch.

Have you tried the more obvious:

• Checking the DVD Player forum at left for
others who have posted about your settop's
specifics ( Do they like DVD-R or +R's better;
do they handle DVDs burned at 1x, 2x, or 4x better)

• Also, like thoughton pointed out, did you
try these discs in Disc Copy mode? I have done
all the above in disc copy mode ( never movie only)
and they all work great.

Again, I hate to say it, but MTR, DVD2OneX, and Toast
are a rock solid 1-2-3 punch at making backup copies of DVDs.
Many are reporting great results. We just need to find
the particulars of why YOUR SETUP is not matched to
everyone else's.

also, just curious: any reason you aren't running
OSX 10.35? your profile says 10.34

[justadam74]

This isn't a media problem.

I broke down my entire process and found that the backup that hasn't been processed by dvd2onex is fine. After the dvd2onex shrinking, that is when I see the huge pixelating blocks and repeats of audio and video (I watch it from my hard drive before I burn it).

I have not tried disc copy mode because I hate menus and such. I like my movies to play right away at the best quality possible. If I have to I will try that last. It isn't like I don't have the original. The whole point of this for me is to get the instant satisfaction of popping in the dvd and it play the movie right away.

My desktop is 10.3.4 because I don't have internet at home right now. (except a little wifi borrowing from across the street). Do you think this would make a big difference with my particular problem. I also don't update until others have and report problems. I kind of like to not jump off a cliff just because I'm told to, I like to see if a parachute is on my back.

Once again, it is just these certain movies. I have backed up several movies after and before without problems. I come back to these and it is still the same sort of problem. Also, when I re-back it up and process it, the same sort of hicups happen, (and this is weird) at different points than when it did before.

I have also went to the dvd2one site and forums and found a few others have had the same problems. So far, I've read that it may be a compression problem with the variable/constant engines. I've read that choosing variable instead of constant will fix this. I haven't tried it yet though, I will after I get off work tonight and I will report back. I have found many posts with this same problem and noone ever reports back on them, it is so important to f/u on these to help others.

I do appreciate you're time. I will let you know how it concludes as soon as I can.

Thanks again,

[thoughton]

Until you try disc copy mode, we'll never know if your problem is a result of a bug in dvd2oneX's movie-only mode (which I suspect it is).

I'd hazard a guess that most people on this forum back up in disc-copy mode. And odd as it may seem to you just at this moment, reported problems with dvd2onex are extremely rare (here anyway).

PS DVD2onex 1.4 is out now, with a 3rd option for requantizing engine. You may want to give it a whirl to see if it solves yor problem with Fox discs. FWIW after some squinty eyed comparisons I've switched over from variable mode to the new selective mode. In my opinion it does a better job on smoky and low light scenes.

[terryj]

I just only asked because for many of us
are (1) using 10.3.5, and (2) to make
sure you weren't encountering problems
in other areas ( FW, EXTERNAL discs, etc.)
that might point to your problems with
DVD2ONEX.

Try disc copy mode, as thoughton said, with the
same media, and see if the problem still occurs.

For the (few) people who use MOVIE ONLY,
the prevailing thought has been to
use VARIABLE, even though CONSTANT
is reccommended for movie only by the makers
of DVD2ONEX.
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=195033&highlight=constant

for the FOX discs I own, as well as every other STUDIO
I have backed up, I always do:

• Variable
• Disc Copy
• USER Defined Target: 4300

not a single problem.

Post back your results asahp justadam, hopefully
we can help you resolve this.

[justadam74]

Try disc copy mode, as thoughton said, with the
same media, and see if the problem still occurs.
......
for the FOX discs I own, as well as every other STUDIO
I have backed up, I always do:

• Variable
• Disc Copy
• USER Defined Target: 4300

not a single problem.

terryj and thoughton, this combination was the only thing that has worked for me with the problem DVD's. Although I wanted movie only, it is better than nothing when you need to backup your DVD's.

I guess I need to use Galactica's advanced dvd to dvdr tutorial, huh?

Thanks ya'll,

adam

p.s. terryj, stay out of the bad weather!

[terryj]

I'm trying but it doesn't help when
you have users wanting their Macs fixed!


Glad your working again justadam!