DVD Creation Problems - please help!

[moosette]

Hi guys,

I have recently had a few wedding DVDs returned by customers saying that they stick and jump throughout.

I know there is a possible compatibility problem, but most of them have tried them out on different players and the same thing happens. And what with the number of returns it is obviously a problem with the way I create my discs.

I am someone who is self-taught on computers and as long as things work I am fine, but when something goes wrong I am stumped and don't know what to try. DVD creation has always been a bone of contention with me, as there are so many factors that may be the thing I am doing wrong, so if I run through my process perhaps any of you kind fellow DVD Creators could give me some advice?

I edit using adobe premiere 6.5/pinnacle dv500dvd. When the project is completed I create an Mpeg within Premiere using the Export Timeline command, changing the preset to Pinnacle DVD PAL. This creates an MPEG of the project.

I have found though that sometimes if the project is over 90 minutes I have to configure the video settings before creating the mpeg - changing the variable bit rate to between 4 and 6 instead of 6 and 8 - would this affect anything at all?

I am aware that many other people can fit up to 2 hours onto one dvd disc, but I have never been able to create a disc much longer than 90 minutes, without having to split across onto a second disc - what am I doing wrong here?

I then use Sonic's My DVD 2.3 to create my DVDs. I am aware that this is not the most sophisticated piece of software, but it has been easy to use, and I have not had time to look into different software. In My DVD, I create a menu screen and then place the Mpeg on the play button and create separate chapter points.

I then burn my DVD onto Verbatim 4x DVD-R Advanced AZO DVD Discs, using a new Pioneer DVR-107 drive.

Originally I was using a Pioneer 103 drive, which I recently replaced as I suspected this may be the problem, and for a while the new drive rectified the problem for some customers, however the same faults are now being reported so I don't think it can be the drive.

There are so many factors that could cause something to go wrong, but I need help pinpointing the problem. Is it the way I encode my mpegs, is it the dvd creation software I use, the discs, the drive? or is DVD-R technology just really incompatible with that many players?

I feel that creating DVDs should be a lot easier than I have found it, and feel there is something I am just doing wrong. Have you guys all found it easy to set up doing DVDs? If so what do you do? Please feel free to run me through the whole process. Is there a wonderful piece of equipment I should invest to help create a full-proof system. That is what I need, a system that I can rely on to work evey time.

As I say I am not very technically-minded, so detailed help and simple language would be appreciated

Here's hoping you can help!

[Nawtwrong]

Hi,

Rather than exporting your timeline as MPEG-2 in Adobe Premier I would export the video in the same format you imported it in.

Then use a program like TMPGenc. Just import your finished video from Premier and use the wizard to create a DVD PAL project. The wizard will also set the bitrate for you depending on how much video you are importing, so you can fit more than 90 minutes on (It will just lower the overall quality).

Then use TMPG DVD Author to create your final DVD from the file(s) generated by the above program. It is much better than MyDVD and in my opinion easier to use. The results look much more professional too.

I have used the above method on countless occasions and never had a problem yet. I have used a variety of different DVD-R discs and played them on a variety of different players with no problems.


Hope this helps.......

[wwjd]

Have you recently changed the brand or type of DVD media? Not long ago I bought some COMP USA brand DVD +R and burned 23 DVDs for the parents of my daughter's dance team. More than half of the DVDs I burned would stick in some spots and jump. The other half worked fine.

Not all media is created equal!

Just a thought.

wwjd

[real2reel]

I agree if your early DVD creations work fine and over a period of time there starts to be a compatablilty problem it could be slipping standards in the media your using and plus wear and tear on your burner. In the UK not sure about rest of world I always use RITEK/RITECK dye DVD-R's and these are used in a very wide rang of domestic players and i havent had a return.

My process is Firewire capture into Vegas Video 5, edit, alter, mix a little After Effects - Combustion 3 - back to Vegas _ force LOWERFIELD FIRST - Render as seperate Streams 1.video 2.audio ac3 import to maestro - create links - buttons etc - compile - burn in nero 6, stopped using burn in architect as it doesn't support the jacket folder.