Help! Completely screwed up my first big multi-copy project.

[CaveCanem]

Looking for the simplest, most compatible way to make multiple copies of this project.

Photo Story 3 (3 Ken Burns-type clips, with audio, saved at 640x480, DVD plugin looked too soft)
MyDVD 6.1 Deluxe (with a three tile DVD menu, each tile containing a 10 sec clip, no audio on menu)
Windows XP MCE 2005

(Evidently there is a rippling line conflict with MCE 2005, MyDVD 6.1, and Photo Story 3 combination, looking for an alternative)

Philips DVD8631
FujiFilm 8x Silver InkJet Printable DVD-Rs

I thought DVD-R would be the most compatible, but have learned since DVD+Rs w/bitsetting are a better choice. What is the most compatible, Silver InkJet Printable media available for this hardware/software combination?

The project worked fine in the following Devices:
Panasonic DVD-LV70 portable DVD player
Hitachi DVD-3234 stand-alone DVD player
Panasonic DVD-LV50 portable DVD player
Hitachi-LG GDR8162B 16x DVD-ROM

Failed in the following devices:
Philips DVP 642
Toshiba SD-2109 stand-alone DVD player
failed in 2 other stand-alone players of unknown make and model.

Unaccounted for:
30+ discs


Dell Dimension XPS Gen 4
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
2gb RAM
250 gb HDD
Dell UltraSharp 1704FPt
nVidia GeForce 6800 256mb PCI-X
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS
Emuzed Angel Dual Tuner card
Hitachi-LG GDR8162B 16x DVD-ROM
Philips DVD8631

Thanks!

J.T.

[guns1inger]

Bitset +R's are no more compataible than -R, and neither guarantee you a perfect outcome on all players. If you want that, press them instead.

When you say failed, what exactly do you mean ? The disks couldn't be read, or they didn't function as expected ?

640 x 480 isn't DVD compliant, so they were probably sized up, which would contribute to the softness. If they weren't sized up, but authored at that res, then some players may well choke as it is non-standard.

Look up your DVD burner in the DVD Recorder database (to your left) and see what people are saying about different media on it. But ultimately, when using recordable media, you cannot guarantee that it will play on any particular standalone player.

[edDV]

"Ken Burns effect" implies you are zooming into a picture. To do this full frame for a DVD the pictures need to be larger than the 720x480 DVD raster.

A good working size is more like 2Kx1K or more depending on how deep you plan to zoom.

Further, most software lacks smooth pan and zoom capability. You see jerkyness as full lines and horizontal pixels are switched in and out.

Good zooming software works with subpixel filtering that takes 2, 4, 8, or more steps between pixels for smooth motion.

[CaveCanem]

Guns1inger,

I should have been more specific, on those players in which it played, it played as expected. The disc could not be read on the failures, totally unplayable. Complete Hit or Miss!

edDV,

I am using Microsoft's Photo Story 3 with 4 and 5 megapixel pictures, which does an incredible job. There are a few quick pans that stutter a little bit, but the zooms are unbelieveable. For a free program, I am very much impressed.

After adding all the pictures and audio, you save the entire project as 640x480 wmv file, DVD 720x480 wmv, or several other choices. Then you load the clips, in this case 12min., 6min., and 12 min.=30min., into MyDVD 6.1 Deluxe. I selected a 10 sec. clip for each segments menu tile, no menu music, and did a preview with success.

I then pressed the burn button which started the transcoding, burning process. Then tested the disc on two DVD players, and a DVD-ROM. It passed with flying colors, so I burned multiple copies, sampling discs along the way for compatibility. All passed perfectly!

Unfortunately, it has been downhill ever since. Not even a Philips DVP 642 would play the disc created by a Philips DVD8631 burner. The only playable confirmation was on a Hitachi DVD-3234 stand-alone player.

As for looking for the most compatible media for the burner, there is no mention of any Silver Inkjet printable dvd media.

==============================================

What authoring-burning software/inkjet printable media combination would you recommend for this Photo Story 3 project/hardware combination? (Windows XP MCE 2005 is the OS)

Is there a step-by-step fool-proof process that a n00b, like myself, can follow, and would guarantee maximum compatibility?

Thanks!

[lordsmurf]

DVD+R bitset for DVD-ROM are not a better choice.
DVD-R is the best choice for distribution,
although pressed media would be far better.

As far as the "hit or miss" you're using crap media. PHILIPS discs are horrible. Fuji may have been PRODISC, which is fine, but maybe your burner doesn't work well with PRODISC, not to mention there are several better medias you can buy.

www.nomorecoasters.com and read.

[CaveCanem]

LordSmurf,

When you say Philips discs are horrible, were you referring to the Philips DVD8631 16x DVD+/-RW that I have, as a lousy burner? (Should I risk voiding the warranty to flash to the BenQ)

For the above listed Philips DVD8631 burner, which Silver Inkjet printable DVD-R media would you recommend?

What authoring/burning software would you recommend for this project?
(Also, I would like to edit out commercials in my DVR-MS files. MyDVD 6.1 has a conflict with MCE 2005 and Photo Story 3.)

Is there a process that would increase the likelihood of compatible discs?

Why is there still such a problem with compatible discs, even with the new stand-alone players? Rarely, do I have this problem with CD-Rs, and only with older or automobile cd players.

thanks.

[lordsmurf]

I mean the discs, though I'm not fond of that burner either (Philips eventually got swallowed by BenQ, which makes more crappy burners that are super-picky).

MyDVD is cheap garbageware. You'd do better with Adobe Premiere or Vegas, a real NLE.

Use good discs, follow the DVD spec, use good software ... key to compatibility.

[Nelson37]

As far as the Rippling Line effect - I have seen this on a number of slideshow progs. Believe it is related to interlace settings, but not sure. Seems to happen with some progs and not others. I had good success with DVD Picture Show.

As for current procedure, you are taking those nice, hi-res photos, converting to WMV, then re-converting to MPG. Bad Idea. Suggest make slideshow in AVI, and convert this.