imgburn v2 and layer break

[EAO]

I am struggling with the layer break choice in Imgburn.

Up until now - in the past - I've only burned about 15 DVD+DL and I have used Nero 6.6 with no problem and they play great on my Philips 642.

So when I read about 32k gaps and layer break placement and how Nero sucks on DL I start to try to get worried that what I made is dreadfully unstable.

Backed up one of my retail DVD's to play with usinf Dvdfabdecrypter. Did no edits to remove anything afterwards. Loaded the video_ts into imgburn (and read the guides at his site). When i get to having to choose a layer break I get four files all with one yellow star. Now... I had no way of knowing what those files began with in imgburn so I chose the first file.

When I played the burned dvd it jumped at the break scene. So then I loaded up the PC backup into vobblanker and peeked at the 4 files imgburn chose for break. Found one that seemed to begin with a moment of blackness. So I burned another DVD using that choice and it plays perfect.

So... is there a faster/better way to choose the layer break using the new imgburn program? I really don't get how you can chose the right layer break without previewing what's in the cells.

In fact I'd like to have a little preview window added to it when it get's updated... but that's a little off topic.

[VegasBud]

EAO,

It seems a shame to discard a system that you know works for you, but I can understand your reasoning.

While utilizing 32k gaps is preferable, if possible, they may not even have to be inserted artificially. A down and dirty way to check if they would even have an effect on a burned disk is to take a look at the files in the VIDEO_TS directory on the dvd. A 32k gap already exists, naturally, if the sum of the filelengths of the IFO and the corresponding VOB is 32k or greater. If there is no VOB file (VIDEO_TS groups, for example may not have a VOB) then as long as the IFO is 32k minimum, you're still all set. If you check the VIDEO_TS group, and all the VTS groups, and you find no sum less than 32k, the disk doesn't have 32k gap problems.

As to selecting the layer break, I've never used Nero for dvd's, but I would assume they give you no choice, and just put it where they think is best. If that's not the way it works, please let me know, but it would just be for my own education, and wouldn't have any effect on what follows.

ImgBurn v2 should give you (generally) a selection of places the layer break could go, ranked for you by color. However, if you have several equally ranked possible layer break positions (in your case 4 yellow, no green), and want to preview the locations, to visually choose the best one, you can use PgcEdit. It has a preview button on the layer break selection window. At that point, you might as well just select the layer break from within PgcEdit. Since PgcEdit uses ImgBurn to do the actual burning, either way of selecting the layer break still results in a quality burn by ImgBurn.

The above is just an overview. If you need more information about any part, or even detailed instructions, post back, and I'll expand on it.

[EAO]

Thanks for the reply.

From a noobs pov I now believe that Nero does not insert any gaps for one thing. Not certain how it handles layer break but I don't think it's totally DVD compliant.

I understand what you say about pcgedit but since the only part I'm concerned about is layer break I will stick with using vobblanker to preview. Im sure as time goes on and I get comfortable with imgburn v2 I'll start to look further into pcgedit.

1. So... is it a total 'slam dunk' that when imgburn shows you a gold star you don't have to preview because it will be a perfect (no skip) layer break?

But I do think I will list my 'preview' request at the imgburn homepage. It is a fine program as it is and I am thankful it's around. I just want to be a little more lazy

[VegasBud]

Your technique is perfectly fine. The only benefit from using PgcEdit is that it would eliminate the "back and forth" between two different programs. If at some point you'd like to give it a try, here's a guide that takes you through the process, step by step. The guide may look complicated, but that's only because PgcEdit has to be set up correctly the first time. After that, it's incredibly easy to select a layer break with preview built in.

It may seem like a gold (or yellow) star would be the best, but it's the 3rd best, with green being the best, blue being 2nd best. Anything less than green would logically to be less than 100%.