Burned DVD skips in standalone player

[lj01]

I burned a DVD-R using Nero Recode to rip my original movie to my hard drive. I used Nero to re-create the movie that included my original movie split in several parts, and interspersed AVI files (which were FLV files converted to AVI using vdownloader) within the movie. Burned with Nero as well. When I play the burned DVD in my standalone player (Sony), the DVD has one very sticky skip (it actually just plays the same 2 second stretch over and over until I hit frame advance, which takes me 4 minutes forward, but I can rewind back to the spot of the problem). It also has a couple of sticky spots later in the movie, but doesn't skip at those spots.

Coincidentally, the sticky spots always occur shortly after the re-created movie transitions from my interspersed AVI files back to the main movie (usually within 10-15 seconds after the transition).

I tried this on a Maxell DVD-RW and then, to see if it was the media, burned on a TY DVD-R and same result, skips in exactly the same places.

Is this more likely a result of the ripping process or the burning process...or....?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

[jman98]

It could be a lot of things. What are you creating? DVD format? Buring AVIs to disc?

It could be Nero (not the best tool for sure). It could be that if you burn at a slower speed, you'll get better results. It could be the whole transitioning thing you are trying to do. It probably isn't your ripping process though.

[filmboss80]

I agree with jman98. Since you can reproduce the error on both Maxell and TY discs, we know the problem is not with the media. I am somewhat certain the problem begins and ends with Nero. (If you search this site, you will find countless people who have encountered similar problems to yours when they used Nero.) It is difficult to know if your source video files have problems. After all, you started with flv files. You did not specify the AVI codec you converted them to. Thereafter, Nero is a testy program when compiling a DVD. And finally, Nero is not the best DVD burner available. Thus, there are potential problems at every stage of your project. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact culprit when there are so many "suspects."

[lj01]

here's a little more specifics on what I'm doing, unfortunately I'm not too familiar with some of the more technical aspects, but here's the raw details...

The FLV to AVI downloads are done in vdownloader, I download and convert at the same time, the setting I convert to is AVI (640 x 480).

I use the storyboard movie creator in Nero - I pull in the main movie as my "title" and then edit it. I split the movie into, say, 3 parts and intersperse those AVI files within the movie, so it goes: Main Movie Pt 1 - AVI - AVI - Main Movie Pt 2 - AVI - AVI - Main Movie Pt 3 (for the most part).

I'm certain there's no problem with the main movie, when I play it directly it works fine, no skips or anything. I'm assuming the problem is with my splitting and/or transitioning.

Thanks again for any help.

[classfour]

That almost sounds like what I used to see when I used NeoDVD. It put annoying "stops" in the playback - particularly at .vob breaks.

It may also be that the avi file that you inserted isn't exactly DVD standard, and is throwing your player a curve.

I haven't seen any of that crap after switching to TDA a few years back. It may be worth it to you to download a trial version, author the same DVD (easy interface), and test playback.

my 2 cents

[Krispy Kritter]

Sounds like a conversion or possibly authoring issue. My first bet would be in the conversion process.

[lj01]

Is there something I should be doing with the AVI files after I've downloaded the FLV and converted to AVI to make them DVD-ready?

[lj01]

by the way, the AVI files work fine on the playback. The problem seems to occur after the transition back to the main movie, but i generally agree that it must be something about splitting the main movie and/or the AVI files throwing things off.

as far as the conversion process that you mention - do you mean the conversion of the FLV files or the main movie conversion?

[dadrab]

as far as the conversion process that you mention - do you mean the conversion of the FLV files or the main movie conversion?

I believe you might want to rethink your process.

I don't mess around with FLV files much, but AVI files, I'm familiar with. Here's what I do:

I take all my video files and convert them to DVD compliant MPEG2. There are a wealth of tools that can do a fine job of this task. Check the tools area of the forum. I'm sure you'll come up with something that'll go directly from FLV to MPEG2.

Since you appear to be taking a movie and splicing in various and sundry clips between movie segments, I'd take all my footage - already in MPEG2 format, remember - and do my splits and splices in VideoReDo. Then, save the whole thing out as one big-ass file. There are probably other tools that can do the job, the one listed above is just what I use.

Take said "big-ass file" and use real authoring software to create your DVD. Again, there are some nice FREE ones listed in the tools section.

It would appear you've been lured into (what I call) the Nero trap. Somewhere along the line, you've come to believe that Nero is a "one touch wonder." In reality, it's not. True, it can do a lot; but, it does none of it very well. I suggest breaking your process down into the individual steps it takes to get to your end goal. Then select the best tools you can for each step.

I'm not very smart, so I have to break down eating an elephant into "one bite at a time."

[jman98]

I'm not very smart, so I have to break down eating an elephant into "one bite at a time."

You're far too humble. That was an excellent post and an excellent suggestion on how to do this.

[lj01]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, dadrab. I'm not very smart myself - and I'm lazy and cheap to boot, which is why I think I've been hoping Nero would do the trick (I somehow got it for free when I bought something else...)

I have a couple of questions related - first - when I rip my movie, it comes across as several VOB files - do I need to convert that to mpeg-2 or does the video editor do that for me?

Also, once I've created the "Big-ass file" as you mention, you then mention I would use a DVD-authoring program to create the DVD - if I just wanted the "big-ass file" with no chapters or anything would I still need to run through a DVD-authoring program? Or is it the DVD author that makes it back into a VIDEO_TS file with related VOB underneath?

As far as the FLV files go - intially when I started using vdownloader, I had them download and convert into mpeg but then noticed when I eventually burned (using Nero of course) that the audio and video were off-track. Then I tried them in AVI form and didn't have that problem, so I just assumed AVI was the way to go - I'm guessing now that there's most likely a better way to do it.

Thanks again for the great help!

[dadrab]

Well, I'm going to give this a whirl, but from this point on, my recommendations might not live up to your expectations...

You see, I don't work very often with VOB files. My main experience comes from working directly with MPEG2. In that format, I can do pretty much what I want.

That said, I do believe VideoReDo does accept VOBs. So, I think that part of the scenario will still work and you can save out to the now infamous "big-ass file." That program isn't free, but it's not very expensive either and worth the money.

The next part is more cloudy because I can't remember (and I can't find the damn guide I used to use) how to get VOBs ready to author. I hope someone with more experience than I will chime in and help some more.

I do remember that GUIForDVDAuthor is a pretty good, FREE authoring software. And please don't burn with anything but IMGBurn. It's free too.

In closing, I'll say this: Go to the guides section of this forum, hole yourself up for a few hours, and read. God knows there boocoodle of them and most of them have something helpful to say.

[lj01]

I took advice and downloaded trial version of TDA, and ImgBurn. I used them separately and together and I am happy to report...

"big-ass file" = problem solved

So, I'm preparing to fork out the $90 for TDA - I actually downloaded both TDA and VideoReDo trials, I found TDA a bit easier to work with (for what I'm trying to do).

One last question - am I still ok to use Nero to rip, or should I scrap it altogether and use something else (ImgBurn for that too?)

Thanks everyone!

[dadrab]

I'd use DVDDecrypter. I've also read good reviews of RipIt4Me. Just check the "Tools" section for DVD rippers.

Oh yeah, just so there's no question on the matter, burn with IMGBurn only.

[ichido]

I am just getting into this the last couple years. You got good advice from everyone here. alot of the time it is better to fork out for the program as I found before I did, alot of stuff I got to was trial. I forked out for convertxto DVD and have never had a problem.
Avi's from the site I go to get converted perfectly. The burner in Convertx is fantastic. But I have never had trouble burning with Nero. Using nero recode takes forever, won't touch it. Nero Burning ROM is nice too, works for Me.