DVD Flick DVD read error

[garyknowz]

I’m new to DVD Flick, and following the guide successfully made a DVD from an .avi file. The DVD worked in the DVD just fine. However, every subsequent DVD will not play. The error says “cannot read disc”. I get no program error when configuring and burning; no indication of a problem at all. I do get the warning about overwriting previous data, but after click yes, nothing that would indicate an issue. The second and third files were and .avi and .mp4.


I wonder if I’ve missed a step not noted or I overlooked in the guide. I’ve read it again, and still no clue what the issue is. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.


Best,
Gary K.

[sambat]

Do the disks play on the PC but not on a standalone DVD player.
If you are in North America, are you making PAL disks when you should be making NTSC.

[Kerry56]

Which version of DVDFlick are you using? It was abandoned for a while, but someone has started a new version...a fork of this open source project.

This is the page for the new version: http://sourceforge.net/projects/dvdflick-v2/

Have you tested the burned dvds in your computer or just on a stand alone player? If you haven't tried on the computer, try it with VLC media player.
You might also want to output to the hard drive first, test it on the computer, then try to burn.

Most of us who still convert to dvd-video have moved to AVStoDVD instead of DVDFlick. Using the HC encoder in a two pass encode within AVStoDVD should give you slightly better quality.

[garyknowz]

Thanks for the quick responses. I've tried on both. On the stand-alone, I get the cannot read error. Using the PC, I get this error with VLC: "Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'dvd://E:\'. Check the log for details." Also tried with KMP.



The version of DVD Flick is 1.307. I'm not sure if that's the newest or not. I'll try AVStoDVD.

[sambat]

"Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'dvd://E:\'. Check the log for details." Also tried with KMP.
.

Are you trying to open a Network Stream?

[garyknowz]

No. I just go to open media (E: ) and click play.

Correction: "open disc" and click play.

[sambat]

What happens when you open the project destination folder.

[garyknowz]

I can't seem to find it. Where should it be in the C: directory?

[sambat]

Bottom left of main page.

[garyknowz]

Thanks. The data from the latest one is still there. Being unfamiliar with the program, I can't tell if something is missing or not. But the .vob video files are present and seem to work, as well as numerous other files.

Here's the DVD Flick log if that gives any clues:

2:12:36 AM: DVD Flick 1.3.0.7 build 738
2:12:36 AM: Calculating stream sizes...
2:12:36 AM: Disc space used : 4489451 KB
2:12:36 AM: Average bitrate : 7024 Kbit/s
2:12:36 AM: Total duration : 1:24:52 hours
2:12:36 AM: 1 title(s).
2:12:36 AM: Using Normal encoding profile.
2:12:36 AM: NTSC target format.
2:12:36 AM: CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 630 Processor
2:12:36 AM: Threadcount: 4
2:12:36 AM: Encoding video...
2:12:36 AM: Title 0, source 0
2:12:36 AM: Source : C:\Users\owner\Desktop\Christopher Titus - Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding.avi
2:12:36 AM: Properties : 640x360, Widescreen (16:9), 23.976 FPS, mpeg4, 5092.34 seconds
2:12:36 AM: Target BitRate : 7024 Kbit\s
2:12:36 AM: Re-encoding
2:12:36 AM: -i "C:\Users\owner\Desktop\Christopher Titus - Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding.avi" -vcodec mpeg2video -s 720x480 -r 29.97 -g 14 -bufsize 1835008 -packetsize 2048 -muxrate 10080000 -aspect 16:9 -minrate 6974k -maxrate 6974k -b 6974k -preme 1 -precmp 2 -subcmp 8 -mbcmp 8 -cmp 1 -sws_flags lanczos+accurate_rnd -mbd 2 -sc_threshold -3000 -dc 8 -an -threads 4 -fflags +genpts -f mpeg2video -shortest -map 0:0 "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\0.0.m2v"
2:47:35 AM: Combining video sources...
2:47:35 AM: Concatenating video...
2:47:35 AM: Encoding audio...
2:47:35 AM: Title 0, track 0, source 0 of 0
2:47:35 AM: Source : C:\Users\owner\Desktop\Christopher Titus - Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding.avi
2:47:35 AM: Properties : 2 channels, 32000 Hz, mp3, 5092.34 seconds
2:47:35 AM: Recompressing to 192 Kbit\s with 2 channel(s)
2:47:35 AM: -i "C:\Users\owner\Desktop\Christopher Titus - Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding.avi" -i "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\0.0.m2v" -map 0:1:1:0 -acodec ac3 -ab 192k -ac 2 -ar 48000 -threads 4 -async 0 -shortest "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\0.0.0.ac3"
2:49:46 AM: Fixing delay of -160 ms
2:49:46 AM: -start -160 "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\0.0.0.ac3"
2:49:48 AM: Combining audio sources...
2:49:48 AM: Concatenating audio...
2:49:48 AM: Title 0, track 0
2:49:48 AM: Combining sources...
2:49:48 AM: Multiplexing audio and video
2:49:48 AM: Title 0
2:49:48 AM: -f 8 --vbr -o "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\title0.mpg" "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\0.0.m2v" "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\0.0.ac3"
2:54:26 AM: Cleaning up...
2:54:26 AM: Adding subtitles...
2:54:26 AM: Authoring DVD...
2:54:26 AM: Opening menu template
2:54:26 AM: Generating menu images
2:54:27 AM: Generating menu files
2:54:49 AM: Generating XML file
2:54:49 AM: Generating author information
2:54:49 AM: -x "C:\Users\owner\Documents\dvd\dvdauthor.xml"
2:59:12 AM: Cleaning up...
2:59:13 AM: Finalizing...
2:59:13 AM: Finished.

[sambat]

The log doesn't mention burning the DVD;how are you getting the files onto the disk and burning it.

[orsetto]

The most common problems with DVDflick involve it failing just before it finishes the DVD files, or failing to import certain video or audio files in the first place. Very rarely do problems arise after it successfully creates a project, indicated by "Finished" in the project window or log.

What is most likely happening is your latest batch of blank dvds is borderline quality, or there's a burning software or burner hardware issue. First, make sure you are using the free ImgBurn utility to burn the DVDs. Start up ImgBurn, click on the "Write Files/Folders To Disc" button, then locate the "dvd" folder DVDflick created on your hard drive. Drill down the folders from "dvd" thru "dvd" until you see AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. Select VIDEO_TS as the folder you want to burn, then click the Burn button. OK anything ImgBurn asks you, and it will begin burning the dvd. This almost always results in a perfectly compatible DVD that will play in any hardware, unless the blank disc itself has issues and/or your burner drive has issues.

If you're already using ImgBurn, try using another brand of blank dvd- this can be tricky, because almost all brands available in stores come from the same factory nowadays. The best is Verbatim AZO, everything else (no matter the brand name) is sourced from CMC or Ritek. Even Verbatim is tricky: they sell a CMC derivative called "Verbatim Life Series." The superior Verbatim AZO usually comes in a purple and orange wrapper, with a blue AZO trademark. If you are already using Verbatim AZO, try something else: every so often you run across a weird batch of AZO (no brand is 100% perfect).

If none of this works, try AVStoDVD instead of DVDflick. It has a more difficult learning curve: most people who stick with the "orphaned" DVDflick do so because AVStoDVD has an interface only Einstein could love (its an excellent versatile tool, just not as easy as DVDflick). Recreate your DVD project in AVStoDVD, and burn it. See if that disc plays OK in all your players. If so, something went wonky for you with DVDflick: the program has been corrupted, or one of the video files in your projects is causing hidden problems.

If both AVStoDVD and DVDflick create unplayable DVDs, the problem is definitely either your current batch of blank dvds or your burner drive.

[garyknowz]

The log doesn't mention burning the DVD;how are you getting the files onto the disk and burning it.

I used the same method I had for the first disc. I'll see if I missed something. But funny you mention that because, when I view the DVD disc files it said 4.7 gbs or 4.7 gbs used, but somewhere else it said 4.7 gbs free. I can usually tell it the disc is used by looking at them and they do look used. I'll check it out.

I'm also going to record the first DVD again for a statistic control just to rule out errors in the source files.

[garyknowz]

First, make sure you are using the free ImgBurn utility to burn the DVDs. Start up ImgBurn, click on the "Write Files/Folders To Disc" button, then locate the "dvd" folder DVDflick created on your hard drive. Drill down the folders from "dvd" thru "dvd" until you see AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. Select VIDEO_TS as the folder you want to burn, then click the Burn button. OK anything ImgBurn asks you, and it will begin burning the dvd.

Thanks. I’ll try it manually as suggested. Is there a way to import the top menu when doing this? If not, it’s not a big issue yet as there is only one source file. But later, I may burn multiple files.

If you're already using ImgBurn, try using another brand of blank dvd- this can be tricky, because almost all brands available in stores come from the same factory nowadays. The best is Verbatim AZO, everything else (no matter the brand name) is sourced from CMC or Ritek. Even Verbatim is tricky: they sell a CMC derivative called "Verbatim Life Series." The superior Verbatim AZO usually comes in a purple and orange wrapper, with a blue AZO trademark. If you are already using Verbatim AZO, try something else: every so often you run across a weird batch of AZO (no brand is 100% perfect).

I’ve been using Taiyo Yuden silvers from Rima for several years with maybe 1/200 coaster probability. Never had two bad in a row though. I thought they were the best. Has their quality decrease in recent year (or even relative to Ritek and CMC)? They are –R though. Never found a TY +R. Does DVDflick burn to +Rs better? Funny question perhaps, but I’ve had burners that seemed to prefer +R to –R.

If none of this works, try AVStoDVD instead of DVDflick. It has a more difficult learning curve: most people who stick with the "orphaned" DVDflick do so because AVStoDVD has an interface only Einstein could love (its an excellent versatile tool, just not as easy as DVDflick).

No kidding. I installed AVStoDVD last night, and it didn’t seem near as user friendly. When I looked for a user guide/tutorial on YouTube, the GUI looked very different from mine. Are there two AVStoDVD versions? This is a screen shot of mine. The other seemed more user friendly i http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io_px0xt8wA.

Edit: Forum didn't let me attach screenshot. C'est la vie.

[Kerry56]

Try my guide for AVStoDVD. Its really not that hard. http://club.myce.com/f32/avstodvd-guide-331620/

Burning your dvd-video manually will include everything you've made with either Flick or AVStoDVD. So, yes, your top menu will be intact.

TY should be very good quality discs. I'd still burn them at less than top speed though. 8x is usually a good compromise.

[orsetto]

TY 8x DVD-R is at least as good as Verbatim AZO, so your blanks are probably fine.

The 4.7GB data is peculiar. This might indicate DVDflick created a too-large VIDEO_TS folder. It makes this error in perhaps 1 of 20 projects, where normally it creates the 4.4GB dvd file I requested but occasionally slips up and creates a 4.5, 4.6 or 4.7 GB VIDEO_TS folder. This seems to be an error triggered in DVDflick by certain oddball source files.

Go to the VIDEO_TS folder, and right click to get Properties. If the size is truly 4.7 GB, that is your problem. When DVDflick is set to complete auto-pilot (automatically burning after creating the DVD files), it sometimes neglects to inform you the project size exceeds the blank DVD capacity, and merrily burns the disc anyway. This results in a corrupted DVD which may play in certain software players but usually tanks in a standard hardware DVD or BluRay player. The cure is to load a blank double-layer DVD, or process the VIDEO_TS folder thru a "shrinker" utility like DVDfab, DVDshrink or CloneDVD. These will all re-encode the DVD files to 95% size, which rarely causes any video degradation.

Of course, the problem might still be corruption to DVDflick itself or some issue with the burner. Using a different authoring tool like AVStoDVD would really help you narrow down the cause (if AVStoDVD is successful, your burner and blanks are definitely OK and the issue is probably one of the many isolated "WTF?" glitches that occur using DVDflick). I love DVDflick, but I've developed a sixth sense on how and when I need to work around its myriad limitations. At a certain point, if you repeatedly run into problems, AVStoDVD migration becomes more attractive. If you are downloading videos from multiple random sites, however, you *will* occasionally encounter files that are such trainwrecks of terrible formatting that even AVStoDVD gives up. Converting files to DVD is straightforward 70% of the time, but the other 30% can cause inexplicable glitches.

[garyknowz]

Hello again, folks! Sorry I disappeared there, but I was out of town on business.

Anyhow, I went ahead and installed the newest version of DVD Flick and ImgBurn. Seems to work now. I think it was the burning software that was the issue. I've also played with AVGtoDVD, and that is a great program despite not being visually easy and idiot (AKA, me) proof. lol

Thank you so much for the prompt help, and very well explained troubleshooting measures.

[loninappleton]

Which version of DVDFlick are you using? It was abandoned for a while, but someone has started a new version...a fork of this open source project.

This is the page for the new version: http://sourceforge.net/projects/dvdflick-v2/

Have you tested the burned dvds in your computer or just on a stand alone player? If you haven't tried on the computer, try it with VLC media player.
You might also want to output to the hard drive first, test it on the computer, then try to burn.

Most of us who still convert to dvd-video have moved to AVStoDVD instead of DVDFlick. Using the HC encoder in a two pass encode within AVStoDVD should give you slightly better quality.

A simple question: is the version of DVD Flick on Videohelp the current one?
That is the one I downloaded. I have not made avi to DVD media for some time. Last time was with the Nero Suite.
I got my Two part avi (acts one and two) onto DVD Flick fine but the guide mentioned a slight out of sync problem with video and audio. I noticed this on my quick sample just to see how it worked. I missed a lot of the steps for making menus. It seems I jumped to encode much too soon.

I will look at AVStoDVD as well.

[Baldrick]

A simple question: is the version of DVD Flick on Videohelp the current one?

I have both versions. The latest beta link is the unofficial version 2 on www.videohelp.com/tools/dvd-flick

[loninappleton]

Ok, thanks. I have no idea if the latest is even needed.
Perhaps the other AVStoDVD would not give the sync error.

In setting up either of them, can GSpot or Media Info aid in getting the audio straight? I read the manual top to bottom for Flick but pretty quickly. Flick has settings but is fairly brief in describing any of them. And the Flick forum seems to be down. I checked for it two days.

[loninappleton]

@Baldrick

I have found the guide you made for AVStoDVD and will print it out for machine side use.

For others interested, it is here:



https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/353284-AVStoDVD-beginners-guide-Any-video-to-DVD-Video

[loninappleton]

After a few days I have some experience with AVStoDVD and find it the best to use that I have seen for making a DVD from one or more avi files.

The menu building is not difficult and with the extras provided at Sourceforge, some very handsome title screens are available.

I did run into one error which reads (at one of the DOS screens):

" ERROR, Large source mismatch in Pass 2 starting at frame 0 count 1 frames"

In this DVD- making operation I noticed what appears to be an audio out of sync problem.

This could be from dropped frames as discussed in another thread of mine on the problem. I am using the technique in that thread to redo the original source material-- starting over. In this process I am not using Virtual Dub to
split the large media file-- I am using DVD Shrink in it's reauthor and edit function where I can do the split numerically with more precision. It fixed the problem on a previous job.



Thanks to Baldrick for suggesting AVStoDVD as an alternative. It has everything for making goodlinkg DVD reauthoring jobs.

Elsewhere there was one final question posed at Baldrick's guide site: that of the ability to make chapters. I will put that in the AVStoDVD guide thread.