Problems with DVD Copy Plus 4.0

[MrBill]

I just bought DVD Copy Plus so that I could make myself a CD-R safety of a DVD my cousin made and sent me. Having tried to make a simple copy for the past 24 hours, I am at my wits end. I have the following problems:

1) The sound cuts out and the copy of this 1:13 second DVD ends ahead of time, despite saying it has converted the full 1:13 to mpeg.

2) Or, I remove the "Force 24Hz" checkmark and the audio falls behind the video and the mpeg conversion gets terminated by an error telling me "Too Much Samples" and to change my frame rate or the Detect/Force 24Hz.

I've made every adjustment variation I can think of or see, but these remain my problems.

Does anyone else use this software by 321 Studio? Do you have these problems, or what may I be doing wrong?

The software tutorial tells me it will divide it into 2 MPEG files if it is of a regular movie length. It also gives me an option of choosing the max output to harddrive, 74 min or 80 min CD. I have it selected for the 80, and it is apparently doing the full 1:13.

Unfortunately their Live Chat Support and Toll Line Phone Support are manned while I'm at work.

Thanks.

[musher70]

YOU BOUGHT IT???? you must be kidding....they just
bundled freeware available here, how much you pay?

[MrBill]

Yeah, I saw that. It cost just over $40. A good deal if it does what I've been trying to get it to do. I have already begun a download of the free DVD2SVCD software, with my mind also set on trying out Easy VCD 1.12 (and making a suggested PayPal contribution if it works easier).

I have no problem with paying people for their work. I certainly don't work for free, and I understand what making a living is all about.

But whereas I am grateful for the free downloads here, I hope someone can help me with DVD Copy Plus 4.0.

Thanks again.

[0 kewl]

MrBill,

The products from 321 Studios have been discussed a lot in our forums in the past, just run a search for 321 Studios to find out what exactly you are dealing with. The fact remains that these people have and still do offer freeware (that can be freely downloaded at any time) for money defending themselves with the fact that they are providing a "support" for "their software". Therefore it is highly unlikely you will find ANY advice here when having problems with above mentioned software. This site is providing links to freeware and excellent guides for free just to make sure knowledge is available to everyone who is not too lazy to search for it. I would advise you to contact 321 Studios "support" line to sort out your problems - otherwise the fact they are charging money for freeware can't be justified (if it ever could).


Regards.

[MrBill]

Thanks, 0 Kewl. I did do a search for "DVD Copy Plus 4.0" before my post, then posted after it came back no results.

If I don't have a solution before Monday, I will ask their support. But I hope to do this over the weekend.

Yes, I see SmartRipper, one of their compenents, is FreeWare, but don't they also deserve some support for their own work ---> and the big fact they have taken the movie studios to court to protect DVD copying from being squashed?

[0 kewl]

Thanks, 0 Kewl. I did do a search for "DVD Copy Plus 4.0" before my post, then posted after it came back no results.

Yes, I see SmartRipper, one of their compenents, is FreeWare, but don't they also deserve some support for their own work ---> and the big fact they have taken the movie studios to court to protect DVD copying from being squashed?

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121117&highlight=321
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=119858&highlight=321
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=119057&highlight=321
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88142&highlight=321

MrBill,

I think reading these threads (above, especially the last one) will give you a fair idea of WHY they don't deserve support (my opinion) for their OWN work - think of the long hours a software designer has put in making a product that is made freely available to everyone (and specifically states in the agreement that it shouldn't be charged for) just to see some company making a "wrapper" for it and selling as their own product....And don't be so sure that the reason 321 Studios are protecting DVD copying is to help out others.

Regards.

[MrBill]

Thanks, O Kewl. I already found this thread, and more importantly, the "321 Copy Plus? pls read" thread. Now I see why their new 4.2 version features different software that does seem to add more value.

But, tell me then, which would you guys recommend between DVD2SVCD, which I just downloaded, and Easy VCD 1.12, which I've just begun downloading?

[MrBill]

MAJOR HUH??? Ok, so for DVD2SVCD it says "All programs needed are included in the installation except Cinema Craft Encoder and TMPGEnc." AND THE LINK TO THE CINEMA CRAFT ENCODER says it costs $1.950! What am I missing here, besides a chuckle or two?

[MrBill]

Ok, so I found the "Lite" version of the DVD2SVCD-necessary (?) Cinema Craft Encoder is only $250. Whew, what a relief. And to think 321 Studio charges almost a fifth of that.

[0 kewl]

Use TMPGEnc:

http://www.tmpgenc.net/e_main.html

CCE is mentioned because it is faster than TMPGEnc and it creates better (but not much) quality SVCDs, while TMPGEnc is a freeware (if encoding to Mpeg 1) and creates much better VCDs. The link is also provided because you can still use the trial period to create your SVCDs, in real life, of course, not many people can afford CCE since it wasn't created to support a hobby but rather for professionals.

[0 kewl]

Ok, so I found the "Lite" version of the DVD2SVCD-necessary (?) Cinema Craft Encoder is only $250. Whew, what a relief. And to think 321 Studio charges almost a fifth of that.

321 Studios do not include CCE in their package, do they? You can't use this argument in their favour since the encoder included in their package is a freeware.

[MrBill]

Thanks again, O Kewl. So I don't need both. The links should be separated with a big "OR" then.

So, which do you like better, DVD2SVCD or Easy VCD?

[0 kewl]

I personally don't use either of them so i can't really advise in this case. I don't like to use all-in-one progs since it doesn't give me the ability to adjust the settings as much as i can using all the separate software and the invaluable guides on this site.

But i am sure you will find the answer you are looking for if you post a new thread titled DVD2SVCD or Easy VCD?.

[MrBill]

Ok, cool again, O Kewl. Guess I'll do that since I am hoping on doing this project before Monday. Then after that I hope to eventually find the time to follow in your footsteps into more critical video CD making. Thanks again.

[vitualis]

@ MrBill:

I too agree that if you enjoy using a piece of freeware, you should consider donating to the author. However, what 321studios have done with DVD Copy Plus, is to bundle a number of freeware tools together and charge people for it. They have neither gotten the original author's permission to do so, and the original authors do not benefit from YOUR payment for essentially their hard work.

In a number of cases (e.g., the inclusion of VCDEasy) it is specifically breaches the VCDEasy license agreements (read the front page of http://www.vcdeasy.org ).

My suggestion is that you badger 321 Studios for your support. That, after all, is all they are charging you for. They can't charge you for the freeware as (1) it is free and (2) they don't even have the license to distribute it.

If you are not happy with their degree of support, I suggest that you demand a full refund. After all, you can get all the programs in their package for free.

Regards.

[MrBill]

Thanks, Michael. That is pretty outrageous. Incidently, that must be why they replaced VCDEasy with CDRWIN in 4.0, and now 4.2 has a completely different bundle with PowerCDR5 ("a $60 value"), DVD Photo Pro 3.0 ("a $30 value"), and a Free DVD of your choice ("a $20 value").

[MrBill]

and a Free DVD of your choice ("a $20 value").

Oooh Nooo! Another misrepresentation. To get the "Free" DVD you have to give them the working email addresses of 5 friends for "referral" purposes.

As it is, I got my project quickly done on the first try with EazyVCD.

Thanks, everyone

[vitualis]

Oooh Nooo! Another misrepresentation. To get the "Free" DVD you have to give them the working email addresses of 5 friends for "referral" purposes.

I hope we can all see the quite abominable practices this "company" engages in. IMHO, you should avoid it like the plague.

@ MrBill: I'm glad you got everything working!

Regards.