Is the AUDIO_TS folder required?

[DVantrease]

Is the AUDIO_TS folder needed or not when making DVD-R movie backups? I wasn't clear, because I've seen some posts say it is required in order to be 100% compliant to the DVD standard, yet I just made my first backup with Pinnacle InstantCopy and although it plays fine on my standalone player, I noticed it did not include the AUDIO_TS folder. I'm GUESSING that it is required to be 100% compliant but some players (like my Apex) are more forgiving then others might be, but thats just a guess. If this is the case, I'll end up manually adding it, for my friends benefit, unless there's a way I can set InstantCopy to include it.

[roach76]

Putting an empty folder on the disc takes up pretty much sweet $%*^ all space on the disc. It is a very very small price to pay to keep the disc within the standard

[viperjay9]

for best results i have found just stick AUDIO_TS in and my dvd has been great

[DVantrease]

Ok, that's what I thought. The only thing was, I'm using InstantCopy and it doesn't make that folder. Instead of burning directly to DVD-R, I can make an image, but it's in a custom 'PDI' format. The only workaround I've done so far is make the pdi image, run pdi2iso to convert to iso, use Daemon to load that image into Nero, manually add the AUDIO_TS folder, then burn. Alot of steps to go thru, so was wondering if it was needed.

I'll look at InstantCopy closer to see if I can get it to create the folder.

Thanks!

[DVantrease]

Does anyone know if any of the 'Profiles' in InstantCopy will create the AUDIO_TS folder? I've tried DVD-R but that didn't do it.

[Earthbulb]

What you have is a stupid company (Pinnacle) who makes things hard for people... And ultimately it backfires and you get ripped off!

It took them at least 2 years before they wrote VfW support into their drivers to allow owners of their DV500 capture/editing card to be able to use Tmpgenc (any most other generic video software) with native DV500 codec files ????? Thats not some cheap $50 card either..... Why because they figure crippling the functionality makes you buy more of their stuff!!!!

They are D I C K S no other explanation!

[q1aqza]

It isn't required for Video DVDs and works fine without, although like most people I still can't bring myself to stop creating one anyway.

[SLK001]

It isn't required for Video DVDs and works fine without, although like most people I still can't bring myself to stop creating one anyway.

What's a Video DVD? There's no such thing. DVD stands for "Digital Versatile Disk" and they are created in a very specific file structure, of which AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS directories are required . This was so that players could be created as simple and cheap "dumb" data retrievers. If you look at the structure of a DVD, you will see that the files are in a specific order on the disk - another requirement of the spec (and needed for the "dumb" players).

However, player manufacturers found it easier to use use a little "smarts" in their players - and, they also needed to put CD reading capability in their machines to be competitive (DVD and CD require different read lasers).

Some players are more forgiving that others. Some will read lower case file names, some will not (the spec calls for ISO9660 naming convention, which includes only caps and the old 8-3 DOS file names). I always encourage people to remain complient to the spec, because it is so easy to do - plus, they won't suffer the grief of running into that one machine that insists on playing only complient disks.

[DVantrease]

Ok I MAY have found the answer... I was playing around with a test clip, and instead of using the 'DVD-R' profile like I was, I tried the 'Standard' profile. This time, I got both the VIDEO_TS and the AUDIO_TS folders. I'm trying again with a whole DVD to confirm, so I will know in a few hours!

[q1aqza]

It isn't required for Video DVDs and works fine without, although like most people I still can't bring myself to stop creating one anyway.

What's a Video DVD? There's no such thing. .

It was a typo, I meant to say VIDEO ONLY DVD i.e. not a Music DVD that would use the AUDIO_TS folder.

Thats my understanding anyway.

[Bob W]

I have made several hundred DVD recordings all without any Audio_TS folder and they all work just fine in the three different DVD players I have at home.

[Useless]

I've notice that a lot of DVD movies now don't have the AUDIO_TS folder in it. For example Dark Abgel season 1 box set doesn't include it, and when it plays "DVD-Video" comes up.

If the original doesn't have the folder, then it's not required.

[drewson99]

digital versatile disc. not disk. if we are getting anal, by all means, go all the way.

[kitty]

digital versatile disc. not disk. if we are getting anal, by all means, go all the way.

To be anal - it does not stand for any acronym. DVD is DVD. It was Digital Video Disc, then maybe briefly Digital Versatile Disc but the DVD Forum now says all uses of DVD just makes it DVD. See the glossary.

[viperjay9]

ok we have been anal and i think we have established that we do not need the AUDIO_TS folder...

[IvIark]

If the original doesn't have the folder, then it's not required.

Oh but it IS required if you want a fully compliant dvd. Whether your machine needs it or not, the fact remains that some players have to have the AUDIO_TS folder in order for the disc to play so it's incredibly sloppy of the manufacturers to omit it from the final production. I also have a number of DVDs that have no AUDIO_TS folder but one of my friends players won't play them. I think that probably all players now are more forgiving and won't need the folder, but newly produced discs should be backwardly compatible because the same isn't true for some older machines.

Like someone said earlier, considering it takes up zero disk space and takes 15 seconds to do, everyone should do it.

One thing though. With IC7, if you rip the entire disc in ISO read mode with DVD Decrypter and load the ISO into IC7. Underneath the list of video title sets you'll see a tick box to include the AUDIO_TS folder.

[drewson99]

heh heh

anal kitty...

[Doggiedaddy]

My understand is approximately 5 to 10% of all DVD Players sold world wide require a AUDIO_TS folder to read disc and play without error[when archived ]. If you own one of these players you need this above mentioned folder [or you like making coasters]. I also believe this only applies to the archive copying systems and the big boys in Hollywood have a work around. I have not as of yet been able to put my finger on what it is.

Dd