Burns Successfully but Won't Play on ANY Stand-Alone Player

[bills204]

I have NEVER been able to play a burned video on any DVD player after creating a DVD video using MovieFactory 2.5 SE. I have tried to play a disk on four different DVD players, to no avail.

Here are some particulars.

Blank Disc: Memorex DVD-R (4x)
PC: Pentium 4 2.4Ghz, 1 gig RAM

I recorded the video using a Panasonic VDR-M30. Files are
MPEG-2 Video, Field B
24 Bits, 704 x 480
29.970 frames/sec
Variable bit rate (Max 8800kps)
Audio: MPEG Audio Layer 2 Files
4800 hz, 16 bit, Stereo, 256 kbps

I followed the Jerry Jones tutorial on MF 2.0 to the letter. I added only 4 or 5 clips to the project. I made sure that all the attributes for the project matched the attributes of the MPEG files I added to the project. Followed all the steps and burned the discs with menus and without menus. The burn process runs without fail.

However, NOTHING plays on any standalone DVD player we have (four of them!).

The players make a high pitched whirling sound as if they are trying to read the disc, but nothing plays at all. Never see any video.

I can play the video off the burned DVD on Windows Media Player and my Creative MediaSource player. When I try to play them with NERO's Showtime 2 (version 2.0.0.18), the menu shows up, but when I click on one of the menu options, the video begins to play only for a split second, and then stops, returning Showtime to a black screen.

One thing I did notice. When configuring the MPEG settings, I change the project frame size to 704 x 480 to match my video files. Then, I click the Advanced button, and on the Basic Settings Tab , under the Settings Summary, there is a line in light orange color which reads:

"Warning: V127:Invalid video horizontal size(704)/display horizontal size(704) combination for DVD, display size should be 720 or 540."

Don't know if this has anything to do with it.

What am I missing? It's frustrating to play the video on my PC, only to find that I cannot play it at all on a standalone player.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Norm

[thecoalman]

DVD have to meet spec you can't change the resolution of the project. Best thing to do is capture them in spec.

http://www.videohelp.com/dvd Scroll down about 2/3's of the page for NTSC specs.

Edit: hmmmmmmm 704 is valid.... what happens if you use 720?, try a short test.

You could also try some of my tips here: http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=253102

See#2

[Jerry Jones]

Norm,

My steps work for me.

Is it possible your four DVD players are not SPECIFICALLY RATED to play consumer DVD-R discs?

Many older DVD player models are NOT designed to read CONSUMER discs.

Instead, they are limited to DVD-FOR-AUTHORING discs, which can only be burned on $4,000+ burners such as the Pioneer S201.

Consumer discs are DVD-FOR-GENERAL discs.

Many older DVD player models won't read them.

Have you checked the manuals for your DVD players?

Please check your manuals.

Regards,

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Jerry Jones]

By the way, the 704 frame size is valid, in spite of that message.

Ignore that message.

It has nothing to do with your issue.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[GeorgeW]

Check here for your DVD Players (make/model) -- see what others have reported regarding the home made stuff:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

Jerry, haven't seen you in ages! Welcome to the forum

[bills204]

I even tried to use my VideoStudio 7.0 program to burn a video and the EXACT SAME THING happens.

I follow all the proper steps, execute the burning step, and everything completes normally.

Some hints at possibilities:

When I attempt to play the burned disc using NERO Showtime 2, it appears as if the video is going to begin playing, and then it just doesn't. It returns to the default NERO screen.

When I play the burned disc using Windows Media Player, it plays fine.

When I use Windows Explorer to view the files on the disc, there are two BUP files (32kb each) and two IFO files (32kb each). And, of course, one .vob file.

When I attempt to play the burned disc on FOUR different DVD players, the disc just spins and does not play.

To all: I think I have done everything RIGHT. Took care of all the available downloads at Ulead and at Plextor (my burner).

When regular (commercial) DVDs are played, all players, including NERO, work fine.

Don't know if all this will help...just laying out what I am seeing.

Thanks for your continued support everyone!

Norm

[GeorgeW]

when you use windows explorer to view your burned DVD, do you see a VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folder, or do you see the *.bup/*.ifo/*.vob files immediately?

How much space does your video take up on the disc, and how long is the video in minutes?

What are your project properties (mpeg-1 or mpeg-2, resolution, bitrate, audio type/bitrate)?

[bills204]

When viewing from Explorer, the Audio_TS and Video_TS files are present. When I double-click on the Video_TS folder, I see the .bup, .iso, and .vob files.

Video is only a test video, about 2 and a half minutes.
.vob file is only 159,904 kb.

The project properties are exactly the same as the actual mpeg video files I added to the project. You can see them at the very top of this post.

Norman

[GeorgeW]

When viewing from Explorer, the Audio_TS and Video_TS files are present. When I double-click on the Video_TS folder, I see the .bup, .iso, and .vob files.

Video is only a test video, about 2 and a half minutes.
.vob file is only 159,904 kb.

The project properties are exactly the same as the actual mpeg video files I added to the project. You can see them at the very top of this post.

Norman

Did you notice if the disc was "finalized"? The problem might be that your total burn was less than 1gb -- and that the "finalize" step would continue burning (dummy stuff) until at least 1gb was burned to your disc. Some machines won't recognize a DVD unless this process is performed.

[bills204]

I will attempt to burn a 1 gig file to disc and give you the play by play when I finish.

Stay tuned...

[bills204]

Here is what happened:

Created a 1.1GB (17 min, 45 sec) project.

The video burn steps were as follows:

Video/Audio Multiplexing
Finalizing VOB
Recording DVD: Writing at 4x (5540 kb/s)
Fixating DVD

Then the tray popped out.

I selected "Continue."

The tray closed.

NERO tried to play it. This time, I saw a quick flash of the video attempting to play, and then NERO stops playing it (as before).

Once again, my DVD players spin the disc but they cannot play it.

Norman

[GeorgeW]

ok, so the fixating step is running -- that's good.

Did you look at that link for to check your DVD Players?

Do you have the MovieFactory 3.0 Disc Creator version? If so, then it comes with a software DVD Player (the Ulead Player). Use that to try and play your DVD.

If you don't have the Ulead DVD Player, try downloading the PowerDVD Trial to playback your DVD.

What are the make/model numbers for your DVD Players?

It could just be a bad batch of DVD-R discs???

when you explore the new DVD-R, do you see the actual 1.1gb of files burned to disc?

[bills204]

Ball is back in my court.

It would appear that the software is running fine. At least everything appears to be running correctly. I have all the recommended downloads, updates...you name it.

So, as recommended by George W, I am going to do different media next time around. I went to the Plextor website (I have a PX-708A) and found that Memorex DVDs are not mentioned whatsoever as a compatible media for the burner I have. The cut-sheet also recommended several other vendors, and, again, nowhere could one find Memorex as a good option.

So, again folks, stay tuned. The saga continues. Once I get my hands on some RECOMMENDED media, I'll give it another go and report back post-haste!

Thanks again for replying and helping!

Norm.

[bills204]

Well, if you followed the entire post, you know I did EVERYTHING possible to get a darn blank DVD-R to burn successfully using MovieFactory 2.5 SE. Nothing worked, even after several good replies from others.

The turning point came when I looked for compatibility issues on the Plextor web site. The site did not indicate Memorex as a good disk to use. How right they were.

Just today, I picked up some Philips DVD-R disks, just to try another brand. I did not remember if the Plextor web site said Philips were okay or not, but I got them anyway just to test it.

Guess what? I have finally burned a successful project that plays on any DVD player I put the disk into!!!

I am a little sheepish that after all the pain and suffering, it was simply an issue of getting the right brand. But I thank those who posted responses, and particularly Jerry Jones for taking time to walk me through some options... all posted here ... and especially for his tutorials.

Thanks to all!

Norm

[maddrummer3301]

Hi,

I myself have never had any luck with Memorex media.
Next time your in a consumer store look at the supported media types
on the side of the dvd-burner(s) in the store.
Look at a Memorex burner and see if they list their own media.

Just a note with the Ulead product:
Sometimes when you import a video from a dvd the video has a "X" in the
upper right corner. The "X" means that Ulead doesn't consider it a compliant
dvd(Mpg2) file and will re-render it to the settings of the "Project Properties".

If you extracted the video from a dvd recorder or a good dvd-video the
file should be compliant.
Note the location of the file on the hard drive. Then delete the file from the
timeline and re-import the file back into the timeline. The "X" will disappear
and Ulead will not re-render the file (Providing you have "Do Not Convert
Compliant Dvd/Mpg2 files checked) under settings (Gear Icon).

Hope this helps,

MD