ISO vs. DVD Folders question

[DavidGreensmith]

I am having problems with VideoStudio 10 Plus burning ISO images - it worked perfectly well in V9.

I have tried creating the DVD folders and this seems to work fine. Creating the ISO seems to die when "Finalizing the VOB" with a "can't create file".

I'm having a play around with this (because I'm pretty sure I had something similar happen with VS9 and the length of the path name) and seeing if I can build the ISO somewhere else - the ISO image name is now quite a bit longer than DISC.ISO as previous.

Anyway, whilst going through this, I realised that I don't understand what possible use the DVD folders are. Can anyone either give me a quick overview, or point me at a resource?

Thanks,

David.

(PS - ding dong from the PC tells me that the burn has completed successfully. Path name length strikes again, methinks!)

[DVDDoug]

I realised that I don't understand what possible use the DVD folders are.

That option creates the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders an d VOB files on your hard drive. This is the same result you would get if were to create a new folder, and then copy the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders from a DVD. You can play these files with your software DVD player, and you can copy these to a DVD with any DVD writing software.

I guess the main advantage of the ISO file is that it can contain other information, such as the name of the DVD. It can also contain Macrovision and CSS flags, and probably some other stuff I don't know about.

[heinz-oz]

I personally never saw the advantages of creating ISO images. I always use the DVD folder output. Firstly, I can play this with the soft DVD player on the PC, secondly, I can point DVDShrink to the folder for further processing if need be and thirdly, I can simply copy these folders to a blank DVD and be done with it.

[NoM.O]

EDIT: Heinz beat me to it.
peace.

[maddrummer3301]

.

[DavidGreensmith]

Thanks for the clarification. I found references to DVDShrink when I scanned the bulletin board before posting the above question - I take it there isn't anything in ULEAD that allows burn of DVD folders to a DVD directly?

Heinz - you said you can copy the DVD folders onto a DVD. I has always assumed that when I burned the ISO it was creating a virtual disk on the PC. I would then use Nero Image Drive to mount as a DVD and then a soft DVD player. Can the files from the DVD folders simply be copied using Windows explorer (on a windows box, of course ) and this will then work in a standard DVD player?

Regards,

David

[heinz-oz]

Yes, I just burn it as a data disk, using my Pioneer Burn it Now program that came with my burner. Never used the MS program but assume it will do it too. The ISO image requires a program with the facility to burn ISO image files.

ULEAD also has a burning program, ULEAD Burn.Now which comes with MSP and MovieFactory. VS, AFAIK, uses a scaled down version of it also.

[maddrummer3301]

.

[GeorgeW]

...secondly, I can point DVDShrink to the folder for further processing if need be

DVDShrink will also load an ISO Image...

Yes, I just burn it as a data disk, using my Pioneer Burn it Now program that came with my burner. Never used the MS program but assume it will do it too. The ISO image requires a program with the facility to burn ISO image files.

ULEAD also has a burning program, ULEAD Burn.Now which comes with MSP and MovieFactory. VS, AFAIK, uses a scaled down version of it also.

Based on the software you plan to use for burning, be careful if you are planning to just burn a Data Disc. If your burning software gives you an option of DVD-VIDEO vs. DVD-DATA, then for a video I would suggest the DVD-VIDEO option. Some software will "recognize" you are burning a VIDEO_TS, and then perhaps burn it properly. But other software will simply burn a DVD-DATA disc (when told to do so), and this could create a DVD that is not playable in a set-top dvd player (because the DVD-Video files should be written properly to disc).


@Heinz,
Out of curiosity, which version of VideoStudio are you currently running (I didn't see a version of VideoStudio in your signature along with the other software you have listed).

Regards,
George

[heinz-oz]

Well, George, that's easily explained and I frequently state that in my posts also, I do not use VS at present and haven't done so for a number of years. My very first project, around 5 years or so ago, was done in VS 5. I even forked out extra money to get the DVD plug-in for it and extra transitions. I found it too rudimentary for what I wanted and upgraded form VS5 to MSP 6.5 DirectorsCut instead. A short while later I went to MSP 7 and currently run MSP 7.3.

I read your comments to burning DVD data disks and can tell you that, at least in my case, these are unfounded. I have burned a large number of DVD's from DVD folders with my burning program and have yet to produce a dud disk. One thing I noticed though the other day, I tried to do the same on my other (internet) machine which only has NERO installed and I had to use the DVD-Video selection to get it done. Maybe I should change tack and not mention data DVD anymore. Seems to be handled differently in different burning programs.

[sjj1805]

Burning an ISO image -v- DVD Folders is a matter of personal choice.
Once created you can burn off as many copies as you wish with the appropriate software.

Personally I prefer to use the DVD Folders method because it enables me to do a final check of the finished project using a software DVD Player
Power DVD
Ulead DVD Player 2.0
WinDVD 7.0
Nero Showtime
Inter Actual DVD Player

There are several more.

Another advantage of the DVD Folder method is the ability to do further tweaking with software such as MenuEdit and PGCEdit.

[GeorgeW]

I read your comments to burning DVD data disks and can tell you that, at least in my case, these are unfounded. I have burned a large number of DVD's from DVD folders with my burning program and have yet to produce a dud disk. One thing I noticed though the other day, I tried to do the same on my other (internet) machine which only has NERO installed and I had to use the DVD-Video selection to get it done. Maybe I should change tack and not mention data DVD anymore. Seems to be handled differently in different burning programs.

Agreed that it would be a good idea for you to stop mentioning Data DVD -- because you do not know what burning software folks will be using, and suggesting that you can use DVD-DATA mode (for a DVD-VIDEO) will likely result in discs that cannot be played in a set-top dvd player...

Also agree with everyone on some of the benefits of DVD Folders in that you can play them back, edit them using DVD Utilities, etc... On the other hand, when you select to burn the ISO Image in VideoStudio (or when burning to disc), a button activates to include additional information with your DVD (such as a user-customized copyright document, and also a personal folder that can contain extra documents/files for distribution with your dvd -- keep in mind that the extra contents reduces the amount of space available on the disc for the dvd-video).

Regards,
George

[sjj1805]

You get the copyright information box and also the personal folders option by selecting the burn options button.
This is available to either method iso or folders.

Please view
Burn Options VideoStudio 10

[GeorgeW]

You get the copyright information box and also the personal folders option by selecting the burn options button.
This is available to either method iso or folders.

Please view
Burn Options VideoStudio 10

When you burn just the DVD Folders, that option is inactive. Are you saying when you later go to burn using the DVD Folders as input, you can then add them again

[sjj1805]

I just re-checked and burning only to DVD folders leaves the

greyed out.
However.... you can still include copyright information and additional files providing your DVD burning software supports this.
For example - Nero (a popular DVD burning product)