Create DVD Folders?

[astrovideo]

Do I need to check "Create DVD Folders" in order for the resulting disk to play on a computer using DVD software? Also, what is the reason for saving these folders on my hard drive?

Thank you.

[DB83]

In one word. Yes.

A software player can read the files included in the folders direct and the files will behave just as if they were written to disk.

I always 'create dvd folders' and un-tick 'burn'. Why ? You can fully test your dvd before commiting it to disk.

[GeorgeW]

Do I need to check "Create DVD Folders" in order for the resulting disk to play on a computer using DVD software? Also, what is the reason for saving these folders on my hard drive?

Thank you.

You don't have to if you want to play from the burned disc.

Some folks burn to DVD Folders to check how the DVD will look/play using DVD-Playing software (Before burning to disc). They then use external burning software to actually burn the DVD Folders to disc (I think VS should have that ability like versions of MovieFactory and DVD Workshop can burn DVD Folders to disc).

In VS, you can burn the *.ISO Image file, and then use its utility that will burn the ISO Image to disc -- so that's one way of burning to disc first, testing the structure, and then burning to actual DVD Disc.

There are tools to mount an IMAGE file (*.ISO), but those might cause problems in your setup (ymmv). So you can create the DVD Folders, and the DVD IMAGE file (needs double the space, and then some for temp files). And that gives you the ability to test/verify your DVD before burning to disc...

Regards,
George

[astrovideo]

How will the folders help someone else play the disk on their computer, since the folders reside on MY hard drive?

[GeorgeW]

How will the folders help someone else play the disk on their computer, since the folders reside on MY hard drive?

They won't -- for distribution you usually burn to disc...

NOTE: you could give a thumbdrive to a friend with the DVD Folders on it -- but they would need to play it from a device that can read the thumbdrive.

Regards,
George

[BrianCee]

In one word. Yes.

In a better word - NO

You do not have to create folders if you don't want to - it helps nobody else but you.

Creating folders has two advantages

1 - it does allow you to create further DVDs if you want to by simply copying the DVD folders to a blank disc - so you can create as many copies of your DVD as you like without a lot more rendering. Although I personnally prefer to use the .iso file method if I intend to burn further discs.

2 - if you have a software DVD player on your PC it allows you to play those DVD folders as if they were a DVD - so you can watch your video on your PC without putting a disc in

[astrovideo]

Oh, okay. I was under the impression that the "DVD Folders" were necessary for playing the DISK on computer. The reason I thought so is because my VS disks play fine on my television/DVD player, but are jerky/jumpy when I play them on computer. I wonder why then.

[DVDDoug]

Just to clarify - The DVD Folders will always be created on the DVD when you make a video DVD). If you look at the DVD with Windows Explorer you will see an (empty) AUDIO_TS folder and a VIDEO_TS folder. A commercial DVD will be the same.

The Create DVD Folders option writes those folders to the hard drive.

...but are jerky/jumpy when I play them on computer. I wonder why then.

That's a bit strange... Usually it's the other way 'round. But we all have different problems. That's what makes digital video so... challenging... Do commercial DVDs play OK on your computer? Have you tried the "bad" DVD on another computer?

There are a couple of things you can try:

- Burn at a slow speed (4X). This gives you a "cleaner" burn. At high burn-speeds, the spots burned onto the disc can be "blurry" (You can only see that with an electron microscope).

- Keep you bitrate to around 7000kbps or less. Some players have trouble with bigh-bitrate "burned" DVDs.

- You can try a different brand or batch of DVDs, but I don't really expect that to help, because if your burner can burn it, it should be able to play it.

[DB83]

Don't you hate it when you can read a question in more than one way.

But, like many here, I do use other software to actually burn the final disk as I was finding problems with the ulead burner. And it does not IIRC have a 'verify' facility to practically ensure that you have a good burn.