Burning DVD problem

Scoota · Post by **Scoota** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:26 am

I am trying to burn a DVD and at the very last step I get an error. What does not make sense to a beginner like me is that the very last window which is "Disc Burner" has
Label - Correct (adjustable)
Drive - Correct
Copies - Correct (adjustable)
Disc Type - CD??

When I put in a DVD disc an error appears saying "The disc is empty or there is no disc in the device" etc. How do I change the disc type????

I'm sure I have missed something basic but what is it?????

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:52 pm

What version are you using?

VS10+, in the lower left there is a drop-down menu. It probably says SVCD or VCD. Press the menu and you get other options, such as DVD.

VS11+ when you selected Create Disk, you are presented with the various options such as DVD, VCD, SVCD, and so on. If you choose VCD or SVCD both are CD not DVD options, you can not change that in the Burn module. You need to close the burn module and start over, and select DVD.

Scoota · Post by **Scoota** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:20 pm

I am using version VideoStudio 10 plus.

In the drop down menu I had already selected DVD 4.7G which eventually generates the error mentioned before. To clarify a bit more I can burn to CD-R (this does not work in the DVD machine but does work via the computer) but it is when I put in a blank DVD to burn onto that the error occurs saying "The disc is empty or there is no disc in the device" etc.

Any help would be appreciated..........

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:24 pm

Sounds like you may be using DVD blanks which are too fast for the burner. Try downloading the latest firmware for your burner.

Scoota · Post by **Scoota** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:37 pm

The terms "DVD Blanks" and "downloading the latest firmware for your burner" don't mean anything to a novice like myself, please explain.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:05 pm

Scoota wrote:The terms "DVD Blanks" and "downloading the latest firmware for your burner" don't mean anything to a novice like myself, please explain.

Just to make sure -- do you have a DVD Burner? What is the make/model?

The DVD Blanks are the discs you are putting into the drive

The firmware is something you can download from the manufacturer (or 3rd party) support site -- firmware on your DVD Burner might be outdated -- web search on firmware upgrade for "insert your burner make/model here"

Regards,
George

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:59 pm

From the symptoms you describe, it does sound to me like you might have a CD burner, and not a DVD burner.

If that's the case, it's not too big of a deal, since you can buy a good DVD burner online for about $35 and they're easy to fit.

Incidentally, you can burn a short DVD project to CD, which can play back in a set top or standalone DVD player. It's not that useful, since the maximum duration is around 10 minutes at normal quality settings.

Scoota · Post by **Scoota** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:25 pm

On the front of the burner it has "DVD R/RW" and also "RW DVD & ReWriteable"

Via device manager, under DVD/CD - ROM Drive, it lists "optorite DVD RW DD0405"

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:55 pm

Bang goes my CD burner only theory then!

Your Optorite is a dual format burner - i.e. it should write to both DVD+R and DVD-R media, in addition to rewritable DVD+RW and DVD-RW media. The maximum write speed is 8x. Reviews I have read show it to give reasonable, though not exceptional results.

The latest firmware appears to be 160E, and you might check to see what firmware you have in yours. An easy way to check this is to open the freeware CD-DVD speed program (that also comes as part of the Nero "toolkit") and see what appears in the centre window. You might see something such as OPTORITE DVD RW DD0405 150E. That would mean you had version 150E firmware installed.

Later versions of DVD burner firmware usually add support for more recent blank DVD media types, or address problems writing to some existing media.

Latest 0405 firmware 160E

It's important to find blank DVD media that works well with your particular burner. Unfortunately, buying blank DVD discs can be a bit of a lottery, and there is a lot of mediocre blank media out there.

Can you successfully burn DVD's using other programs - e.g. such as Nero?

Scoota · Post by **Scoota** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:56 am

I followeed your instructions via Nero toolkit, my burner is "optorite DVD RW DD0405 V160E" the only slight difference is the "V" prior to "160E".

In respect to burning other DVD's I have not burnt any, VideoStudio is the first program I have ever got serious about.

The DVD disc's I am using are TDK DVD-R (for data/video) 4.7GB 1-16x

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:20 pm

What sort of video files are you using?

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:23 pm

If the writer is 8 x max and the blank is 16 x max, then the answer is obvious. Check whether the makers have an update firmfare to 16 x.

Scoota · Post by **Scoota** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:54 pm

Video file used, ".VSP"

I also changed the burning speed back to 8x and still the same result!! Not sure of Devils comment on "update firmfare to 16 x"

I also purchased a Sony DVD-R in place of the TDK and put it in at the last stage in the burning process, still has "Disc type" as "Empty" (this is in red text, as is "Required/Available disc space" further below this)

Also whilst I am clutching a straws, what "recording format" should I be using? I have selected "DVD-Video" is that correct? Other options being "DVD-Video (fast re-editable)" or "DVD+R"

Post by **Ron P.** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:18 pm

Video file used, ".VSP"

That's not a video file, it's your project file. So we know your workflow now. From the editor you're going directly to the burn module (Share>Create Disc) before creating a video file (Share>Create Video File). However that should have nothing to do with your burner not being able to read or use your DVD blanks.

Are you able to view DVD's on your system? If you have any DVD's commercial or otherwise try putting one in the DVD tray and see if it will play. This will at least tell if the DVD is at least being recognized to that extent.

What Devil means is just checking for the latest firmware, which is the same as 2Dogs suggested.

Some burners will not accept the -R but will accept the +R. I know my burner will not use the -R DVD blanks. I have several DVD -RW blanks that produce the same message as you are getting. So if you can get some DVD-+R blanks try those and see if your burner will accept them.

Yes DVD-Video is what you should be using..

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:02 pm

Scoota wrote:I followed your instructions via Nero toolkit, my burner is "optorite DVD RW DD0405 V160E" the only slight difference is the "V" prior to "160E".

In respect to burning other DVD's I have not burnt any, VideoStudio is the first program I have ever got serious about.

The DVD disc's I am using are TDK DVD-R (for data/video) 4.7GB 1-16x

Hi Scoota, it looks like you have the latest firmware then, so we should be able to rule out that as a cause of your problems. I have to disagree with Devil - an 8x burner cannot be "upgraded" to burn at 16x, if that's what he meant. The 160E firmware should include burn strategies for most if not all currently available 16x discs. You will simply be limited to burning discs at 8x maximum.

I've had mixed results with TDK discs. Since you managed to run CD-DVD Speed, you might check the "disc info" tab with one of the TDK's in the drive. If the package label shows "Made in India" and CD-DVD speed shows a media code of MBI 01RG40, I wouldn't expect too much!

In fact since it appears that you have Nero on your pc, you should try burning a disc with it first, just to confirm that the burner is working. If you can't find any data to backup, then perhaps you should output your VS project to DVD folders, or even to an ISO file. Then you can burn the DVD folders or the ISO file to a disc using Nero.

My preference would be to burn an ISO file to a disc using CD-DVD Speed, from the "create disc" tab. If you choose to do this, check the "burn image" box and select the ISO file from the drop down box that appears. As it burns the ISO file to the disc, it gives you a graph of the burn speed. This can show you if your burner is having trouble burning to the disc, if the burn speed drops off or flucuates wildly.

Also check to see if you have any "packet writing" software - such as Nero InCD. This allows you to drag files onto the DVD drive letter in explorer as an easy way of burning discs. Some people like to do this. The problem is, however, that the program "takes over" the drive, and prevents other programs, such as VS for example, from accessing it. You will need to uninstall Nero InCD, which you can do from the Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.