VS 9 ISO File Size for Double Layer Disc

[tribe23]

I recently bought a double-layer DVD burner and attempted to burn a DVD of a 2 hour home movie in Ulead VideoStudio 9, but have been unable to do so. I can burn it if I shrink the compression, but I don't want to lose quality - which is why I got the double layer burner in the first place. I know it's an older program, but I didn't think I would have so many problems trying to the double-layer disc to work. I have downloaded the upgrade patch for dual-layer burning from the web, but it still hasn't worked. When I burned just the image file (.iso) and tried to use another program to burn the disc, I noticed that it didn't finish saving the entire movie - it stopped when the file size reached 4.2 GB - which is right at the max for a single layer disc. How can I change the settings so the .iso image file will continue working/saving past the 4.2 GB since I can get close to 8 GB on a double layer disc? I'm missing about the last 10 minutes of my video - I need around 5.0 GB for the full movie.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

You mention Iso, Have you created an Iso file of your video.?

Are you using the DVD VCD Disc Image Recorder provided with VS 9.
Computer Start menu VS 9

Or are you using VS9 Share Create Disc.

If so then go to the icon Lower Left—Settings and Options (Alt+G)
Select the correct DVD disc size 8.5

[tribe23]

I've tried the Share/Create Disc option and I changed the disc size to 8.5. It shows there is plenty of room on the disc (barely into the second layer), but it won't save an .iso file larger than 4 GB??? Is there some other setting that ULead has built in that limits the size of the .iso files it can create?

[BrianCee]

Can I ask why are you playing around with an ISO file anyrate - to me they are just a nuisance - either burn direct from your mpeg to DVD using the burning module in VS9 - or uncheck the burn disc option and check 'create DVD folders' and make folders which you then simply copy to as many DVDs as you want.

I decided a long time ago that ISO files were not worth doing, one other advantage with just making folders is that you can use any software DVD player you have (ie WinDVD) and 'play' the folders first to check all is well before you burn a disc.

[tribe23]

I was only trying the iso files because I never could get the disc to burn straight from Ulead so I was trying other options. I did save the DVD folders as well, and I checked all of them - there are 5 different ones saved - (VTS_01_1.VOB - VTS_01_5.VOB) - the first 4 all are exactly 1,000,000 KB in size and the last one is only 190,000 - and the last one is where the video is cutting out. It only has a few minutes of footage and cuts off the final 10 minutes of the video. I can't figure out why it is stopping at 4.2 GB.

[DVDDoug]

Also, have you tried making a single MPEG-2 file? Have you tried using a little more compression to fit onto a single-layer? Maybe it's a coincidence that it's failing at ~4.2 GB... Maybe there's something else wrong at that point in the video and it's got nothing to do with dual-layer???

The layer-break has to occur at a chapter-start. I assume Video Studio will add a chapter where needed, but if you don't have a chapter somewhere in the 2nd half of the video, you can try adding one...

BTW - Personally, I try to avoid dual-layer discs if possible. With dual-layer discs, I've had more trouble with "bad burns", and some DVD players have trouble playing "burned" dual-layer discs.

[tribe23]

I played with this some more and found out that no matter what compression I put the MPEG file at, it stops saving the file once it hits 4 GB - is this a ULead default setting or a setting on my hard drive that is not allowing any files greater than 4GB in size to be saved? Obviously this is what's causing the output errors on the burn since it's not even saving the entire movie as a single MPEG file. If I can get a larger MPEG file saved I would think that would fix the problem. Thanks everyone for the help - I've been working with VS9 for a number of years but have never tried to save a file this large before so I've never run across this 4GB limit issue.

[Ron P.]

Could you please complete your System Specs information in the User Control Panel>Profile? There's a guide as to what information we generally need to help with problems. Please Read this First before Posting, sticky at the top of this forum.

A Fat32 formated HDD will place a size limit on files, where, NTSF does not. The Fat32 file size limit is 4gig minus 1 bite.. So I think that may be what's causing this.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ron

I think you may be correct…………
I don’t think many use Fat 32 nowadays but we had another user with a similar problem a week or so ago.

[BrianCee]

I was only trying the iso files because I never could get the disc to burn straight from Ulead so I was trying other options. I did save the DVD folders as well, and I checked all of them - there are 5 different ones saved - (VTS_01_1.VOB - VTS_01_5.VOB) - the first 4 all are exactly 1,000,000 KB in size and the last one is only 190,000 - and the last one is where the video is cutting out. It only has a few minutes of footage and cuts off the final 10 minutes of the video. I can't figure out why it is stopping at 4.2 GB.

Right first let me say you should check out Rons suggestion that your system maybe FAT32 formatted - so few people have that these days but it fits the problem you are having.

Then let me explain about the DVD folders - what you should copy to you DVD is the whole of the Video_TS folder - the contents you have described is the standard format for DVDs to play on commercial players - every Video_TS folder you open will have exactly that content - a number of files all at 1,000,000KB (depending on how long the video is) and an odd one to complete the full content - all the files will be names exactly as you have listed them above - it's the standard , so be careful you don't mix your Video_TS files up because they are all EXACTLY the same inside. The DVD specification also calls for an Audio_TS folder on the disc but it has never been used although some software programmes still write it - it is empty - I never even bother to put one on my DVDs and never have problems.

[tribe23]

I checked my drives - I have all of my software, etc. on C: drive - which is showing as NTFS. But I do all of my videostudio work on an external hard drive (as to not take up space on my C: drive) and the external drive I'm using is showing as FAT32.

[skier-hughes]

I would save this to your system drive and finish the project.
Check your external drive for any items that must be saved in case of problems and move them to system drive.
Convert external drive from fat32 to ntfs, make sure you read article in full
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm
move back saved files and get on with editing.

[Trevor Andrew]

I checked my drives - I have all of my software, etc. on C: drive - which is showing as NTFS. But I do all of my videostudio work on an external hard drive (as to not take up space on my C: drive) and the external drive I'm using is showing as FAT32.

Hi

That’s exactly the same problem as the other poster I mentioned earlier.

Maybe external hard drives are formatted as Fat 32. I have a Western Digital Net Center, I cannot find any details regarding Fat32 or NTFS.

I have not used it for large video files so have not had a problem.

[Ron P.]

I have 2 external HDDs, both Western Digital, and both came formatted as Fat32. First thing I done was to reformat them as NTSF.

Trevor,
To find out how its formatted, just bring up Disc Management, right-click on My Computer>Manage>Disc Management in the left pane.

[Trevor Andrew]

Cheers Ron

Unfortunately the external drive is connected through a “network” so doesn’t show in my Disc Management.

As I say its not a problem as I don’t use large files, but it would be nice to confirm.
And yes I have accessed the Netcenter and still cannot find details of Fat32