VS X4 DVD video locks up

[hellraiserfr]

I am tryig to create a DVD of some home video shots. Everytime I have VS X4 create the DVD is seems to go fine and states it was sucessful however when I put the DVD into a DVD player or even my PC it will play approx 8-10 minutes of it before the video locks up. I've burned a few disks even re-rendering the video on one with the same results. Each disk has locked in slightly different points in the video. The video is rather long at 1:14 and I'm recording it onto a DVD +R DL. The total video size is 6.71 GB. Any help would be appreciated as I am trying to get this done as a Christmas gift.

[Ken Berry]

Are you using a dual layer DVD? I ask since 6.7 GB will not of course fit on a single layer DVD which can only hold 4.3 GB. And if you used the fit to disc function, then that only really works if only a small amount of video has to be reduced e.g. 4.7 GB down to 4.3 GB but not 6.7 to 4.3... Even still, 6.7 GB seems large for a 1:14 project using the maximum bitrate of 8000 kb. So what properties did you use? That size would suggest a (much) higher bitrate e.g. close to 10,000 kbps instead of the default 8000 kbps. With the latter, a 1:14 project should almost fit on a single layer DVD using Dolby Digital audio.

Other things you could look at would be changing your blank DVDs to another brand since some DVD players don't like certain types of DVD. Either they prefer -R to + R or even the colour of the ink used causes them to stick. And I'm n ot exaggerating!!

Finally, when burning, try to use a (much) lower burning speed than the rated maximum of your disc. So If you are using, say, 16x discs, burn at 8x or even 4x if your burner will allow it. Yes, it will take longer to burn, but if it works, that is all that matters.

[hellraiserfr]

Yes, I am using a dual layer disc, also the 1:14 is a typo. The actual run-time is 1:41. I tried a different brand last night and still saw the locking video. It is always in a different spot so I have kind of ruled out the actual footage being the issue. I thought about trying to burn at a slower speed but I could not find that option in VS X4. I noticed the option to create disk in the wizard is checked by default, does unchecking that force an iso to create? I thought about trying to have VS create an iso and burn it using other software I had but I didn't see that option and I have not had a chance to look that up.

[Ken Berry]

Yes, it is worth only burning an ISO or DVD Folder (Video_TS). I do this all the time, and then use Nero to burn the actual disc(s). You should also be able to control the burning speed that way.

[hellraiserfr]

Thanks for the advice. I saved it as an .iso and created the DVD using my burning software with 100% success. I'm a little disturbed still that I needed to do it this way rather than just being able to let VS handle it all but I do like VS interface and features better than the other editors I've tried.

[Ken Berry]

Don't be put off by having to use other programs in your editing and authoring. Many of us do that without a second thought, while VS remains the central tool. Yes, VS is supposed to do everything in one package, but for a small group of users, something makes this not happen fully. As I said above, I usually use Nero to burn my DVD folders, and that was a matter of choice, not because my VS couldn't do it. My preference is also to use Bluff Titler, Xara 3D or the newly released Corel Motion Studio 3D for my titles; Sonic Fire Pro for my music; Audacity for my voice-overs; and a variety of plug-ins for filters and transitions. But that in my mind does not detract from VS. It only enhances it.