Problem with playback on disk

[dlucas]

I have created a DVD with menus with DVD Workshop 2 (latest version)Although the whole program plays as it should in the DVD Workshop preview, it will not play all the way through without stuttering and freezing after it is burned to disk. Is there something that I am missing in the burn process?

[GeorgeW]

Hi,

It could be a number of things...

1) too high a bitrate (video + audio -- try not exceeding ~7mbps)
2) burned too fast to disc (try burning at slower speeds -- instead of 8x, try 4x or 2x)
3) bad media (try different brand, even different format -R to +R etc)
4) too much space used on disc (I like to avoid filling an entire disc because the outer edges of discs could have problems)
5) don't use sticky labels (these labels have been reported as causing problems)
6) burner drivers and firmware updates needed (make sure to follow all directions if attempting to update burner firmware)

And a few others that I can't think of at the moment...

Regards,
George

[dlucas]

Thank you for the reply. I think it may be that I burned the disk at too high a rate.

[sigun]

I have had the same sort of problems with video stuttering in certain places and total crashing on some DVD players.

I have been using DL R+ with a bitrate of 7mbps

are duel layer dvd's known to be less reliable on most dvd players?

[skier-hughes]

YES.

Whereas I have little success with them, a few people have been ok.

Newer players are better, and you can check the likes of www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers
for what models can play which discs.

[sjj1805]

Please view:
DVD Burning / Playback issues

GeorgeW - I have added your above post into the thread.

[Devil]

I have had the same sort of problems with video stuttering in certain places and total crashing on some DVD players.

I have been using DL R+ with a bitrate of 7mbps

are duel layer dvd's known to be less reliable on most dvd players?

7000 kbit/s + audio is often too high for many DVD players, especially for DL DVD+R.

I recommend an absolute max of 7000 kbit/s for DVD¡ÓR SL discs for combined video and audio. For projects <~90 minutes, I always use 6000 kbit/s CBR for video and 192 kbit/s AC-3 for audio on reliable discs and have never had a problem. For DL, I have little experience but the only one I did was 5500 kbit/s + 192 kbit/s and it plays OK with an almost imperceptible pause at layer change, on one DVD player, but it refuses to play the second layer on my older DVD player.

[sigun]

..but the only reason I used Duel Layer Discs is to fit more footage on at a higher quality, so If its unrealible to use a bitrate of 7mbps on DL then I might as well stay clear of them for now.

Thanks for help.

[Devil]

The one I did was a three-and-a-bit hour copy. However, I have the following remarks about your response:
1. You seem to be fixated on 7000 kbit/s. Why? What is your input video? If it is DV, for normal viewing, you will lose nothing in quality at 6000 kbit/s video bitrate.
2. I don't remember you stating which audio system you use. If you use LPCM, this is uncompressed and adds over 1000 kbit/s to your bitrate total. This adds enormously to the load the DVD player has to cope with under the worst conditions.
3. Did you know that commercial DVDs hardly ever use high bitrates? Generally they use maximum compression consistent with the scene, with a very complex VBR system. The encoding is done with hardware encoders costing over $100,000 and they may have 20 or more passes before the encoding is done, often with manual tweaking. This is to ensure that they meet the holy grail of being playable in every DVD player they may be thrown at. For example, they do not have high bitrates during transitions, where each frame is very different from the previous one. This is the big problem with any software encoder costing less than a few thousand bucks. The video frequently averages in the 4000 to 4500 kbit/s range and the audio (AC-3 Dolby Digital, as a rule) at 150 - 300 kbit/s for stereo or 380-512 kbit/s for 5.1. On a very fast-moving scene, they may peak to about 8000 kbits/s for very short times.

What I'm trying to say is that it is better to emphasise reliability over a pretended improvement in quality.

[sigun]

yeah im kinda getting the bigger picture now, I wish new this info before I burnt my first copies.

one more issue, Uleads not letting me burn 95min of footage compressed at about 5500 kbps, saying theres not enough space. My Audio is Dolby digital 256.

Could it be that my audio input file is stereo?

EDIT: I've sorted it now, I was not Disc templating my audio track.