Dual-layer DVD issue

[Ian Woodward]

I'm using Pinnacle Studio 14 Ultimate to edit video, but there is a bug - that is, burning dual-layer 8.5GB DVDs with over 55 minutes of video content doesn't then play in normal dvd players. (I’ve got 93 minutes of video to burn.) This isn't a settings issue or disc problem as different brands of disc and burner have been tried.

I didn't have this problem when using an earlier version of Studio when I regularly burned video material totalling nearly two hours at 100 per cent quality without problems.

I'm aware that Pinnacle has limitations but given how much of the project I have already done, and the learning curve that would be needed to adopt something new, I can't and don’t want to switch to a new editor.

I'd appreciate any suggestions on the best software to use to just burn the finished video. I also want to add a DVD menu.

Ian Woodward

[Dave Watterson]

Ian:

1) Are you working in HD? (I ask because you should get 133 minutes of SD onto a single-layer DVD at "commercial DVD quality".)

2) Is your version of Studio 14 fully patched and up to date? (Pinnacle were notorious for releasing products before they were fully debugged and then releasing patches.)

3) Have you tried making an ISO (disc image) instead of burning directly to disc? You could then use many other programs (often free) to burn that to DVD.

4) One of the sales features of the software was its power to make DVD menus. What problems are you having with that? I don't know where Pinnacle hide that facility but the help system should point you to it.

Dave

[tom hardwick]

It does point to the problem being the double-layer blanks you're using and they're known to be more temperamental and players more fussy about playing them. 93 minutes should fit quite happily onto a single layer DVD with very good picture quality - I do it all the time.

tom.

[Ian Woodward]

Many thanks, Dave and Tom, for your help.

Dave:

1. I’m working in SD.

2. Yes.

3. I know this is one solution to the issue. I have a couple of programme that can burn ISOs, but I'm still interested in other solution options I can use to burn a movie file.

4. No problem with the menu making, but if I get a different programme to burn DVDs there may be one that also does menus. (Pinnacle menu maker is OK but I find it a little fiddly; I'm sure there must be better options I don't know about).
Tom: I’ve been using the same Verbatim DL DVD blanks that I used in an earlier Pinnacle Studio version without problems. The version I’m using now (Ultimate 14) won’t burn anything on DL over 55 mins; under 55 mins, fine. With the 93 mins project I’m working on I’ve tried DL products from Phillips and Verbatim (both AZO and Pearl White, all without success. At the end of the burn it indicates that it’s been “burned successfully”, but when put in the DVD player an on-screen message states “This disc is not formatted properly.” I meant to explain in my original posting that I can easily burn the 93-min project on a single-layer DVD with a quality of 59 per cent, which is so-so, but I’m not happy unless I have Best Quality/100 per cent quality. Others might not notice the difference between 59 per cent and 100 per cent, but I do.

Ian

[tom hardwick]

That's interesting - I've never come across a DVD authoring program that attributes percentage markings on the bit rates used.

So what's 100% Is it a CBR of 8mbps? And 6mbps (90 mins per DVD) - is that something like 60%? If I run a commercial DVD (a Hollywood movie, say), it will read out something that hovers around the 4.5 mbps rate.

I can see the difference between these two settings (8 and 6) in fades and dissolves, but it's mighty hard to spot the differences elsewhere. What are you seeing Ian?

tom.

[Ian Woodward]

Tom, Pinnacle Studio settings display "Best" as: 8500 Kbits/sec. You can manually change this to any setting. 59% is about 5000 Kbits/sec

What would you recommend I can use to ensure 90-min DVDs still come out looking good?

On Studio you don't get to choose things like CBR, VBR, etc. The options are relatively simple as it's aimed at up to the prosumer market at best.

Ian

[tom hardwick]

Wow, 8.5mbps is a very high bit-rate indeed, and especially so when the audio bit rate is added in. Does Pinnacle Studio convert your audio files to Dolby Digital (AC3) for burning to DVD? And have you ever had trouble with other players being unable to handle such a high bit-rate?

When I pump out lots of DVDs (a school play, say) I limit the bit-rate to 6.5 mbps tops, just to make it easier on players, and so that I don't get returns.

As I say, 6.5mbps will give 90 minute DVDs that look excellent. see:

http://www.videohelp.com/calc.htm

tom.

[Ian Woodward]

Yes, Pinnacle Studio can convert the audio files to Dolby Digital (AC3), but it’s set to MPA (MPEG-1 layer 2) by default.

Over the last few years I’ve burned literally hundreds of DL blanks at 100 per cent quality (8500 Kbits/sec) – including 100 wedding DVDs for each of the family representative at my son’s wedding – and in all this time I’ve never had anyone report a burn failure.

Until now…I just can’t burn my 93-min project at 100 per cent quality.

When I have a bit more free time I’ll do some experiments and burn at different, lower, bit-rates and see what happens. I think you may have found the solution here.

Thanks, Tom, for the link to the bit-rate calculator which I’ve found very useful.

Ian