Greetings all,
I'm having a hard time getting my "backed up" DVDs to play on the DVD player that is attached to my TV.  The player is a Hitachi that claims to play DVD-R (but not DVD-ROM) and will play only region code 1 and ALL.  I've made two DVD backups, one of an unencrypted concert DVD (direct copy made with just burning software) which came out as MPeg2 format.  The second was a backed up movie that I decoded with DVD Shrink and burned with Plextor Pro Professional that failed to play in my player, but played in my parents newer Sony player.  The movie came out as Mpeg1 (typical?) and I chose "create DVD-ROM" as the option in Plextools and then just copied the VIDEO_TS folder to the disk. 

Even though both backups will play in newer, more capable players, I'd obviously like to get them to play in the one I have. 

Anybody have any idea what I'm doing wrong? 

Hi,
As far as I'm aware you will also need to create an empty AUDIO_TS folder to partner the VIDEO_TS folder for the recorded DVD to conform to DVD playback spec on set top players.
Hope this is of some help...

(in reply to RyanT)

Thanks for the help, I was not including the empty Audio_TS folder and did notice after your post that the backup concert DVD that is playing has that folder.  I'm still having problems and I'm wondering if my problem is the type of format I'm using.  For this last copy I used UDF and it wouldn't even playback on my computer (Win2000).  Should I be using ISO or ISO/UDF?   

(in reply to quoll)

Rip the movie with DVD Shrink and then burn it as DVD-Video format. It is not a format issue. Why is it MPEG1 instaed of MPEG2, why did you change it?

Make sure you have a DVD-R disc in order to be compatible with your Hitachi player.

(in reply to RyanT)

Antonio,
Yes, I have DVD-Rs, checked that first.  The only commonality I can find is that the TV top DVD player won't play Mpeg1 which seems to be the default format DVD Shrink spits out.  (At least, I didn't change it).   I assume choosing 'DVD-Video' keeps Mpeg2 as the format?    Do you know where that option is? 

Thanks for your help. 

(in reply to Antonio)

I can't find an option that allows me to change the output format in DVD Shrink.  I'm a newbie, but is it even possible to compress a movie down to a DVD5 while leaving the format Mpeg2?  Maybe I need to either buy DL DVDs or get myself a new TV top DVD player. 

...OR maybe I need to spend some money on software.  Does DVDfab allow you to keep the Mpeg 2 format while compressing? 

(in reply to RyanT)

Maybe the following guide help you:

DVD Shrink simple guide



No there is no such an option for convertion from Mpeg2 to Mpeg1.

(in reply to RyanT)

I think what you meant is that DVD Shrink converts Mpeg2 to Mpeg1 and there is no option to have it maintain the Mpeg2 formatting (which I suspect is the only formatting that my 3 year old TV top DVD player will play). 

Anyone have any idea if DVD Shrink leaves the movie in Mpeg2 if you choose Zero compression? 

I think I'm going to have to spend some money to get this to work and I'd rather spend it on software.  Anyone know of any software that will either leave the movie in Mpeg2 format after decryption and compression or will generate a full sized decrypted Mpeg2 but allow me to span it over two DVD5 disks?   I know DVD fab will do the spanning but I don't know if it produces Mpeg2s. 

I appreciate any help. 

(in reply to Antonio)

I think there is better than DVD Shrink, in my opinion. Imagine that even Nero Recode is the same engine.

(in reply to RyanT)

RyanT:

I really think you are making this much too difficult.

In order to be a fully compliant, my understanding is that in order for a DVD to be recognized by all of the DVD players, the file structure NEEDS to have both the Video_TS folder, and also the (empty) Audio_TS folder.  If it does not, the majority of DVD players out there will not be able to play it.

You noted that the disc in question did not have this.  And, when this happens, you will come across the occasional player (like the Sony you mentioned) that can recognize the types of files within the folders -- in this case it happened to be one of the few players that is able to read  MPEG files -- and if it can, it may play them.  However, this just means you got lucky.

Use DVDShrink, and it will always make sure the disc has the proper structure, so you do not have any concerns. The proper structure DOES call for VOBS.  It also calls for BUPS, and for IFOS.  It also calls for the two folders I mentioned above.  This, regardless of the unerlying file type, is a must, if you want a true DVD.

DVDShrink will only make changes that might cause a loss of picture quality when it needs to.  It will only compress when it needs to and even then, you can choose not to compress, and to leave the files in their original quality, and split to two discs, when you like).  If there is any loss of quality, it is because you allow it to occur.

And, there are many other tools that can accomplish the same thing.  DVDDecrypter, for example, will build the proper structure so you can be confident it will play. (DVDDecrypter cannot do any compressiong, of course).    NeroVision Express 3 (or Nerovision Express 2) can be used to accomplish the same, but one must be a bit more careful, and make certain one tells the program up front that you are building a DVD Video.  If you do that, it will build the correct structure into the final product.

I could go on, and list other examples.  If you wish your finished product to be a DVD, you need to build that structure in.  If you wish it to be pretty compatible with more than one specific machine, you need to build that structure in.  If, however, you are only going to watch it on that Sony, for example, then you merely need to find out what the Sony is capable of playing, and stick to any of those formats.  Just do not be surprised when you try it elsewhere if it locks up.

Hope this helps,

-Bruce

(in reply to RyanT)

You're probably right, out of ignorance, I am making this more difficult than it needs to be.  And I hate to beat a dead horse, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T WORK.  Therefore, this will be my last post on the subject  unless anyone needs more info to help diagnose my problem.  I just hate the idea of buying a new TV top DVD player when the one I have works just fine (with commercial DVDs anyway) and I'm almost sure there is a way to make my backups work on it.  (I think it just comes down to knowing which burning or encrypting preferences to use). 

Background.  My Table-top DVD player is a 3  year old Hitachi that claims to be able to play DVD-R, but NOT DVD-ROM (how this make sense, I don't know?), according to the manual.  My burner is a Plextor PX-716A and my burning software is Plextools Professional (Nero 6.6 Express is on the way).  Every backup I've made WILL play on my computers DVD player software. 

1.  You're right that initially I didn't include the empty Audio_TS folder.  Since Quoll advised me of this necessity I have made sure the folder is there in all subsequent attempts, but to no avail.

2.  I've allowed DVD shrink to do all of the assembling and I've only copied over the two folders (Audio_ts and Video_ts) it's created.  I've had it create both compressed and uncompressed copies, neither has worked. 

3.  I've successfully made a working copy (on my TV-top player) of a non-encrypted, small commercial DVD that didn't need compression (ie..it fit on a standard DVD5 as is)  by running the DVD copy feature of my burning software, not using DVD shrink at all.  This tells me that my player WILL play DVD-R disks if created properly. 

4.  I've used Plextools to analyse and compare the disk I'm trying to copy and the non-working backups I've created to try and determine the differences that might be inhibiting my DVD player's ability to play the backups.  The only two differences I could find were that the core files on the commericial DVDs are always .mpeg2s and those of compressed bakcups are mpeg1s.  (if you don't use any compression with DVD shrink, it creates mpeg2s.)  Also, commercial DVDs don't use Joliet file system.  I've eliminated both differences by not compressing the files and not using Joliet, but still no dice.   

That's about all I can think of and I've experimented with about 15 different blank DVDS.  If nothing works maybe I'll just go buy the Sony at Sam's.  $68 and it will play +Rs, -Rs, and both types of RWs.   (I know my current machine won't play RWs)   

Any ideas?

(in reply to BSpielbauer)

Also,
Plextools always asks me to choose a type of DVD (format) before the burn.  It gives me the option of ISO or UDF, or ISO/UDF.  I've always chosen ISO/UDF.  Maybe I should just be choosing UDF. 

(in reply to RyanT)

Well my problem seems to be solved.  Received Nero 6 in the mail yesterday, took an uncompressed backup from DVD decryptor, let Nero do the compressing, and it worked on my old TV top DVD player.  It seems Plextools has TOO MANY options and not knowing which to choose screwed up my playback.  Thank goodness for Nero and it's simplicity. 

(in reply to RyanT)

I had problems playing back some of my copied DVDs and thought it was my DVD player. I got DVD-X-Studio from http://www.dvd-x-studio.com and I have not had any problem with any of my DVDs. Just wanted to let people know before they bought a new DVD player.

(in reply to RyanT)

Hey mate, we realized that you DO like the DVD-X-Studio, but you don't have to mention it in all posts!

(in reply to mrwelter)