Double Layer options not available in DVDA3?

jrazz wrote on 7/10/2005, 12:21 AM
I am trying to burn a double layer disc, but the only option that I got in the drop down box is burn to ISO.

I have a sony dru-710a double layer burner and DVDA3. I know that I should have an option for the layer break but that does not show up either. I set the media to 8.5 under preferences but that did not do anything. I have burned with DVDA3 before with this drive but just not double layer discs.

I searched the forums but to no avail. I also have nero that will allow me to burn double layer and can use it but I am unsure of whether I need to copy the files into Nero's folder or copy the folder that was made by DVDA3 and replace nero's video_ts with it. Also, DVDA3 made another file that is outside the video and audio file that is called "sprepare.spss" do I need to copy this one as well? it's size is 2,417,360 and my project size is 7.6 gigs.

Why isn't my drive being recognized by DVD3A when I try to burn a double layer disc?
How can I resolve this? I am using version 3.0a.
If I can't, What files/folders do I need to copy to Nero? Thanks for your time.

Comments

bStro wrote on 7/10/2005, 7:51 AM
I am trying to burn a double layer disc

File -> Properties. Click Mastering, and change the Number of Layers to "2". When you're all set to make your disc, choose Make DVD and follow the usual steps. You'll get to a point where DVDA will give you options concerning where to put the layer break. Search the manual / help file for "break" for more details.

I also have nero that will allow me to burn double layer and can use it but I am unsure of whether I need to copy the files into Nero's folder or copy the folder that was made by DVDA3 and replace nero's video_ts with it.

Doesn't matter. You're not "copying" files at that point, anyhow. You're just setting up the structure for the disc. For all Nero cares, you could "delete" the video_ts folder it adds and then create an entirely new one -- so long as you add the prepared files (VOBs, etc) to it.

file that is called "sprepare.spss" do I need to copy this one as well?

Nope. That's a file created / used by a new feature in DVDA3 called Smart Prepare. It won't hurt anything if you put that on your disc, but it's not necessary to either.

(DVDA doesn't burn it to DVDs, it just uses it for future prepares of the same project if you change anything in that project. It helps DVDA "remember" what's already been done so it doesn't have to prepare a project all over again.)

Why isn't my drive being recognized by DVD3A when I try to burn a double layer disc?

Brand / model of drive? How is it connected? Does it recognize the drive once you change the number of layers as I described above? If you put a single layer disc in the same drive using the same project, does DVD then recognize the drive? If yes, then it might have a problem with the media -- what brand / type of disc are you using?

Rob
jrazz wrote on 7/10/2005, 11:08 AM
I have a sony dru-710a double layer burner it is an internal drive using eide. I am using verbatim DVD+R DL with the Advanced AZO dye. I burned the disc with Nero and It works fine on my set top player for the first layer but freezes as it attempts to go to the second layer. I understand this might be a set top compatibility issue as it works fine on 4 of my computers.

I can burn single layer discs with the burner using DVDA2 or 3, but I will follow the steps you have given me.
jrazz wrote on 7/10/2005, 11:15 AM
Also, due to compatibility issues, I want to get the project down to one disc or divide the project into 2 discs. My project is 2 hours and 23 minutes and some seconds. The footage is of a membership class for a church- mainly one guy speaking, writing on a dry erase board' and some lower thirds and overlays to emphasize change in sessions and points that should be remembered.

What suggestions do you have for bitrate and other settings to fit this on one disc? Or would you suggest just dividing it into 2 discs?
Thanks again,
j razz
ScottW wrote on 7/10/2005, 12:59 PM
For maximum playability you're going to need to burn with Nero and have Nero set the booktype to DVD-ROM, or get a burner that automatically sets the booktype to DVD-ROM for DL media (which would allow you to use DVDA3 to do the burning assuming that DVDA recognizes the burner).

Truthfully, there are so many issues associated with DL burning, that unless you are willing to invest some additional time and money to get things right, you're going to be better off burning 2 single layer disks (it's cheaper too), or possibly get some double sided burnable media (which I think I've seen).

--Scott
jrazz wrote on 7/10/2005, 3:15 PM
So, 2 discs is the way to go? Just wanted to double check. Thanks Scott for the reply. By the way, where do you think you saw some double sided burnable media?
ScottW wrote on 7/10/2005, 4:00 PM
dvd-supply.com seems to carry Ritek double sided media. The only drawback I see is that there's no way to know in advance which side you will want.

If you really want to go with DL media, go to cdrinfo.com and look over the optical storage reviews they have for various burners. What you want is a +R burner that by default sets the book type for DL media to DVD-ROM, or one that allows the booktype to be set by one of the many utilities available on the internet (it may be that your existing burner will allow this, so see if they have a review of your burner). Then, if DVDA3 doesn't recognize the burner, or doesn't allow you to burn the project, go to www.vso-software.com and and see if CopyToDVD will burn your prepared DVDA project correctly. I had good luck with CopyToDVD and they have a fully functional 30 day free trial.

--Scott
bStro wrote on 7/10/2005, 8:27 PM
Do you have the finished video available as an AVI? If so, I'd recommend trying this and see if you're satisfied with the resulting disc:

Add the AVI to a project, set the project for single layer, and use DVDA'd Fit to Disc feature (File -> Optimize). I think DVDA will choose a bitrate of about 3.8Mb/sec, which I'm guessing will be fine for video of a guy writing on a dry erase board.

If the quality doesn't turn out great, then go with the two-disc or dual-layer option. In either case, use a bit rate of around 6 or 7 Mb/sec.

Rob
jrazz wrote on 7/11/2005, 8:06 AM
I do not have a finished file in avi but I encoded it from Vegas into mpg so DVDA wouldn't have to. Can I use the bitrate that you gave for this or do I need to first make an avi file?

Also, I made a WMV file of this (it fits on one cd, and it plays fine but it only plays linear. I cannot skip to a different place in the file. Is this an issue that anybody else is dealing with? It took 17 hours to render it while it took only 5 for the mpg-2 to be rendered.