How to add 'dummy data' to DVD for greater compatibility?

musman wrote on 1/18/2004, 7:19 PM

I was told:

"For compatibility it is better to have the disc at least half filled (you could add some dummy data or video). Some set top players will try to calibrate when the disc is inserted. To do this they move the head out about 30mm from the center of the DVD. If they find no data in that area, playback will fail."

Just wondering if anyone has found this to be the case and how we can add dummy data in DVDA.
Thanks ahead of time for any help!

Comments

GaryKleiner wrote on 1/18/2004, 7:52 PM

I guess you could add media and delete the link to it so there's no way to navigate to it.

Gary

musman wrote on 1/18/2004, 10:48 PM

Interesting idea, played around and finally got that to work by adding a page then deleting the arrow to it.
My question is, have you ever heard of this sort of thing before? Man it is a pain to make my DVD longer and deal with extended burn times each time I make a DVD. Sure would like not to have to deal with this.

wobblyboy wrote on 1/19/2004, 1:12 AM

What kind of player is it, I have made many DVDs that were very short and they played on all players that I tried. I went to store and tried a whole bunch.

farss wrote on 1/19/2004, 3:57 AM

It's true, really! I read it in the same book as the one about those albino crocs living in the sewers of NY.

musman wrote on 1/19/2004, 10:36 PM

I agree that it sounds like crap, but the guy's explanation does make sense if you read it above and he does sound pretty knowledgable on the dv.com DVD forum.
Just to cover all the bases, I added a backup copy of my movie and also some stuff on another page of the DVD then deleted the way to get to it, like Gary said.
Still, it does sound weird.