No dual layer support on DVDA 2?

PH125 wrote on 3/30/2005, 10:24 AM
I was reading videomaker magazine the other day and noticed that in their DVD software section they listed DVDA 2 as one of the only DVD authoring applications that doesn't include support for dual layer disks (DVD+R9). Is this true? I was always under the impression that it did. If it doesn't, does anyone have an idea when an update might be released?

(Sorry if this question has been answered a million times before, which it probably has been)

Comments

bStro wrote on 3/30/2005, 10:52 AM
they listed DVDA 2 as one of the only DVD authoring applications that doesn't include support for dual layer disks (DVD+R9). Is this true?

Is it true that it doesn't support dual layer discs? Yes. Is it true that it's one of the only DVD authoring apps with that limiation? Dunno. Maybe someone should do a survey of apps.

I was always under the impression that it did.

Not sure why. Nothing on Sony's website or in the manual that would indicate so.

If it doesn't, does anyone have an idea when an update might be released?

I imagine Sony might know. But they're not telling. If it's part of DVDA 3, which is due out next month, then I guess the beta testers know also. I sure wouldn't expect it to be added to an update to DVDA 2, though.

(Sorry if this question has been answered a million times before, which it probably has been)

Probably not a million, but a search of these forums for "dual layer" does get 244 hits. If you look through some of those threads, you'll even find people who have prepared projects too big for a single disc in DVDA and then burned those projects to dual-layer using Nero. And considering how many people have incorporated Nero into their DVDA workflow anyhow, it's really not that much of a change for some.

Rob
craftech wrote on 4/1/2005, 7:22 AM
DL media is expensive (more than two single DVDs) and the compatibility is dismal. Why do you need it?

John
JSWTS wrote on 4/1/2005, 4:57 PM
Expensive--somewhat (I remember paying more for single layer media when it first came out)

Compatiblity dismal--not if done properly. The DL discs I have created are every bit as compatible as any single layer media I use.

Authoring process--doesn't involve DVDA

Jim
craftech wrote on 4/2/2005, 4:55 AM
Expensive--somewhat (I remember paying more for single layer media when it first came out)
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Of course there were no other alternatives. In the case of DL media there are. TWO single layer DVDs. My customers could care less if I am giving them one or two.
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Compatiblity dismal--not if done properly. The DL discs I have created are every bit as compatible as any single layer media I use.
Authoring process--doesn't involve DVDA

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Please explain. Sounds interesting.

PS What is your DVD distribution level? How many of a single movie and who are your customers? I do event videography and typically sell around 100 DVDs per event. I ask for feedback to check compatibility.

Thanks,
John
ScottW wrote on 4/2/2005, 1:59 PM
The trick with DL media is 2 fold - first get a DL burner that burns a booktype of DVD-ROM by default for DL+R media, or one allows the booktype to be set to DVD-ROM by softwre such as Nero. DL+R got assigned a new booktype, and since so many players will only play a booktype that they recognize, many won't touch the default DL+R booktype because they don't recognize it. This is no different than many of the difficulties that +R media first encountered with players and is one of the reasons that the +R media allows the booktype to be changed (to increase compatability). We're in the process of switching to +R burned with DVD-ROM booktype over -R as we're finding in every case so far where a customer has had an issue with -R, they could play the +R burnt as DVD-ROM.

The second part is to get some burning software that can correctly insert the layer break. I've not tried Nero, but supposedly it can do this. I have tried CopyToDVD and it does correcltly set the layer break (set the break so well in my tests that I've yet to find the actual layer break visually).

--Scott