A DVD doesn't hold 5.48 GB, so chances are DVDA is lying to you about the size. It does that sometimes. But that's probably not what's causing your problem -- if it was really too much for a disc, I don't think you'd get the "DVD Created Succsessfully" message.

First step is make sure you're using the latest update of DVDA. The latest release of DVDA1 is 1.0d and can be downloaded at this site. If this doesn't help....

Second step is trying a different type of media. If DVD+R gives you trouble, try a DVD-R. If this doesn't help....

Third step is prepare your files in DVDA, but burn the disc using a different burning application, such as Ahead's Nero. Create a DVD-Video project in Nero and drag all of the contents of DVDA's Video_TS folder into the Video_TS folder in the Nero project. Don't worry about the Audio_TS folder, you can leave that alone.

DVD recordable technology is very fickle, and it appears to be even more fickle where DVD Architect is concerned. Some types of media will burn properly on some burners and play properly on some players. It's a toss-up, but most of us have found a route that works.

I, for example, have no trouble at all using DVDA to burn TDK DVD-R media on my +/- Memorex burner and playing them on any of my DVD players. If, however, I use DVDA to burn TDK DVD+R media on that same burner, it supposedly burns successfully, but can't be read by any of my players or even any of my computers. Same project (still prepared by DVD) burned on the same type of media in Nero: No problem.

Others have had the opposite experience with their burner -- +R works for them, -R doesn't. You just have to find out what works best for you. But above all else, make sure you have the latest version of DVDA and the latest drivers / firmware for your burner.

Rob

Er, apparently there is a lot more than the available tutorials have taught me. I haven't seen anything about how to change the "bps" . Just burnt another coaster. This time I used MPEG instead of AVI (thinking here thaty perhaps the conversion process used by DVD Architect may be the cause). Same coaster. Same markings.

OK. Will look for "d" update. Hate to have to be "confined" into using only DVD-R, since my DVD duplicator (and blank media) only works with +R's. Nero? Gads, I'm having enough trouble learning the software I am using. DVDA SHOULD burn this disc! Interesting about your varied sucesses with various media. So it's still a crap shoot, then? I have a stand alone DVD recorder which I have been using but then I cannot make nice menu pages for clients. I though DVDA would be as good about being user friendly as Vegas is. Apparently I was wrong. Thanks - I will continue to wrestle with this until I have enough coasters to have friends over for drinks.

When you go to render the project as Mpeg-2, select Template and choose DVD NTSC (I presume USA), then select the Custom button. Under there, select the Video tab at the bottom of the window, and you will be able to make changes to the video parameters. Default, I believe, is 8MB Meg BPS, 6 MB avg, and 192k minimum using the VBR setting. Try this and see if this works for you.

dave

DAve sez: When you go to render the project as Mpeg-2, select Template and choose DVD NTSC (I presume USA), then select the Custom button. Under there, select the Video tab at the bottom of the window, and you will be able to make changes to the video parameters. Default, I believe, is 8MB Meg BPS, 6 MB avg, and 192k minimum using the VBR setting. Try this and see if this works for you.
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Okay, Dave. I created an entirely new project in DVDA. This one was a 20-minute .AVI file of a music video, edited in Vegas and with Chapter Markers. I rendered it out as you suggested in the above dialog. The end result is a 600 Meg MPEG2 file. Using DVDA I created a title page according to the SOP. I got no warnings and the disc burnt exactly like the previous ones. The Pioneer AO6 burner ejected the disc and gave me a "sucessful burn" message. I placed the DVD (which also had the appearance that it had been burned) into my main DVD player and got "Disc contains unknown data - press OK to open tray".
So, what's the deal? Everything seems to be working as advertised except the stupid DVD's will not play in any player. I have used the AO6 with the very same media (only burned a DVD using Sony/NTI software - ie. "the easy way") and each and every DVD was perfect. It MUST be something unchecked or deselected in DVDA only i don't know what it could be. Any more suggestions? It's terrible to have things working 99% but just not enough to get the complete deal . . . . . Am I missing a driver perhaps? Is the program corrupt? JEEZ!

Let's back up a little bit and do some testing. Do you have a software DVD player installed on your computer? If so, can it play the DVD that you created?

If it can, then the problem is most likely with your player(s). When a DVD+R is written, there is some information written on the DVD that tells the player what the media is - it's usually refered to as the book type. Some players will only play media that has a booktype of DVD-ROM; some will handle DVD-ROM and DVD-R but will not handle a booktype of DVD+R.

On some burners you can change the book type that gets written, so you can make the DVD+R look like a DVD-ROM. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Pioneer burners will let you change the book type.

If your PC cannot play the DVD, then the next step will be to see if it can play the VIDEO_TS.IFO file directly; navigate to the prepare directory and double click on the file - your software player should then attempt to play this file.

--Scott

Let's back up a little bit and do some testing. Do you have a software DVD player installed on your computer? If so, can it play the DVD that you created?

> Yes, and No, in that order.

If it can, then the problem is most likely with your player(s). When a DVD+R is written, there is some information written on the DVD that tells the player what the media is - it's usually refered to as the book type. Some players will only play media that has a booktype of DVD-ROM; some will handle DVD-ROM and DVD-R but will not handle a booktype of DVD+R.

On some burners you can change the book type that gets written, so you can make the DVD+R look like a DVD-ROM. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Pioneer burners will let you change the book type.

> But you'd think the Pioneer WILL burn a DVD that most players can "see", right?

If your PC cannot play the DVD, then the next step will be to see if it can play the VIDEO_TS.IFO file directly; navigate to the prepare directory and double click on the file - your software player should then attempt to play this file.

> Cool! Just did that. It DID play the IFO file and I could also click on the button icon and it would start up the "real" program as well. Maybe as a test i will attempt to use the Sony NTI software to just burn those files and see what happens. It MUST be something "within" the DVDA authoring software... or perhaps a driver is corrupt/missing..?

One last thing, Scott-
I have discovered that most of the coasters burnt actually WILL play on one of my players. It is an Orion combo DVD/TV that I just bought for use in our vehicle for an upcoming trip to Florida this winter. I bought this unit at WalMart last month for $149. It was V E R Y cheap considering it has A/V in's and out's (with S-Video), a TV tuner built in, runs on AC/DC, and came with a "bag" to attach it between the front seats of the vehicle. Anyway, I just discovered this player WILL play the DVD's I have burned! It takes it a little longer to recognize the DVD but it WILL play it correctly, menu page and all !
Not only that but it will play the program even though I used three different brands of media (DiskMakers +R, Sony DVD+R, andMaxell DVD+R). However, NONE of these DVD's will play on the Magnavox or either of two different models of Apex (again WalMart purchases) DVD players. NONE of them will also play on either of my DVD player decks in both of my PC's. They ONLY play on the Orion. Stranger and stranger.
I really appreciate your thoughts on this matter !!

When you've got the burned DVD in your burner, can you view the files on it with windows explorer? If so, can you navigate into the VIDEO_TS directory and double click on the VIDEO_TS.IFO file?

It's not necessarily a problem in DVDA authoring - the fact that you can play the VIDEO_TS.IFO file from hard drive without dfifficulty says that DVDA is authoring and preparing the project correctly.

That leaves a problem with DVDA burning, a problem with the burner itself or a problem with your players not recognizing +R media (including your burner).

Since your portable player will play the DVD's you've created, I would say that eliminates a DVDA burning issue as part of the problem and it makes a real strong case for a book type issue.

All along it looks like you've been using +R media. Since this burner will burn +R and -R, how about a test burning a -R media and see how it goes.

Another thing I'd suggest is going to www.pioneerelectronics.com and downloading the latest firmware for your burner.

--Scott

When you've got the burned DVD in your burner, can you view the files on it with windows explorer?

>No.

It's not necessarily a problem in DVDA authoring - the fact that you can play the VIDEO_TS.IFO file from hard drive without dfifficulty says that DVDA is authoring and preparing the project correctly.

>Sounds reasonable.

That leaves a problem with DVDA burning, a problem with the burner itself or a problem with your players not recognizing +R media (including your burner).

>But I have sucessfully burned the very same media on that same drive before, only using the Sony NTI DVD burning softqware that came bundled with my new computer.

Since your portable player will play the DVD's you've created, I would say that eliminates a DVDA burning issue as part of the problem and it makes a real strong case for a book type issue.

>Where do you change the book type in DVDA (or is it in Vegas?) ?

All along it looks like you've been using +R media. Since this burner will burn +R and -R, how about a test burning a -R media and see how it goes.

>That's the next step. Going to buy some -R today and will let you know ASAP the results.

Another thing I'd suggest is going to www.pioneerelectronics.com and downloading the latest firmware for your burner.

>Thanks- will do.

Sorry, I missed the fact that you used other software and you were able to burn and play without problems.

Based on that it does sound like some sort of interaction issue between DVDA's burning and the burner itself.

If your firmware is out of date, updating it may help.

Beyond that, the only suggestion I've left is to use DVDA for everything except burning.

--Scott