Render Fail

wolfbass wrote on 1/29/2006, 3:58 PM
I have just burnt 3 copies of 15 different discs in DVDA3.

I use the same method each time.

The Vegas File for each render is about 1 hr. 15 mins, I use the batch render to burn an mpeg2 Pal DVD Architect file and Dolby Stereo AC3 file, which I then bring into DVDA3.

Of the 15 different discs, on two of them (let's call them 31 and 44) i have burnt them AT LEAST 3 times each, and on all 6 times there is a problem playing the discs. Each of the discs pauses, however the pauses are in different spots each time.

Now I'm used to the odd disc not working, but out of 45, why do two of them repeatedly not work?

Is it possible to have errors in the source file rendered in Vegas?

Any clues would be great.

Cheers,

Andy

Comments

wolfbass wrote on 1/30/2006, 4:40 PM
Bump:

Anyone?
ScottW wrote on 1/30/2006, 4:44 PM
Cheap media? Too high a bitrate?
wolfbass wrote on 1/30/2006, 5:02 PM
Scott,

The media is a constant. 43 out of the 45 discs worked. 2 didn't (3 times each.

The bit rate is as per the DVDA template in the render, the mpeg2 file is 1hr15 mins long, and there is plenty of space on the DVD, 3.9 ~ 4.1 Gig out of a possible 4.3gig.

But thanks.
johnmeyer wrote on 1/30/2006, 6:03 PM
The media is a constant. 43 out of the 45 discs worked. 2 didn't (3 times each.

If you have a drive that can run Nero CD/DVD Speed (free download), I'd try that on the bad discs. See what your error rate is. I too suspect bad media. It may be all from the same lot, but it may also be junk. What exactly is the brand and type of media you are using? Do you have software that can tell you the media ID that is on the blank disk? (Nero Infotool or DVD Decrypter can both give this to you.)

Edit: If you are using substandard media, then a project that is encoded at a higher rate, or which happens to have a high data rate spike might just be too difficult to read. I have cheap media that I have tested and compared to my really good Taiyo Yuden media, and the error rates are often 10x higher, and in some cases close to 50x higher. This is a HUGE difference, and it explains a LOT about why people have these kinds of problems. There are only a few really good brands of media, and there is a TON of junk out there. The differences are not subtle.
wolfbass wrote on 1/30/2006, 7:54 PM
John,

The brand is PRINCO, 4X, the numbers on it are B314406986_07502. I have no idea what these mean :)

I have been using them for quite a while, and in the main are very good. What is baffling me is that 2 particular discs are repeatedly not working, while the others do.

Thanks every one for the help.

Andy
ScottW wrote on 1/30/2006, 8:53 PM
The pricing for Princo media suggests that it falls into the somewhat less than "good" catagory. Poor media quality coupled with things like bitrate spikes can certainly manifest in the symptoms you describe. Just my 2 cents.

--Scott
johnmeyer wrote on 1/30/2006, 9:41 PM
the media ID you report is just some printing on the hub. The ID I was talking about is something you get through software (it is actually encoded on the blank media).

If you go to Digital FAQ and look at the media ratings, you will see that Princo is considered pretty poor.

You can also look at Princo over at videohelp.com Princo Media at Videohelp.com and I think you'll find that it isn't very good.

Take my advice and test the media. You can download the free test tool DVD Speed. It may or may not work with your DVD Burner, but if you have a computer that has a DVD drive that reads, but does not write, DVDs (like a laptop) those usually will work with this software. You need to have some really good media to use as a benchmark (see the DigitalFAQ site for recommendations), but once you do the tests, you'll see what I mean. Night and day difference between what you're using and the good stuff. If you are going to send your work out to other people, this is the single most important thing you can do to keep from getting returns.

I can't say it any plainer than that.
wolfbass wrote on 1/30/2006, 9:59 PM
John,

I fully intend to test the discs out when I get home to the DVD enabled PC.

Thanks for the help.

Andy