set top problem

vanatomy wrote on 1/5/2005, 8:51 AM

I have a problem that occurs during initial recognition of a disc in a set top player. The main menu has several thumbnails (5) each of which are animated and there is background audio as well. The problem is that it takes forever (4-5 minutes) for the menu to even appear once the disc is inserted. I can hear the player scaning the disc over and over. Once the menu appears everything plays fine. On some players I will get a "disc error" message on the first go 'round but then when I reinsert, the long recognition process begins and the menu will eventually appear. Is this menu that I'm using just too overwhelming? Any help much is appreciated! Thanks Van.
P.S. Authoring with DVD-A 1.0d

Comments

bStro wrote on 1/5/2005, 9:02 AM

Is this menu that I'm using just too overwhelming?

No, sounds like a disc problem to me. What brand and type (DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW?) of disc did you use? Have the players in question been able to successfully read that brand and type before? Do you have access to any other brands that you can try instead? Sometimes even using a different type will work.

And, finally, you could try using another burning program to burn the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders to a disc. DVDA's burning component is known to be a culprit, though usually if it screws up, the disc is not readable at all.

Rob

vanatomy wrote on 1/5/2005, 9:52 AM

Thanks Rob. I'm using Fuji DVD+R discs. I've authored other discs of this type with static menus and they are recognized right away, that's why I thought it could be a menu problem. BTW ever since I updated to DVDA 1.0d I am no longer able to write to RW discs. I brought this up a while ago in this forum and the problem although acknowledge here by several has never been resolved and I've been burning RWs with Nero. Guess I'll try another brand of +R.

Avanti wrote on 1/5/2005, 10:28 AM

Before you do that.
What bitrate did you use?
Do you have a label on the DVD?
What brand and model is your player?

vanatomy wrote on 1/5/2005, 10:53 AM

Thanks CCB, When I set up the disc prep and burn I chose the optimize button and maxed out the birate (9.8 Mbps) even though the default was set at 8.0. No label on the disc and it is a three year-old Phillips player. I'm not at home right now so I don't have the model, will check later. Could the optimize step be at fault? I just assumed that as long as there was room on the disc why not max-out?

Avanti wrote on 1/5/2005, 11:00 AM

Your problem is the too high bitrate used. (9.8) Most set top players can't play that.

Most people will tell you not to go over 8mps, espically if you use pcm audio.

I always use AC-3, and depending on project I push the 8 limit, but not over 9

vanatomy wrote on 1/5/2005, 11:18 AM

Thanks a million CCB!! I'll re-set. Looks like you've saved me from a lot of frustration and coasters.

Van

bStro wrote on 1/5/2005, 12:26 PM

Nice catch. I never think to ask about bitrate... I'm just so used to the problem being DVDA's burning component.

Yeah -- 9.8Mbps is way to high.

Rob

vanatomy wrote on 1/5/2005, 12:46 PM

Guess I thought that when you "optimize" bigger is always better...guess NOT! Thanks guys.

John_Cline wrote on 1/5/2005, 12:46 PM

9.8 Mbps is the absolute MAXIMUM of both the audio and video combined. It's usually best to keep the maximum somewhat below that because most MPEG2 encoders will overshoot their set maximum bitrate every so often, particularly during scenes with a lot of motion. A max of 8 Mbps for the video is usually safe.

John