Irregular DVD playback (freezing) after "successful" burning

Question

Bandit2010 Author

Level 1

0 points

Irregular DVD playback (freezing) after "successful" burning

Hi - mortified I gave several DVDs to family members recently only to learn the DVD freezes in multiple locations. 😟 I don't get it. I created it in iMovie (old VHS tape I uploaded via Elgato), added sound, labels and still photos. Very extensive project as you can imagine. I then shared it with iDVD and created chapters, etc. I burned it onto a dual layer DVD. (It's a large project.) I made multiple copies of it, each burned via iDVD one at a time. I must have made 30 copies. I watched one with my mom on her DVD player (probably a year old) and it was perfect. But I've heard from many family members that the DVD freezes, stops, won't play.

In case it matters, I did the burning in two settings (including quitting iDVD in between the burnings), but apparently this is impacting both batches according to early reports.

I will also say that last year I made another similar (albeit much simpler!) DVD in the same manner. Sure enough, it freezes up during one of the later chapters.

Is this something specific to dual layer DVDs?

What sorts of questions should I be asking myself to begin solving this problem?

I am using OS 10.7.4. iMovie '11 (9.0.4) iDVD 7.1.2

I'm afraid I'm going to become the joke of the family whenever I show up with a disk in hand to give as a gift...

🙂

iMovie '11, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Aug 17, 2012 6:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Bengt Wärleby

Level 6

19,458 points

Aug 17, 2012 11:45 PM in response to Bandit2010

Hi

mortified I gave several DVDs to family members recently only to learn the DVD freezes in multiple locations.

• Use to be due to - Use of cheap DVD brand e.g. Memorex, Noname etc. I only use Verbatim

• Type of DVD used - DVD-R plays on more and even older DVD-players

• Burn speed not set down - I set it to x2 when making DVDs to others (iDVD pref/Advance at bottom)

I then shared it with iDVD and created chapters, etc.

• I Share to Media Browser and as LARGE (or Medium if audio get's problematic) NEVER - HD or other resolutions as this will degrade the final DVD result.

I burned it onto a dual layer DVD.

• DL-DVD is much more problematic than SL-DVDs and most of them makes a jump when changing layer. Some DVD-players handles this better or worse

In case it matters, I did the burning in two settings (including quitting iDVD in between the burnings), but apparently this is impacting both batches according to early reports.

• I do split the process into two stages

1. Encoding phase - Save as a DiskImage - and test this to be OK

2. Burn phase - by using Disk Util tool (x2 burn speed)

30 copies

• Do not burn more than three DVDs in a row - but let DVD-burner cool down for 30 minutes then burn next set of three. It is very easy to Overheat the laser and this will be an un-necesary repair.

Is this something specific to dual layer DVDs?

• Yes it's more problematic

What sorts of questions should I be asking myself to begin solving this problem?

• Have no idea. May be

- Free space on Start-up (Mac OS) hard disk - I never go under 25Gb - other hard disks of No interests at all - as the space must be on this one

- What Video-codecs, Photo file formats and Audio file formats is used.

Very often this is the real problem makers as .mp3 audio, .bmp photos and .avi material are used

I am using OS 10.7.4. iMovie '11 (9.0.4) iDVD 7.1.2

• Me too (except Mac OS - I use X.6.9)

Good Luck - Yours Bengt W

Reply

Answer 2

Bandit2010 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2012 9:57 PM in response to Bengt Wärleby

Hi - thanks for the great reply. I'm now using Verbatim DVD -R SL and splitting up the project. (Bummer.) I also cleaned up my hard drive a bit and moved some video projects onto an external hard drive in hopes of freeing up some space. I'm trying a lot of things just to make this work. Definitely also reducing the number I burn at one time.

Would you tell me a bit more about how you encode and burn? I shared it through Media Browser, then opened iDVD and added it to one of the standard themes, did the menus the way I wanted and am now burning the first one. But I don't think that is what you recommended above.

It looks like you are recommending 1) encoding through "File/Save as Disk Image," then 2) set Preferences to x2 in iDVD. Where does the Disk Utility tool come in?

When you test the encoded Disk Image, do you just hit Play in iDVD to see if it plays ok? Or is there another way you test your endoded product before burning?

Thank you!

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 4, 2012 11:01 PM in response to Bandit2010

OK

A. I prefer to use iMovie HD6 or FinalCut (any version).

Bi If I must use iMovie'08 to 11 (will cost in Picture Quality Whatever method used as they all discard every second line when going to project's and this can not be mended).

- Share to Media Browser and as Large (or Medium) - NOT HD or other resolutions as this too degrades the final result

- NEVER - Share to iDVD any version of iMovie

- Start a brand new iDVD project

- Import movie from Media / Movies

- Set Burn Speed in iDVD Pref/Advance to x2 or x4 (eventually obsolete)

- Make DVD look nice

- Set En-coding to Pro Quality

- Save as a DiskImage File Menu down (I save to DeskTop to be easy to find)

- Open the image file

- Test it with DVD-player tool (NOT in iDVD)

- If OK

- Open Disk Util tool

- Select the image file

- Burn

- NOW first insert New DVD on asking to do so

- NOW Set Burn Speed to x2 (x4)

This way works for me

If I lost a step - please TELL - so it goes all right.

Yours Bengt W

Reply

Answer 4

mishmumken

Level 5

4,000 points

Sep 6, 2012 1:32 AM in response to Bandit2010

Bandit2010 wrote:

When you test the encoded Disk Image, do you just hit Play in iDVD to see if it plays ok? Or is there another way you test your endoded product before burning?

Double-click the .img file to mount it. Launch DVD Player. Should play back automatically. It behaves exactly like an actual DVD except it doesn't spin and DVD Player doesn't automatically launch

Reply

Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

207,403 points

Sep 6, 2012 11:07 AM in response to Bandit2010

But I don't think that is what you recommended above.

Follow this workflow to help ensure the best quality final product. The disk image will allow you to burn additional disks at a later date without having to go thru the encoding process all over again.

Once you have the project as you want it save it as a disk image via the File ➙ Save as Disk Image menu option. This will separate the encoding process from the burn process.

To check the encoding mount the disk image and launch DVD Player and play it. If it plays OK with DVD Player the encoding is good.

Then burn to disk with Disk Utility or Toast at the slowest speed available (2x-4x) to assure the best burn quality. Always use top quality media: Verbatim, Maxell or Taiyo Yuden DVD-R are the most recommended in these forums.

OT

Reply