Q: My dvds that are made from iDVD will not play in a standard dvd player. Can anyone help me?*

Yes that's the way it works.

Most probably You've created a DATA-DVD - a DVD with a .mpeg movie file on it.

Plays well on Computer

Not on DVD-players (especially some years old)

They need a VIDEO-DVD

This needs to be burned via a DVD-authoring program to

• create the special VIDEO-DVD structure on the DVD disk (Video_TS and Audio_TS folders at root level)

• the special sort of .mpeg2 code that DVD-playerss can read. Ordinary .mpeg code usually do not work.

So from FinalCut Express or Pro

Export as QuickTime .mov ! - NO QUICKTIME CONVERSION

Import this file into a new iDVD project

Save as a DiskImage

Test this so that it is OK

Burn it via Disk Util tool (Speed set down to x2)

Now test this new DVD in Your DVD-player.

Mine works always.

Yours Bengt W

Try simply clicking on the black/yellow Burn icon in iDVD (which works every time for me) and forget about going via a disk image.

If you load the DVD and stop it, look at it in Finder, Get Info, is it UDF format?  From iDVD it will be.

When You open the DVD icon - of Your burned DVD - then You see JUST

- one VIDEO_TS (folder) - and

- one AUDIO_TS (folder) (Empty - and must be so)

or do You see anything else ?

And

- Brand is OK

- Type is OK

- BURN SPEED (set down to x2)

And

- DiskImage - plays OK (or is it in this step the problem occures) ?

To make a DiskImage - is a vital way to find out when the problem occures !

Yours Bengt W

In post 1 he said the disk image plays. I have not had much success using Disk Utility to burn which is why I asked if burning direct from the iDVD project with the burn icon gave a playable DVD

If You have a Playable DiskImage

Then open Disk Util tool

Select the DiskImage

Press BURN

Insert the DVD - First when Mac asks for it

Then set down Burn Speed as low as possibly

I use Verbatim DVD-R (Single Layer) with exeptionally few problems.

If this doesn't work then I guess

• Dusty DVD-Burner in need of Cleaning DVD

• or Broken DVD-Burner (not rare problem as they are EASY to over-heat - I only burn three DVDs in a row then let it cool down for 30 minutes for next batch of three)

Good Luck

Yours Bengt W

Yes but the DVD is playable in the computer, so faulty equipment seems less likely than a bad setting. Broken or dirty burner would surely create a coaster?

Then the alternative is as I see it

• Not a VIDEO-DVD but a DATA-DVD - or -

• Burned on Cheap media - that may be Your Mac can read - but Standard DVD-player less tolerant

• Slightly bad burning - Still Mac can compensate - DVD-player not - Burn Speed / Dirt on DVD-burner-laser-lens

• DVD+/-RW - usually behaves like this - if they play at all

out of ideas !

BUT of course ! the obvious - No One has put any sticky LABLE on the DVD - If so it usually doesn't work at all or very sporadic - BUT CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE any DVD-player !

I NEVER - I print my DVD in a inc-jet printer (Epson) and they works OK

Yours Bengt W

To post an image, whilst composing the reply click on the camera icon and click choose, then upload. To take the screenshot hit cmd+shift+4.

Please try the direct burn from iDVD to eliminate any problems with image or disk utility. Its the iris icon that turns black and orange.

I am having the same exact problem but I have one additional possible clue. The first DVDs that I burned played fine on my BD/DVD player but subsequent ones do not. The difference may be that the first ones were set for Autoplay and the others were not. I made the later ones not-Autoplay by removing the content from the top space of the tree view of the project. I'm thinking that perhaps this also removed something the BD/DVD player needs to recognize the DVD that is not present in the initial menu screen. Any thoughts?

Did you get somewhere with this? My MacBook has also suddenly started to record unallowed DVD's.... I have the same settings I've always had and they worked just fine...

My MacBook has also suddenly started to record unallowed DVD's....

Could you please explain this in detail?  I have no idea how a Macbook could record DVDs by itself. 

Funny... Not useful but funny....

I push the burn button and only then the macbook burns the DVD, when I try to play it the message that I get is "Not allowed"

If you could help me it would be great!

I push the burn button

What burn button are you referring to?

when I try to play it

By "it" do you mean the video DVD that you burned?  Did try burn an iDVD project from within iDVD?    We can't see your computer so you'll have to describe exactly what you are doing before we can help.

the message that I get is "Not allowed"

When you mount the DVD disk and open it with the Finder what icon the disk?  The contents should look like this:

Does it?

Try following this workflow with your current project to help assure the best qualty video DVD:

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, 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.

Once the disk image is created double click on it to open and launch DVD Player to play the DVD.  Can you do that?