grifffrombridgeport
Level 1 (8 points)
iLife

Q: When I use my super drive to record DVDs, it plays on my IMac but not on my dvd player.  Am I doing something wrong or just not doing something?

When I use my super drive to record DVDs, it plays on my IMac but not on my dvd player.  Am I doing something wrong or just not doing something?

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), iOS 9.3.3, USB Super Drive

Posted on Jul 29, 2016 9:10 AM

by Old Toad,Solvedanswer
Old Toad Old Toad
Level 10 (140,881 points)
Photos for Mac
A:

All you are doing is creating a data disc with the mp4 view file on it.  That will only play on computers.

 

If you want a video DVD disk that will play on set top DVD player on TV sets you need a video DVD authoring application.  iDVD is/was Apple's video DVD authoring app that we've used for many years.  I was dropped nearly 5 years ago and is no longer supported.  That being said it is the best authoring app for Macs still around but only available from online retailers like Amazon.com or eBay.com.

 

There are 3rd party applications available from the App Store that can create video DVD discs.  They can't make as a professional looking disk as iDVD but can make simple disks that will play as you want.  Some have a free version that is limited in themes but can do the job.

 

If you want to obtain and use iDVD see the following:

 

If iDVD was not preinstalled on your Mac you'll have to obtain it by purchasing a copy of the iLife 09 disk from a 3rd party retailier like Amazon.com: ilife 09: Software or eBay.com.  Why, because iDVD (and iWeb) was discontinued by Apple over 5 years ago.

 

Why iLife 09 instead of 11?

 

If you have to purchase an iLife disc in order to obtain the iDVD application remember that the iLife 11 disc only provides  themes from iDVD 5-7.  The Software Update no longer installs the earlier themes when starting from the iLIfe 11 disk nor do any of the iDVD 7 updaters available from the Apple Downloads website contain them.

 

Currently the only sure fire way to get all themes is to start with the iLife 09 disc:


Installer002.jpg

 

This shows the iDVD contents in the iLife 09 disc via Pacifist:

 

Pacifist001.jpg

 

You then can upgrade from iDVD 7.0.3 to iDVD 7.1.2 via the updaters at the Apple Downloads webpage.

 

Export the slideshow out of iPhoto as a QT movie file via the Export button in the lower toolbar.  Select Size = Medium or Large.

 

Open iDVD, select a theme and drag the exported QT movie file into the open iDVD window being careful to avoid any drop zones.

 

Follow this workflow 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.

OTsig.png

Posted on Jul 30, 2016 10:01 AM

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grifffrombridgeport

Q: When I use my super drive to record DVDs, it plays on my IMac but not on my dvd player.  Am I doing something wrong or just n ... more

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  • Helpful answers

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Jul 29, 2016 9:12 AM in response to grifffrombridgeport
    Level 5 (6,712 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 29, 2016 9:12 AM in response to grifffrombridgeport

    what are you recording? how are you recording it? what format? what application? what are you trying to play back on?

  • by grifffrombridgeport,

    grifffrombridgeport grifffrombridgeport Jul 30, 2016 9:21 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Jul 30, 2016 9:21 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    I used my Sony Handicam to record my granddaughter's dance competition and downloaded it straight from my camcorder to Play Memories Home on my IMac .  It is in a MP4 format.  I edited the film and went to Finder and selected Burn and after it said complete I watched it on my IMac, it was perfect.  I then put it in my Sony DVD player and it said unreadable data.

  • by Old Toad,Solvedanswer

    Old Toad Old Toad Jul 30, 2016 10:01 AM in response to grifffrombridgeport
    Level 10 (140,881 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 30, 2016 10:01 AM in response to grifffrombridgeport

    All you are doing is creating a data disc with the mp4 view file on it.  That will only play on computers.

     

    If you want a video DVD disk that will play on set top DVD player on TV sets you need a video DVD authoring application.  iDVD is/was Apple's video DVD authoring app that we've used for many years.  I was dropped nearly 5 years ago and is no longer supported.  That being said it is the best authoring app for Macs still around but only available from online retailers like Amazon.com or eBay.com.

     

    There are 3rd party applications available from the App Store that can create video DVD discs.  They can't make as a professional looking disk as iDVD but can make simple disks that will play as you want.  Some have a free version that is limited in themes but can do the job.

     

    If you want to obtain and use iDVD see the following:

     

    If iDVD was not preinstalled on your Mac you'll have to obtain it by purchasing a copy of the iLife 09 disk from a 3rd party retailier like Amazon.com: ilife 09: Software or eBay.com.  Why, because iDVD (and iWeb) was discontinued by Apple over 5 years ago.

     

    Why iLife 09 instead of 11?

     

    If you have to purchase an iLife disc in order to obtain the iDVD application remember that the iLife 11 disc only provides  themes from iDVD 5-7.  The Software Update no longer installs the earlier themes when starting from the iLIfe 11 disk nor do any of the iDVD 7 updaters available from the Apple Downloads website contain them.

     

    Currently the only sure fire way to get all themes is to start with the iLife 09 disc:


    Installer002.jpg

     

    This shows the iDVD contents in the iLife 09 disc via Pacifist:

     

    Pacifist001.jpg

     

    You then can upgrade from iDVD 7.0.3 to iDVD 7.1.2 via the updaters at the Apple Downloads webpage.

     

    Export the slideshow out of iPhoto as a QT movie file via the Export button in the lower toolbar.  Select Size = Medium or Large.

     

    Open iDVD, select a theme and drag the exported QT movie file into the open iDVD window being careful to avoid any drop zones.

     

    Follow this workflow 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.

    OTsig.png

  • by grifffrombridgeport,

    grifffrombridgeport grifffrombridgeport Jul 30, 2016 10:13 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Jul 30, 2016 10:13 AM in response to Old Toad

    Thank you for your help