Complete newbie looking for a steer

I am new to DVDs and to Dvd Re Make Pro 3.6.3. Looking at it with a DVD I have created on my new DVD recorder, I am hunting in vain for information. Here are a few very basic questions to start with.

1 When I download the User Guide (for 3.1.3) running the .chm file produces an index on the left, but a blank pane on the right only containing an initial error message ("Navigation to the web page was cancelled"). Whatever I do produces nothing else in the right hand pane. Any ideas?

2 I assume from what I have read that I can do what I want, namely to take the DVD which I have created as one long programme and split it up into smaller sub-programmes (chapters?) so that I can select any of them to view. Can someone confirm this please.

3 When completed, does this software update the existing physical disc, or do you have to burn a new blank DVD?

Hopefully it will gradually become clear, but please bear with me if I ask some really daft questions at first because, as I say, I am completely new to DVDs (I have not even had a DVD player until now).

regards

Albert near London in England

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Last edited by albertd; 23-01-2008 at 11:32.

Further queries.

Where can I find an explanation of the various abbreviations used (such as VMG and PGC - but any others as well)?

Also where can I find an explanation of what all the various main menu options are about?

It seems to be quite difficult to find information about using this software.

Just tried it again (for the umpteenth time) and it worked, so maybe I have a bit more (albeit old) information.

2. Yes, you can split one big program into smaller programs. But I'm sure that a DVD recorder has an option to set the length of time (e.g. 5 minutes) a chapter is to be created.

3. You have to burn to a new blank DVD. DvdReMake is an editing program, not a burning program, so you have to use other burning software to burn the exported DVD to disc.

Menu options and abbreviations are explained in the manual.

Thanks for your reply. I am still very confused by this software, and am not sure I fully understand your reply.
That suggests that I should be able to set chapters of a fixed length, but what I want to do is split the programme up into numerous bits of varying length. I have already recorded it as one 90 minute continuous block - should I have recorded it as lots of little bits?

So if I have to use something else to burn the DVD, how do I persuade the two software packages to talk to each other?
Is there a standard file extension known to this package which is understood by DVD burning packages?

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As I said, I am a complete novice and I have little idea of what I am talking about - but I do want to learn.

Sure, you can split the video block into many various lengths. Here's a guide: http://www.dimadsoft.com/dvdremakepr...rt_chapter.php

Once you export the DVD, use the burning software to burn the DVD files (IFO, BUP, VOB). I'd recommend use imgburn to burn. It is free, compact, and is really good at what it does. Basically, all you do is select the folder containing the DVD files and burn away. There are guides on how to use it HERE.

OK, I followed all that (I think) though I didn't really understand the bit about the menu at the end. However, I reduced the overall length of the project to four blocks with a new chapter on the 3rd. I exported the project to a folder in My Documents and when it had finished I had 6 files, two each of BUP, IFO and VOP.I downloaded imgburn 2.3.2.0 and tried to use it as you suggested. When I got to the bit where you said 'select the folder' it was not interested and wanted a file. Which file should it be? It didn't like VIDEO_TS.IFO which was the only one to show and produced a rather terse message saying that if I didn't read the guides I would just produce coasters!

I managed to create a .ISO file which I attempted to burn, but it failed to verify (so that is one coaster!!).

I am really thrashing about in the dark here, particularly as the guide to imgburn which you linked failed to open.



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Edit:

I have managed to read the guides now and have tried again using the guide "Burning DVD Video files directly to single layer media with ImgBurn" and followed the instructions carefully. The only oddity was when I got to the bit where it says "The 'Min. Req. Media' text should match what you're trying to burn onto. As this is the 'single layer' guide, it should read something like 'DVD+-R/RW'." It didn't say "DVD", it said "CD", though I had a -RW DVD in the drive and it is a DVD writing drive. Anyway I continued and it went right through the writing procedure and then failed when it got to the "Synchronising Cache" phase, giving an error of:

Synchronise Cache failed!

Device: [1.1.0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-16335 B9S3.....................?



Oops - lost the rest as I pressed the wrong key trying to copy the details.

Does this give you any ideas?

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Last edited by albertd; 24-01-2008 at 18:17. Reason: Further info

Tried it again with the original full sized version and this time it did say DVD, so maybe it doesn't correctly recognise it as DVD when it is small enough to fit on a CD???Still got the error, and this time I wrote it down before I lost it!

"Synchronise Cache failed!

Device: [1.1.0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-16335 B9S3 (F:) (ATA)

Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out"

This is a burning issue now. Probably due to your burner or media used. Make sure that your burner's firmware is up-to-date and that you're using good quality media. Select the Device tab and paste the info here. Someone else may have a better idea. Also, you'll probably get better help in posting in the Imgburn forum, or in the dedicated Lite-On forum. My guess is your burner is having problem closing the session at the end of burn.

The media is Philips DVD-RW 1-4x.
Philips is a respected name here in Europe.I don't know how to do that, unless you are talking about the Imgburn version which presumably is the latest having downloaded it today.This is getting horribly technical for me, but here goes:

LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1633S B9S3 (ATA)
Current Profile: DVD-RW

Disc Information:
Status: Empty
Erasable: Yes
Free Sectors: 2,297,888
Free Space: 4,706,074,624 bytes
Free Time: 510:40:38 (MM:SS:FF)
Supported Write Speeds: 2x, 4x

Pre-recorded Information:
Manufacturer ID: MBI01RWG 20

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Book Type: DVD-RW
Part Version: 3
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 0
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

Current Format Capacity:
Sectors: 2,297,888
Size: 4,706,074,624 bytes
Time: 510:40:38 (MM:SS:FF)

Preferred Format Capacity:
Sectors: 2,297,888
Size: 4,706,074,624 bytes
Time: 510:40:38 (MM:SS:FF)

Maximum Format Capacity:
Sectors: 2,297,888
Size: 4,706,074,624 bytes
Time: 510:40:38 (MM:SS:FF)

Philips is just a brand name. What's important is the Manufacturing ID (MID) and your posted MID is just mediocre. Your drive's firmware is B9S3, which is very old I think. The latest one is BS0Y. You can download the firmware here: http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=1934 Make sure there's no media in the drive before upgrading. Latest firmware often supports more media types, better writing strategies, and bug fixes.

Are you burning to DVD-RW just for testing? You may want to test burning to DVD+R to see if everything goes smoothly. The recommended media are Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden - very reliable and good quality.

Noted. How can I find out (without bothering you) if a particular MID is considered to be good, bad or mediocre as I have no idea if Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden are available around here.?I downloaded it, virus checked it, unzipped it and ran it - and it said that it was not for my drive. It said it was for LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1633S and that I had LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1633S B9S3 which it somehow seems to think is different.No, I am using DVD-RW because that is one of the formats supported by my Samsung DVD Recorder. The others are DVD-R and DVD-RAM.

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Just curious - which side of the Atlantic are you?

Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden can be purchased online if not found in stores. As far as quality goes, these 2 are the most recommended around here. You can tell how good your burn is by doing a disc quality scan: http://www.cdspeed2000.com/ The lower the PI/PO numbers, the better. The Media forum has all these info.

Isn't that the same drive? The B9S3 is the firmware version. You're updating to BS0Y version. Your drive is internal IDE right? You can also get the latest firmware from here: http://us.liteonit.com/us/index.php?...per&Itemid=153

I'm on the left side.

I have got some Verbatim DVD-R disks now, but I have not yet had time to experiment, and am not sure if I should until I have sorted this firmware problem you are describing.I have no idea about 'IDE' or anything, the drive is built in to my PC and I know little about it. When I try to use the firmware update (from either source - they are the same) I get the message as shown by this graphic: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/albertd/ErrorMessage.jpg

Suggest you visit the forums I mentioned in post #9. More knowledgeable members will be able to help you out as I have no clue.

OK, thanks. If I solve this, I will let you know the result.

I found a thread describing almost exactly the same thing, but it looks horribly technical to me (I am an old man brought up in the age of pencils) so I am too scared to proceed with it. See http://tinyurl.com/3b2qsd.

I don't know what I can do now. I just wanted to try and update a DVD, and I find myself embroiled in a nightmare of technicalities involving the inside of my computer. Not what I expected when I first started this thread, I thought I was just going to need advice on using the editing software.

I understand if you're scared to proceed. If you don't know what you're doing and not following directions carefully, you may inadvertently make the drive dead.

How 'bout this, try to burn with Verbatim DVD-R, and see how it turns out. Another alternative is to use a different burning software, like Nero, or whatever you have in your PC.

Even if you do follow instructions carefully (with anything - like cookery) things can all go wrong because, unfortunately, the instructions might not make the procedure crystal clear.I might do that, I will see.At that price, I don't think so. Not sure what I have in the PC, I do have something called Sonic Record Now Version 7, but it doesn't seem to do DVDs except for data.

I tried burning to a Verbatim DVD-R and it worked OK. I was careful to use fairly low speed (the disks are marked x16, imgburn said up to x8, so I used x4).

The resulting disk plays on my DVD Recorder and appears to be a replica of my original, so maybe I am starting to get somewhere.

What I need to get to grips with now is how to make sure that I am setting up chapters OK (I have the guide and hope I understand it) and how to go about setting up a usable menu to select each chapter individually when I am playing it. The current menu is as originally set up by my DVD Recorder and I don't seem to be able modify it much.

I am struggling to understand what this http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/albertd/DomainMenu.jpg all means and how it ties up with all the other things - it does seem to be the heart of this software. The names and the jargon are so foreign to me.

Sorry if I am being a real nuisance, but I do want to master this.

Since I sent my last post, I have done a lot of printing from the 3.1.3 User Guide - the whole of the Reference section. I find it easier to study from paper than from screen. So I have a lot of reading to do.

Glad it works for you. This suggests that the Philips media is low quality and that you need a firmware update since Imgburn says that it can only burn up to 8x on a 16x media. The firmware contains all the supported media, burning speed, and writing strategies. Imgburn just reads off what the firmware reports. Even if you use Nero or other burning software, it will probably say the same thing. Burning at 4x, even 6x, is good on a 8x media. I usually don't burn at maximum rated speed just to be safe.

Yep, the manual explains all these terminologies. DVD-Replica explains the whole DVD structure and VM (virtual machine) commands in details, though some of the info are incorrect, but you don't have to worry about that. Being able to grasp all this will help you a lot in the future, and it does take time.

btw, the Title menu is highlighted in red, what does the popup error message say?

At least I can answer that one .

The DVD Recorder sets up a menu structure with six buttons, five of which are blank in this instance. The error referred to the fact that the five had no links to the video.

I am gradually getting to grips with DvdReMakePro, but I still have some questions:

1 I have created a new set of buttons on a menu (in the VM Menus list) and those buttons are supposed to call up entries in the VMG Title Table, but have not fathomed out how to insert a background so that I can label the buttons.

2 The new menu is set up as VMG PGC2, the old one which the DVD recorder produced being PGC1.

In order to get the DVD Recorder to display this new menu, do I need to set First Play to end the Pre Commands with Jump VMG PGC 2?

I previously set VMG Menu PGC 2 to 'Title Menu', and I saw no effect - the old PGC 1 menu was displayed on the recorder.

3 What purpose is served by the Menus section of the VTS?

4 I am getting an error popup which I don't understand. VTS 1 Titles gives an error of 'Title 2 has no entry PGC set'. I don't know what that means, and I cannot see any difference between Title 2 and the others (I have 16 in all, matching the buttons in my new menu via the VMG Titles list).

5 Following Nos. 3 and 4, does it look as if I have even got the approach correct or is there a simpler way of linking buttons in menus to points within the video?

First, read HERE for a basic understanding of the menu structure.

You are just adding button rectangles, you're still missing the button texts in the background and the button/subpicture highlights. There are 2 ways of doing this:

1) If you prefer the DVD Recorder's menu, then export the menu background (Export frame in the Preview window), edit it with a graphic editor to add the new button text, save it as 24-bit BMP. To extract the button highlights (subpicture layer), use SubRip. Modify the bitmap and add in the button highlight (all you do is copy the existing button highlight and paste in new position). Save as 4-bit bitmap. Using Photoshop is very helpful in this scenario, but you can use any graphic tool you're comfortable with. With the menu background as background, the button highlight bitmap is in layer 1, you're able to see how everything looks.

Once you have both the menu background and the subpicture bitmap, use any authoring tool to convert it to a VOB, e.g. DvdLab (Pro).

OR you can follow this guide which makes use of free tools: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=99306 Part 2 of the guide pertains to you.

2) Use an authoring software to completely create a new menu. Freewares include DVD Styler, TitleWriter, GUI for DVDAuthor (GFD). Commercial ones are plenty.

From either approach, replace this menu over the original one in DvdReMake: http://www.dimadsoft.com/dvdremakepr..._menu_full.php In step 3 of the guide, instead of LinkTailPGC, use the original button command. With this, there's no need for menu in VMG PGC 2.

http://www.dvd-replica.com/DVD/vtsmguide.php - last paragraph. In addition, VTSM (Video Title Set Menu) domain can jump to VMG domain, and VMG domain can jump to any menu category of the VTSM domain.

Why is there a Title 2? Are you adding additional PGC to a VTS, as I don't see it in your DomainMenu.jpg? Are you still working on the same project? I thought you're just splitting into additional chapters and add buttons to point to these chapters.

Since you're linking to specific chapter, it is a lot easier to have the menu in VTSM and link the buttons to a specific chapter. In this case have First Play to reroute to this Root menu rather than the Title menu (which you can just blank).