ENCORE to DVD PLAYER COMPATIBILITY???

Rick Meyer

Rick Meyer

Veteran
I exported my sisters wedding video using ENCORE 1.5 on DVD-R Maxell Printable Discs as an MPEG file.

I have tried to view these DVDs on stand-alone DVD players with NO luck. I have tried it on a total of 4 stand-alone players...it wasn't recognized on any of them. On one player, the error message read "Not a Clean Disc"....

However, when I play this DVD on a stand-alone Divx player, it reads fine (I've bought two different Divx players). What the F?!?!?! And, it reads fine on any computer I've tried.

So, it doesn't seem to be compatible with ANY stand-alone players. Does anyone have some troubleshooting advice for me? When I look at the file structure on the DVD all that is visible is a VIDEO folder as opposed to having a separate VIDEO folder and AUDIO folder. Might this have something to do with it? I didn't think so because the AUDIO is on the DVD so it must be nested in with the VIDEO file.

Anyone have this problem? Suggestions?

Thanks!

Rick
 
Before I brought the file into ENCORE...I exported the file as an AVI from PREMIERE making sure to click PROGRESSIVE scan....

Could this have anything to do with it? Could it be that I should have left the INTERLACED box checked (even though I used 30p)?

Could it be that I used 4 older DVD players? Confusing...because the odds that none of those will run the DVD and the stand-alone Divx players, played it fine...

Rick
 
Hi Rick,

Does Encore encode the AVI file to an MPEG file? I don't think most DVD player will play an AVI file.

You may have to encode it as an MPEG file before you bring it into ENCORE.
 
ChuckS said:
Hi Rick,

Does Encore encode the AVI file to an MPEG file? I don't think most DVD player will play an AVI file.

You may have to encode it as an MPEG file before you bring it into ENCORE.
Click to expand...

Chuck...I was under the impression that I set ENCORE up to encode the AVI as an MPEG when all was said and done. But, you might be onto something here! I'll bet it has something to do with this...I am going to try to export this file as an MPEG from PREMIERE! Thanks!

Rick
 
Hi Rick,
From what I can see you posting here, it looks like you encoded an MPEG file then burned the FILE do the DVD. If that is true, then you will have a hard time finding a player that will work.

What you need to do is bring the AVI file into Encore, transcode it, create a timeline in encore with the transcoded file the burn the DVD, not an MPEG.
 
rlm,
I don't think it a AVI-MPEG2 issue. Personally, I use PPro to generate the mpeg file and bring that into Encore but it should work either way. The reason I generate the mpeg file in PPro is to eliminate the intermediate generation of rendering to DV and then DV to Mpeg2 in Encore.

When you import the AVI, how does the asset look in Encore? Does it show a status of 'unencoded' or 'untranscoded' (can't remember the exact wording)? If so, when you build the DVD, you should see Encore transcoding the video to mpeg2 and the audo to AC3 prior to burning the DVD. You can also force it to transcode immediately by right-clicking on the asset and selecting 'transcode now'.

I don't use your exact workflow but it should work your way, too. I've had no problems with using the Adobe Media Encoder in PPro to generate seperate meg2 video and wave audio files and then Encore to build the DVD. By now I've had DVDs run on hundreds of players with no complaints. So if you can, try using that workflow.

I really suspect that it something else going on with your DVD. Are you using any advanced DVD features like motion menus or motion backgrounds? I assume you've used Encore to run an error check to make sure all the links and settnigs are correct? There was a 1.5.1 update to Encore. Are you running that? If not, it may contain an undocumented fix that might help. Also, when you burn the DVD, try burning at a slower speed than what the media and buner are rated for. In other words, if the media is rate for 16x, try burning at 8x. Try a different brand of media.

Hope that helps,
Dan
 
Man-

You guys are awesome. I'm loving the feedback.

Here's the latest...I went into my original ENCORE project...and re-exported it, almost the same way...I changed the audio settings. Instead of using PCM, I used MPEG...I honestly didn't think that would work...

I brought the discs to my buddies...he has 3 stand-alone players...the original worked in 2 of them...the new version worked in all 3. What the F? Could it be the audio settings that are confusing the final product???

I mean, my original disc did not work in ONE SINGLE DVD PLAYER...I tried 4 last week with no luck whatsoever. Now all of a sudden, its working in my buddies...could it be a freaking DVD player compatibility issue...an AUDIO PCM/MPEG issue???

Confused in Kingston-
Rick
 
Sorry this isn't much help, I have not used Encore. I spoke up becuase I use Adobe Media Encoder all the time to create an MPEG2 file and just burn that to a DVD -R that plays fine in regular DVD players. I don't author them at all.
 
IMO, the best way to maximize the compability on burned DVD's are:

- Lower the bit rate on the video, max 6 mbps or lower
- Burn the DVD at low speed, 1X or max 2X
- Use good media, Verbatim or Maxell (I prefer DVD-R over DVD+R)
- Never ever use PCM audio, use Dolby Digital (Dolby Digital is the default encoding option in Encore)

Yes, it sucks to burn the DVD @ 1X instead @ 8X but it is worth the wait imo. :)

/Roger
 
Well, I am going to overnight the new DVD to my sister in Cali. If it works, I will wash my hands of this mystery. I am beginning to think it was just poor luck...that 4 oldtime DVD players just happened to cross my path last week...and the unfortunate use of PCM audio.

Thanks again for the feedback guys (and gals). As always, you were very helpful...

Rick
 
All right!!! What the F?!?!?!?! I re-exported the DVD. The first version had PCM audio. It would not play in my brother in laws X-BOX. Frankly, It doesnt matter what the stand-alone player is for what I am about to say...

I re-exported the DVD twice and didn't change a thing except one version was encoded with DOLBY DIGITAL, the other had MPEG sound. I sent it overnight to my sister and brother-in-law. The audio IS part of the problem because the original wouldn't even spin. These two versions played...they said the video looked beautiful...the music...where the was music sounded great....but...and here is the kicker...there was NO OTHER SOUND. NO VOICES?!?!?!?!?! How the hell can that be? All Video=1 folder. All Audio= another freaking folder.

There are some spots where people are being interviewed...talking directly to the camera etc...according to my sister and brother-in-law...video looks beautiful...music sounds great...but can't here the freaking people talking!?!?!?

Are you freaking kidding me?!?!? I can't even fathom how to troubleshoot this one....

Anybody? Bueller.....Bueller....
 
rlm7189 said:
There are some spots where people are being interviewed...talking directly to the camera etc...according to my sister and brother-in-law...video looks beautiful...music sounds great...but can't here the freaking people talking!?!?!?
Click to expand...
This is a long shot:
Is the interviews recorded in mono or stereo? I guess they are recorded in stereo and that the left and right channel are out of phase and your sister and brother-in-law are wathcing the video on a tv that can play back mono only.

Any stereo audio that are out of phase played back on a mono-system "dissapear" because the channels, left and right, cancel each other out.

Do you have Adobe Audition?

EDIT: Can you hear the interviews when you play the burned DVD?
 
Last edited:
Averdahl-

Thanks for the response. As of yet, I still haven't solved the problem and plan to troubleshoot it all day until I figure it out...

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND TO RECAP...YES...the DVDs play perfectly fine on my TV. As I mentioned...I burned 3 versions...the codec did not change...it was ALWAYS MPEG...but the audio, in one version was PCM, another version was MPEG, and the other is DOLBY DIGITAL. That seemed to make a huge difference. The original version encoded with PCM audio did not work on their DVD player (they are using an X-BOX and 42" flat LCD TV). The DVD didn't even spin. They said, the MPEG and DOLBY versions looked beautiful. However, the could hear the music but couldn't hear the voices. So, I am convinced that the WAY I encode the audio is paramount to whether or not the final version will be playable.

So, to answer the other question...I believe it was recorded in Stereo. Admittedly, I owned this camera a short time before the wedding. So, I bought a AT-4073a, made sure my levels were hot enough and started shooting.

They are in Cali (3 hours earlier than here) so when they get up...I will call them to see if they have Stereo vs. Mono settings on their TV and/or DVD player.

Thanks so much for the advice....the STEREO VS MONO thing makes a lot of sense...

Rick
UPDATE: Averdahl...I tested your theory on my TV...I couldnt switch my audio settings from STEREO to MONO but I could set the balance all the way to one side...which retained all of the music audio information and resulted in muted vocal audio. Problem solved right? Call my sister and have her play with her TVs audio settings? Well....I just got off the phone with my sister. She is using a Panasonic flat screen rear-projection 1080i TV with an X-BOX DVD player. She swears that her TV is set to STEREO and that the balance settings is correct. Yet...still, music audio is fine. Vocal audio is muted.
 
Last edited:
rlm7189 said:
UPDATE: Averdahl...I tested your theory on my TV...I couldnt switch my audio settings from STEREO to MONO but I could set the balance all the way to one side...which retained all of the music audio information and resulted in muted vocal audio. Problem solved right?
Click to expand...
So, if you mute all audio in PPro but the vocal audio, do you hear the vocals in the left, right or both speakers?

The AT4073a is a mono mic. How did you connect it to the camera, had the camera XLR inputs or did you use a adapter, such as a BechTek?

Can you post a screen dump of your Timeline and Audio Mixer in PPro? Can you send me a PM with a link so i can download a couple of seconds (5-10) of the vocals only. Can you send me a PM with a link so i can download a couple of seconds (5-10) of all audio but the vocals.

It still indicates that there is a phase issue somewhere since the audio plays back fine on one system and some parts of the audio dissapears on another system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top