DVD write questions, please

Hello,
Warning! These are beginner questions. Yes, I am a moron when it comes
to desktop video, but I am learning. I am editing video and wish to write
it to DVD's to be played in a DVD player, as well as, on the computer. I am
really confused by DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW. Which do I want, or
does it matter? I have Roxio on one computer and Sonic on the other. Both
will get it onto the DVD, but I can't play them back on my DVD player. My
Sonic sofware makes me format the DVD's before writing to them, and it has
an option for "make compatible". How come my Roxio does not have these
options. Please give me suggestions before I pull all my hair out! THANKS
so much in advance!
Mommio

Mommio2 wrote:
> Hello,
> Warning! These are beginner questions. Yes, I am a moron when it
> comes to desktop video, but I am learning. I am editing video and
> wish to write it to DVD's to be played in a DVD player, as well as,
> on the computer. I am really confused by DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and
> DVD-RW. Which do I want, or does it matter? I have Roxio on one
> computer and Sonic on the other. Both will get it onto the DVD, but
> I can't play them back on my DVD player. My Sonic sofware makes me
> format the DVD's before writing to them, and it has an option for
> "make compatible". How come my Roxio does not have these options. Please
> give me suggestions before I pull all my hair out! THANKS so
> much in advance! Mommio

Mommio,
I can't answer, but just commiserate. I once created a DVD-R which plays
fine in the PC, but not on a DVD player. I have tried since to *not* do it
again, since once a DVD-R is created you can't record over the top of it, so
it becomes a coaster.

I think I finally resolved it by using Ulead Movie Factory - which came with
my DVD RW drive, In this software, you have to specify DVD-Video as the
output medium. It then works fine on both the PC and the DVD player. One
clue is that it must create .vob files. Even then, some will not play - my
coaster states that they are .vob files

I actually don't think it matters what the medium is, provided the DVD
player is modern enough to play that format - check the instruction book of
the DVD player. When I got a few more ideas, I wrote a video to DVD-RW using
ULead and it played it on the DVD player. I then used the same software to
copy it, this time to DVD-R and it also played on the same DVD player. I
have yet to try it on DVD+R. If my DVD player won't play it, then I'll have
another coaster!!

One thing I found is that software which does a copy DVD to DVD doesn't
always create a DVD that will play in a DVD player.

I don't know about formatting, It is good to be able to format a RW disk as
it erases the previous contents. I don't know why you (or the software)
would need to do it with a write once disk (DVD-R or DVD+R)
--
Cheers,
Trevor L.
Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au

Thanks, Trev! The one good thing about all this (my growing coaster
collection) is that it is a learning experience! I may just try Ulead.
Appreciate your help!
Mommio

"Trevor L." <tandcl@homemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:u3ZtkQTAGHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Mommio2 wrote:
>> Hello,
>> Warning! These are beginner questions. Yes, I am a moron when it
>> comes to desktop video, but I am learning. I am editing video and
>> wish to write it to DVD's to be played in a DVD player, as well as,
>> on the computer. I am really confused by DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and
>> DVD-RW. Which do I want, or does it matter? I have Roxio on one
>> computer and Sonic on the other. Both will get it onto the DVD, but
>> I can't play them back on my DVD player. My Sonic sofware makes me
>> format the DVD's before writing to them, and it has an option for
>> "make compatible". How come my Roxio does not have these options. Please
>> give me suggestions before I pull all my hair out! THANKS so
>> much in advance! Mommio
>
> Mommio,
> I can't answer, but just commiserate. I once created a DVD-R which plays
> fine in the PC, but not on a DVD player. I have tried since to *not* do it
> again, since once a DVD-R is created you can't record over the top of it,
> so it becomes a coaster.
>
> I think I finally resolved it by using Ulead Movie Factory - which came
> with my DVD RW drive, In this software, you have to specify DVD-Video as
> the output medium. It then works fine on both the PC and the DVD player.
> One clue is that it must create .vob files. Even then, some will not
> play - my coaster states that they are .vob files
>
> I actually don't think it matters what the medium is, provided the DVD
> player is modern enough to play that format - check the instruction book
> of the DVD player. When I got a few more ideas, I wrote a video to DVD-RW
> using ULead and it played it on the DVD player. I then used the same
> software to copy it, this time to DVD-R and it also played on the same DVD
> player. I have yet to try it on DVD+R. If my DVD player won't play it,
> then I'll have another coaster!!
>
> One thing I found is that software which does a copy DVD to DVD doesn't
> always create a DVD that will play in a DVD player.
>
> I don't know about formatting, It is good to be able to format a RW disk
> as it erases the previous contents. I don't know why you (or the software)
> would need to do it with a write once disk (DVD-R or DVD+R)
> --
> Cheers,
> Trevor L.
> Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au
>

"Mommio2" <mommio2@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:epDHW8SAGHA.1616@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
> Warning! These are beginner questions. Yes, I am a moron when it
> comes to desktop video, but I am learning. I am editing video and wish to
> write it to DVD's to be played in a DVD player, as well as, on the
> computer. I am really confused by DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW.
> Which do I want, or does it matter? I have Roxio on one computer and
> Sonic on the other. Both will get it onto the DVD, but I can't play them
> back on my DVD player.

First, some DVD players are particular about the type of media they will
play (dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd+rw, dvd-rw etc.)
It should tell you in the dvd manual which types it will play. I personally
don't use any of the rw types, as they seem to cause a lot more problems
than the -r or +r types.
If you are using rw type, they may have to be formatted. The old cd-rw ones
did.
Do the dvds you have burned play on your computer? and not your dvd player,
or not play on anything.
If they play on the computer, and not the DVD player, it may very well be
the media type you are using. I advise not using rw types at all, since
dvd-r and dvd+r are so cheap now.




My
> Sonic sofware makes me format the DVD's before writing to them, and it has
> an option for "make compatible". How come my Roxio does not have these
> options. Please give me suggestions before I pull all my hair out!
> THANKS so much in advance!
> Mommio
>

Thanks! They do play on the computer.


"Burgy" <burgy@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message
news:tafof.190944$tD4.48139@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com ...
>
> "Mommio2" <mommio2@insightbb.com> wrote in message
> news:epDHW8SAGHA.1616@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> Hello,
>> Warning! These are beginner questions. Yes, I am a moron when it
>> comes to desktop video, but I am learning. I am editing video and wish
>> to write it to DVD's to be played in a DVD player, as well as, on the
>> computer. I am really confused by DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW.
>> Which do I want, or does it matter? I have Roxio on one computer and
>> Sonic on the other. Both will get it onto the DVD, but I can't play them
>> back on my DVD player.
>
> First, some DVD players are particular about the type of media they will
> play (dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd+rw, dvd-rw etc.)
> It should tell you in the dvd manual which types it will play. I
> personally don't use any of the rw types, as they seem to cause a lot more
> problems than the -r or +r types.
> If you are using rw type, they may have to be formatted. The old cd-rw
> ones did.
> Do the dvds you have burned play on your computer? and not your dvd
> player, or not play on anything.
> If they play on the computer, and not the DVD player, it may very well be
> the media type you are using. I advise not using rw types at all, since
> dvd-r and dvd+r are so cheap now.
>
>
>
>
> My
>> Sonic sofware makes me format the DVD's before writing to them, and it
>> has an option for "make compatible". How come my Roxio does not have
>> these options. Please give me suggestions before I pull all my hair out!
>> THANKS so much in advance!
>> Mommio
>>
>
>

What is the make and model of your standalone DVD player?
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies, Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows


"Mommio2" <mommio2@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:epDHW8SAGHA.1616@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
> Warning! These are beginner questions. Yes, I am a moron when it
> comes to desktop video, but I am learning. I am editing video and wish to
> write it to DVD's to be played in a DVD player, as well as, on the
> computer. I am really confused by DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW.
> Which do I want, or does it matter? I have Roxio on one computer and
> Sonic on the other. Both will get it onto the DVD, but I can't play them
> back on my DVD player. My Sonic sofware makes me format the DVD's before
> writing to them, and it has an option for "make compatible". How come my
> Roxio does not have these options. Please give me suggestions before I
> pull all my hair out! THANKS so much in advance!
> Mommio
>