DL DVD layer break issue

I have a .img file I would like to burn to a DL disc. I did so with Disc Utility and it came out fine except at the layer break, where I lose a few seconds of footage (right at a vital point in the film, no less).
I tried opening the file in iDVD6 but it won't let me, and when I try to import the file to iDVD, it says "Unsupported File Type: Unknown Format."
This is my first Mac, and I've had it all of two weeks, so I'm just learning the ins and outs. I've searched in the forums, but haven't found anything to address my question, so if someone could explain how to open the file in iDVD or how to burn using Disc Utility and fix the layer break issue, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you.
MacBook 2 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Similar Messages

Layer Break Issues

Encore CS4 has been giving me issues with manually setting the layer break on dual-layer disks. I'd like to hear from everyone out there who is using CS4 to create DL disks with a manual layer break. Does Encore always ask where to set the break when you tell it to?

Hi Jim.
Cannot remember back to version 1, and never did a DL disc in 1.5 that I can remember, but certainly CS2/3/4 for me have never worked properly with Layer Break dialogues. One of the problems I faced that cost me a lot of lost face was when I was using version 2 on a live concert DVD for Porcupine Tree.
I worked all the data rates locations of chapter points out manually, and knew that according to the manuals, Encore should use a chapter point if one is available within the range allowed. There were 3 in that range, so I left it as automatic.
Burned a DVD+R DL disc, and on my Denon players the break is often not even noticeable. Client approved, and we created the DLT tapes.
Back came the test moulds, and to my horror the break was not on a chapter point at all but on a GOP header around 31 seconds after the chapter it was supposed to be placed on automatically. Drat. Call the factory, tell them not to press, and I will deliver a new set of tapes in 6 hours time.
Power up DLT, Boot Encore, set break point manually. (Incidentally, Version 2 was the only version that has ever worked on manual mode for me. CS4/CS3 never do. I click on manual, and suddenly nothing happens) and set it to Chapter 17 (it could also have gone on 16 or 18 according to the dialogue)
Rewrite DLT tapes, deliver to factory, get next test mould - same freaking problem. The darn break has not moved.
Turned out that when we analyzed the tapes, the original break point had been left. A long call to Adobe support ended up with the "best guess" option that once the break poiint had been set, it remained set. The Abstraction Layer had a nasty bug and would not allow subsequent editing, it seemed.
Since then, all DL discs have been exported from Encore with no break point set at all to straight folders, and pre mastered in GEAR Pro Mastering Edition.
PGCEdit takes a bit of getting used to, but my lord, what power is there under the hood! It is seriously well worth learning as you can change so much without needing to recompile from Encore. You can even edit the entire CLUT maps change button highlighting, edit links, set cells to seamless/non seamless, alter userops, all manner of wonderful things. ALso - After Effects definitely requires rocket science. It's beyond me. My partner thinks it is great she loves it though.
AFAIK ( and I will check) -R DL is now supported in CS4, not sure about CS3.
Anyway - all that aside, how are you doing Jim? Long time no talk to
Neil
Message from mailto:[email protected] Jim Simon [email protected] at 26-10-2009 08:47:52

Another Dual Layer Break Issue

Encore CS5.1
After about 12 hours, I am no further forward... Having trawled through a number of posts on this and similar subjects I am really up against the buffers.
The requirement is simple - getting Abobe Encore CS5.1 to "see" my request to use a Chapter Marker it gives me as one of three in the Manual Option section during the build process.
I had no issues with DL authoring in CS4, but CS5 is giving me a lot of grief.
The outline:
I have a timeline of 67 minutes with 6 Chapter Markers. The first two are within the first 10 minutes, CH3 at 36 minutes, CH4 at 38 minutes, CH5 at 41 minutes and CH6 at 61 minutes.
I am using Verbatum DL +R DVDs (I have used no other these last three years) with a write speed of x4 or x2.4.
Once I have built the NEW project, imported the video and placed the Chapters as above (all except CH3 at fade-to-black points) I select 8.54 GB dual layer, Side one, Manual and proceed.
At the invitation to select the manual point Encore offers me CH3, CH4 and CH5. No matter what I select, it places the break point at about 33 minutes (about half way) and in doing so screws up my own Chapters by placing it's own (invisible in the timeline) chapter thereby shuffling all mine. As a result I lose sections or get repeated sections.
I tried building to Folders and using ImgBurn. This confirms the insistance on using a halfway point - same too building to an Image the chapter and cell are never my selected, always a cell at about the halway point.
Adobe Encore is not recognising my selection (at its own invitation).
I have deleted the project and cache - rebooted and built the project from scratch importing the video - creating the timeline and adding the Chapters - always the same.
I have followed some of the points given using Folders in ImgBurn - it simply is not working for me. It's almost like Encore is screwing the build and the build is the same as though the settings are held in cache.
As mentioned, I have cleared all previous builds and their files and deleted the media cache with no joy.
I'm getting to the point whereby the only choice left to me is to split the project timeline and build the project as two separate DVDs (as the timeline is only just over the capacity for a single sided DVD (3 minutes).
As for PCG Edit - doesn't seem to want to run on my workstation (PC i7 24GB RAM - 3 separate drives in RAID combo and separate OS SSD).
Can someone help me find out what has happened to Encore as it does appear that after every "upgrade" somthing gets a little worse judging by my CS4 experience.
Many Thanks

Hi Stan,
Many thanks...
Yes, running "as admin"
Not quite with you "...too much material for a layer."
I often run to about 65 mins to just fit a single layer - perfect, but this project ran over - and I can't take anything out.
I am loath to change the sample rate as my SD quality (from a combo of AVCHD and MPEG2) Sony NX5 and Z5 really hit the spot for max res in SD (9.4 Mb/s). The Encoded spec for Encore is legal (or so it would seem) for Encore in a single layer (no issues or errored DVDs), and as I said in the OP I had no issues like this in CS4 (yes, apart from the known buggy stuff).
But why would Encore offer me a number of break points in placed chapters only to ignore them consistantly?
Another point:
My first build went through and honoured the chapters, but put the layer change halfway - but didn't screw the build. There was a production reason I had to change the timeline content - one shot change of the same duration. I would certainly settle for that at this stage. Interestingly, I built to Image and did an IMGBurn (as I do do for all DLs). But as you say, IMGBurn is choking on what's been passed to it from Encore. I am trying to replicate that first build.
By the way, all my Chapters in the timeline preview perfectly in Encore - it's just when I ask for the build it all goes wrong (seemingly).
Many thanks again Stan. Appreciate your reply.

Layer Break Issues with Encore 2.0

I have a dual-layer project that is doing something strange:
When authoring the project I left the layer break to automatic. After writing an image for review, a few people complained that the layer break was in a bad location and some players were having trouble with it (high motion area of the film). So I re-wrote an image and this time told it to do the layer break manually. I chose a specific time to place the layer break.
These new DVDs now act as if there are 2 layer breaks in the video. The new location where I told it to place the layer break has a slight pause in playback, like the player is switching layers, but then at the original layer break location playback is pausing just like it did before.
I have checked the video file and it is fine and has no glitches in it. Is it possible there are two layers switches in the project (it doesn't make sense to me, but I have to ask).
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
Mike

Mike.
What is happening here does seem to be a bug to me too.
There is - happily - a solution to the problem. A couple of them, actually. What one to use is going to depend on the final output your project needs to be.
You must reset the break yourself as well as remove the existing one. The problem is that once Encore sets an automatic break, this will remain set - whatever you may reset later on down the line. So you're going to need a copy of PGCEdit. This is freeware, and is available from http://download.videohelp.com/r0lZ/pgcedit/
To use this, export from Encore as a DVD Folder - and then load this folder into PGCEdit. Follow the internal instructions for changing/Previewing the Layer Break. It will allow you to remove the incorrect one & reset the new one. You'll need to use the CFH file though as I cannot remember off the top of my head the precise instructions. It's not too hard to do though. PGCEdit will automatically back up your unmodified files too - just in case. Then to create your replication masters, simply reload the modified folder into Encore "Build DVD" dialogue & write the DLT tapes.
If you're going to burn discs instead of replicating them, you can use the much simpler IMGBurn method.
Download this wonderful piece of freeware, and set it up so that the layer break is "Calculate Optimal".
Load your Encore folder. It will ask you where you want the break, and it will also allow you to preview the exact cell location too.
Set to where you want, burn the disc.

DVDSP4 build to Primo DVD-will it work around layer break error ?

I tried to create layer breaks because under the build option automatic won't burn and manual breaks are greyed out. so i can't burn and i need to get this done before sunday. the build to my hard drive works perfectly and if i test the DVD video folder using DVD player, it works great. If I move the Video & Audio DVD folders to my PC and use Primo DVD and burn a DL disc, will the layer break errors in DVD Studio Pro cause problems during the playback of a disc burned with Primo DVD? Basically, will these DVDSP4 errors carry over no matter what burning program I use; Toast, Primo, Record Now??

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4078067&#4078067
(I also mentioned this just now in the other thread just in case)
Anyway you will need a proper break point, not sure (have not used) Primo so do not know if it will throw a break point in somehow or not, but if you go to the above thread works through the issues for you

DVD Studio Pro Dual Layer Break Point Problem

I have a problem with a disc that I am burning. It is a dual layer (the break point is not set to seamless) with 1 movie that is about 3.6 GB and 1hr 23 min long, a 30 min slideshow, another 30 min extra and five other extras that total to about 20 min. I put the dual layer break point at the beginning of the slideshow, everything played fine on the computer, but on the Panasonic DVD player it just freezes at 35 seconds into the slideshow. Its never had a problem with DLs before. Itried the DVD on my softmodded Wii, on a program for it called WiiMC (it uses Mplayer) and everything played fine. I tried another burn where i set the break point to fifteen minutes before the end on the main 1:23 movie and on the DVD player it still froze at 35 seconds on the slideshow. Is there anything that you guys can suggest to help?

DVD+R or DVD-R?
http://documentation.apple.com/en/dvdstudiopro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=1%2 6section=9%26tasks=true
DVD+R Double-Layer
You can use DVD+R double-layer media, often referred to as DVD+R DL, for burning your dual-layer projects. With DVD+R double-layer media, DVD Studio Pro places the layer break point and sets the switch point to be nonseamless as specified in your project.
DVD+R double-layer discs require you to use the Opposite Track Path (OTP) direction setting when burning the disc. This means that the first layer must be larger than the second layer. See Setting the Dual-Layer Direction for more information.
While DVD+R double-layer discs allow you to burn your dual-layer projects, they tend to have more compatibility issues than the other types of DVD media.
DVD-R Dual-Layer
If your system contains a DVD drive that can write to the new DVD-R dual-layer media, you can burn your DVD project to it with DVD Studio Pro. However, there are several issues:
Because currently DVD Studio Pro has no way to identify DVD-R dual-layer media as having two layers, burning a dual-layer project to it results in the appearance of an alert message telling you that the DVD media may have insufficient room to hold the project. This message is based on the assumption that the disc is single layer. Both layers of the disc will be written to as needed, however, when you click Continue.
If you are burning a dual-layer project, the break point you set will not affect where the layer break actually occurs. Instead, the first layer is written to until filled, at which point the drive switches to writing to the second layer.
The switch between layers is a seamless layer change not supported by some DVD players, which may stop playing the disc when the switch point is reached.
Important: Do not use DVD-R dual-layer media unless these issues do not impact your project.

Getting "layer break" error message when trying to Preview a single sided DVD, or build an ISO image or disk folder

Hi! Hoping someone might be able to help with an odd problem. I haven't found anything in the forums or the web that match my symptoms.
I've been using Encore CS6 (v6.0.1.013) on a MacBook retina over the past year to successfully create a number of single sided DVDs with menus, chapters, and all that. I usually make a copy of a previous DVD project, and then replace video assets with the new files and transcodes, move and rename chapter markers, and rework the menus in Photoshop. I then will build ISO images for both DVD and Blu-Ray (both single-sided), and use those to burn many copies of each DVD for clients.
This week, while developing one of these projects, when trying to build a DVD ISO image that looked like it would fit on a 4.7 GB DVD, I received the "layer break" message ("The chosen layer break does not satisfy dual layer requirements. To fix this, either set a new layer break manually, or choose to set layer break automatically.") because (I'm guessing) the material was too long for the 4.7 GB DVD (the Build screen now shows about 5GB of material are in the project). This is the first time I've seen that message - usually Encore just tells me the material is too big for the DVD.
I re-transcoded the material down to well under 4.7 GB (about 3.9 GB), reverted and replaced the transcoded files, and now the DVD build screen shows that there are about 700MB free on a 4.7 GB DVD. But I still have not been able to build any version of the DVD (image, folder, disc), without getting the "layer break" message. I also now get this same layer break message when trying to "Preview from Here" any menu, killing my ability to preview the DVD menus in Encore.
Just to see what would happen, I chose an 8.4GB Dual Layer DVD, and chose "manual" instead of "automatic" for the layer break selection, but never got the layer break selection dialog box, just the "layer break" error message.
I typically build both DVD and Blu-Ray images from the same material in the same project. I use different transcoding settings for each, and I have been able to build a Blu-Ray ISO without this "layer break" error on the Blu-Ray build (which is about 24.5GB when built). And as I mentioned before, this is the first project on which I've even seen this layer break message.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I'd rather not recreate the project from scratch, but I'm worried that I may have to.
Thanks
Jon

The total project being small enough may mean you have one layer that is too big. Both layers have to be smaller than half the disk, right?
Be sure you "run as administrator" for dual layer projects.
Encore may set the layer break correctly if it finds a good place, but there are numerous complaints about it being unreliable.
Build to a folder (no layer break is set), then use ImgBurn to build and ask to be prompted for layer break. ImgBurn is also unreliable under some circumstances.
The most frequent problems appear to be when there is no good location for a break. Do a search for "layer break imgburn" and you will see a variety of strategies.
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?/topic/1777-how-to-create-a-double-layer-dvd-video-imag e-file-using-imgburn/
Also see these posts:
Neil Wilkes
http://forums.adobe.com/message/3466255#3466255
Neil Wilkes
http://forums.adobe.com/message/4054265#4054265
Neil Wilkes
http://forums.adobe.com/message/4054269#4054269
Jon Geddes
http://forums.adobe.com/message/4002647#4002647
shuchi shrivastava
http://forums.adobe.com/message/3905911#3905911
Jon Geddes and Neil Wilkes
http://forums.adobe.com/message/4003221#4003221

Layer break solution for a single 2 hour continuous timeline (DVD-9 DL) in GEAR?

Having a single 2 hour continuous timeline in Encore project. When the project is exported there isn't any non-seamless cells in the layer break window that GEAR is providing. According to DVD specification the layer break should be set to a non-seamless cell. So, how to properly set the layer break when there is no legal layer break cells in the layer break window?
The only solution I know is using PGCEDit to change one cell's type to non-seamless and use this as the layer break cell. In PGCEDit you double click the VTST and see all the cells. Pick one cell (that exists in the layer break window calculated in GEAR LB spreadsheet) and de-tick the "seamless joint" checkbox of the cell you want to use as the LB cell, then choose OK to exit the VTST panel. Save your DVD (remember to have at the Options -> Output -> leave 32k of space, selected when saving). Now you have a dvd standard non-seamless cell for the layer break.
Couple of questions rise:
Is this 100% legal and risk free to change the cell type like this or is there something more to it? Do you also have to uncheck from the cell's "Flag type panel" in PGCEdit the "seamless angle change" and the rest of the flags in order for this to work the way fully intended?
Has anybody done this in a situation like this for a commercial title?
Is there any other way to achieve a legal LB for a one long continuous timeline without non-seamless cells existing?
PS. I have also a one cell just outside the layer break window that GEAR is providing me, alraedy marked as a non-seamless cell. I can't use this cell in GEAR though as a layer break cell as this cell is outside the layer break window. Any ideas why Encore has outputted this cell as non-seamless? maybe it comes from the Automatic layer break setting in the Encore's BUILD panel when you output a folder? Even though when you export as a Folder, it shouldn't set actual layer break to it, but maybe it still sets the intended LB cell's type to non-seamless? Is there any way to get GEAR to respect the layer break that Encore has automatically set if you export your project as image from Encore (and I guess when the project is build as an image, the layer break actually should be set there, right?).

Try to convert the audio to AC3 file, that should be a quick fix.
Do you have motion menus or any other elements? 2.96 and 928 should bring you in fine (take a look here http://dvdstepbystep.com/faqs_2.php - which way are the numbers - the larger or smaller when using Get Info?)

Dual layer break problem on DVD playback

Hi,
I'm on Encore CS5.1
I've got a dual layer DVD program I'm trying to output but playing stops and reverts to menu at what I believe is the layer break.
The program is approx 6.5GB in total size. I encoded prior to importing into Encore, at highest MPEG2-DVD quality. I slid quality slider all way over from 4 to 5, among other things to force highest quality. The source files are AVCHD destined for Standard Def DVD.
It took me a little while to suspect the break as the culprit. I did one burn where the disc continued playing thru the offending spot and I saw that and said to myself: "self, that looks like a layer break to me." Upon examination it is just about exactly in the middle of this program.
I suppose I should consider encoding at lower bitrate and burning at slower speed. Can anyone who's had this problem tell me if this will likely fix it, before I re-encode.
I've also heard about manually setting the spot for the bereak and I chose "manual" not "automatic" but it did nothing to allow me manual control.
All experienced insights welcomed.
Thanks
wsmith

Imgburn will help get the "best possible" burn by allowing you to select the slowest possible burn speed for the disc brand/model you are using (this is MY opinion... other people say burn at the fastest speed)
You might Google to see if you can find any reviews of the Ritek brand
As far as your layer break stoppage... I've only done a couple of dual layer projects, with Encore doing all the work with automatic settings, and have never had a problem... but, I use Verbatim dual layer, not Ritek
http://www.amazon.com/Verbatim-96542-8x-10x-Recordable-Spindle/dp/B001D8OGOO/ref=sr_1_2?ie =UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1278644298&sr=8-2
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817130040&cm_re=verbatim_dvd%2br_dl- _-17-130-040-_-Product

Problem chosing layer break point for multi-movie DL DVD

HI. If you're authoring a DL DVD containing several short movies which can be selected from a menu in any order, how are you supposed to know which order they're burnt to disc in so as to know where the layer break point needs to be? Is media burnt in the order it's added to the project or what? Does it actually matter about choosing a LBP manually so long as DVDSP provides a choice of automatically determined points?

You can use VTS view to see the order they are laid out in
http://dvdstepbystep.com/vts.php
As to manually selecting a layer break, you can if you want to, especially if you know a section is a fade to black (for instance) where it will be less noticeable.
Some background -
There has to be a break point where it crosses over from Layer 0 to Layer 1, if you have no Chapter Markers at all (or a limited number of Markers, none of which fall near the point which is a bit more than half the size of the assets you will get an error that a Layer is the wrong size.
What you do is
1.) Set up markers in the areas where your would guesstimate the Layer Break(s) should be
2.) Build the project (but not format)
3.) Format a Disc (in the dialog that comes up, click on advanced tab, then where it says break point, use the pulldown which will have all valid breakpoint markers dark/black, while non-valid Layer Break Markers will be faded) If no marker is black there is no marker in the right place, regardless of you use automatic or not.
4.) If the layer break(s) are not where you would like them (in other words a place where they may be more noticable) use VTS view to re-order then go back to step 1.
When you do enough DLs, you start getting a sense based on the size of tracks where things should land

When i'm building dual layered dvds, the layer break is causing the dvd to skip to the beginning of the next chapter.

when i'm building dual layered dvds, the layer break is causing the dvd to skip to the beginning of the next chapter.

I would echo everything John just said - especially (and this is really important) that part about setting burn speeds to the minimum.
Do not worry about doing this as IMGburn will automatically adjust upwards to the minimum burn speed actually supported by the media/burner combination.
@danielrow.
How are you currently setting your layer break please, and what OS are you running?
If on a PC there is a fantastic tool called PGCEdit that is a swiss army knife and moreover something no authoring house should be without.......

Setting a Layer Break for GEAR Pro Mastering Edition with EncoreDVD & IFOEdit

Setting Layer Breaks Manually for Encore/GEAR Projects
Although we can write straight to a DVD+R DL disc directly out of EncoreDVD 2.0 and we can also create our Master DLT tapes directly out of EncoreDVD 2.0 also, there are times when these options simply are not sufficient.
For example - we wish to Verify the successful writing of a DLT Tape, or we wish to create a QC disc for our clients in DVD-R DL format.
Either way, the "option" of using a +R DL disc is often unacceptable.
Another very good reason for +R DL discs to be NFG is that they are NOT DVD-Video format, and as such tend to expect the layers 0 and 1 to be of equal size.
Yet another reason could simply be we are using EncoreDVD 1.01, which does not support direct writing of any DL discs at all.
The solution is to use GEAR Pro Mastering Edition to create your DLT or DVD-R DL disc directly from your Encore project instead.
And here's how you do it.
You are going to need copies of both GEAR Pro Mastering Edition, EncoreDVD (any version) and finally a copy of the freeware application IFOEdit http://www.ifoedit.com/. Additionally, we will also need the GEAR Layer Break Calcuulator, provided for free on their excellent support site at http://www.gearsoftware.com/support/documentation/layerbreakcalculator.xls
Now we are ready - lets look at how it is all done. Don't be put off by what looks like a lot of math here either - this gets easier every time you do it and all it takes is a little common sense and practise.
The best way to proceed is to use EncoreDVD to build your project to a folder. This will not make any Layer Break settings at all, and will allow us to create a new DL Project in GEAR and also allows GR+EAR to build the UDF/ISO structure for us.
So once we have written our tested and checked project to a folder, the next step is to close out of EncoreDVD and launch GPME. By the way - if you're not certain that you need the expense of GPME for a one-off project you can simply download their 30 day trial version and use this as it is 100% fully functional in every way - there are no limitations at all.
When GEAR loads, select to create a new DVD-Video project and be certain you tick the DVD9 box in this screen too. Another window will appear now asking you to locate the folder where the Video_TS files are stored. Point this at the Video_TS folder and GEAR will create a basic DVD9 project for you.
Next we need to load up the Excel Spreadsheet with the Layer Break Calculator we downloaded earlier. I always use a different machine for this as I don't have Office installed and any open source application that can read an XLS file will do the job. If you don't have one, I recommend either OpenOffice or Star Office to do this. There are a lot of helpful calculators in XLS mode, and you won't regret it. Just try to keep all this stuff well clear of your authoring system though. But I am rambling, and I'm sorry. Back to buiness.
Once we have loaded up our Layer Break Calculator, we need to enter in some numbers.
Back over in GPME, where we have our shiny new DVD9 project sat there waiting for instructions, there is a file structure on the lower left hand side of the project screen. Att the top of the list we should see something very much like "VOLUME (projectname) (DVD-Video ISO/UDF)"
Right-click on this, and select "Properties". A screen will appear with all sorts of numbers in it, and we ignore the lot of them except for the "Total Volume Size in Sectors" - which we need to write down, nip across the room to our spreadsheet, and type the number in right at the top where it says "Total Volume (project) Size"
Another set of (probably) meaningless numbers appears - and the 2 we are interested in here are the ones where it says "RULES" and specifically "Layer Break Point must be Greater than .....
And Less than.....
Write these 2 numbers down, and hop smartly back across to where we have our GEAR project open on our authoring machine. Or simply minimize the spreadsheet if we are doing all this on the same system.
We now need to click on the folder marked "Video_TS" in the bottom left of the GEAR screen, and on the lower right we need to click once on the bar in the middle above all the VOB files marked "start sector" to arrange all the files in the sequence they will be on the disc. This makes finding our VTS file so much easier.
Somewhere in that list there will be a file that has that range of numbers in it. If we are really lucky, there will be more than one, which means that one of these will soon become our Layer Break.
When we have identified the correct file, take a note of it's name - it will be VTS_01_4.VOB or something with a similar structure name wise.
Next, we need to write down and enter into the Layer Break Calculator the start sector number of the VTS_xx_1.VOB file that holds our values.
I will try to explain why. If our Sector range is to be found in the example we gave earlier, say VTS_01_4.VOB, we need to note the start sector of the file VTS_01_1.VOB. This is because all these VTS_xx_x.VOB files are all extensions of the same file. They are just in handy blocks so that the Computer can keep track of them without breaking any rules about file sizes. Anyway, we write down the Start Sector of the file VTS_xx_1.VOB where xx is the file where the Layer Break range is to be found.
Just to try & make the concept clear, if the range were found in the file VTS_05_5.VOB, our start sector we need to write down is VTS_05_1.VOB
Enter this into the Calculator/Spreadsheet in the place where it says "Chosen Video Object VTS_xx_1.VOB Start Sector.
Now this will tell us exactly where we need to look next, and tell us we now need to hunt for a cell start sector between a range of sectors.
It might be something like "1,148,678 and 2,051,052" sectors.
This is where IFOEdit comes in.
Launch IFOEdit - and you may as well go back to GEAR, and close the project - but not the application. Go to the "File" menu, and from the drop dow select "Delete GEAR Project" and delete the one we just created, as we will need to change it anyway. Why you will find out later on.
From IFOEdit, you will see 2 halves of a screen. Down the bottom left there is an "Open" button. Click on this and locate the Video_TS folder, and specifically the file VTS_xx_1.IFO, where xx is the file we know from earlier the Layer Break will be placed.
Immediately your head will start to ache, your eyes will glaze over & your brain will wave a little white flag, as some serious mathematics suddenly appears (Well, that's what happened to me the first time. I was too fascinated to be confused - sheer bewilderment is perhaps the best expression. And I still don't know what most of it is for.
The one we are interested in can be found in the upper half, and is called "VTS_PGCITI".
Click on this, and a lot of little others will appear immediately below it.
You will see VTS_PGC_1 and so on until you run out of blocks.
The odds are high our layer break will be in the longest file - but this does not always hold true, so we start at the top & work our way rapidly down. What we are looking for is twofold.
1 - A Cell Start Sector within our range defined earlier.
2 - A cell Start Sector flagged as "NON Seamless playback.
If we can fill both these criteria, we have our layer break.
Write this number down, and enter it into our spreadsheet - and close down IFOEdit as we are done with it for today.
Back in the Spreadsheet we are almost done. Once we enter this number in, it will helpfully calculate exactly where in our Virtual image from earlier that sector lies, and will check to see if it is divisible by 16. Don't worry for now why, just know that it has to do this.
The chances are high it will not be, so the spreadsheet will tell you how many sectors the whole image has to be shifted forwards by, and what the new Cell Start Sector is in this revised image. This is automatic, and you get 2 figures.
1 - Offset. This number will be between 0 and 15.
2 - Layer Break Sector.
Time to go back to GEAR, and in our "Options" drop-down menu we will have another one called "Preferences". In this, we need to tell GEAR to ask us for the start sector to be entered for each file.
Now we create our project again - but this time GEAR will ask us for the start sector of VIDEO_TS_IFO, and the figure 640 will be highlighted.
Add our offset figure we were given earlier to this so if our offset was 11, enter in 651.
GEAR will do all the rest automatically for you.
One more job to do now.
Go Back to "Options/Preferences", and under DVD we need to tell GEAR we are changing the Layer Break. Click on the "Change" button, and use the up/down arrows to arrive at our newly discovered Layer Break Value.
Save the project - we're done. And write down that offset & Layer Break whatever you do.
You can now write to DVD-R DL, DLT tapes (and if you right-click on your DLT drive in the lower "Devices" screen, and choose "Properties", you can tell GEAR to verify the tape after writing too. It will write both layers first, then verify each one.
There is, however, a minor "GOTCHA" in GPME when writing DLT tapes.
It is allowed to set the IDENT.TXT file to be included on the DLT tape by means of a tick box. However, as this file is not actually required for replication in DVD-Video, but only in DVD-ROM - GEAR will not include the file
i even if the box is ticked
but it
i does
add a pointer to the file in the DDPID file instead. The upshot of this is that a DLT tape where IDENT.TXT has been selected to be included will be
i rejected by the factory as unusable.
This is because when they try to verify the DDP image on the tape it will fail as IDENT.TXT is NOT on the tape.
You must ensure this box is NEVER TICKED - I fell for this one recently, and had to rework 7 DLT tapes.
There is yet another way to get a DL project to the factory if you do not have a DLT machine, and do not have access to DL discs in the correct format.
Write the DDP images to 2 single layer discs instead!
This requires the use of GEAR Pro Mastering Edition again, and is incredibly easy to do.
What you need to do here is follow the original guides in the FAQ sections for setting the Layer Break manually, but instead of writing the project to DLT tapes or to DVD-R DL/DVD+R DL media, what we do next is write the project to a DDP file on the HDD instead.
This will result in 2 folders appearing - Layer 0 and Layer 1.
Each of these has the necessary information for the replication plant to manufacture the discs - all we need to do is get them onto 2 discs instead of 2 DLT tapes.
This is simplicity itself.
Launch your burning application.
Create a new DVD-ROM project.
Name it (Project)_Layer_1
Broswe to the 2 folders with the DDP files in them, and add the contents in this exact order
DDPID
CONTROL.DAT
IMAGE.DAT
(Checksum.txt - optional)
(Log file - optional)
Burn the disc.
Repeat for Layer 1.
That is all there is to it.
What will happen at the factory is the Eclipse verification system will look for the DDPID file at the root level of the disc. If it cannot find it, it will assume it is dealing with a standard DVD-ROM disc instead, but if it is there it will know what is going on, load the files, and ask for Layer 1 after it has finished in the normal manner.
I hope this helps out - if not, please post in the main forums, and I'll try to help out.

Hi Ryan,
Yes, you'll only get the LB sector number when you format with one of the "tape images" (go with DDP 2.0). And unfortunately, Gear doesn't allow transfer of DDP or CMF Images to DLT.
Gear is working on a version that will incorporate DVD-9 making within the program.
Meanwhile, If you go with the instructions on their site to create a DVD-9, be sure to add: "correct VTS sectors" in the VIDEO_TS folder with IFOEdit, and set the region info in the VMGM_MAT to "0"; and be sure to flag all instances of a cell properly for the layer break, in the case they reside in any Stories that span the Layers.
But if I may; It's highly recommended that you hire out tests on the resulting DDP image to make sure the layer break did indeed fall where you expected, and that there are no other issues (Same goes with any DDP image destined for replication, created by any other program).
Or better yet, consider hiring someone to premaster for you (I wonder who? , who also includes navigation proofing, spec compliance testing (MEI and sometimes with a player bank) and verifying the finished Image (EclipseSuite); all for one low fixed price, i.e. no charge in the event a resubmission to me is required (pre consultation, also included, nips lots of common mistakes in the buds). This insures that only a bullet-proof Image is finally sent in to the replicator.
There I go with commercials again! But for sure, Gear's current DVD-9 method is not for the faint of head; and premastering in general, is not the innocuous activity it appears to be. Real trouble eventually awaits (unless measures are taken), due to the nature of the critter.
Take care,
Trai

Replicated DVD Title Playback Issues (~ 1 out of 20 disks)

Replicated Disc Playback Issues
I recently authored 4x DVD titles using DVD SP 4 in conjunction w/ Compressor 3.0.5. Media was compressed using Compressor “DVD: Best Quality 120 minutes” setting, imported and then built/formatted in DVD SP. The project masters were formatted to Verbatim 4.7 GB DVD-R out of DVD SP without any issue in the log window. I then watched all titles from start to finish on a home set-top player without any playback issues.
The DVD-R disk masters were then shipped to a glass master company, w/o error and verified with an Eclipse system…then back to the Replication house where 1000 copies for each title where made. I watched all Replicated titles upon return, on the 2 different set top DVD players and w/o error.
We have however, been receiving error call-backs on ~ 1 out of 20 DVDs, where people have been reporting video freezes, jittery video in places, etc. I’m new to the authoring world, but believe I was in full technical compliance within DVD SP when building the projects (used APTS tutorial as guide).
Again, the glass mastering company said there were no Eclipse report errors, and the Replication house said the DVDs passed their QT tests as well (Detarius Machine?).
I really need to pinpoint what is causing such a high failure rate in the replicated disks. Is this on my end or the replication process? Did I miss some tech specs in SP that may not pose an issue on some players, but do on others? Shouldn't the QC systems used in the mastering / replication process detect issues with the disks? Any suggestions / guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.

Just a 'Toast-it note' guys,
Toast cannot choose your break point except by slim chance, nor properly flag the cell it chooses as the layer break.
A Disc Image does not contain layer break information. There's just information in the Image's UDF/ISO data declaring the full 'extent' of the sectors of data in the Image. Even If you set the layer break point in DVD SP's Format Window when you formatted the Disc Image to hard drive, it will have no effect - Toast, nor any other third party formatting software will have a clue as to your intentions on which cell you'd like designated as the layer break (only the control data in a DDP file set and the control data on a replicated DVD contains layer break info from the DVD project - Control data is not allowed to be written to a DVD Recordable, that area is glossed-over during manufacturing).
Toast only scans the cell address table for the appropriate VOB and chooses a cell closest to the middle of the valid layer break range to split the data stream in two (and uses other algorithms under certain circumstances). But it doesn't flag the cell it chooses as non seamless, or set other layer break cell parameters properly.
Submitting DL Images written by Toast, you will get nailed most of the time by the replicator's Eclipse software for a seamless cell at the layer break - if you're lucky; as more than a few replicators will let that 'warning' message sail right by, and they'll replicate anyway; or they're running a version of Eclipse prior to 4.0, which many are, that doesn't even check for the layer break cell's existence. You could be even luckier, and have a cell command (Marker end jump setting) for the cell prior to the layer break cell Toast chose for the Layer break - that will cause DVD SP to set the following cell as non-seamless. Skinny chance.
If you're unlucky, Toast will choose a proper non seamless LB location in the DVD SP generated files that should never be the layer break location for an abstraction-layer based authoring system generated Image.
Hint: if third party disc formatting software doesn't present you a somewhat cool screen at double-layer writing time, showing you all the available LB cells to choose choose from, complete with the ability to click and preview all of the possible layer break cell canditate's start video, so you can be sure - and properly flag your chosen layer break cell; then it shouldn't be used to write playable DVD+R DL discs. Now, Toast is great for writing DVD+R DL pure data discs, as the requirements for switching layers during the read of ROM data is much less stringent (best to break between files, though).
While there might not seem to be a clear-cut right way to pre-mastering for DVD-Video, for sure, none of the few best/professional workflows allow Toast in the process.
Take care,
Trai
TFDVD Research Labs

Dual Layer Break Point problem

Hi,
I just found out after I updated DSP 4 to version 4.0.3 my Layer 1 on every project since updating gets corrupted!
I thought it was the Dual Layer discs I used that caused the problem, but after I re-installed DVD Studio to the original version 4.0.0 the same project worked perfect.
Anyone else have issues with Dual Layer Break Point after updating to 4.0.3?
I have tried different chapters as layerbreak points on my project, and even a test project, with the same result. The finished discs is barely playable on some DVD players, showing wierd interference and noise, and DVD Player on mac crashes when reaching the dual layer break point, and the plant i send the master have a software to check DVDs and they said that it couldnt find/was corrupt Layer 1 on one of my discs. Hope someone can fix this, DSP is the best software otherwise!
Best regards,
Mats.

DVD+R or DVD-R?
http://documentation.apple.com/en/dvdstudiopro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=1%2 6section=9%26tasks=true
DVD+R Double-Layer
You can use DVD+R double-layer media, often referred to as DVD+R DL, for burning your dual-layer projects. With DVD+R double-layer media, DVD Studio Pro places the layer break point and sets the switch point to be nonseamless as specified in your project.
DVD+R double-layer discs require you to use the Opposite Track Path (OTP) direction setting when burning the disc. This means that the first layer must be larger than the second layer. See Setting the Dual-Layer Direction for more information.
While DVD+R double-layer discs allow you to burn your dual-layer projects, they tend to have more compatibility issues than the other types of DVD media.
DVD-R Dual-Layer
If your system contains a DVD drive that can write to the new DVD-R dual-layer media, you can burn your DVD project to it with DVD Studio Pro. However, there are several issues:
Because currently DVD Studio Pro has no way to identify DVD-R dual-layer media as having two layers, burning a dual-layer project to it results in the appearance of an alert message telling you that the DVD media may have insufficient room to hold the project. This message is based on the assumption that the disc is single layer. Both layers of the disc will be written to as needed, however, when you click Continue.
If you are burning a dual-layer project, the break point you set will not affect where the layer break actually occurs. Instead, the first layer is written to until filled, at which point the drive switches to writing to the second layer.
The switch between layers is a seamless layer change not supported by some DVD players, which may stop playing the disc when the switch point is reached.
Important: Do not use DVD-R dual-layer media unless these issues do not impact your project.

DLTs and layer break questions

Hi guys. I have 2 questions on layer break points and DLT tapes. About a month ago, I completed a DL DVD project that was sent out to a replicator on DLT tapes for replication. I had burned DVD copies (from the software not from the DLTs) for testing and had no problem with those. Then I burned the DLTs and had no problem burning those. The tapes went off to the replicator and a few days later I got an e-mail telling me that the replicator received this error - "seamless playback flag not set correctly at layer break". They said they could fix the problem for $175 a layer or $350. So to expidite the problem, the client went ahead and had them fix the problem.
Now here are my 2 questions...
1. It took me some time to find a usuable break point because the disk is so full, there is only a limited area where a valid break point could go. But after I found it, I had no problems with the disks I burned or burning the DLTs. Why would this error then pop up in the replication step if it wasn't an issue before?
2. Now I have a new e-mail from the client saying that when he watches the one-off from the replicator, on certain DVD players there is a jitter during one of the videos that wasn't there on the original test disks I sent him. My theory is that the replicator moved the layer break point to fix the previous problem and that now he is seeing the jitter at the new layer break. (I originally had the break point set in an area of black so any pause wouldn't be noticable). Does this sound like a good theory? And getting back to the question 1 again, why would the replicator have a problem with my DLTs if the test disks I burned worked fine?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Power Mac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.8) Dual 2.0, 2.5G RAM, Radeon X800XT

Cmerillo,
The only thing the replicator could do to your Image is properly flag the existing layer break cell as non seamless, if that indeed was what triggered the Eclipse rule. We'd have to see, as other phenomina can cause that error.
If the replicator created another cell in your VOB for the layer break, that's a no no, and they should know better.
Only the authoring system can safely place the layer break cell, due to the fact that if you place a layer break cell after the fact, without the authoring system's knowledge, you'll have video/audio and/or subtitle packs for the previous cell duration (now split), sitting on the second layer 1, the authoring system 'thought' was on the first layer (due to it's proper multiplexing routines). This will cause decoding glitches across the layer break on many players.
So, you might find out what the heck they did; which they should have consulted you on before doing anything. But it sounds like they added a cell for the layer break to your existing VOB.
The only way to get an approximation of what's on the DLT, is to restore the DLT's Image to hard drive and burn a disc from that. Each multiplex and formatting is potentially different (Long story on this fact, but lots of surprises can await if no testing is done on that DDP Image).
Sorry you're having issues. Let me know if you need some help with this one. Or, for sure, please keep us posted as this unfortunate situation progresses.
Take care,
Trai
Trai Forrester
TFDVD Research Labs
DVD/DLT Verification

DL DVD layer break issue

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