DVD-9 Authoring

Question

I finally have a project that warrants DVD-9 authoring. I have never authored a DVD-9 only 5's. I am using Encore 1.5 and have a Sony 830A dual layer burner. The DVD will have a main menu with a Play Movie, Scene Selection, Trailer and Bonus Features. The main movie is about 95 min and then of course all the other movies are a shorter length. I have several questions.
1) After it is contructed in Encore and I select Make DVD Disc - what should I expect to happen? Will the DVD burn normal to a DVD 9 disc or will there be a break in which I have to do something?
2) Could this project be written to a DVD-9 disc or does it require a DLT?
3) Will I encounter any errors or disc pasuign when it is played on consumer DVD players?
Anything info you can extend to me would be appreciated. I am totally new to the DVD-9 world.
Thanks, Steve

Answer 1

Steve.
To answer your questions first.
1 - You must set a Layer Break. Written discs (and usually replicated discs) use a method known as OTP Mastering (Opposite Track Path). This is basically a way of telling the system how to create the disc, and requires Layer 0 to be bigger than Layer 1 as when the player gets to the end of Layer 0, after going from the inner part of the disc towards the outer part it will refocus onto Layer 1, and the read head will then travel back in the opposite direction to the inner of the disc.
This break point must fall between timelines for it to be seamless (Un-noticeable to the viewer) - failure to follow this guideline will result in a momentary freeze at the transition point. Whilst this is not out of spec, it is obviously undesirable. An alternative place for a layer break is at a convenient point in the main timeline - such as a blackout, or an obvious scene change. There must be a chapter marker at the required point.
2 - Depends on the intentions. If you want this to be replicated, use DLT tapes - one for each layer (If you want to use any form of Copy Protection, DLT use is mandatory as Encore is incapable of outputting a DDP image or a CMF image).
You can - if you really, really must, use a DVD-R DL disc (some factories will accept DVD+R DL, but this is NOT recommended as DVD+R is not a valid DVD-Forum approved format, and uses a completely different Layer Break system compared to DVD-R DL, which is an approved format. Most peoples issues with Layer Breaks are related to this fact. DVD+R DL will *always* split the content in half unless you over-ride this behaviour.
Another factor is reduced reflectivity is bad in all written media, but in DL media it is far, far worse. You should never use DL media asa production master at all.
i You will have compatibility problems if you do - guaranteed.
Include a DL playable disc as a
i reference
disc so the factory can see what
i should
happen.
Always ask for a test mould as well. Much better to head off any issues before tens of thousands of discs are replicated.
3 - Almost certainly YES - unless you see point one above, and set the break at a point
i between timelines.
In addition, you have other issues. Players are not required to play written discs at all. Most will play single layer discs, some -R and others +R, yet more will play both. Playback of a dingle layer +R disc is no guarantee the player will read a DL disc though. I have players here that will read a DVD+R but not a DVD+R DL - Layer 1 is inaccessible on these players.
Transition pauses are very common too - so unless you don't mind a pause, make absolutely certain you get the disc layout correct in the first place.
Final note.
If DVD9 is not something you are doing already - get someone else to do it for you. There are many pitfalls for the unwary.