Serious problem due to time constraints, please help.

Question

Hi, I've taken a DVD from one of our clients, brought it through DVD-DV and imported the DV into iMovie, did the edits, put in chapters, exported to iDVD all set as DVD-NTSC. I've burnt several DVD's and they all play fine on the ole iMac G5, rev b, but I just found today, alarmingly they will not play on any regular TV set DVD player that they've been tried on. Neither my bosses, my own or a friends. THey just don't see a disc. I imagine these are probably a little older DVD units. I've burnt to DVD-R. I noticed that the DVD I burnt from was double layer and the first ones I burnt although burnt on single layer DVD's had a double layer check mark in iDVD preferences. I unchecked that to single layer and re encoded and burnt. Still no dice. I need to make this work. Any ideas? I'm going tomorrow to buy a new DVD player at Fry's. I will take the disc with me to see if a newer player works, but I would like to have it so my boss can play it on his home. I mean this is kinda rediculous and frustrating, all the transiant standards and such. Plus my inexperience is a not happy mix. I also have FCE and can try to burn it from that, and I have Toast 5.2, maybe I;'ll look at that as well.
Any help truly appreciated.

Answer 1

DVD-R media brands seem to make a difference in player compatibility. I suggest using Verbatim DVD-R (not DVD+R) burned at 4x or slower. Office Depot near me stocks Verbatim.
My reliable DVD-Rs have been: Apple 4X (Maxell ID), RiTek 4X; Verbatim 1-8X, RiData 8X, and PioData 8X, all white inkjet printable. The RiData and PioData checked out to be RiTek-made.
Verbatim is reliable and can be found in many stores in the USA. They even make a special grade for medical records.
You can buy the RiTek, RiData, and PioData at:
http://www.shop4tech.com/
Verbatim may be available in your neighborhood store or:
http://www.taperesources.com/
http://www.newegg.com/
Apple brand can be purchased from the Apple online store.
You can check the manufacturer's ID by using DVD Media Inspector: http://homepage.mac.com/raktajino/dvdmediainspector/dvdmediainspector.html
Here's a great site: http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
You could wade through this: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia
From that database: Five brands and who actually manufactures the DVDs:
TDK = TDK, RITEKG04, RICOHJPN, MXL, CMC, MCC
Memorex = CMC, RICOHJPN, PRODISC, INFODISC
Imation = CMC, MCC, Ritek, Prodisc
Sony = MCC 01RG20, Sony04D1, TYG01
Fuji = FUJIFILM02..4X, FUJIFILM03..8X, ProdiscF01..8x, ProdiscS03..4x, PVC001001..2x, RITEKG03..1x, TAIYOYUDEN..2x, TYG01..4x, TYG02..8x
This can result in "mixed" experiences...
My friend used TDK on his Mac and it wouldn't play in his 5 year old Sony DVD player. All of mine play OK in his "antique" Sony. Update: He finally gave up on that antique and bought a Sony DVPNS775V which also plays double-layer DVD+R.