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Tips for burning DVDs

• Burning DVD Tips
• Burning DVD FAQs
• DVD Burning Hardware

Burning DVD Tips

Burning DVD for a beginner can be very stressful and confusing. The DVD or CD burning process are unnecessarily complicate. SuperMediaStore.com provides you a step by step guid to tell you how to burn dvds in an easy way.

Please note that it is illegal to make a DVD of commercially produced material or material otherwise protected by copyright. This includes MP3 files, videos, TV shows, etc. Small portions may be copied for academic purposes. If you have questions or concerns about copyright law, please speak to an IS staff member.

• Creating a Data DVD using Nero on a PC
• Rewriting on a DVD-RW using Nero Express on a PC
• Burning pre-authored DVD-Video

To burn a DVD you will need:

• A PC with Nero installed
• A built in DVD/DVD-RW drive or an external DVD Burner
• Blank, writable or rewritable DVDs to store all your information (each DVD will hold about 4.7 GB).
  • Don't know how to choose blank DVDs? Take a look at our Beginners Guide to Buying DVD Media
  • The best of thebest - Taiyo Yuden DVD Media

Burn Data DVDs

Do you ever burn a CD that just keep skip songs itself on your cd player, or often your DVD Player won't even read the DVD-R that you just burn? Though there could be other reasons that might caused the DVD burning errors, but always burnDVD-R with good quality bands or buy them from a reliable merchant store.

Steps for burning a Data DVD

1. Save copies of any files you would like to put on the DVD in a folder on your computer if they are on floppy or zip disks.
2. Insert a blank, writable or rewritable DVD in the recordable/rewritable DVD drive.
3. From the Start Menu, go to All Programs > Burn a DVD or Data DVD > Nero StartSmart.
4. Select DVD from the pull down menu at the top.
5. Move the mouse to Data icon, options will appear below.

   

6. Click on Make Data DVD. It will open Nero Expresswindow.

   

7. Click on Add.
8. In the Select Files and Folders window, the Location field shows the current folder. Find your files and click on the files to select them, then click on Add button. The files will be added to the Disk Content in the Nero Express window.
9. Click Finished to return to the Nero Express window when you finished adding all the data,.
10. In the Nero Express window, click on the Next button. The Final Burn Settings box will appear. If you are allowed to choose the speed for burning the DVD, it is recommended that you burn the DVD at 8x (11,080kb/sec) in the Writing speed field.
11. Click on Burn.
12. When the burning process is complete, a pop up window opens with the message: Burn process completed successfully. Click OK.
13. Click Next to choose more options or to exit.

Rewrite DVD-RWs

1. Insert the DVD-RW in the recordable/rewritable DVD drive.
2. From the Start Menu, go to All Programs > Burn a DVD or Data DVD > Nero Programs > Nero Express.
3. Click on the More button in the bottom of the window and click on Erase Disc.
4. A dialog box will pop up. Choose Quick-erase rewritable disc from the drop-down menu.
5. Choose Maximum from Erase Speed pull down menu.
6. Click on Erase.
7. After the erase, you may create another DVD using the same DVD-RW.

Burning pre-authored DVD-Video

1. Launch Nero Burning Rom in the classic mode (not the Nero Express mode).
2. Choose DVD from the drop-down menu, and select DVD-Video as the compilation type. Click the New button to open up the DVD layout view.

   

3. Adding files to the VIDEO_TS folder

   

4. Choose the VIDEO_TS folder from the DVDVideo -window. Use the right mouse button to Add files to the compilation. You can also use the explorer window to the right to locate the files and drag & drop them to the VIDEO_TS folder. Make sure that the files actually go to the VIDEO_TS folder, and not the root folder of the disc.

   

5. Now all you have to do is burn the disc. Click Recorder --> Burn Compilation (or hit CTRL+B). The default settings should be ok. Just click on the Burn button. If you get prompted whether or not you want to burn a multisession disc, respond Burn without multisession.

Troubleshooting

If you see a permissions error (similar to the image below)

• The administrator / owner of the computer you are using will need to contact the Help Desk to arrange for assistance in setting up Nero BurnRights

  

If you get a Buffer Underrun error - There are two ways you can fix it:

• Choose a lower write speed (If you recorded at 8x last time, try 4x).
• Make sure you saved the data to be burned on the drive that will allow optimal burning speed. This is usually the hard drive

If Testing and Recording Fails - There are a number of ways you can try to fix it.

• Choose a lower write speed (If you recorded at 8x last time, try 4x).
• Check you original media for scratches, dirt, or other damage. You may need to clean the media or save your original files to a new/undamaged disc.
• Make sure you saved the data to be burned on the drive that will allow optimal burning speed. This is usually the hard drive.

Here is a registry trick to show realtime burning speed and buffer state if you burn with Nero.

• Blank DVD-R 4,489MB 4,706,074,624 bytes or 4.383GB
• Blank DVD+R 4,483MB 4,700,372,992 bytes or 4.377GB

• 8X DVD+R burntime 9mins
• 4X DVD+R burntime 14mins
• 4X DVD-R burntime 16mins
• 2.4X DVD+R burntime 22mins
• 2X DVD-R burntime 31mins
• 1X DVD-R burntime 61mins

Burning DVD FAQs

The DVD burning process can be really easy, we have also include the most frequently asked question as following, hope they will help you solving DVD burning and playback problems:

• What are the basic rules of DVD handling and storage?

  Since DVDs are read by a laser, they are resistant to fingerprints, dust, smudges, and scratches. However, dusty surface and scratches can cause data reading/writing errors. On a video player, the effect of data errors ranges from minor video artifacts to frame skipping to complete unplayability. So it's a good idea to take care of your discs, which means that you need treat them the same way as you would a CD.Your player can't be harmed by a scratched or dirty DVD-Rs, unless there are globs of nasty substances on it that might actually hit the lens. Still, it's best to keep your discs clean, which will also keep the inside of your player clean. Never attempt to play a cracked disc, as it could shatter and damage the player. It doesn't hurt to leave the disc in the player (even if it's paused and still spinning), but leaving it running unattended for days on end might not be a good idea.In general, there's no need to clean the lens on your player, since the air moved by the rotating disc keeps it clean. However, if you commonly use a lens cleaning disc in your CD player, you may want to do the same with your DVD player. I recommend only using a cleaning disc designed for DVD players, since there are minor differences in lens positioning.

  There is no need for periodic alignment of the pickup head. Sometimes the laser can drift out of alignment, especially after rough handling of the player, but this is not a regular maintenance item.

• What are regional codes, country codes, or zone locks?

  Motion picture studios want to control the home release of movies in different countries because theater releases aren't simultaneous (a movie may come out on video in the U.S. when it's just hitting screens in Europe). Also, studios sell distribution rights to different foreign distributors and would like to guarantee an exclusive market. Therefore they required that the DVD standard include codes that can be used to prevent playback of certain discs in certain geographical regions. Each player is given a code for the region in which it's sold. The player will refuse to play discs that are not coded for its region. This means that discs bought in one country may not play on players bought in another country. Some people believe that region codes are an illegal restraint of trade, but there have been no legal cases to establish this.

  Regional codes are entirely optional for the maker of a disc. Discs without region locks will play on any player in any country. It's not an encryption system, it's just one byte of information on the disc that the player checks. Some studios originally announced that only their new releases would have regional codes, but so far almost all Hollywood releases play in only one region. Region codes are a permanent part of the disc, they won't "unlock" after a period of time. Region codes do not apply to DVD Audio.

  There are 8 regions (also called "locales"). Players and discs are often identified by the region number superimposed on a world globe. If a disc plays in more than one region it will have more than one number on the globe.

  1. U.S., Canada, U.S. Territories
  2. Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle East (including Egypt)
  3. Southeast Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong)
  4. Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean
  5. Eastern Europe (Former Soviet Union), Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
  6. China
  7. Reserved
  8. Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)

  Technically there is no such thing as a region 0 disc or a region 0 player. There is such thing as an all-region disc. There are also all-region players. Some players can be "hacked" with special command sequences from the remote control to switch regions or play all regions. Some players can be physically modified ("chipped") to play discs regardless of the regional codes on the disc. This usually voids the warranty, but is not illegal in most countries. (The only thing that requires player manufacturers to region-code their players is the CSS license.) On Feb. 7, 2001, NASA sent two multi region DVD players to the International Space Station.

• Is playback of recorded 4.7 GB DVD-R media possible on all DVD-players and ROM drives?

  It should be possible to achieve playback on many DVD players and DVD-ROM drives, barring some exceptions. Formats released by the DVD Forum are specifications for the MEDIA only. Although a recorded DVD-R disc falls within the same specifications as DVD-ROM (DVD VIDEO), because the formats are media-related ONLY, support will be entirely up to the hardware maker.According to a study conducted by media makers, DVD-R media is capable of playback on many players with some exceptions. Examples where playback may not be possible:

  Since the DVD-R Book was released AFTER the DVD VIDEO Book, 1st generation DVD-VIDEO players may have problems reading DVD-R media. Also, some SLIM DVD-ROM drives and portable DVD players have been known to have problems reading DVD-R media. It is recommended that when the size of data is such that it will fit on a 3.95GB DVD-R then 3.95 blank media should be used. This will ensure the widest compatibility with various brands and models of DVD Players and DVD-ROM drives.

• VHS is good enough, why should I care about DVD?

  The primary advantages of DVD are video quality, surround sound, and extra features. In addition, DVD will not degrade with age or after many playings like videotape will (which is an advantage for parents with kids who watch Disney videos twice a week!). This is the same thing that makes CDs more collectable than cassette tapes. Did I mention video quality? The better your TV, the bigger the difference in picture quality between VHS and DVD. If none of this matters to you, then VHS probably is good enough.

• How fast can I burn my discs?

  The fastest desktop burners (as of September 2003) are 8X for DVD+/-R and 4X for DVD+/-RW. Laptop DVD burners usually have a 2X maximum DVD burn speed.

• What is the difference between DVD-R(W), DVD+R(W), and DVD-RAM? Which technology should I buy into?

  First off, the W stands for REWRITABLE; which means you can erase the DVD and record on it again (number of times you can do this varies by media quality). You will find these are more expensive, and LESS compatible than their write-once counterparts. RW media is only about 73% compatible with DVD players. So, what is -R (minus R) and +R (plus R)? These are two different DVD formats that are NOT compatible between them. If you have a DVD-R writer, you cannot write to DVD+R blanks and vice-versa. SOME more expensive drives (like the new Sony ones) can write to BOTH formats. DVD-ROM drives, however, can READ both DVD-R and DVD+R formatted discs. The difference between the formats are compatibility amongst DVD players. Some DVD players will play one, but not the other. DVD-R has the greatest OVERALL compatibility - upwards of 90% of DVD players out there will play these. DVD+R is only about 85% compatible.

  The word on the street is that if you are backing up video games instead of movies, that DVD-R is more often more compatible. The DVD-RAM basically only plays back on DVD-ROM drives on the PC.

The summary: Go with DVD-R if you're doing movies. Consider DVD+R if you are doing other formats. If you can afford it, you can cover both bases. DVD-R discs are also cheaper than DVD+R discs.

DVD Burning Hardware

Best DVD Burner? How they work? Which is the best Burning Software? These are some questions that we offer answers and recommendations. DVD Writers come internal and external drives, the external DVD Burner grows up very fast because they are easy to install via USB or FireWire.

The most expensive DVD writer/burner or Burning Software is not necessarily the most efficient to make a copy or dvd project. The key is to find the best compatibility between the three topics (Hardware, DVD Burner, DVD Burners Software). User-friendly software could be the most important aspect. DVD/CD writers are the last generation of optical storage device. Burners also called as DVD Writers, Recorders, or DVD-Recordable drives are able to read CDs and DVDs, and write to one or more record able disc formats (DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, or DVD-RAM and usually CD-R/CD-RW as well).

Pioneer DVR-111D 16X DVD Drive Burner

Pioneer launches its new 11th Generation dual format DVD writer the DVR-111D CD/DVD Burner. This new model supports 8x Dual/Double Layer and 16x write speeds on both DVD-R/+R media. This extends Pioneer's track record of establishing key performance benchmarks when introducing new DVD writers. With the facility to write 4.7GB of data to write-once media or store up to 8.5GB on Double Layer media. The successor of the popular DVR-110 series, the DVR-111 / DVR-111D DVD burners from Pioneer are expected to be released in Europe soon after mid-March. The device writes a full DVD disc in less than six minutes.

If Testing and Recording Fails - There are a number of ways you can try to fix it.

Introduce Benq DW1655. Together with LightScribe and BenQ's leading DVDRW technology, customers benefit from the very best technology and application in a combined offering. LightScribe is simply the easiest, most impressive disc labeling solution around. With LightScribe technology, you can burn labels directly onto your CDs and DVDs using the same disc drive that burns your data.

The three elements of the LightScribe system are designed to work together seamlessly: LightScribe hardware (BenQ DW1655), software, and media give you great looking, customized labels for your CDs and DVDs- wherever and whenever you need them.

1. Hardware: The BenQ DW1655 LightScribe-enabled drive recognizes and reads special LightScribe media to ensure precise, consistent imaging on the disc surface for sharp, detailed labels.

2. Software: LightScribe-enabled software from your favorite software companies makes it easy to create disc labels - using your own text, photos, or designs.

3. Media: A thin dye coating on the label side of LightScribe discs absorbs laser light, which triggers a chemical reaction to give you a silkscreen-quality reproduction of your artwork, text, or photos.