How to find the layer break point on a DL disc

[chellow]

Hi, I am new and I have a problem. I would really appreciate it if anybody could help me with this...

I have burnt a DL DVD+R disc with Nero and I wasn't able to choose myself where to place the layer break. To create the project I have used TMPEG DVD Author because it's the only software I know that uses VOB files without re-transcoding them (that is very useful when you have a slow PC but a good stand-alone DVD-recorder that does the realtime coding for you!). Anyhow, I was a bit upset that I couldn't decide myself where to place the layer break and I hope I was lucky enough to have it in a friendly part of the movie! All I want to do now is to check with a stand-alone DVD Player if playback stucks or not when the layer change occurs. Is there a way to see on which scene I have the break without watching the entire film again? I cannot divide the movie lenght by two because on the same disc there are titles with different bitrates so half of the data (it seems Nero burns approx the same amount of data on both layers) would not equal to half of the total movie lenght.
Thanks, Marcello.

[nwg]

As you found out Nero does its own layer change/break.

You need a bit of software called Pgcedit.

This software will accpet your VOB's IFO's and BUP's. Then it is possible to use it to burn a DL DVD using DVD Decrypter. When you click on Burn it was ask where you want the layer change and give suitable places.

Also, when you load the files. Look for the title you want to find the layer change for and double click on it (Title 1 should be it). It will show the chapters and the layer change will be ticked next to the chapter.

Have a look at this screenshot I have done. It shows the layer change at chapter 6, cell 7 for Title 1 (a chapter is made of small cells).

http://www.apah20.dsl.pipex.com/dvd/layerchange.png

Pgcedit 0.60

http://home.tiscali.be/debie.roland/pgcedit/

DL Burning guide by Blutach

http://home.tiscali.be/debie.roland/pgcedit/third_party/blutach/dl_burning_with_pgcedit.htm

Also, if you have a Sony DVD player it has a layer graphic that shows which layer you are on and shows when the layer change happens.

Also again, If you use TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6. It can burn DL for you so there is no need for Nero.

[chellow]

Hi thanks for the help!!!! Surely I will read it carefully to create a new DVD.
As for the one I have already burnt? Is there a way to check where the layer break is?

Also if TMPEG DVD Author 1.6 burns DL, will it let you decide where to insert the layer break?

[nwg]

Hi thanks for the help!!!! Surely I will read it carefully to create a new DVD.
As for the one I have already burnt? Is there a way to check where the layer break is?

You can use do it as above using the same technique. You can read the DVD inside PGcedit but it will error. Ignore it and it will just carry on. It is trying to put a Pgcedit backup folder but can't as it is read only. As you just need to read the disc it doesn't matter. Otherwise, just copy the files onto the hard disk first. Then load into the software

Also if TMPEG DVD Author 1.6 burns DL, will it let you decide where to insert the layer break?

I admit I haven't done it. There is a setting in the Evionmental Settings preferences to switch between single layer and double layer capacities. I expect it does its own layer change like Nero.

If you want to specify your own one then Pgcedit with DVD Decrypter is the best (and only way at the moment afaik).

[chellow]

Thanks a lot!!!! By the way I have a standalone Sony DVD Player and you were perfectly right it shows me where the layer change is!!!! I was amazed though that you cannot notice it during playback. There are no pauses. The funny thing is that if I put a commercial DVD it will pause when switching to the second layer.... so does it mean that Nero is better than commercial pressing of DVD's???

[nwg]

When you play a backup. Shrink takes out the layer change pause. The pause is needed for the laser to be refocused to the second layer. As a DVD-R/+R is single layer the pause is not needed. A DL+R or DL-R needs a layer change so you will get a pause all the time. You may find that a layer change on a DL media is slightly longer than a commercial DVD.

Any DVD player with a DVD ROM drive (usually cheap ones) have a buffer so no layer change is noticed. Sony use their own drives or other non DVD ROM drives which have no buffer. However, the drives are better quality most of the time compared to a cheap DVD ROM drive.

There is an option in the preferences in Shrink to remove or keep the layer change.