16 Replies Latest reply: Jul 5, 2010 3:26 AM by Neil Wilkes Branched from an earlier discussion. RSS

    Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer

    pcford Community Member

      Yet another data point.

       

      I brought in a Hollywood DVD and it played video but no sound...just like my DVDs at work.

       

      Soooo, it is appearing more like the problem is on the player side, not the authoring side. However, that does not eliminate the problem. We believe that these DVDs will most likely be played on a prospective client's computer. It appears likely from my experience here that there are a lot of DVD players out there that have the drivers installed but not the DVD codecs/decoding software. I would have thought that Encore would have installed a proper DVD codec but that evidently is not the case.

       

      All of these DVDs seem to play ok on a DVD/TV setup...what can I do other than writing a note on the disc suggesting that it be played on a DVD/TV if it does not play on a computer.

       

      Will Bill Hunt's suggestion which he graciously offered about separating video and sound increase the likelihood that a DVD will play on a computer?

        • 1. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
          John T Smith CommunityMVP

          As far as I know, because of copyright issues, playing a DVD on a computer requires software that is NOT installed by Windows

           

          As you have found, even commercial discs won't play properly without the proper software

           

          And, no, Encore does not install a disc player... since Adobe would have to pay a license fee and charge you more for Encore

          • 2. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
            Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

            Unfortunately, a DVD/BD author has little to no control over what a client might have, the setup or the calibration of their equipment. It is a crap-shoot, as there are tons of different players out there, and most hook up to uncalibrated displays.

             

            With computers, one MUST have both a DVD drive, and also software to play a DVD. Most burner/players incorporated into a computer, or sold as an external, come with some sort of DVD player. While these are not all created equally, they usually work fine, if installed. There are also freeware players, like MediaPlayer Classic HC, that can be recommended for those clients, who do not have a DVD player program already.

             

            As mentioned above, I test on all sorts of players, and on at least two multi-drives, before shipping. If a disc does not work flawlessly in each test unit, I redo it, until it does.

             

            As for playability, one must first remember that NO DVD player is certified to play ANY burned disc. If the player has the DVD logo, it MUST play all commercial DVD's, whether DVD-5, or DVD-9. Remember - these are commercially replicated/pressed discs. However, with good media, and a slower than max burn speed, one gets very close. That is the best that any of us can get.

             

            Considering the lack of Audio on one of your systems, one can never be assured that the client will have things like the audio hooked up correctly, or that they will have remembered to turn ON the receiver/amp on their system. One poor user fought a lack of Audio for many replies in their thread. No one could figure out why they had no Audio. It turned out to be a problem with the Audio Out on their system. Somehow, the cables had become dislodged, and they were way underneath the system, so it took crawling around to find this - just some wires that had been unplugged. Fixed!

             

            Hope that you are able to find the issue with your test system. If a commercial disc does not have Audio, then I would begin tracing every cable in the system, looking for worn, or bad connectors, loose cables, or similar. If they are all good, then I would begin checking other sources, besides DVD's, to see that other Audio Inputs work fine, to narrow things down to a faulty DVD player.

             

            Good luck,

             

            Hunt

            • 3. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
              pcford Community Member

              Thank you Mr Hunt and Smith for taking your valuable time to answer  my query.

               

              Mr. Hunt, I have produced, oh say, several  hundred DVDs and none have been returned either. However, lately, I have  become aware of the problems playing DVDs on computers.I am concerned  that if a disc does not play...potential clients just disregard them.

               

              (A few years ago, we did an instruction video for a  medical equipment company. Because the company sells equipment world  wide, we did a WMV/CD version which would play on most any Windows  computer.)

               

              Also, it does seem a bit risky to assume  that clients would have the Cyber Link player on their  computer...Wouldn't it be better to assume that the viewer would be  using Windows Media Player?

               

              Again, my assumption is that a potential client, getting a DVD in the mail, will attempt to play it on his computer, if it doesn't play...it's a lost cause.

              • 4. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                pcford Community Member

                Looks like minimally I should have fine print on the disc like "Best played on a DVD player/TV."

                • 5. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                  Well, WMP once did play burned DVD-Videos, but MS made a decision that all burned discs were really pirated, and crippled that capability. Some add-ons came out, but one had to Google for these, and then take their chances.

                   

                  While CyberLink PowerDVD works for me, in two different versions, free w/ multi-drive and commercial, there are many others. I think that both Roxio and Nero have DVD software players, as will other suppliers. I mentioned the great, free MediaPlayer Classic HC, though one would have to install that.

                   

                  The WMV supplemental file should play in most versions of WMP, but that takes a lot of disc space, as ROM Content. I'd think about doing a two-disc set, one DVD-Video and then a DVD-Data disc, with that WMV, and maybe a MOV version. Note: one MUST consider the data files. In a DVD-Video, one is dealing with MPEG-2 compression, to fit the material onto a DVD-Video disc. With data, one must compress the AV file to fit. Depending on the Duration of the AV, that might not be that big an issue, as WMV has some good compression for streaming media.

                   

                  Good luck,

                   

                  Hunt

                  • 6. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                    Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                    Yes, liner notes can go a very long way. I'd not limit the user to a set-top player, but would point out that for playback on a computer, one must have a DVD software player, and perhaps list a few, especially the better freeware ones.

                     

                    Good luck,

                     

                    Hunt

                    • 7. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                      pcford Community Member

                      @ Bill Hunt:

                       

                      Installed the free Media Player Classic. DVD plays fine.

                       

                      Still, it's a bit crazy-making...why did the Premiere transcoded disc play fine with the original configuration?

                      • 8. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                        Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                        In the world of AV files, DVD's and computers, there are often things that one never knows the answer to.

                         

                        That things are working fine now, might be "as good as it gets."

                         

                        Good luck,

                         

                        Hunt

                        • 9. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                          pcford Community Member

                          I was presuming Windows Media Player would play a DVD-Video. This is not that unusual...I even had a media house representative insist that WMP should play a DVD "out of the box." This is clearly not the case.

                           

                          From Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0072.mspx

                          How do I play DVDs in Windows Media Player?

                          To play DVDs  using the Player, you must have a DVD-ROM drive, a computer running the  Microsoft Windows XP operating system, and either a software or hardware  DVD decoder installed on your computer. (By default, Windows does not  include a DVD decoder.) For more information about DVD decoders, see the  DVD Support in  Windows XP Web page.

                          If these conditions are met, you can play  DVDs by using Windows Media Player for Windows XP or later. For more  information, see the Play CDs and DVDs  Web page.

                           

                          I had LG/Cyber link on my machine...it would not play sound...the free Cyber Link won't play Dolby sound. You have to buy the "premium" version for $15. For whatever reason, the freeware VLC and the Media Player Classic WILL play Dolby sound.

                           

                          By the way My CS3 Encore appears to be limited to five Dolby encoding sessions; after that you have to buy the encoder for $295.

                           

                          So, the lesson is:

                          Even if a DVD player is installed on a computer, don't expect it to play a DVD. The player has to have the proper drivers, codecs and decoding software. It appears that a lot of corporate workstations are not set up to play DVD-Video.

                           

                          For someone involved in supporting the marketing team...this is a huge eye opener. I was expecting the marketing video to play on the prospective client's machine. Wrong! You have no control over how the prospective client's machine is configured. If the DVD is played and it doesn't work...it will simply be tossed to the trash...furthermore the likelihood is that you will never know.

                           

                          In the short run, I am printing on the label that the DVD is best played on a DVD player/TV.

                           

                          I did not hear from the media house on the results of the testing. Will check with them next week.

                           

                          Thanks to all participants in the discussion. I hope someone else learned something as well.

                          • 10. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                            Stan Jones CommunityMVP

                            By the way My CS3 Encore appears to be limited to five Dolby encoding sessions; after that you have to buy the encoder for $295.


                            Encore CS3 includes encoding to Dolby.  I still use it all the time.  Premiere CS3 includes (I think it was) 3 free encodes, then you have to pay.

                            • 11. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                              pcford Community Member

                              Ok, that'sa right...I should take notes on this stuff.

                               

                              My confusion stemmed from the fact that I was using Premiere to transcode instead of Encore. I was told that the Premiere is better at transcoding.

                              • 12. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                                John T Smith CommunityMVP

                                >told that the Premiere is better at transcoding

                                 

                                Both Premiere and Encore use the same coding engine... so the same settings will give the same results

                                 

                                I personally always export from Premiere as AVI and then let Encore use the AUTOMATIC setting to produce the best results that will fit on a DVD

                                • 13. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                  I agree with John T., and usually rely on En's Automatic for Transcoding. About the only way to improve on Adobe's Encoding engines would be to add a program, like ProCoder and use it.

                                   

                                  Hollywood uses similar, but much more robust and more flexible encoders, which are run by high-paid folk, who do nothing else all day, and every day. Features like 10-pass encoding are commonplace. However, one is talking many 10's of 1000's of $ for those, and then a heavy learning curve.

                                   

                                  Good luck,

                                   

                                  Hunt

                                  • 14. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                                    John T Smith CommunityMVP

                                    CCE Basic is supposed to be good

                                    http://www.cinemacraft.com/en/ at a "reasonable" price

                                    • 15. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                                      Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                      John T.,

                                       

                                      Looks good and the prices are not bad either. Maybe something for me to think about - after I pay for the new workstation and CS5 upgrade though.

                                       

                                      Happy July 4th! And thanks for that link.

                                       

                                      Hunt

                                      • 16. Re: Getting DVDs to Play on a Computer
                                        Neil Wilkes CommunityMVP

                                        Stan Jones wrote:

                                         

                                        By the way My CS3 Encore appears to be limited to five Dolby encoding sessions; after that you have to buy the encoder for $295.


                                        Encore CS3 includes encoding to Dolby.  I still use it all the time.  Premiere CS3 includes (I think it was) 3 free encodes, then you have to pay.

                                        Hey Stan.

                                         

                                        The encoder in Premiere Pro is a fully featured, Dolby Labd approved logo cleared encoder for up to 5.1 channels.

                                        You can get a TMA agreement from Dolby Labs using this and have proper logo placement on the packaging & everything.

                                        The one in Encore is a consumer grade stereo only encoder, not suitable for logo usage.

                                        You have no control over any of the rules it uses to encode.....