OT: Dual Layer DVD and Video DVD Authoring

[younggun]

Techie question!

I have a single layer DVD burner and when I create a video-DVD (for use in my TV's DVD player) I only get 1.5 hours of video.

Now obviously commercial DVDs have approx 3 hours and these are dual layer disks right?

So if I get me a dual layer burner (these are now down to ~£50), I'll presumably be able to burn 3 hour disks that will work in commercial players. Any compatibility issues anyone know of?

Thanks to anyone out there who knows about this stuff.

Adam

[foggy]

You'll obv need to buy dual layer DVD's which are frikkin expensive in comparison to single layer but yes, you can create proper dual layer dvd's.

[dirtydavey]

there is also a ton of software out there that can compress video down so that you can get much more time on a single layer, there is a very slight loss in quality but to be honest it's not noticable even on the best setup. You can also remove any features, languages, subtitles etc that you don't want, that helps save space.

[younggun]

Thanks guys. So when you compress your video right down you can have more hours of play and that'll work on everyone's home DVD players?

Nice to meet you both the other night BTW.

[foggy]

I've not written it to a standard dvd but I tend to compress video to about 1gb/hour into avi and it looks spot on. Should give over 4 hours on a normal DVD.

Nice too meet you too!

[dirtydavey]

younggun said:

Thanks guys. So when you compress your video right down you can have more hours of play and that'll work on everyone's home DVD players?

Nice to meet you both the other night BTW.

Yup, all DVDs are compressed to a certain extent anyway. Adding more compression will allow you to get much more on a disk and should work on any player.

Nice to meet you too, mate.