DVD+R on iMac DVD player?

[akcorcoran]

hi -

I just used the straight up "VHS dubbing" on a Panasonic VHS/DVD+-RW and burned to a Taiyo Yuden DVD+R disc. When I popped in my iMac, it said a "Supported Disc was not available." I thought the +R was the more compatible? I did "finalize" the disc on the Panasonic so it should be playable. What have I done wrong?

In looking on Disc in Finder, I see VIDEO_RM AND VIDEO-TS folders - within there are really only .DAT, .IFO, .BUP and .VOB files.

I have other disc formats and can try again but wanted to get a recommendation before I spend hours - thanks!

Alexa

Edited to add: I should have added that it *plays* on the DVD player (albeit the same one) just fine. Should I be using something else to import to digital (w/out compression) and/or not finalize. Thx -

[Steve Grisetti]

It could be that your iMac's DVD drive is a -R rather than +R.

"More compatible" formats is really more about DVD players -- which used to play -Rs more often than they played +Rs. But today's DVD players can play either home-burned format with equal ease.

Your computer, on the other hand, may only be able to read one format.

[akcorcoran]

it's a brand new iMac - specs below. could it just be the player? of course it only says, "Reads DVD" not any more detail. Writes all.


MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-875:

Firmware Revision: DB09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

[Steve Grisetti]

I don't know why you'd have a problem. Sorry.

It could be related to that machine you used to create the DVD.

[akcorcoran]

Thanks for trying - I'm going to keep experimenting.

Alexa

[Steve Grisetti]

Can you read a blank DVD+R in your iMac?

What happens if you burn a DVD to a DVD+R? Can you then play it back on your iMac?

I really think it's a Mac incompatibility thing. Although DVDs are supposed to be cross-platform, I've had DVDs and CDs that opened fine on my PC but not my Mac.

[akcorcoran]

Yes, I can read a blanks DVD+R. As for burning and trying, do you want me to try just burning a Quicktime movie I've got on my Mac? then, try replaying? I'll do that -

I suspect it may be the combo of the DVD+R and the Panasonic "finalized" video - it's suppose to auto play for TV - and I wonder if the iMac Movie Player doesn't like the format?

A

[Chuck Engels]

Some DVD burners and players are format specific, some play +R but not -R and the other way around.
Check the specs of your particular DVD player.

[Steve Grisetti]

That iMac has a "superdrive", Chuck. It can read or write to any CD or DVD format.

Still, Mac's can be touchy about reading certain home-burned DVDs and CDs. They shouldn't be -- but, in my experience, they sometimes are.

[akcorcoran]

Thanks, Steve - My guess is that it has more to do with using the Mac's internal DVD player - ? I was able to burn the same clip to DVD-R and the player is reading it on the iMac, so it is definitely the +R format. I just can't understand, per Steve's comment, why since it is supposed to read and write all formats.

thanks for everyone's help - I'll use the -R for now (and now have to figure out how to capture the video into FCE or iMovie)!

appreciate the time -
Alexa