Dual-Layer Format

[Bell Bottom George]

Not being very technically minded, could somebody please explain to me, in lay-man`s terms, what this means (writ on the back cover of some DVD`s) ;
"Dual-layer format : Transition between DVD layers may trigger a slight pause."

On some of my DVD`s I do notice a slight pause, usually at the end of a particular scene, before the next one starts. However, on two films (Get Carter & Land Girls) the pause is in the middle of a scene and it is really noticeable. Why is this ?

[Wolfgang]

DVD's can only record about 2 hours of film, which means if your film is longer than 2 hours or it has subtitles or extra audio tracks then it will not fit onto one DVD. When they came out in 1997/98 we had double sided DVD's (called flippers) - they were not very popular, as you can imagine, since you had to physically stop your player and turn your DVD over halfway through your film. Dual sided DVD's are effectively two DVD's squashed together on top of one another and data is read from just one side using laser with two different wavelengths (one to read your top layer, and one that can pass through first layer and read data in second layer). You get momentary pause when your player's laser starts to read data from second layer.

[Steve Crook]

Sometimes not all that momentary, depending on how well their made. And, to a certain extent, how quickly your DVD player can change modes.

Steve

[Bell Bottom George]

Many thanks guys for your replies. Helpful and interesting.

Cheers.

[Tony Pendrey]

Originally Posted by Bell Bottom George Not being very technically minded, could somebody please explain to me, in lay-man`s terms, what this means (writ on the back cover of some DVD`s) ; "Dual-layer format : Transition between DVD layers may trigger a slight pause." On some of my DVD`s I do notice a slight pause, usually at the end of a particular scene, before the next one starts. However, on two films (Get Carter & Land Girls) the pause is in the middle of a scene and it is really noticeable. Why is this ?

Get Carter has a running time of less than two hours, so you could create a backup of just the film without the dvd extras. In fact with the right software you can create a backup of the whole disk to single layer DVD-r which will play without any layer change pauses.

I won't blind you with science George !

[Bell Bottom George]

Thanks Tony, but that has gone totally over my head ! - Don`t know how to backup a film, have no software, and don`t know what a DVD-r is !!!!!!!
I just put the disc in and press play !

Cheers anyway

[image45]

Its just not DVD+R DL though is it !!!!!!

[lordtednfs]

Dual-layer refers to the way the disc is "built". Dual-layer discs have two recording layers separated by a transparent spacer, like making a sandwich with the filling of your own choice in the middle but there is nothing in between the disc, unlike single-layer discs that have only one recording layer.

The first layer of a dual-layer disc has a semi-transparent reflector layer that allows the laser to read and write to the first recording layer, but still lets the laser through to the second recording layer so that it can read and write to that layer also.

To use dual layer discs you will have to change your dvd writer for one that accepts dual layer discs.

However there are some very good software progs out there, Clone DVD2 is one of the easiest to use and will convert nearly very dvd disc, whether it be dual layer or not and will compress (squeeze) all of the info onto a normal dvdr disc, you may lose a little bit of quality but it's hardly noticeable. With Clone DVD 2 you can erase all the annoying things you don't want to have on the disc, such as trailers, documentaries, commentaries, various languages and so on. You will also have to use a program that will open the crack codes on the disc so you can backup your copies. Any DVD is available on a 21 day free trial from SlySoft Products | Copy Movie DVDs with AnyDVD and CloneDVD where you may download it along with Clone DVD2.

I will send you a pm.

__________________
Hooked off the line

[Bell Bottom George]

Thanks Lordted, I`ve pm-ed you back.

[image45]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Sometimes not all that momentary, depending on how well their made. And, to a certain extent, how quickly your DVD player can change modes. Steve

Very true indeed, I got the DVD with both versions of 'Alfred Hitchcocks ~ Blackmail' on that was a dual layer disk. If I put it in my accoustic Solutions DVD 425 the transition between layers was seemless while in my Sony machines the pause was a good few seconds.

The best part was the DVD 425 was only £68 while the Sony machines were into the £300 level

Shocking indeed