Need help from a videographer please!!

Hi Sunny Day,

There could be a number of reasons why it only plays on your dad's and your player (as you say it is the same make).

Without getting technical, it could be that the actual DVD disk could be a DVD+R or DVD-R. Some older DVD players (especially the expensive ones) were only able to play one type. It was typical of some DVD player manufacturers trying to get a bigger share of the market at the expense of the consumer.Incidently, those manufacturers' products are now at the middle to bottom share of the market.

The cheaper brands were able to play both types without problems.

You have not mentioned what other make/ models you have tried to play it.

I have been making thousands of professional DVDs since 2003 and only had one Disk failure - and that was the actual clients' DVD player only accepting one type of Disk. He was convinced that because he had a very expensive DVD player, he kept blaming my DVD. When I went to his house, I asked him to play it on his daughters, cheap, DVD player. Guess what, it played fine! Nevertheless, I gave him the DVD-R disk and that was fine. Obviously, he felt that he was ripped off the by the shop for selling him a very expensive player.

There are two otpions I can offer:

I can copy your disk to both versions and you could try them on any DVD player. I will provide two copies of each Disk for a total cost of £43.95 including recorded delivery postage to mailand UK.

As you mention, your dad has the original camera tape (I am assuming it is the small, DV type), I can edit it, add titles, music and make proper DVD copies for you. This option is more time consuming and the cost wil be £250.00 and will include Two copies of both types of DVDs each.

Of course. you can take them to a shop but I doubt it very much, that they will do a proper edit but will even charge by the footgage/ minute.

If you wish to contact me direct, you can do it via Hitched email or contact me viw my website. Pleae mention your Hitched name as well.

Thanks,

Bob

Sunny Day,

I forgot to mention that you must have the legal copyright permission to reproduce the DVDs or editing of the video tape, before I or any video editing professional can do anything with them.

Thanks,
bob

Was the disk finalised so that it would be able to play on other players?

Thanks guys!

Peter I have no idea what that means!, maybe we should try again from scratch with the tape and a blank DVD and see if it works properly this time? I dont know!

Bob - thanks for your offer, I'll have a think and let you know!!

I think what Peter means is if the DVD was made with your dad's DVD / writer/ player. Some DVD and VCR combinations can copy content from tape to a DVD. If you and your dad have these models, it may explain why the Disks can only be played in your machines.

By 'Finalising disk' means, that once the tape has been copied (written or burnt) on to the DVD Disk in the same machine, it needs to be finalised. It is a process that allows the Disk to be allowed to be played in most other machines. Most people forget to 'finalise' their disks and only noticed that they have not done so when trying to play disks in other players.

My understanding from these type of machines is that consumer models are only VHS tape format and not DV (Digital Video Camera tape) or other video camera tape types. I think, also, it does not allow for proper editing and adding titles and music but to simply copy from the tape.

Hope this helps.

Bob