How can I make copies of a MEP DVD?

Former user wrote on 11/26/2012, 12:36 PM

I spent several weeks learning how to edit a ten-minute video with MEP 16. Now I have it the way I want with titles and a menu. What is the best and fastest way to make copies of the master? Can I do it with MEP or will I need another program? Can someone direct me to a section of the MEP manual that discusses this.

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 11/26/2012, 4:26 PM

If you have burned a DVD satisfactorily then I would use any DVD copying software available- makes mass production easier as you can specify the number of copies and then just keep feeding the DVD writer with blank discs as required.

I personally use Nero which is a paid for software - there are free DVD copying programs available such as ImgBurn, Starburn etc.

John

Former user wrote on 11/27/2012, 9:23 AM

John,

I have Nero 8 Essentials which came bundled with my Samsung DVD Writer. So on my HP computer I have an E and an F drive. The F drive is the DVD Writer. I've been using that to copy about 2000 ten-minute video CDs that I sell from my website.

With MEP 16 I put opening and closing titles on this video CD, and on the Burn program I added a menu screen. I like the look of my work which is now converted into a DVD. It plays perfectly on my computer and on my Samsung LCD TV and on a friend's Mac. But it does not play on another friend's older TV. On that one I get an "error" message.

Perhaps I burned it using the wrong settings. On the screen - "Should the existing file be used for the film 'SE Menu'? I used the default - I think it was yes. And I put a check in the "Rewrite film menus and navagation structures."

I also clicked "Encode all" without really knowing what I was doing.

My present problem is that I don't know how to make copies with Nero. I am not able to find the file for the MEP project. I have the disc though that I want to copy. Can I just put that in one drive and a blank in the other drive? Will Nero make an exact copy or will it delete the MEP menu?

johnebaker wrote on 11/27/2012, 12:38 PM

I would use Nero to copy the disc you already have - however I would not use both drives - this makes Nero copy on the fly which can be prone to failures.

If you are creating video CD's then some older DVD players will not be able to play them.

For backward compatability you should burn standard DVD's, however there may be another problem in that older DVD players may not recognise some makes of disc.

For maximum compatability I have found that discs which use the a G5 dye are accepted older DVD players - including my 12 yr old Panasonic rDVD recorder I now use for testing.

For the quantities you are referring to have you considered using a commercial copying service or are those numbers over a long period of time?

The Encode All etc buttons only appear when you burn a DVD again - I always use Encode All - if you use the other options MEP only changes the parts of the DVD files it needs to.

HTH

John

Former user wrote on 11/27/2012, 3:56 PM

John,

You asked, "For the quantities you are referring to have you considered using a commercial copying service...?"

I just got a price from Duplium in Ontario, Canada. For 1000 with a neat label the cost will be $600 plus $70 shipping. I sell about 500 with a 20-page booklet each year. A year ago that company duplicated another DVD I sell on another website. They did a good job.

But I don't want to send them my new master yet because it does not play on all machines. About an hour ago I tested it on a new TV and a laptop computer and it did not play. On the TV I got the message - "not NTSC." I'm almost sure I used that setting though.

So I'm going to be tinkering around with the settings till I can make a master that will play on other machines.

I got MEP16 several years ago but didn't learn how to use it. I wish I did because my other DVD that I had professionally duplicated has no menu and looks almost primative compared to the one I just edited with Magix. The menu and the clear titles really add to the total effect.

I'm going to make some short videos in a few weeks to put on YouTube. I'll have links to these from my websites. The Canon FS200 might not be adequate though. I'll have to pick up some books at MicroCenter this weekend so maybe I can learn something about making decent videos. I might also pick up a green screen. That might be fun to work with.

Thanks for your help.