DVD introduction media to play on all DVD players?

ReceptorDeceptor wrote on 6/8/2014, 10:15 AM
Hi!

I've been recently authoring a DVD release for a client that has a ~1min30sec introduction video at the start of the disc (a media file that's starred with "Set disc start" and linked to the main/root menu).

Most players play the disc just as I've intended, but for example Windows Media Player somehow skips the intro video and goes straight to the main menu without displaying the disc start media at all. Is there any way to "force" all players to play the introduction media as inteded (because the intro clip is a very important part of the overall DVD)- what settings should I use with DVDA Pro 6.0 and so forth?

I've already tried to create a startup script for the DVD with little luck. I'd want to have _all_ (or at least most) DVD players play the intro media when the disc has been inserted, but I haven't found the solution to this problem yet.

I've been searching all kinds of DVDA related forums and the manual, and trying different methods to create a startup media or trying to come up with a startup script that would enable this ~1,5min video clip to be played every time the disc has been inserted, but so that it's also fast forwardable/skippable if necessary, but so far I haven't found a 100% working solution.

Then again -- is forcing the playback with all remote buttons disabled etc the only way to prevent DVD players/video player programs from skipping straight to the main menu? Often with a startup script, I get a warning that it's "orphaned" for reasons beyond my comprehension. Any suggestions?

All help is kindly appreciated. Thank you!

Comments

ReceptorDeceptor wrote on 6/8/2014, 10:50 AM
I think I got it!

Had to disable a lot of functions from the introduction media that were listed under the "Remote Buttons"-properties. Now it seems to play back properly with Windows Media Player as well.

Title play - Off
Stop - On
Time/Chapter Search - On
Previous/up - Off
Next - Off
Fast scan - On
Backward scan - On
Top menu - Off
/
Menu - Off
/
Button navigation - Off
Pause - On
Audio/subtitle track/Video angle change - All: Off
Video mode - On

----

I hope none of those options are "improper" or "against common practice" when it comes to intro media properties and options in a Video DVD. At least it works now ;o)


Former user wrote on 6/8/2014, 11:41 AM
Another way you could try is a blank menu with an AUTO activate button to play the first media.
videoITguy wrote on 6/8/2014, 4:33 PM
ReceptorDeceptor - I don't think you realize how complicated your functioning of the options to use software media players to force some practice of common play behaviors might be. In general actually controlling any software media player is nearly impossible and the Microsoft releases of Windows Media Player being one of the worst. It seems the different versions released on different iterations of Windows OS platforms is one issue, and yet another being interaction with other established software on a given installation.
Now the DVD standards for best practice compatibility on set-top hardware players is another matter, and it might be possible that your tweaks chosen for software players is not going to interfere with hardware but then maybe it will. I always establish practice for set-top players as the best install practice. Then forget software media players!
ReceptorDeceptor wrote on 6/8/2014, 5:02 PM
Thanks videolTguy, you are completely correct -- the DVD video standards/practices and all the fine details are indeed quite hard to comprehend, although I've been doing small-scale DVD production for years. It's only now that I would have wanted the best compatibility that's possible since it's going to be factory-pressed and so forth. A lot of software players indeed tend to do their own "playback solutions" when it comes to playing a DVD.

One FAQ I've been reading a lot lately is:
http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

Considering set-top hardware players - you are right - they're a completely different story in comparison to DVD players on a computer. As for software players, the only software that offers a decent "emulation" of a real hardware set-top player is (IMHO) PowerDVD.

It turned out the settings I posted before didn't work out in the end - WMP still skips the intro media straight to the main menu ... I hope I can find a solution that'll work with a majority of available DVD player environments.
ReceptorDeceptor wrote on 6/8/2014, 5:11 PM
Thanks DaveT2,

I tried out your suggestion and so far the DVD preview seems fine! I'll see how the rendered result will play back ... Cheers!