Difficulty Burning Blu Ray On Lacie D2 301856U (8X)

[jbrazjr]

Hello everyone ! Newbie here. Forgive my lack of knowledge. I bought a LaCie Blu Ray Burner for my 24" iMac. It came with Toast 9. I have Toast 10 which was installed when I bought the computer. It shows a BD/HD key but I am wondering if the plug-in is actually installed. I reinstalled Toast 10 (with BD plug-in)...put in key info for both. I now have a Toast 10 icon and a Toast 10 Plug-in (HD with up arrow on it). I also have 3 Toast 10 icons on my desk top. When I click on Toast 10 in the Applications or icon in dock ..it keeps saying Toast 10 is not in the Applications folder(but it is) and asking me to drag Toast 10 to the applications folder. I have done this 3-4 times, opened it -then says there is an update available (10.0.8-413 bytes). Vicious circle.

 

So far, I have only completed a DVD-R (DL)...even though it was Blu ray quality when I took it to DVD-DL,it ended up being 480i . And I was able to copy an existing Blu Ray disc( 2 hrs, 25 mins. 1280 X 720) When I attempt to use"Blu Ray" the encoding will literally take DAYS. If I use "Custom" and set it to NEVER encode that would take maybe 24 hrs. or so. If it's auto, It would be FOREVER (19% for 12 hours). All I want to do is copy a MPEG4 to Blu ray.I've tried MPEG2 and MPEG 4 copy. I've tried 8-10 on MPEG 2 and 20-26 on MPEG 4. Can you offer any help ?

 

Lastly, I would like to record Youtube after game videos behind Blu Ray game. I have downloaded Wonderland Free Tube and Mpeg Stream clip converter that I am trying to use on the Youtube but no success. I have much software.....Final Cut Express & Pro,Adobe Encore CS4, I works 9, IDVD and image Capture to name a few...unfortunately I don't know anything about any of them. Forgive the length and thanks to tsantee for replying. I have listed this as a topic as recommended. Thanks much. Jim

[tsantee]

You have the Blu-ray plugin installed. If it wasn't you wouldn't have that option available in the Video window.

 

To make a DVD+R DL disc for Blu-ray you need to stay with the Blu-ray selection in the Video window and insert the DL disc when it is time to burn it. In order to see an approximation of how much content can fit the DL disc, click on the button that shows the type of disc that is just to the left of the burn button. Select DVD DL so the space available indicator knows what size of disc you're planning to use.

 

Although the Blu-ray spec supports MPEG 4 video there are many ways that video can be out of spec which causes Toast to Encoder rather than Multiplex even if you have Never Re-encode selected in the custom settings. Tell me all the specs that Toast describes for one of your source videos and I'll see if I can find a video with similar or identical specs to test on my iMac. By the way, what speed is your iMac and how much RAM do you have?

 

You may know about choosing Save as Disc Image rather than clicking the burn button. This helps prevent wasting discs if something goes wrong. When a disc image is completed it is burned to disc using the Image File setting in the Copy window.

 

I don't know about the Youtube videos you're referring to. However, Toast allows capture of many YouTube videos directly by selecting Web Video with the top button of the Media Browser. The media browser is a separate window. If you don't see it choose Show media browser in the Toast Windows menu.

[jbrazjr]

You have the Blu-ray plugin installed. If it wasn't you wouldn't have that option available in the Video window.

 

To make a DVD+R DL disc for Blu-ray you need to stay with the Blu-ray selection in the Video window and insert the DL disc when it is time to burn it. In order to see an approximation of how much content can fit the DL disc, click on the button that shows the type of disc that is just to the left of the burn button. Select DVD DL so the space available indicator knows what size of disc you're planning to use.

 

Although the Blu-ray spec supports MPEG 4 video there are many ways that video can be out of spec which causes Toast to Encoder rather than Multiplex even if you have Never Re-encode selected in the custom settings. Tell me all the specs that Toast describes for one of your source videos and I'll see if I can find a video with similar or identical specs to test on my iMac. By the way, what speed is your iMac and how much RAM do you have?

 

You may know about choosing Save as Disc Image rather than clicking the burn button. This helps prevent wasting discs if something goes wrong. When a disc image is completed it is burned to disc using the Image File setting in the Copy window.

 

I don't know about the Youtube videos you're referring to. However, Toast allows capture of many YouTube videos directly by selecting Web Video with the top button of the Media Browser. The media browser is a separate window. If you don't see it choose Show media browser in the Toast Windows menu.

 

tsantee-Thanks so much for the response. You are correct.I did manage to burn a Blu Ray disc (18.54 GB) by copying an Image File. It did this in about 35 minutes. I have an iMac 2.93 Ghz dual core unit with 4 gig of memory(will take 8). I have now managed to copy a game on one DVD-R DL...like 8.7 GB. It was done under Blu Ray in the Video window using DVD-DL. (Was like 20 GB if on BD-R but I was afraid of getting a bad burn so I burned to DVD-DL.

 

I have the BCS NC game I downloaded on I-Tunes. I would love to make a copy of this in Blu Ray but it won;t let me. I would gladly buy a retail BD version of this game but it doesn't exist. ( I did pay to have an AVCHD disc made before I got the LaCie BD burner but was disappointed because it didn't look "live" for some reason). Also wouldn't play on my older LG 370 Blu Ray player.Most of what I want to record are MPEG 4 although there are a couple of MPEG 2's.

 

As an aside,I would love to buy a TV Tuner for my iMac and copy Network, ESPN, Fox Sports, etc. in Blu Ray. I have seen Elegato Hybrid(I think) talked about. What would you recommend. Also, I have been recording High Def to D-VHS for about 4 years(using Firewire). My LaCie and my iMac both have Firewire ports...I would like to take these HD tapes to Blu Ray. I downloaded some Firewire 26 program but don't know if that's the way to go.

 

Lastly, I have tried to copy the SEC Championship game which I downloaded off SEC Digital Network. It is in h264 and I have tried using Video and Blu Ray and it switches to Encoding and would take like 3 days if it ever actually finished. Same for other stuff under Blu Ray in Video. Thanks for all the help. I realize I'm asking a lot but any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[tsantee]

The iTunes download is probably copy encrypted so it can only be played on a device that you've authorized for playing iTunes Store programs. If you had an AppleTV connected to your TV you could stream it from your computer to the TV, but otherwise you can only watch it on the computer or maybe and IOS device.

 

I have used Firewire to copy HD video from a DVR and I have an EyeTV Hybrid and a TiVo Premiere. What may work best for you is the new EyeTV HD. With this you probably can retire your D-VHS deck. It connects to a HD TV tuner via the component cables and records in real time to H.264. I've recommended it to another user and I'm pretty sure he reported that it created Blu-ray compatible MPEG 4 video so that Toast didn't need to do any encoding. The advantage of this unit is that nothing is copy encrypted because the component outputs are analog and not digital. The disadvantage is you can only record two-channel audio.

 

The EyeTV Hybrid can capture the actual MPEG 2 video stream from cable or digital over-the-air. However, when your source is cable (such as ESPN) you're at the mercy of your cable provider to decide if that channel is blocked from copying. I used to be able to capture ESPN from my Comcast cable but now they only allow the EyeTV Hybrid to receive channels that also are available over the air; nothing more.

 

The TiVo Premiere fills that gap for me. I can use the TiVo Transfer application included with Toast to transfer programs from non-premium channels to my Mac and use them as I want. Although in MPEG 2 format these programs can be copied to Blu-ray without re-encoding and I retain the 5.1 audio if present. This is the highest-quality option but there are some programs that can't be transferred. Mostly it is just premium channels but sometimes it is something else. Of course this requires paying a subscription to TiVo service.

 

Another approach for you is to get a device that can play content from your computer on a TV. I've mentioned AppleTV but there are others. One that I have is the WD TV Live which now is the WD TV Live Plus. Using this you can watch the HD videos on your TV without needing to create Blu-ray discs, thereby saving a lot of hassle.

 

I know that encoding takes a long time but your description seems extreme. Walk me through the steps you're taking and describe the specs that Toast displays under the title in the Video window.

[jbrazjr]

The iTunes download is probably copy encrypted so it can only be played on a device that you've authorized for playing iTunes Store programs. If you had an AppleTV connected to your TV you could stream it from your computer to the TV, but otherwise you can only watch it on the computer or maybe and IOS device.

 

I have used Firewire to copy HD video from a DVR and I have an EyeTV Hybrid and a TiVo Premiere. What may work best for you is the new EyeTV HD. With this you probably can retire your D-VHS deck. It connects to a HD TV tuner via the component cables and records in real time to H.264. I've recommended it to another user and I'm pretty sure he reported that it created Blu-ray compatible MPEG 4 video so that Toast didn't need to do any encoding. The advantage of this unit is that nothing is copy encrypted because the component outputs are analog and not digital. The disadvantage is you can only record two-channel audio.

 

The EyeTV Hybrid can capture the actual MPEG 2 video stream from cable or digital over-the-air. However, when your source is cable (such as ESPN) you're at the mercy of your cable provider to decide if that channel is blocked from copying. I used to be able to capture ESPN from my Comcast cable but now they only allow the EyeTV Hybrid to receive channels that also are available over the air; nothing more.

 

The TiVo Premiere fills that gap for me. I can use the TiVo Transfer application included with Toast to transfer programs from non-premium channels to my Mac and use them as I want. Although in MPEG 2 format these programs can be copied to Blu-ray without re-encoding and I retain the 5.1 audio if present. This is the highest-quality option but there are some programs that can't be transferred. Mostly it is just premium channels but sometimes it is something else. Of course this requires paying a subscription to TiVo service.

 

Another approach for you is to get a device that can play content from your computer on a TV. I've mentioned AppleTV but there are others. One that I have is the WD TV Live which now is the WD TV Live Plus. Using this you can watch the HD videos on your TV without needing to create Blu-ray discs, thereby saving a lot of hassle.

 

I know that encoding takes a long time but your description seems extreme. Walk me through the steps you're taking and describe the specs that Toast displays under the title in the Video window.

 

tsantee-Great info ! Thanks so much ! I have both Directv(no Firewire) and Charter cable. I'm paying a small fortune for both. What all can you record with Apple Tv or WD TV Live Plus? The great majority of my recording would be College Football from TV and D-VHS. Right now I am trying to do a Blu Ray recording under Video/Blu Ray. This is the info being shown:

 

Video: H.264/AVC,1280X 720,59.94 fps

Audio: MPEG -4 Audio,Stereo 48000Hz

Encoding: Automatic-Best

Aspect Ratio:Automatic

Audio Format: Dolby Digital 192 kps

 

In 10 mins., Encoding still shows 0%.

I have the option to use Custom instead of Automatic but am not sure of what settings to use.

 

A couple of questions...how do you do several things on a disc....in other words record a game and AFTER that come back and add other material to fill up the Blu Ray disc. Can you do a track at a time? BTW, it's now been 20 minutes and encoding still at 0%. Thanks again.

[tsantee]

tsantee-Great info ! Thanks so much ! I have both Directv(no Firewire) and Charter cable. I'm paying a small fortune for both. What all can you record with Apple Tv or WD TV Live Plus? The great majority of my recording would be College Football from TV and D-VHS. Right now I am trying to do a Blu Ray recording under Video/Blu Ray. This is the info being shown:

 

Video: H.264/AVC,1280X 720,59.94 fps

Audio: MPEG -4 Audio,Stereo 48000Hz

Encoding: Automatic-Best

Aspect Ratio:Automatic

Audio Format: Dolby Digital 192 kps

 

In 10 mins., Encoding still shows 0%.

I have the option to use Custom instead of Automatic but am not sure of what settings to use.

 

A couple of questions...how do you do several things on a disc....in other words record a game and AFTER that come back and add other material to fill up the Blu Ray disc. Can you do a track at a time? BTW, it's now been 20 minutes and encoding still at 0%. Thanks again.

It's odd that Toast is encoding that video rather than multiplexing it. Do you have MPEG 4 selected as the format in the custom encoder window and Never re-encode selected? It seems to meet the specs unless its bit rate is too high which I doubt.

 

AppleTV and WD TV are digital media players. They don't tune TV. They both should be able to play the video you are trying to make into a Blu-ray disc without any conversion at all. So that's a big time saver. They are very different in their approach, however. I'll leave it to Apple and Western Digital to explain their products.

 

Given your existing gear, I'd suggest the EyeTV HD unit to make h.264 HD videos from either your DirectTV or Charter HD boxes and then an AppleTV to play those from your Mac onto your TV.

[jbrazjr]

It's odd that Toast is encoding that video rather than multiplexing it. Do you have MPEG 4 selected as the format in the custom encoder window and Never re-encode selected? It seems to meet the specs unless its bit rate is too high which I doubt.

 

AppleTV and WD TV are digital media players. They don't tune TV. They both should be able to play the video you are trying to make into a Blu-ray disc without any conversion at all. So that's a big time saver. They are very different in their approach, however. I'll leave it to Apple and Western Digital to explain their products.

 

Given your existing gear, I'd suggest the EyeTV HD unit to make h.264 HD videos from either your DirectTV or Charter HD boxes and then an AppleTV to play those from your Mac onto your TV.

 

Thanks for the help. What should the bit rate be under Custom with Never selected for encoding. It is like 20 ...should I keep going down ? Again, Thanks.

[tsantee]

Thanks for the help. What should the bit rate be under Custom with Never selected for encoding. It is like 20 ...should I keep going down ? Again, Thanks.

I'd leave the bit rate at the default. If you can get Toast to multiplex instead of encode it doesn't matter what the bit rate setting is because that only applies to encoding. By the way, you can use Toast's editor to shorten the video to, say, a minute in length while you're running these experiments. Click the Edit button next to the video in the Toast window and you'll get a window where the editor can be accessed. The editor marks the section(s) you want excluded and it does nothing to the source video file itself.

[jbrazjr]

I'd leave the bit rate at the default. If you can get Toast to multiplex instead of encode it doesn't matter what the bit rate setting is because that only applies to encoding. By the way, you can use Toast's editor to shorten the video to, say, a minute in length while you're running these experiments. Click the Edit button next to the video in the Toast window and you'll get a window where the editor can be accessed. The editor marks the section(s) you want excluded and it does nothing to the source video file itself.

tsantee, thanks for everything. I still can't get it to not multiplex and not encode for some reason except when I am making a copy of a Blu Ray disc that I already have and also was able to do a DVD+RDL to multiplex. Unfortunately, in experimenting I ended up with 2 discs with hardly anything on them because I thought I could stop BEFORE the percentage left 0%. There is something not right and I can't figure what it is. You have been SUPER. I'll keep at it. Thanks.