Re: DVD-Video compatibility

Oh Roadkill,

Or, maybe the flags tell the DVD players' laser and/or decoder to do something to account for the less reflective media?

....still thinking (maybe I'll give the boys in Japan a call? :-)

Yes, the DVD-Video Spec is all about fun. Example: one reason DVD-9's caused so many problems over the years for Sonic, who corrected their mistake early, Astarte (DVD SP 1.x), Apple, Gear Software; and hopefully not Roxio, Nero and others), is this is the only thing said about layer breaks in the entire DVD-Video Spec (found in Part III: VIDEO SPECIFICATION - 3.1 Logical data structure of DVD-Video disc, page VI3-5):

"3.1.5 Relation between Logical Structure and Physical Structure

The following rules appy to Cells:

1) A Cell shall be allocated on the same layer.

2) Two Cells which are presented seamlessly shall be allocated on the same layer."

That's it. The layer break is not explicitly defined in the DVD-Video spec! But from the above, it's easy to figure out that layer 1 must begin with a Cell (to satisfy rule 1) and this Cell that's to act as the layer break, needs to be flagged non-seamless, right? :-)

But Apple seems to be the only ones that still don't get it, they have an option in the format window in DVD SP 3 to flag the layer break Cell as seamless, violating DVD Spec rule (and it will not work on high percentages of players, depending on the bit rate and GOP Structure of the stream playing through the break)! Oh well. :-)

Enjoyed it, and will let you know,

Trai