Hello All,

I've encountered what seems to me rather strange problem when trying to record a video file to a DVD on my Linux box. Here's the problem:

I have several video files encoded in mpeg-4. The videos can be played back from the hard-drive with no problem. However, after I burn the videos on a DVD media and play them back, there appear to be minor corruptions resulting in distorted video in some places. For instance, xine player reports the following types of errors:

[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 24 9
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 393
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 628 DC, 628 AC, 628 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]header damaged
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 9 18
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 747
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 281 DC, 281 AC, 281 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 39 17
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 736
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 262
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]cbpc damaged at 14 21
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 875
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 771 DC, 771 AC, 771 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 2 13
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 535
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 268
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]cbpc damaged at 16 22
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 918
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 588 DC, 588 AC, 588 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 29 13
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 562
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]illegal mb_num in video packet (993 960)
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 461 DC, 461 AC, 461 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 34 9
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 403
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 528
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 616 DC, 616 AC, 616 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]2. marker bit missing in 3. esc
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 364
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 301
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 960 DC, 960 AC, 960 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]header damaged
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 131
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 395
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]illegal mb_num in video packet (965 960)
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]illegal mb_num in video packet (965 960)
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 885 DC, 885 AC, 885 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 36 8
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 364
Marker bit missing before time_increment in video packed header
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]cbpc damaged at 10 20
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 830
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 447 DC, 447 AC, 447 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]cbpc damaged at 37 21
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]Error at MB: 898
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]marker does not match f_code
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]concealing 184 DC, 184 AC, 184 MV errors
[mpeg4 @ 0xb63e5b48]ac-tex damaged at 14 7

I have not tried to upgrade the firmware or run quality scans.

On the other hand, I have confirmed that the files recorded on the DVD differ in some places from the original files on the hard-drive by running a combination of 'diff'/'od' on them. Can this be related to the way the data is structured on the DVD?!

The drive works fine as far as playing back rental DVD's .
I have also tried to record CD's with no problem.

The setup I am using is as follows:

Linux Debian 2.6.18-5-k7
ABIT NF7-S with Sil 3112A SATA onboard
Plextor PX-716SA, rev 1.08
wodim 9:1.1.6-1 (have also tried dvd+rw-tools with the same effect)

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated (as I am running out of space on my hard-drive and really need to back up all these videos)! )

A few updates to this "puzzle":

1) Upgraded the kernel to 2.6.22-3
2) Upgraded the firmware of 716SA to 1.11
3) Tried to burn using slower speed, 4x

Seemingly less errors, but still a fare amount. I'm including the results of the scan of a DVD burnt at 4x.

I really wouldn't want to take this drive out and try it on a Windows box, but I guess I'll have to..

It looks like you were browsing or something during the transfer rate test, this should be a straight line otherwise. PIE/PIF scan looks normal for your media.

Try copying the video file(s) from DVD back to your hard disk, I think they will play fine. I'm guessing it's some issue with the player software. Commercial DVD's aren't MPEG4, so same problem would not apply.

A late welcome to the Forum

Hm, there isn't info about DVD-R media, only MID-code. Tray using recomended media (Verbatim/MKM, Plextor/TY).

Yes, you're probably right, I didn't realize this.

I tried copying the files back to the hard disk and comparing them. They DO differ. Looks like the burned files have lost some bits in some places but later they recover and coincide with original files (I guess thanks to the ECC?)

I don't know whether it's a linux driver bug (and in that case I should probably be seeking help at some linux kernel forum), or it might be a corrupted drive unit?

Thanks for your input and the welcome!

The DVD-R I am using media is Memorex. Also tried Verbatim DVD+R. Not sure what MKM or TY stand for?

I don't think it's the burner. Have you ever updated your mobo BIOS? There appears to be a SATA BIOS update included in one of them (release 24 - note there's two revisions of this board, so double check which one you have): http://www2.abit.com.tw/page/en/down...ARCHTEXT=NF7-S .

Going by deduction:
1. Does an MPEG4 file burned to DVD on another PC work in the Plextor?
2. Does your DVD burned with the Plextor work on another PC and/or OS?

MKM and TY are Mitsubishi Kagaku and Taiyo Yuden, arguably the 2 best manufacturers of optical media. If you buy by brand, then Verbatim is the safest choice (though the quality scan of your Memorex looks fine).