# Playing video from my Mac on a DVD player **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348 "2011-05-18T17:36:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/1 "2011-05-18T17:36:16Z")
I just got a new TV/DVD player (a Toshiba 22DV713B). I was under the assumption that I would be able to play video burnt onto disc from my Mac on this (AVIs mainly). Turns out I can’t - in the small print it says it doesn’t support HFS (this is an Apple way to format discs, from what I can gather). From my own research the only way round this is to buy something like Roxio Toast - which apparently can burn the discs in a way that my TV will approve of. So 1). Will this work, before I shell out? and 2) Is there a free way to do this? I love my Mac (10.6.7, by the way, in case it matters), but compatibility can be an issue . . . Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/2 "2011-05-18T17:43:04Z")
> [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](#): > > I just got a new TV/DVD player (a Toshiba 22DV713B). I was under the assumption that I would be able to play video burnt onto disc from my Mac on this (AVIs mainly). Turns out I can’t - in the small print it says it doesn’t support HFS (this is an Apple way to format discs, from what I can gather). > > From my own research the only way round this is to buy something like Roxio Toast - which apparently can burn the discs in a way that my TV will approve of. So 1). Will this work, before I shell out? and 2) Is there a free way to do this? > > I love my Mac (10.6.7, by the way, in case it matters), but compatibility can be an issue . . . > > Thanks in advance. Toast will certainly do it, but you might want to try using the Terminal first: [http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20070612161317338](http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20070612161317338) ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/3 "2011-05-18T17:49:49Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Toast will certainly do it 100%? And easily? Just asking because I often find technology throws up new hurdles in my face. > [@](#): > > , but you might want to try using the Terminal first: [http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20070612161317338](http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20070612161317338) Help an old(ish) man here. What’s Terminal? The link make’s my head hurt . . . Honest thanks for trying to help, though. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/4 "2011-05-18T18:10:54Z")
The command-line utilities to do what you want are more powerful, but if you’re not familiar with the terminal, I’d avoid them for now. I would try using Disk Utility to create a burnable image. Hopefully easiest and quickest option: Before starting, make sure all the files you want to burn are in one folder. 1.Open Disk Utility (do a Spotlight search, or go to the default location: /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app) 2.Under the File Menu, select “New -\> Disk Image From Folder”. You’ll then have to select the folder with the video files in it. 3.Once you’ve picked the folder, you’ll get another window. At the bottom, there is a selection for “Image Format”. Select “DVD/CD master.” 4.You need to give the image a title and save it. [I think, but I’m not sure, that if you change the extension to .iso it will produce one, though you should be able to leave it as .cdr and have it work]. 1. Once the image is created, Disk Utility will add it to its list on the left. If for some reason it’s not there, click “Burn” in Disk Utility (with nothing selected in the left pane) and find the saved image where you selected in step 4. Otherwise, just select the new image in the pane and click “Burn”. 2. Burn it and give it a try. The more complicated version, which is probably less likely to work: In Disk Utility, click on New Image. This will bring up a sheet with several options on it. For “Image Format” (at the bottom), select DVD/CD master. For “Format”, try MS-DOS(FAT). Select an appropriate size (several CD and DVD sizes are options). You need to name the disk image and a file to save it as. When created, it will be mounted in the finder. You then have to copy files to it, go back to Disk Utility and burn it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/5 "2011-05-18T18:12:45Z")
> [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](#): > > 100%? And easily? Just asking because I often find technology throws up new hurdles in my face. Help an old(ish) man here. What’s Terminal? The link make’s my head hurt . . . > > Honest thanks for trying to help, though. Yes, Toast can burn UDF format Data DVDs. Before you buy Toast, you might want to try some free solutions, like: > **[Burn - Home](https://burn-osx.sourceforge.io/Pages/English/home.html)** or [http://www.maconnect.ch/download/LiquidCD2.08.zip](http://www.maconnect.ch/download/LiquidCD2.08.zip) ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/6 "2011-05-20T00:34:51Z")
Many thanks for the help. I gave a try to both your suggestions with no luck - very possibly due to my own incompetence, so in the end I got Toast. But still no luck! I’ve tried burning discs in various formats - ISO, UDF etc. Again I may be doing something stupid / missing something obvious. The 2nd best I’ve managed so far is that my TV recognises and lists the files on the CD, but then won’t play them. The best result is when I burn them as a DVD from Toast. This plays, but isn’t what I’d hoped for as a) you only get about 1.5 hours of video on a disc, and b) the quality is terrible (way worse the original AVI files). Any clues? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/7 "2011-05-20T01:23:48Z")
Is there a specification that lists the files / disk format this player accepts? That would help a lot. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/8 "2011-05-20T01:32:46Z")
It could be a problem with the video format as well. AVI is just a file format, more or less, so being in that format doesn’t mean that the video player will be able to play it. I would especially look at this since it seems to recognize the disc but not the file on them. In particular, how were the video files created? ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/9 "2011-05-20T16:33:24Z")
Hi guys, thanks again and sorry for late replies - different timezone and lots of work to do . . . Here’s what the manual of the TV says about specifications: > [@](#): > > This TV can play MP3/JPEG/DivX® files recorded on CD-R and CD-RW discs. To create an MP3/JPEG/DivX® disc, you need a Windows PC with a CD-RW drive and file encoding software (not supplied). > This TV requires discs/recordings that meet certain technical standards in order to achieve optimal playback quality. There are many different types of recordable disc formats (including CD-R discs containing MP3 files). Not all recordable discs will produce optimal playback quality. The technical criteria set forth in this owner’s manual are meant only as a guide. Use of CD-RW discs for recording MP3 files is not recommended. > MP3/JPEG/DivX® /Audio CD information MP3/JPEG/DivX® playback reminders > • Make sure the file name of MP3/JPEG/DivX® files in a CD includes the 3-character file extension (“mp3”, “jpg”, “div”, “divx”, and “avi”) to make it compliant with the ISO 9660 standard. > • This unit can read 2000 files per disc. If a disc has more than 2000 files, it reads the first 2000 files, while the remaining files will be omitted. > • To play the files in sequence based on the recorded order: - Use MP3/JPEG/DivX® -encoding software that records data alphabetically or numerically. - Include a two- or three-digit number prefix on the file name, ex: “01” “02” or “001” “002”. - Refrain from making too many sub-folders. > • MP3/JPEG/DivX® CDs cannot be used for recording purpose. • It may take more than one minute for this unit to read MP3/JPEG/DivX® files depending on the disc structure. • Audio files recorded based on the Joliet Recording Specification can be played back. • This unit does not support data disc burned using the Apple Mac OS (Hierarchical File System, HFS format). > File name display reminders > • The maximum number of characters for file name display is 15. Long file names will be condensed. • Only the following characters will be displayed: A through Z (both upper and lower case), 0 through 9, and the underscore > symbol (\_). • Non-supported characters will be replaced with a hyphen (-). > MP3/JPEG/DivX® CD limitations • Depending on the recording conditions, some MP3/JPEG/DivX® CDs cannot be played back in your TV. > • Only MP3/JPEG/DivX® files recorded in the CD-R or CD-RW disc can be played. Other files will not be read nor displayed. MP3 and DivX® file encoding information > MP3 > > - File format: MPEG-1 Audio - Sampling frequency: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz - Bit rate: 32-320 kbps (constant bit rate or variable bit rate) > The recommended recording setting for high-quality sound is 44.1 kHz sampling frequency and 128 kbps constant bit rate. > DivX® > - Version: DivX® 3, 4, 5, and 6 (specifically 3.1.1, 4.1.2, 5.0.2, 5.0.5, 5.1.1, 5.2.1, 6.0 at Home Theatre profile) - File format: MPEG1 Layer2 (MP2) or MPEG1 Layer3 (MP3) - Sampling frequency: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz - Bit rate: 32-320 kbps > - Resolution: 720 x 576 at 25 fps (max), 720 x 480 at 30 fps (max) > Note: > • DivX®, DivX Certified® and associated logos are registered trademarks of DivX, Inc. and are used under license. • MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson. The particular vids I’m trying to put on disc were originally .mkv files. I changed them to .avi and then did Toast to burn them. Most of the stuff I have on my computer is .avi already, but I haven’t tried them yet. Hope this helps. If I don’t find a solution soon the TV will have to go back, as the supposed ability to play .avis and the like was why I bought it. ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/10 "2011-05-20T16:36:20Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > It could be a problem with the video format as well. AVI is just a file format, more or less, so being in that format doesn’t mean that the video player will be able to play it. Ok, just reread this, and not sure what it means for me. I couldn’t tell you where some of the files I’ve got came from originally. All I know is how they are saved now . . . sorry to be unhelpful! ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/11 "2011-05-20T17:40:55Z")
> [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](#): > > The particular vids I’m trying to put on disc were originally .mkv files. I changed them to .avi and then did Toast to burn them. When you say “changed” what do you mean? ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/12 "2011-05-20T17:57:54Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > When you say “changed” what do you mean? I used Burn (this one [Burn - Home](http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net/Pages/English/home.html)), as I knew the TV didn’t list mkv as supported. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/13 "2011-05-20T18:01:35Z")
What resolution / frame rate are your AVI files? The manual says the TV can only support - Resolution: 720 x 576 at 25 fps (max), 720 x 480 at 30 fps (max) ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/14 "2011-05-20T18:02:00Z")
The key part of the info is the bit about DivX. It would appear this only plays video encoded that way. We don’t know just by being an .avi or .mkv whether it is or isn’t. The recent versions of DivX is not free as far as I know. Look [here](http://www.divx.com/en/software/mac/converter-free). It may be that you can find an older version - it’s useful that they give you the details: > [@](#): > > Version: DivX® 3, 4, 5, and 6 (specifically 3.1.1, 4.1.2, 5.0.2, 5.0.5, 5.1.1, 5.2.1, 6.0 at Home Theatre profile) Before shelling out for DivX, I would try to use Xvid, which is a free alternative. It’s entirely possible, even somewhat likely, that your player will accept that. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/15 "2011-05-20T19:54:16Z")
Yes, this kind of thing is a royal pain in the butt. There are just so _many_ ways to create a video file; so many, in fact, that there’s a program called [G-Spot](http://www.headbands.com/gspot/) that does nothing but describe the format of video files you give it. But it’s only on Windows. For the Mac, there’s a [list of Mac OS video tools at VideoHelp](http://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/macos-video-tools) that mentions [MediaInfo](http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaInfo), which might work for identifying just what kind of video files you have. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/16 "2011-05-22T02:47:14Z")
Not to insult your intelligence, but you are burning CDs, right? It doesn’t look like it supports DVD-R. ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-video-from-my-mac-on-a-dvd-player/582348/18 "2011-05-22T19:13:31Z")
Well that was all a bit of a struggle, but all has turned out well. Many thanks to all who have replied and helped. The thought that it might have something to do with the file types, rather than being a Mac issue, led me to give it a go with some discs I burnt a while ago. Rather to my amazement they worked. I’ve since burnt other video straight from my computer, just using the normal procedure (not Toast or anything) and it works fine. It seems it had a problem with the .mkv files, even after they were converted to .avi. So it does support discs made straight form Mac, and it does support DVD-Rs, despite what it says. Weird. Thanks again.