>no bit budgeting which means I have to play with the settings
Export DV AVI (regular or widescreen, as appropriate) and import the AVI in Encore... and tell Encore to use Automatic transcoding to make a "best fit" of time -vs- single or dual layer DVD
Then, have Encore create an ISO instead of going to disc, and use the FREE http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download to write files or folders or ISO to disc for DVD or BluRay (send the author a PayPal donation if you like his program)
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Imgburn will read the ACTUAL disc brand from the disc, which is not always the same as the box label (Memorex is notorious for buying "anything" and putting it inside a Memorex box)
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When you write to disc with Imgburn, use the SLOWEST possible speed setting, so your burner has the best chance to create "good, well formed" laser burn holes... since no DVD player is required to read a burned disc, having a "good" one from a high quality blank will help
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Use Taiyo Yuden single layer or Verbatim Two layer Or Falcon Pro for inkjet printable Two layer