I want to mass produce a short video and distribute it on a DVD. I'd like to include an HD version that will auto-load and play on a Blu-ray player, but also be downwardly compatible when placed in a DVD player.

Can DVDA produce this? If not, is it possible using some other software?

Thanks

I have never heard of such a disc. I do not think it is possible to do what you want with the current standards.

I want to mass produce a short video and distribute it on a DVD. I'd like to include an HD version that will auto-load and play on a Blu-ray player, but also be downwardly compatible when placed in a DVD player.

Can DVDA produce this? If not, is it possible using some other software?

Thanks

What you're trying to do is completely impossible with any authoring software. This is due to the completely different UDF structures of both SD DVD and AVCHD DVD. Normal SD DVD players cannot read UDF 2.50 formatted DVD media at all (HD content requires the use of UDF 2.50 in order to be authored onto any type of optical disk whatsoever). SD DVD, on the other hand, only complies to UDF 1.02 - and most Blu-ray players include a separate laser to read legacy DVD media.

I suspected it was not possible, but I figured this would be the place to get a definitive answer. How about my Plan B...Is there burnable media that is Blu-ray on one side and DVD on the other?

No. If you think about it it does not make sense, no market for such media even if they could make such a thing.

A bluray player will play both. Bluray players cost under $100 now. The simplest solution is to simply buy a bluray player or simply make two versions of the movie, which in Vegas is very simple to do. I make bluray and DVD versions for all of my customers. It takes a bit of time, but it's not an issue at all.

I have a client that wants to mass mail a video on DVD to thousands of recipients. He wants people to be able to watch in HD if they have that capability, but wants it compatible with DVD players for those who don't. I was trying to find an option to do that.

I may suggest that he just send them a link to a Vimeo or YouTube video and save the expense.

Or you could make both versions, put them in a double case, so those with a bluray player have the option. So every client would get both.

Expensive? Sure, but I'd suggest it and let the client decide if it's too expensive. HD videos don't always play well for people with slow connections anyway.

It is a perfectly good idea and it would allow your client to send out his video and to be seen the way he wants it to be seen wherever people have the ability to play Bluray. Just a thought.

Most DVD players (and possibly Blu-ray players - I have never checked) have a repeat function that you can set to replay the DVD automatically over and over. We use that function at Wedding Shows to repeat our Demo reel.

I do this fairly often,
Make a DVD with menu as per normal,
but also have a 1080p HD mp4 as ROM content on the disc as well.
Put a note on the disc and/or in the menu that "This disc contains HD DVD rom content".
Its not exactly what you want but anyone who wants to can watch the HD content on any PC, Mac, PS3, XBox etc

Pretty clever Gerald. How do you get the HD file on the same disc as a movie? What is the process?

Jeff, I've done the same thing as Gerald a few times.
All you need to do is add an extra folder (Sony calls it "Extras" in DVDA) to the root of the DVD menu.
You now end up with 3 folders, VIDEO_TS, AUDIO_TS and Extras.
You can put anything you want into the Extras folder (video, stills, PDF files, sub-folders, etc.) as long as you remember to make allowances for the size of whatever is in there when you do your original encoding from Vegas (i.e. the proper bitrate).
I do my prepare in DVDA and then use Imgburn (it's free and great!!) to burn the final DVD(s).
The Extras folder can be added in DVDA during the authoring process or when you do the actual burn.

Thanks Mike, really slick idea, can't wait to use it.

You're welcome Jeff. As I said, this is really easy to do.
On a side note, I was doing this long before it became an option in DVDA.

As Mike said, it is a handy tool to use.
I use Encore, which makes it even easier.
:)