Disc Workshop Testing and Limitations

Beta software: use at your own risk. Read the full Disc Workshop disclaimer before downloading or using this software.

Disc Workshop · Downloads · Quick Start · User Guide · FAQ · Release Notes · Testing and Limitations

What development checks cover

• PAL/NTSC VCD, SVCD and XVCD encode/decode and VCDImager authoring with test media.
• Bitrate fitting, disc capacity calculations, manual boundaries, quiet/black ranking, fallback selection and actual split timing.
• Subtitle burn-in and advanced MPEG-1/MPEG-2 picture/audio parameters.
• Picture/audio fades and frame retention at disc breaks; silent black-screen durations, black picture and silent audio on every volume.
• Low-vision layout and switching during a real conversion; packaging compilation and installer creation.

Known preview limitation

The user continued to report frame stepping returning to the opening picture and volume arrows failing despite focused tests passing. These tests were not sufficient evidence of reliable operation on the user’s setup. Version 1.8.3 removes all four arrow preview shortcuts and their keyboard hook. Use the timeline or HH:MM:SS and Space play/pause.

What still needs real hardware testing

Physical optical-disc reading, CD-R writing/verification and standalone-player playback have not been established by the automated development checks. A clean-machine installation test is also outstanding. Drive, media, video format, television standard and player support all affect results. Try a short standard VCD before converting a large collection.

Source and output limits

• Sources must be readable; the app does not remove encryption, DRM or region restrictions.
• No automatic IFO-title or MPLS-playlist assembly, DVD/Blu-ray authoring, original menus or chapters.
• Output is standard definition; default audio is downmixed stereo. Selected subtitles are permanent burn-in, not switchable tracks.
• Custom XVCD/SVCD settings can exceed standards, even if the image fits the blank CD. A capacity check cannot guarantee hardware playback.
• Separate source clips can have small discontinuities; use an assembled movie file for complex titles and subtitles.
• HDR-to-SDR needs compatible filters; Dolby Vision is not explicitly supported.
• Intermediate files and disc images can consume substantial disk space. Failed/cancelled jobs retain partial output, which must not be burned.

Before burning

1. Check successful completion and read DISC-PLAN.txt, DISC-BITRATES.csv where produced, PLAYBACK.txt and job.log.
2. Preview each disc file and listen around every boundary, including subtitles, fades and padding.
3. Keep each CUE and matching BIN together; write the CUE as an image and verify it.
4. Test every volume in the intended player. Record the format, PAL/NTSC setting, blank media and player if reporting a problem.