On a DVD, I always created a folder at the root level (along side the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders) and put the artwork, MD5 and information files in it before burning to disc. I’ve never had a problem with any players and this extra folder. They just ignore it. But it keeps everything together on one disc for me.

As we move into BluRay discs, I’m wondering if I can do the same. Has anyone done something like this? I’ve done some Googling for tips, and I’m seeing a lot of different answers, so I’m looking to our group here for some real-world experience. If anyone has had any success putting extra files onto a BluRay disc and not having it effect playback, I’d like to hear about it.

Thanks.

Yep, it works pretty much like DVDs: burn a UDF format disc with a BDMV folder for the video part, and add whatever extra data folders/files to it. But just to be safe, invest in some rewritable BD-RE discs so you can test before burning 23 GB coasters.

Today I was compiling a Blu-ray and DVD project with Encore. There is a function to add content to the disc but I’ve never used it. I’ve always put the files in the root directory on the DVD and BD. Today I used the feature and it put the DVD content in the root directory. The Blu-ray content was put in a directory titled Data in the root directory.

I agree about investing in purchasing BD-RE discs. However, if I want to test a BD menu and I have used a small sample video file. Then I burn the project to a DVD-RW and my stand alone says the disc is AVCHD. It’s a way to see how the menu looks on my LCD TV without writing small amounts of data on a BD-RE. I know rewritable discs don’t last forever so it’s a way to make the BD-RE last a little bit longer.

Pop-up menus are different. I have found that they will only work if they are burned on a BD. I’ve burned the same project on DVD and BD and the pop-up menu just will not work if it’s on the DVD.