I recently purchased a Sony GX315 to replace a Lite On 5005 that died. I record old home made videos (no encryption, no macrovision, no nothing) from a JVC VHS to the Sony using DVD-R ( I have used several different brands - Verbatin, Imation, TDK, Sony - the results are all the same, and I have redorded at several different speeds - from 60 min to 3 hours)
Also I have rcorded directly from my TV - from a non encrypted regular Comcast TV cable - same results.
I finalize the DVD. It plays OK in the Sony and in a built in DVD Player I have on another TV.
The problem is when I insert the DVD into my Mac Power Book G4 it shows up as a generic folder icon with the name SONATA_VOLUME, totally empty - no files in it.
I am not by any means a video expert, but other DVD's that I recorded from the Lite On always showed up with the DVD icon and, at least, a folder called VIDEO_TS which contained the appropriate VOB files.
Since there are no files present on the Sony DVD I can not use some simple Mac software such as mpegsreamclip, MacTheRipper ( know I don't need it for unencrypted DVD's but I just tried it to see if it could find the files), QuickTime with MPEG2 and VLC to import the video files and simply clip/trim them.
When I copy the Sony DVD to my hard drive, it copies aproximately 4.3 gigs so I know that something is on the DVD (well I knew that before since it plays OK on both the Sony and in my TV as I said) but even these files can not be opened by any Mac software that I have.
I googled "SONATA_VOLUME" but most of the results were in French, German or Japaneese. It seems that this is a problem (although I can not tell what) in these countries but has not reached the USA yet.
I called Sony support today but they had no answers other than to see if there is any Mac software that will allow me to mount the DVD and access the files.
My guess at this point, and it is only a guess, is that Sony puts some type of "cover" on the files that prevent them from being recognized by computer software.
As i've mentioned before - it plays OK on the Sony and on another TV/DVD combo - it just won't be recognized by my Mac, neither in the internal CD/DVD nor in a Pioneer 110 firewire external that I have.
Any suggestions (including return the Sony) will be appreciated.
Password: total 2931104 dr-xr-xr-x 9 unknown unknown 404B Feb 20 17:26 . d--x--x--x 3 unknown unknown 88B Feb 20 17:26 .. -r-xr-xr-x 1 unknown unknown 12K Feb 20 17:26 VIDEO_TS.BUP -r-xr-xr-x 1 unknown unknown 12K Feb 20 17:26 VIDEO_TS.IFO -r-xr-xr-x 1 unknown unknown 96K Feb 20 17:26 VIDEO_TS.VOB -r-xr-xr-x 1 unknown unknown 40K Feb 20 17:26 VTS_01_0.BUP -r-xr-xr-x 1 unknown unknown 40K Feb 20 17:26 VTS_01_0.IFO -r-xr-xr-x 1 unknown unknown 1G Feb 20 17:26 VTS_01_1.VOB -r-xr-xr-x 1 unknown unknown 407M Feb 20 17:26 VTS_01_2.VOB [Process completed]
So as I stated there are files on the DVD, they just don't show up in the Finder. The DVD Icon is a generic folder and when I open it, it is empty.
Two other facts. The DVD plays ok, and all of the video files show up on an old Dell Latitude I have.
And, the files show up in Virtual PC running on my PowerBook G4. The DVD still has the same name but all of the video files show up.
When I copy the files from the VPC DVD to a hard drive on my PB G4 I can then edit them with MPEG Streamclip.
I'm baffled. As I mentioned there are several posts (Google "SONATA_VOLUME") but most are in other languages. When I translate it seems that others have this problem.
I really wonder what "SONATA_VOLUME" is.
Thanks for your help.
Anonymous
Posted on
Sony should fix permissions on the SONATA_VOLUME and VIDEO_TS. Under Windows there's not much use for this (only NTFS and up would have permissions, but not in true UNIX fashion).
Typing ls -la for /Volumes shows that the read flag is not set, which translates into not being able to change to that directory to see the files inside. As regular user: d--x--x--x 3 joe user 88 Jan 18 10:17 SONATA_VOLUME As root one can see the contents of the directory because of superuser privileges. Therefore, the incantation to copy any of the files on the disc to the hard-disk is: sudo cp /Volumes/SONATA_VOLUME/VIDEO_TS/<File to be copied> ~/Desktop and then bring up the Inspector on the file copied on the Desktop and change ownership to current user and permissions to read-write. UNIX equivalent: sudo chown user:user ~/Desktop/<File from DVD> sudo chmod 644 ~/Desktop/<File from DVD>
Again, this is a bug on SONY's part. Another bug is that the DVD's label is always SONATA_VOLUME even when set to something else on the DVD Recorder.
I am not experienced (confident) enough to try Anonymous's suggestions, although I understand and appreciate his explanation of the problems with Sony DVD recorders.
But to TerminalUser, i have just two words to say:
Brilliant! Brilliant!
Where did you learn this?
I tried
sudo open /Volumes/SONATA_VOLUME/VIDEO_TS
And just like the Wizard of Oz going from B&W to full color - the DVD opened and there were my files!
The VIDEO_TS folder and all of the VOB Files. I copied them to a hard drive, they ran in mpegstreamclip and I was able to burn them using Popcorn.
What else could i ask for? Well maybe if you could get Ali McGraw (I'm dating myself, I know) to return my phone calls after 30 some years.
I have the same problem as George had, except mine gets worse because I own an LG DR6921W DVD recorder, not a Sony.
The DVDs I make on the LG Recorder are also SONATA files and until the other day I could not see their contents either--I'm a Mac G4 laptop owner as well.
Using the terminal Trick, I can now see the VOB files etc and copy them to another folder.
The problem is, the LG recorder automatically puts in a 'menu' VOB file so that when the Video_TS folder is copied to a new DVD (using Popcorn), that opening menu VOB is frozen and the disk is unplayable. I have no idea why this is so.
If I remove the offending VOB file from the VIDEO_TS folder, the folder will not play (of course)
Not only that, but it seems that the menu VOB is the ONLY vob file that mpegstreamclip recognises! All the others register as "unknown file type"!
Does anyone know what is happening here? Why can't I get a playable copy? Is there anything I can do about this?
I seem to be having the same problem as Leon. I was ecstatic to finally find a way to see the files my Sony RDR-VX500 had burned (using TerminalUser's command line), but now that I can see them I can't get mpegstreamclip to see them -- I keep getting "unknown file type" errors, too.
What I'm doing is turning old VHS home movies into DVDs on this Sony RDR-VX500, but then I want to be able to pull the footage off and edit them in Final Cut Pro. I was super stumped about why the Sony-burned DVD data was invisible until I googled "Sonata_Volume" and found this site.
If anybody has insight or further instruction about how I can get these files into Final Cut, I'd love to hear it.
I have had several private emails regarding this topic, and since I have actually not found a complete solution, I though that I would post an update as to where I stand.
First, while i am an experienced Mac user I am not a Mac expert. And I am a complete novice when it comes to video. I don't have any idea of the difference between mpeg-2, mpeg-4, QT, avi , codecs or whatever.
What I am trying to do is very simple - use a standalone dvd recorder connected to mr vcr and my tv to convert homemade (no copy protection) vhs tapes to dvd. I also have many old commercial vhs tapes and many vhs tapes that I recorded from tv that are decaying. I have played these on my JVC vcr and recorded them on my dvd recorder.
Let me be very clear - this is not a protection, encryption, macrovision or whatever problem. And it happens regardless of whether I burn a homemade vhs, an old commercial vhs, or a vhs that I recorded from tv years ago. And, it doesn't depend upon the brand of dvd discs - I use only DVD-R. I've used Sony, Verbatim, TDK, HP, Compusa, Imation and others -same results. And I get the same results whether I use the built-in SuperDrive on my Mac PB G4 or I use an external Pioneer 110D in a Firewire case.
Up until a few weeks ago my standalone dvd recorder was a Lite-On 5005. After I burned the dvd on the Lite-On, I would put it in my Mac Powerbook G4 17" running Mac OS 10.4.3.
The size of the VOB files is reasonable; this will become critical in a moment.
The video would play with DVD Player Version 4.6 and I could open the VOB files with MPEG Streamclip Version 1.5.1
Unfortunately my Lite-On dvd recorder died. It was still under a replacement plan so I returned it and got a Sony RDR-GX315.
Now is where it gets interesting. This dvd will play in DVD Player. I have no idea why.
A helpful "trick" from this forum, the Terminal using
sudo open /Volumes/SONATA_VOLUME/VIDEO_TS
actually opened the dvd and the VIDEO_TS folder as shown below:
The "size" does not make any sense.
I can not open them in MPEG Streamclip, I get a File open error: unrecognized file type.
Now for some real Outer Limits/Twilight Zone experiences.
1. If I do a finder copy of one of the VOB files to my hard drive, it takes several seconds so I know that the file is actually not "zero" - well I knew that since it played in DVD Player. But even the file on my hard drive can not be opened by MPEG Streamclip, same error message.
2. I've tried making a copy of the DVD with Toast, Popcorn, Disk Utility - none of the copies will work.
3. if I put the SONATA_VOLUME in an old Dell laptop that I have, and copy the files over my ethernet network, the files that are copied to my Mac PB G4 work fine in MPEG Streamclip.
4. If I fire up Virtual PC on my Mac PB G4, open the SONATA_VOLUME dvd in Virtual PC, they show up ok as follows:
If I then copy the files (which takes almost 10 minutes to copy one of the VOB files - I have no idea why) from my "Virtual PC" environment to the hard drive on my Mac PB G4, the files that are copied work fine in MPEG Streamclip.
So, there we are. To try to respond to a few specific questions:
Someone mentioned that the Sony actually uses a Samsung burner. Nothing against Korean companies but maybe the LG unit also uses a Samsung burner.
You state "Using the terminal Trick, I can now see the VOB files etc and copy them to another folder." What size are the VOB files after Terminal opens them? Can you open the copied files with MPEG Streamclip?
You state "I have MPEG Streamclip?but I can't figure out how to use it!!" Make sure you have the most recent version (1.5.1I believe). Double Click on the application. Go to Files/Open Files and navigate around until you find the VOB file that you want to open.
Other than that, i'm stumped. Let's keep working at it. Maybe someone will find an answer. I'm planning on taking my PB to an Apple Store next week. I'll let you know if they have an ideas.
Thanks very much for the update. I'm going to keep posting here too to keep this thread going, and I hope you all will do the same.
I still can't get mpegstreamclip to open my VOB files, so my new question is: Is there another program like mpegstreamclip for the Mac that I might try?
You wrote: "What size are the VOB files after Terminal opens them? Can you open the copied files with mpegstreamclip?" After terminal opens them, they're (I wish I knew how to post .gif pictures like you did):
These are from a half-hour long home movie DVD. I can't open them with mpegstreamclip. I get a "file open error: unrecognized file type".
To be clear, and I'll echo George, the questions I'm asking have nothing to do with macrovision or any kind of copy protection, and I too have used several different brands of DVD-Rs. Burning isn't a problem, it's pulling the files off the Sonata_Volume Sony folder on my Mac to bring them into Final Cut Pro that I need to do and can't.
Hopefully one of us will figure it out soon. Let us know what the Apple store tells you, George.
Sony makes camcorders that record onto DVDs. If we were to assume that it uses the same file structure and type when burning to camcorder-DVD as it does to home component DVD, then there has to be a quick and easy way to pull the files off. Because some people with DVD camcorders have to be on Macs, and certainly they want to edit what they've shot on their DVD camcorders, right?
Perhaps this bears some research. I'll let you know if I find anything.
Does somebody know what version of the UDF file system the Sony GX315 writes? I think it has something to do with that. The MAC OS probably can't read that version properly and defaults to the ISO9660 file system (which might be wrong). Windows and the set-top players can read it like it should and get the files from the UDF instead.
First, let me thank all of the posters above for your input. I've been (almost literally) pulling my hair out this past 2 weeks, trying to find the solution to my not being able to play my newly recorded DVD's on either my PowerBook or G4 PowerPC.
I, too, have a new GX315 and have been chatting with Sony's Product Specialists about this 'will not play on my Mac' problem.
The fix, he found, was very simple. Perhaps because I have a Super Drive (can burn DVD's on both my computers), they have the responsible driver.
My original problem was that I was burning to Memorex discs. While I could burn and play Memorex on both my Mac's with no problem, the Sony GX315, while it would burn and play them...as well as my 'play only' JVC DVD player would...my Mac would -not- (when created on the GX315). The SONATA symbol came up and would -not- play.
Sony's Product Specialist suggested TDK or Fuji discs. I went out and bought Fuji and they work great! Both my computers recognize this format and automatically launch my DVD player. No 'auto play', but they will play when clicked on.
Whew! Now, to my other problem (I'll search or create another thread)...importing via firewire from my Sony camera. What a mess! :^(
To: Lori: Forget the TDK Fugi red-herring. I am using TDK's, and the "copy won't play" issue is still there. To George Molnar and Anonymous: Same problem. Made DVD's from 20 Year old VHS tapes, and now find I have one un-copyable DVD. Why does SONY do this?
Update. I just went by Best Buy today and they've discounted the former almost $300 Sony GX315 to $149. Me thinks that I've not been the only one that's been returning -this- red herring.
I traded the 315 in for the older GX300 and am now happy. :^)
I have the same problem. I have the Sony RDR-VX500. I am using OS X 10.4.6, Quicktime 7.1, iMac PPC G5, Toast Titanium 7.02.
I tried the terminal method also. After I typed "sudo open /Volumes/SONATA_VOLUME/VIDEO_TS" it asked for my password. So I gave the password, and then I got: "We trust you have received the usual lecture from the local System Administrator. It usually boils down to these three things:
#1) Respect the privacy of others. #2) Think before you type. #3) With great power comes great responsibility."
Then a finder window opened, with the sonata volume showing, but still no visible files.
I have the same problem. I have the Sony RDR-VX500. I am using OS X 10.4.6, Quicktime 7.1, iMac PPC G5, Toast Titanium 7.02.
I tried the terminal method also. After I typed "sudo open /Volumes/SONATA_VOLUME/VIDEO_TS" it asked for my password. So I gave the password, and then I got: "We trust you have received the usual lecture from the local System Administrator. It usually boils down to these three things:
#1) Respect the privacy of others. #2) Think before you type. #3) With great power comes great responsibility."
Then a finder window opened, with the sonata volume showing, but still no visible files.
