Copy DVD 2 DVD with 2 stand alone machines? Lossless or..?

[thomp]

Hi!

Is there a possibility without any loss at all to copy DVD to DVD with two stand alone machines? That is using either two recorders or one recorder and one player?

1.
If so, how shall you do it and what connections do you need to do for audio and picture?

2.
If you do it, how much loss (if any) is there in audio and picture quality?

3.
I've heard that the recorder is re-compressing and already compressed signal? Also that you will get a low bitrate in the end and therefore a lower quality then the original DVD copy? True? If so, why?

4.Any other thoughts or comments?

I know that the PC-way is the optimal way of copying DVD without any loss but what if stand alone machines is your only option?

Can you please help me out?

Regards

[FulciLives]

Hi!

Is there a possibility without any loss at all to copy DVD to DVD with two stand alone machines? That is using either two recorders or one recorder and one player?

1.
If so, how shall you do it and what connections do you need to do for audio and picture?

2.
If you do it, how much loss (if any) is there in audio and picture quality?

3.
I've heard that the recorder is re-compressing and already compressed signal? Also that you will get a low bitrate in the end and therefore a lower quality then the original DVD copy? True? If so, why?

4.Any other thoughts or comments?

I know that the PC-way is the optimal way of copying DVD without any loss but what if stand alone machines is your only option?

Can you please help me out?

Regards

The copy will not be a bit-for-bit perfect copy AS CAN BE done on a computer. However, if you record the copy in the SP 2 hour mode then you will still get pretty decent quality. Realize of course that it works like a VCR so you can't copy useable menus and the subtitles (if there are any) will get "burned" into the image which means if you turn subs on they will always be there (on the copy). You will not get 5.1 surround but only regular 2.0 AC-3 (which depending on the source could be normal non-digital dolby surround, stereo or mono).

Also most DVD discs have copy protection. You will have to use something to remove the copy protection from the player to the recorder. There are options that do this and do it well.

But all in all you are better off with a computer.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Trust_No_1]

First of all you cannot get a digital copy because most DVD players do not have any form of digital output for the video signal e.g firewire port. DVD players that do have a digital output will have this feature disabled for obvious reasons.

At a minimum you will have either S-video or composite analog output. Most recorders will not allow you to record copy protected content - unless you use additional hardware or a hardware mod.

Bottomline, you will only be able to copy unprotected content in analog form only. The DVD recorder will re-compress any signal you give it.

Personally, I can't see the use in doing it this way. Using a computer gives you complete control.

Good luck!

[Jukka]

There are many reasons why this won't work:

(1) Like others have said - no digital output;
(2) Even if there were digital output all DVD recorders have been nobbled to recognise CSS encrypted material and therefore wont record (although I can't vouch for stuff from China / Taiwan);

Your best bet would be to find 2 standalones with RGB in/out and use some form of macrovis*n buster. Better still component in / out and digiatl audio in/out, however I only know of 1 standalone that can do this (KISS DP550) and that hasn't been released, not sure how macrovisi*n would affect that.

You'd be better of buying a DVD burner for your PC - way cheaper and a bit for bit copy + menus, etc.

Good luck

Jukka

[thomp]

OK, thanks!

But if you're using a stand alone machine with a HD, can you then make a lossless copy?

Regards

[FulciLives]

OK, thanks!

But if you're using a stand alone machine with a HD, can you then make a lossless copy?

Regards

They don't work that way. You can't COPY or RIP the DVD to the HDD and back again. A stand alone DVD recorder is GREAT for analog video sources such as cable TV or VHS or LaserDisc etc. but for making a back-up copy of a DVD you really should go with a computer approach.

However if you do hook a DVD player up to a stand alone DVD recorder and use the 2 hour record mode then you will get good quality that will be acceptable to most people. Just be warned that you will only have 2 channel Stereo (with Dolby Surround Sound if the source has it BUT not Digital Dolby Surround Sound). As for the source you can buy a DVD player that has been "hacked" to remove ALL the copy protection. That is probably your best bet as you will get a completely clean video/audio signal without the need of a "black box" which, in most instances, will degrade the picture.

Such DVD players can be found here:

http://www.jvb.nl/

Look at the PANASONIC models. Almost all of them have had ALL of the copy protection removed. NOT all of the models of DVD players on the JVB website have had ALL of the copy protection removed so make sure you read the specs on any of the models you look at.

Good Luck!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
If you have to use a LONGER record mode than a 2 hour mode then MOST likely you will find that the quality will NOT be acceptable ... or at the least NO WHERE NEAR AS GOOD as the original DVD.