Copy a DVD to my PC hard drive.

[Diane Zungoli]

I have some really basic questions I would like to understand before purchasing a DVD recorder. I am interested in the Panasonic models (DVD-RAM, DVD-R) and would like to be sure that if I burn a home video to a finalized DVD-R, using the Panasonic DVD recorder, I could later copy this DVD (through a DVD drive compatable with DVD-R) to my PC and use movie software to do further editing. And could I then, using the DVD drive connected to my PC, burn it back to a new DVD in any format allowed by the DVD drive (ie. DVD-RW). (Likewise, if my PC DVD drive allowed for DVD-RAM, I could copy to my PC harddrive from a DVD-RAM.) I have Windows XP home edition. I want to make sure that even though I can only burn to DVD-R, DVD-RAM from the Panasonic recorder I could later edit the movie further on my PC and then convert it to another format (ie. DVD-RW).

[Capmaster]

I have some really basic questions I would like to understand before purchasing a DVD recorder. I am interested in the Panasonic models (DVD-RAM, DVD-R) and would like to be sure that if I burn a home video to a finalized DVD-R, using the Panasonic DVD recorder, I could later copy this DVD (through a DVD drive compatable with DVD-R) to my PC and use movie software to do further editing. And could I then, using the DVD drive connected to my PC, burn it back to a new DVD in any format allowed by the DVD drive (ie. DVD-RW). (Likewise, if my PC DVD drive allowed for DVD-RAM, I could copy to my PC harddrive from a DVD-RAM.) I have Windows XP home edition. I want to make sure that even though I can only burn to DVD-R, DVD-RAM from the Panasonic recorder I could later edit the movie further on my PC and then convert it to another format (ie. DVD-RW).

Diane,
First of all, welcome to the forum
1) Yes you could copy the fiiles from the finalized DVD-R back to the PC for editing. They're in the VIDEO_TS folder. The files would be in the .VOB format but that's not a problem. Many editing apps open them as-is and some will open them after you rename the extension to ".MPG"

2) Once you've edited it you would "author" the video which creates the DVD files that are readable in set-top players. You can burn to DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW or DVD+RW. Not many set-top players read DVD-RAM, except maybe some Panasonic players.

3) You could record using DVD-RAM on the Panny recorder, take the disc to the PC and read the .VRO file the Panny will generate. You can then edit and author as above. Then reuse the DVD-RAM disc. You will need a reader that handles DVD-RAM, obviously

I happen to have a Panasonic standalone E50 recorder and a Panasonic LF-D311 DVD-RAM/DVD-R writer. I use the DVD-RAM to experiment with the standalone's recordings using my more powerful PC's editing software.

[Diane Zungoli]

Thanks for your welcome. I'm sure I will be taking advantage of this forum as I delve in the world of DVD recording!

So it sounds like I do not need to be too concerned about the recording format limitations of the Panasonic (standalone). My goal is to be able to use the recorder to transfer (and protect) my home movies to DVD and have the ability to later edit and reformat (on my PC). I like having the standalone Panasonic DVD recorder editing capability and some of the other features associated with DVD-RAM for our TV recording. I will be purchasing a standalone recorder shortly and a DVD drive for my PC in the future.

[Capmaster]

Thanks for your welcome. I'm sure I will be taking advantage of this forum as I delve in the world of DVD recording!

So it sounds like I do not need to be too concerned about the recording format limitations of the Panasonic (standalone). My goal is to be able to use the recorder to transfer (and protect) my home movies to DVD and have the ability to later edit and reformat (on my PC). I like having the standalone Panasonic DVD recorder editing capability and some of the other features associated with DVD-RAM for our TV recording. I will be purchasing a standalone recorder shortly and a DVD drive for my PC in the future.

Diane,
I don't think you'll have too much trouble. There are always options like using Vobrator to convert the .VOB back to MPEG for editing, just in case your editing app won't handle the .VOBs you rip from the DVD.

At any rate, you did the right thing by checking in here. If you spend enough time searching through current and older posts (a very handy thing) you can find information on just about anything you're planning, and if you get into trouble you can always holler for help