How to save MPG2s as data files (NOT as DVD Video)?

[Richard Challen]

Hi, I'm a newbie to the forum but not to digital video... I've already done about 10 projects on Pinnacle and gone through a BUNCH of frustration with that program. But, for better or worse, I know a lot of its "quirks" now... so that's not the issue here.
I shoot on digital video and put my raw footage directly on the hard drive via my DV cable and the Pinnacle "Capture" option. While I know many videophiles prefer to save their raw footage in AVI format, my early hard drive space limitations forced me to save in MPEG2 format. However, for the limited editing I do with my footage, I notice no degradation when my raw files are in MPEG2 format versus AVI. (Though I'm sure there must be something.) This also gives me the advantage of being able to save my raw MPEG2 files to DVD-RW as data files and NOT DVD-Video, since each file is under 4 GB (which is obviously NOT true of the corresponding AVI files).
But here's my problem: When my early projects were completed, I saved all my work files (MPEG2s and the .stu and .scn files from Pinnacle) to DVD-RW as DVD-ROM, using NeroBurningROM 6.0. I would save using either ISO or UDF, depending on the size of the files.
When I recently tried to put some of these files back on my HD to use the footage for future projects, I encountered a very large problem: Many of the files are corrupted! About 33% don't play at all, about 33% play partially but then encounter an error, and 33% are complete and error-free. In the first two cases, it is impossible to put the files back on the HD from my DVD drive: I encounter a "Cannot copy XXX: The parameter is incorrect."
I was able to salvage my work for re-editing using a combination of TMPGEnc (to save the "good" portion of each MPG to my HD) and recapturing the original DV video. Both techniques, obviously, took a LOT longer than simply copying files from a DVD-ROM to my HD.
So, my question: If I want to save MPEG2 files to DVD-ROM for future reference and editing, how do I do it without encountering these errors? Am I using Nero incorrectly, or should I use a different program altogether? Any help would be appreciated, as I need to clear my HD of some old files and feel VERY uncertain about my chances of recovering them later using my current technique!

All the best,
Rich

p.s. Other notes: I run Win2000 and Nero 6.0. I never get an error message from Nero during the actual burning of the DVD-ROM with my files on it. I've encountered the problem with both small (under 100 MB), medium (1-2 GB) and large files (3 GB +), using both ISO and UDF file saving options.

[scottie78]

I would look at the quality of your media and/or your DVD-ROM, because you should just be able to burn whatever you want to a DVDR or DVD-RW and then copy it back to your hard drive. Are you copying with windows explorer or My COmputer or something else ?

[Richard Challen]

Well, I use Memorex DVD-RWs, which I've been told are average media... not the best, not the worst.
But here's the thing: I've NEVER had a coaster burning DVD Video with Memorex, on either DVD-R or DVD-RW. So I'm not sure it's a media problem. And I've used both DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs to make a DVD-ROM and encountered the same corrupt files problem with each.
And I use "My Computer" to copy files to the HD.

Is there a better program for burning data besides Nero?

--Rich

[scottie78]

I meant your DVD-ROM as in the drive you are using to read the DVDs.

[Richard Challen]

Sorry... it's an NEC DVD-RW drive. But again, I don't have problems reading DVDs in it (commercial DVDs and DVD-Rs recorded as DVD Video). Only problems with accessing files from a DVD-ROM disc that have been burned with Nero.

[FOO]

I don't do Nero , but is there a verify after burn mode ?
i always do that for important stuff.

[Richard Challen]

If Nero has a "verify" option I can't find it.
Is there a good shareware burning program I could try? It would at least let me know if the problem is Nero.

[junkmalle]

If Nero has a "verify" option I can't find it.
Is there a good shareware burning program I could try? It would at least let me know if the problem is Nero.

While it's actually burning there's a little checkbox at the bottom of the progress dialog with the "verify written data" setting.

[Baldrick]

nero cd dvd speed
dvdinfopro

[Richard Challen]

OK, I used the verify option, and Nero came back with a successful message. And all the files on the disc burned fine... EXCEPT one .avi file which is corrupt.
So, success rate is better, but still Nero is giving me the thumbs up even when a file obviously did NOT burn correctly.
Does DVDInfoPro fix the problem, or just alert one to it? I'd like to find a burning program that gives me 100% success rate if possible!!

--Rich

[peregrin]

I'd stop using the Memorex Dvd's , i had nothing but grief with them , try maxell's. I save mpeg's to DVD's all the time and have no problems with recovering them for future use

[Richard Challen]

OK I tried using Imation DVD-RWs... No Maxells down at Office Max.
Same problem. I burned an hour-long MPG onto disc, then tried playing it back... got about 43 min. into it before it froze up.
I don't know why this keeps happening, but it's happening consistently and on all types of media. I guess I can keep wasting money on different brands, but I really wish someone could offer a different solution... perhaps a different (better?) burning method?
BTW the Nero "verify" option takes a lot longer but doesn't do anything... It verifies the data is correct when it's really corrupt.

--Rich

[MOVIEGEEK]

If it's not the media then it must be the video,it got corrupted somehow.
Run it through VirtualDub.

[Richard Challen]

I've heard VirtualDub is an excellent resource.
How exactly would I "run" the MPG through it, though?
Also, understand that these MPGs play fine on my hard drive. It's only when I burn one or two to DVD-RW using Nero that I get problems. It's those MPGS on the DVD-RW itself that won't play or copy correctly.

One more thing: I'm also saving the Pinnacle .scn and .stu files to the same DVD at the same time as these much larger MPGs. Would that be affecting anything? If so, I'm smacking my forehead in a Homer Simpson-esque fashion... but at least the problem would be solved...

--Rich