Panasonic DVD Recorder to DVD-RAM drive to DVD-R, possible?

[PinkzPantha]

I originally posted this question on a "DMR-E80H vs DMR-E100HS Shootout" discussion, and still have no takers... erm, answers!

I have read that there are 2 types of DVD-RAM, 1 for Data & 1 for Video only, the latter of which has some sort of copy protection built in.

What i need to know is if anyone has *actually* tried this successfully:
1. Record a TV show to a DVD-RAM disc on a Panasonic DVD Recorder, say the DMR-50 or 60.
2. Put the recorded DVD-RAM disc into a cheap RAM-compatible DVD drive & ripped those files (MPEG2?) to a computer Hard Drive for editing, such as the Panasonic LF-D311 *(fairly cheap on eBay).
3. Edit out the commercials & what-not, resulting in a cool, compatible DVD-R. 8)

If this is indeed possible, and is not too daunting of a task (transcoding, re-encoding, ad infinitum), it could very well make the HDD Recorder decks (DMR-E80H/E100HS) sort of a moot point to those with computers, considering the total cost of the equipment. Can anyone verify this info?!?

[Bob W]

What I do is record whatever I want to DVD-RAM then copy the VRO to my hard drive, change the extension of the VRO files to mpeg then use NeoDVD Plus to do any editing or adding menus then have NeoDVD generate the DVD files and do the burn to DVDR for me. Here is the DVD drive I use to read from the DVD-Ram.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=55&manufactory=12...tby=14&order=1

Oh well the link is dead. Anyway the drive is a Toshiba and I paid $39 for it.

[macleod]

I've been doing this for a little while now. I have the NEC dvd rom ($33 from newegg), which also reads ram. I actually go 1 better than copying the vro to my hdd.

What I do is do my capture. put the dvd-ram in my pc dvd rom drive (bought a 5 pack panasonic dvd ram from fry's for $25) and then do all of my editing, etc. with TMPGENC DVD Author and then let it go. It puts the finished product on my hdd so I am not wasting room or time on the raw file.

Pretty easy to do also.

Now I have a question. What settings do you use for capturing VHS tape? I have been farting around with normal, fine, and cinema. I am getting ready to jump into the user settings, but that is going to take some time to figure out the best settings.

[PinkzPantha]

What I do is record whatever I want to DVD-RAM then copy the VRO to my hard drive, change the extension of the VRO files to mpeg then use NeoDVD Plus to do any editing or adding menus then have NeoDVD generate the DVD files and do the burn to DVDR for me. Here is the DVD drive I use to read from the DVD-Ram.

THANX!
Is it really just that simple to "change file extensions"?!?
i have had little to no success doing so on other file formats.
Any chance of a quick step-by-step, particularly on changing VRO files to mpeg? thanx again!! 8)

[ktton]

THANX!
Is it really just that simple to "change file extensions"?!?
i have had little to no success doing so on other file formats.
Any chance of a quick step-by-step, particularly on changing VRO files to mpeg? thanx again!! 8)

There is no need to change the extension with tmpgenc author. copy the .vro file as is to the hard drive then use tmpgenc author to author it to your delight. You could also author directly from the dvd-ram but it is a lot slower.

[FulciLives]

I've done this too (DVD-RAM in standalone to computer then custom DVD-R on computer burner) and the best way right now to do all that is with TMPGEnc DVD Author.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Cyrax9]

Well, ZI'm trying tis, or at the very least, the "Ripping" part but with no luck.

I bought a Toshiba SD-M1712 DVD-ROM Drive with DVD-RAM Plyback capabilites as well as GreatVideo! and ReadDVD! For Windows, both from Software Architects.

SAI's File system switcher was essential to get Windows to recognize that I hd a UDF File Formated DVD-RAM from my DMR-HS2 in the Drive, but after that things go crazy.

I have the same end goal in mind as PinkzaPanther here, but this is where your results and mine hopefully differ.

I go to open the Wretched DVD_RTAV Folder on the DVD_RAM Disc, which is *supposed* to contain the VRO Files and eveything else I need to copy to the HDD and some how edit/transcode/rencode et al, and I get the following error message as I try to open that folder:

"F:\

F:\ The Device is not accessable.

Access is denied"

Withy our nice usual Windows "Warning X" to show that the drive won't open the Disc, what's more it says I have0 Fioes, 0 Folders adn 0 Bytes under properties, but if I click on just the Disc,it says I have 771MB OF USED SPACE!

Now I'm a bt peeved, it's been quite a few months and I know the drive is reading the Disc, I want to copy it to the Hard Drive, edit out the comercials form a TV Program and eventualy burn ikt to DVD-R or Transfer it to my Mac and burn it to DVD-R there.

Unfortunately I can' access theDVD_RTAV Folder as I previously mentioned, if you figure out how to do this Pinkzapanther, PLEASE share it with me!

Fucilives-- you seem to know a lot about this too, hat am I doing wrong? Why can't I open that DVD_RTAV Folder? I've tried using DVD Decrypter toc rack it (Sad when you have to cracksomething you burned yourself) but as you kow, DVD-RAM's don't have a VIDEO_TS Folder so I was screwed there, I tried good ol'Copy & Paste, no go, I tried another DVD Ram, still nothing, finally I tried to search for the *VRO File and still no go.

I need to know:

1) Why my .VRO File isn't showing up and

2) Why the Drive won't let me open the DVD_RTAV Folder and if there's a way I can open it in WinME.

If Pinkzapanther is running a Windows System with Win95/98/98SE/ME he might run into the same problem I'm running into, and honestly, I am stumped on this one. Just a word to the wise Pinkzapanther, make sure you can take Cartridge type DVD-RAM's out of the cartridge, Type II's only, Type I won't come out which is one ting I was carefuln to avoid... now if only I cud open tha folder, if I'm ale to get this to work, I'll et you know what programs I used to go from DVD-RAM on my HS2 to DVD-R with Fancy Smancy screens, right now I'm back to trying to open this disc, oddly enogh, it plays just fine in POwerDVD, I'm thinkng cpy protecion, but it seems pretty odd to me, that when I burna Disc, it's copy protected, and yes I turned off the little "Lock" on the HS2.

[buzzmadman]

I Have a similar setup and INCD Stopped me from accessing the DVD_RTAV folder so try deinstalling it if you have it on your system

[starwarrior29]

I have had the E80 for a year now and I use TMPGEnc DVD Author to burn a dvd-r disc from files that are transferred over from dvd-ram. Also I always edit out the commercials using the Panasonic's editing capabilities, has been a lot easier for me than doing the editing on the computer.