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  1. Member
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    I was wondering if there is any way of saving stuff like music the way cassettes used to way back when. Where I could record a song on the cassette play it back and then add new songs?

    Do DVD recorders work in this fashion? Where I would purchase a DVD+RW use it on a recorder to record a TV show then save it for later to record the next TV show?

    Is this possible?
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  2. Member Epicurus8a's Avatar
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    All DVD reorders I'm aware of can handle this. HOWEVER, before you can play the discs back on other machines you must "finalize" them, much like you finalize a recordable CD on your computer. If you don't have experience doing this, it wouldn't hurt to study up. If you happen to be one of those individuals who can't program the clock on your VCR, you've got a lot to learn.

    If you decide to purchase a DVD Recorder, be sure to research them carefully and buy a name brand like: Pioneer, JVC, or Sony.

    There are numerous threads posted regarding these machines. And each person swears by their machine <cough, Pioneer DVR 420H-s, cough>. Study the comments carefully. The machines can be a blessing or a curse, it just depends upon which one you buy.

    Study this page and it's numerous links carefully.
    https://www.videohelp.com/dvd

    Good Luck!
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    Yeah but once you finalize you can't add anymore music right? Or movies?

    It's not like dragging files onto a CD+RW or DVD+RW and saving them as though a floppy disk. You have to finalize them in order for them to play right on a machine, is this right?

    The media is not like VHS tapes where you can play and record and erase over the part you don't want, and add more whenever you choose.

    Is this right?
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  4. Member Epicurus8a's Avatar
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    Discs must be finalized before you can play them on another machine. Unfinalized discs will only play in your DVD Recorder.

    Some machines allow you to un-finalize RW discs and add more video (provided there is still space on the disc) - but you can't delete or record over something that is already on the disc, like you could on a floppy or VHS.

    As an alternative suggestion, you can copy the files you want to keep to your Hard Drive* and then re-author a new disc adding new video.

    It's unfortunate, but many aspects of the digital age seem to be a step or two backwards from the analog age.



    *Hard Drive can either be DVD Recorder Hard Drive or Computer Hard Drive (provided your computer has a DVD Writer).
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  5. Member adcvideo's Avatar
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    I would recommend considering purchasing a DVD recorder that records on the DVD-RAM format. This may be the closest approximation to the VHS experience. But don't expect better compatability when transferring what you have recorded to a computer, or a DVD player. And DVD-RAM media is expensive.
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  6. Member
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    Discs must be finalized before you can play them on another machine. Unfinalized discs will only play in your DVD Recorder.
    Not DVD+RW, they will play in most machines without any finalizing,they can be used just like a "cassette"record one programme and watch,and you can put protection on your individual programmes to stop them being erased.

    Also DVD Decrypter will rip and burn them to DVD-R,DVD+R with no problem at all on your home computer ,they are my favourite format.
    Oscar.
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  7. Member
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    DVD-RAM media is expensive.
    no it isn't
    Oscar.
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  8. Member
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    Thank you to all for your help.

    Another question, I'm kinda new to this burning files onto DVD and watching them on the DVD machine.

    So do you recommend then that I transfer video VHS/camcorder footage onto my harddrive (I believe they will be WMV, not sure yet) convert them to Mpeg2(not sure if it's MPEG-2 or MPEG-1) and then burn them in something like Nero or Record Now? Basically drag and drop files for them ready to burn? Will this work and be playable on the DVD machine?

    Or is there a way to consolidate all the video footage (avi, mpeg, wmv, etc) each time into an ISO or reauthor method? If so which program(s) can allow me to do this so I can burn multiple of times (adding files as I please)

    Thanks again for all of your help.
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  9. If you have a commercial DVD open it with Windows Explorer and look what is inside
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  10. Member
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    I'm talking about transferring old VHS videos and family home videos from my camcorder or VCR to DVD, not a commercial DVD.

    My questions now are is there a way to edit and select the videos I got from a camcorder onto my harddrive and burn them onto DVD R/RW and play them back on a DVD player. And then is there a way to add files to this same DVD RW later doing the same method(reburning)?

    I do not like the converting video file to MPEG-2 and then burning on DVD option, the results are not always perfect.

    Please help.
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  11. Member
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    Sony's new DVD DIRECT unit burns to DVD-RW and it lets you stop, turn it off and continue another day right where you left off. Let's you see how much disc space you have left. 2 hour, 6 hour and 8 hour recording modes. No PC required!

    No finalization required until the disc is full!

    Straight VCR/camcorder to DVD.

    Doesn't get any easier!
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  12. Originally Posted by DVDHelpPlease
    I'm talking about transferring old VHS videos and family home videos from my camcorder or VCR to DVD, not a commercial DVD.

    My questions now are is there a way to edit and select the videos I got from a camcorder onto my harddrive and burn them onto DVD R/RW and play them back on a DVD player. And then is there a way to add files to this same DVD RW later doing the same method(reburning)?

    I do not like the converting video file to MPEG-2 and then burning on DVD option, the results are not always perfect.

    Please help.
    This was suggested only for the reason that if you want to have working DVD (read:to play back on DVD Player), you should have the same file types on it as in commercial DVD. So , no, there is no way to playback the files directly burnt. You must convert to MPEG2, period.
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  13. Member
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    I think you will need to buy a DVD Recorder with a HDD, you copy from your tape on to the HDD ,EDIT and select which you want to burn on a DVD,you can make compilations,seen it demonstrated on some JVC model on TV a few weeks ago.
    is there a way to add files to this same DVD RW later doing the same method(reburning)?
    Not to sure but I imagine you could if using DVD+RW, it would also depend on the time difference between the clip you want to erase and the one you want to replace it with,ie a 40 min clip you want to put on the disc wont fit in a 30 min chapter you have just erased, I think the DVD HDD is your best option.
    Oscar.
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