VHS to dvd: read featured documents and more confused than before!

[highinfidelity]

Hello fellows, sorry for the very basic question, but I've searched through the FAQs and the featured documents of this site before posting, and came up with no practical solution to what I want to do, and things that I thought were well assessed are now more confused than before to me. I guess perhaps the reason is because the normal workflow is to acquire movies directly via a computer.

The work I have in program is very simple, so simple that I'm astonished I couldn't find the solution yet: I bought a SONY RDR-HX710 dvd recorder, and would like to backup my VHS tapes with it. For those which contain original material, i would like to build up a menu with some authoring software (the menus created with the SONY suck to say the least).

First question is: Why should I need a ripping software? Shouldn't movies be already stored in the form of files by the SONY machine? If I open the dvds with file manager, I see the data has be stored in files. Isn't that okay?

Secondarily, I've read here that there are concerns with video quality when using authoring softwares. Why? If I do all editing with the SONY machine, shouldn't I be able to keep the files untouched? And what if I assign chapter titles? Does that imply a loss in quality?

Third thing is - and I hardly believe it - there seems not to be some free distribution authoring software which can perform the task. Do you know any? Really I don't need anything complicated, all the contrary I'm trying to keep things very simple. Just add chapters perhaps, plus a pair of special contents if there's the chance to do so.

Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[Cole]

I don't think that I can answer your questions directly, but I have a similar machine (Sony 510) and I do the following to re-author my DVDs as, as you say, the Sony's own menu is not the best in the world.

Firstly I rip to my hard-drive using vob2mpeg as an mpg file, edit (if needed) using VideoReDo and then re-author the DVD using either svcd2dvd or TMPGEnc DVD Author. Three out of those programmes, I had to pay for however, but the amount of capture conversion that I do, it is well worth it.

I get NO loss of picture quality as at no time were the files re-encoded.

But yes, all the editing can be done on the Sony itself so much of the above is un-needed (but I just find it easier for frame specific). So, as far as I undersand it, the menu files are built into the DVDs files (not the Vobs), so you would need some software that can manipulate those files. The only tools I could find of some help are these: https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=MenuEdit or maybe https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=IfoEdit

Hope that this is helpful.

[thecoalman]

First question is: Why should I need a ripping software? Shouldn't movies be already stored in the form of files by the SONY machine? If I open the dvds with file manager, I see the data has be stored in files. Isn't that okay?

They are stored in VOB format wich is a MPEG2 with some DVD data. The ripping software just makes things easier, you can even rip specific chapters if you wish. Most editors don't except .vob but they will except a mpeg ripped from a vob. It's not along process, esentially a little longer than it would take to copy over to HD anyway

Some authoring programs have a reautoring feature.

Secondarily, I've read here that there are concerns with video quality when using authoring softwares. Why? If I do all editing with the SONY machine, shouldn't I be able to keep the files untouched? And what if I assign chapter titles? Does that imply a loss in quality?

Loss of qulaity comes from reencoding not reauthoring. that can be avoided by using a program that won't reencode compliant video. If you rip a video off your sony disc into mpeg and drop it into a authoring program and use the same attributes as the ripped video in your authoring software you'll have 0 loss.

If your going to be authoring these discs on the computer it's easier to edit them on the computer as well. Capture them with your recorder then rip the files to HD and use them as a source in an editor, then author them...

If you want a easy program with decent results try Video Studio 9. It'a all-in-one. You can edit and author but on a limited basis (many more options than you'll find on the recorder). It won't reencode your compliant video so as I mentioned above you won't degrade the quality of the origianal in any way.

[orion steel]

Sounds similar to my problem...I have not succeded yet my self, but my post gave (what seems) like a lot of good advice from the kind forumers here.

Give it a read:
Old Family movies (VHS) to DVD (help a frustrated newbie before wife kills)

<edit> Here's link, thx coalman
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=294104
<end edit>

Orion Steel

[thecoalman]

(sorry can't seem to get the link working - it's only a couple of weeks old)

You can post links directly, the forum will format them. Just copy and paste from the address bar in your web browser.

[victoriabears]

During my trials of various hardware I used a sony dvd reocrder and it was so fussy about media and then it would not co=operate with TDA I took it back.

Sony uses so much propriety stuff its annoying,but TDA should be able to take the resulting files made from the recorder and takes them to MPEG and there you edit and author,thats how I do it.

Its the option start a new project and then add dvd video.

[Cole]

Just to point out that during the editing part of TDA, it won't recognise the soundtrack but it will be on the resulting authored DVD.

[lordsmurf]

I bought a SONY RDR-HX710 dvd recorder, and would like to backup my VHS tapes with it. For those which contain original material, i would like to build up a menu with some authoring software (the menus created with the SONY suck to say the least).

Easy. Rip the MPEG-2 from the authored disc and re-author with a new menu. Maybe even do some basic cut editing, if needed. Simple.

Do this:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/edit/dvdrecorder/recorderedit.htm

First question is: Why should I need a ripping software?

Ripping simply means you're extracting data from an optical disc. Nothing more. It does NOT have any relation to decrypting or cracking copy protections.

Shouldn't movies be already stored in the form of files by the SONY machine? If I open the dvds with file manager, I see the data has be stored in files. Isn't that okay?

No. DVD-Video is written in a specialized format and its not edit-friendly. DVD-Video is an end format.

Secondarily, I've read here that there are concerns with video quality when using authoring softwares. Why? If I do all editing with the SONY machine, shouldn't I be able to keep the files untouched? And what if I assign chapter titles? Does that imply a loss in quality?

Some authorware sucks. It wants to re-encode for some silly ass reason. Avoid that kind of software, use software that only authors and is not some dummy-friendly "do it all for you" type software. TDA, DVDWS2, DVD Architect, etc

Third thing is - and I hardly believe it - there seems not to be some free distribution authoring software which can perform the task. Do you know any?

No, it all sucks. They're all just variations on the same base code, DVDAuthor. I suggest something like TDA tp learn on or you'll be pulling your hair out later. Maybe graduate to more advanced software down the road in a couple months or years, depends on how fast you learn and want to grow (if any).

Really I don't need anything complicated, all the contrary I'm trying to keep things very simple. Just add chapters perhaps, plus a pair of special contents if there's the chance to do so.

DVD Decrypter to rip, and TDA to re-author is certainly easy.
Use something like Photoshop to create menu images.

[highinfidelity]

Gentlemen, thanks for your insight so far. We got from general to specific questions:

1) The Coalman (if I got him right) said I don't need ripping if I'm happy with my .wob files. Lordsmurf then said I need to rip anyway because a dvd video is an end format. So? Do I need to rip or not?

2) Victoriabears stated Sony recorders are incompatible with TDA software. Why should it be? Is that common experience, or just hers?

3) TDA - as far as I understand - costs 70$ for a "trialware" (what's that, by the way? And how long does the license last?). That's an incredible amount of money in Italy. Really, is it possible that there are no working freewares? Something perhaps less versatile, but which performs the task?

Thanks a lot.

[thecoalman]

Gentlemen, thanks for your insight so far. We got from general to specific questions:

1) The Coalman (if I got him right) said I don't need ripping if I'm happy with my .wob files.

No you need to convert them to mpeg2, you can alot of times just rename the vob to mpg bu I would suggest doing it right with ripping software. The ripping software will extract just the mpeg data from the vob.

[A_51]

Good explanation thecoleman.

I'm in the proses to do the same type of project riht now. My sugestions are the following.
If you just want to take the existing menus out. Lets say you want a DVD that plays without a menu use DVDShrink in reauthor mode without compresion.
If you want to remove the existent menu and use your own. Rip with DVDdecrypter demux the video & audio and then feed to DVDAuthor GUI.
All this programs are free ware and have detailed guides of how to use them for what you want to do. Also this programs that I mentioned are fairly easy. Look for them on the tools section and there will be liks to the guides also over there.

[highinfidelity]

Oh, thank you! I will sure give them a try!