No clip extraction, DVD --> standalone recorder ?

[Seeker47]

There are a number of ways to extract video clips via software on the PC, and I've used a couple of them. I thought that in some cases it might be quicker or more convenient to try this on the Pioneer 520. But this looks to be a No Can Do. It doesn't seem to matter what the source DVD is: it can be a DVD that never had any protection on it, or one that had any protection removed in the course of ripping. Going from HDD to the DVD is almost never a problem. Going in the opposite direction is always a problem: that choice is greyed out, and the message "Cannot Create a Copy List from this disc" appears. I fully expect to see the same result on a self-authored DVD of stuff that I shot, if and when I get that far. Pioneer has apparently decided to block copying anything, from a short segment to an entire disc (for any use of the recorder's HDD-based editing functions -- there is a limited, direct DVD to DVD backup feature, which I've had no need of), if the source is on DVD. It's easy to guess why, and this probably holds true for all the other major players like JVC, Sony, Toshiba, etc. So I guess the remaining question is, do the Lite-On standalones block this function also ?

[Frobozz]

You can copy from the unencrypted finalized DVD to the HDD in real time using the One Touch Copy feature. Start playing the DVD and press the One Touch Copy button. The video will go back to the start of that title and begin copying to the HDD.

The DVD to HDD copy list only works with unfinalized video mode or with VR-mode discs. The VR-mode discs can be high-speed copied back to the HDD.

You also have the option with the 520 to export video from the DVD as DV video via the Firewire link. If you have a DV camcorder or have a computer within a Firewire cable's length of the recorder you can capture selected DVD clips in this manner and then record them back to the HDD via that link.

[Seeker47]

You can copy from the unencrypted finalized DVD to the HDD in real time using the One Touch Copy feature. Start playing the DVD and press the One Touch Copy button. The video will go back to the start of that title and begin copying to the HDD.

Thanks, Frobozz. I thought I had tried this a couple times in the past, where it didn't work, but I may have confused something, or maybe the discs I tried were not as unencrypted as I thought. Anyways, I have now done a test as you suggested, and it worked. But the limitation to real-time copying makes this a solution that is only worth the trouble on occasion.

The DVD to HDD copy list only works with unfinalized video mode or with VR-mode discs. The VR-mode discs can be high-speed copied back to the HDD..

Then the Copy List looks to be out as an option. High speed copy back to the HDD would have been a quite useful feature, but that seems to be out also, unless you know of some way to rip a DVD to VR-mode on the computer.

[Frobozz]

That's it, I'm afraid. It's one of the reasons I often record to VR-mode DVD-RW. It's like having cheap 4 GB additional hard drives that frees up space on the built in hard drive. And I still can extract the MPEGs from those discs onto my computer as well.

[yoda313]

unless you know of some way to rip a DVD to VR-mode on the computer

How do you mean? I have a liteon dvd recorder and when I want to edit a disc I just use dvd decrypter or dvd shrink and copy the section I want. Then I take the video_ts folder with the vobs and edit as normal. The vr mode is simply how the settop dvd recorder handles dvd video - when you put it on the computer it will make it useable like any normal ripped dvd.

[Frobozz]

Yes that works. But Seeker47 wants to do the extraction from a video DVD on the DVD recorder rather than on a computer.

[Seeker47]

Yes that works. But Seeker47 wants to do the extraction from a video DVD on the DVD recorder rather than on a computer.

Yes, though probably more as an alternative than as the primary method, because the range of options seems to be so much greater in doing it on the computer. I was just wondering what was possible on the standalone recorder, since I like the "timecode", chosen VBR, and other editing features available there. They feel easier to me, more hands-on, more intuitive, less of a learning curve, more WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) than doing it with software, on the much smaller computer screen. I'm talking about basic stuff like clips assemblage, though. Once you get into more elaborate editing tasks, I suppose you really must do it on the computer.

[Frobozz]

Your situation is why I'm one of the people who prefers the VR-mode recording. Sure I can't play the video on other players unless I extract the video from the disc using either the Pioneer recorder or a computer and then burn a video-mode disc. But I rarely have need to play discs on other players. Meanwhile the video is stored on a disc that allows high-speed copying back to the Pioneer's HDD or - if I don't want it any more - I can just erase the video and re-use the space on the disc.