Is there way to copy a Dvd realtime with RAM drive like a standalone playr?

[Blumphf]

I've been having a problem with most of my Dvd copies getting this picture freeze-up problem within the first 10 minutes of playing back the movie. (My post about this is close by on this page). I'm sick of trying countless different brands of media, different copy and burn programs, and yes, I updated the firmware, too...all without success.

My last recourse seems to be to get a new writer, but before I do, I'd like to know if there's a program used by anyone that allows real-time copying of a film just like a stand-alone would. In effect, you put the dvd in the Dvd-ROM drive, then use to Dvd-RAM drive to record the movie in real time. I don't need the damn menus, extras, sub-titles, and all the rest of the crap anyway (and I'll probably have time to stick the trailer after the finish of the movie anyway).

I'd like to get some actual use out of my RAM drive before I scrap it just to make movie copies (it works great for CD's and lightscribing). There seems to be more bloody programs than you can shake two sticks at for copying complete dvd's, shrinking them, and burning them--
Please, is there something out there were I can just record the dang movie AS IT PLAYS and get rid of all this aggravation?

Thanks.

[guns1inger]

If you are using AnyDVD then you could try copying directly from one drive to another, although it is generally recommended that you rip to a HDD first, then copy to DVD as a second step. If this isn't working for you then I doubt very much that trying to copy disc to disc will be any more successful.

[Blumphf]

it is generally recommended that you rip to a HDD first, then copy to DVD as a second step. If this isn't working for you then I doubt very much that trying to copy disc to disc will be any more successful.

Excuse my frustration, but if I could copy this way without the problems ive been having, I wouldn't have asked if I could dub films in a "realtime" method...

Something (which I haven't been able to ascertain exactly what yet) is preventing me from writing saved dvd files from my HD onto a DVD+R without getting the freeze-up problem Ive mentioned. If I can go directly from disk to disk and bypass the copying/burning from my HD, I might be able to nail down more of what the problem actually is.

And at least Id have the movies backed-up to watch on my television from a stand-alone player, which is all I really want to do.

[mats.hogberg]

If there's anything that can go wrong, it's disk-to-disk copying. Basically, it doesn't work.

/Mats

[Blumphf]

It's works perfect for a friend of mine, who bought a DVD component recorder and a Macrovision eliminator he has patched between the two machines.

Sure, you have to play the movies from beginning to end, but with most of these computer programs that Ive been trying out, the process on a desktop takes around an hour anyway--and there seems to be TONS of bugs. He's made hundreds of copies with his stand-alones and has never reported having any problems at all.

[mats.hogberg]

I think we're talking about different things here - I was referring to disk-to-disk digital copying, but if I get you right, you're talking about making analog copies? (Play the DVD on one device, capturing the analog video, and digitizing it again.)

/Mats

[Blumphf]

No I was inquiring about doing disc to disc (ROM to RAM) recording directly through the two drives on my one computer, but I had to take issue with your statement that there was no way to do direct drive to drive copying, because a stand alone Dvd player feeding a signal to a stand alone Dvd recorder is, technically a direct, drive-to-drive Digital copying process.

Computers are supposed to have so many advantages over other devices, but it seems the ability to copy Dvd's without major headaches occurring is, for many users, still in the future.

[mats.hogberg]

a stand alone Dvd player feeding a signal to a stand alone Dvd recorder is, technically a direct, drive-to-drive Digital copying process.

Generally untrue, unless your DVD recorder/DVD player have some kind of digital interfaces. Since you say you need a MacroVision removal device, and MacroVision is analog, I dare say this is not the case.

/Mats

[Blumphf]

Well, you can dispute what kind of signal it may be....all I know is, Ive borrowed the store-bought disc he played in the component player, and the disc copied from it in his recorder, then compared the images of both, and the quality of the copy's image seems identical to the original's.

If it is technically still analog copying, then it looks as flawless to digital as far as I can tell.

[Noahtuck]

There is no dispute, fact is fact regardless of what you think.

What mats said is the way it is.

Copying from a standalone player to a stand alone recorder through the rca/phono/composite cables (the way you describe) is NOT a digital copy
Some people still claim to make and see VCD's that are equal quality to dvd also

You lose video quality, regardles of what you or your eyes think, you lose the true digital audio, no more 5.1 surround or DTS ect.

There is more but......

[mats.hogberg]

Well, you can dispute what kind of signal it may be.

No you can't. If you're satisfied with analog copies, by all means do that. But you'll lose most of the DVD features like menus, switchable audio and subtitle streams & cetera. And if this doesn't work, the next step would be to point a video camera at the TV, and record the TV while you play the DVD

/Mats

[Blumphf]

Im not a techno-geek...however, I am a FILM-geek. I collect everything from silent movies up to films released yesterday.

And I stand by the statement that, when it comes to films made over 20+ years ago (before computer console jockeys took over the post-production of cinema production), the image and sound loss between a computer copy of a movie on disc and a copy from a dvd player to dvd player/recorder is so neglible to be almost insignificant.

And as for sound....I live in a condo, frankly, I couldn't give a damn about listening to the soundtrack on 6 speakers and a sub-woofer, because I couldn't blast it that loud to appreciate it anyway.

[Nelson37]

Having done this more than once, I'll put it this way - an Analog copy can be close, but not an EXACT DUPLICATE, of the original. A digital copy is an EXACT DUPLICATE, There is no change. A good analog is nice, but does not compare to a Digital copy.

Side-by-Side comparison, there is no question which is better.

Easier is another question. I'll go buy more orange juice before I make some Tang, not that Tang is not bad every now and then.

[mats.hogberg]

To answer your initial q, now that I see what you're trying to do - No, there's no way to do analog copying of a DVD between 2 computer DVD writers (or betweeen 1 computer DVD reader and one 1 DVD writer).

/Mats

[Blumphf]

To answer your initial q, now that I see what you're trying to do - No, there's no way to do analog copying of a DVD between 2 computer DVD writers (or betweeen 1 computer DVD reader and one 1 DVD writer).

/Mats

Thanks, Mat, that's all i wanted to know.

I'm going to purchase a new RAM drive this week... If it doesn't solve the problem Im getting with freezes in my dvd copies, Im guess Im going to chuck copying on my computer and go the analog route, at least until the technology evolves to the point where all this buggy crap goes away and the process becomes as simple as--
put in original disk
put in blank dvd
hit copy
Run and done.

[jman98]

I don't think DVD-RAM is going to solve your problem, assuming you REALLY mean DVD-RAM and are not using the term by mistake. You should be aware that DVD-RAM discs are hard to find and expensive in the USA.

I'd advise using a DVD recorder. It seems to me that you want this to be done as easily as possible without the time and effort it takes to do this on a PC.

[Blumphf]

No, jman, I meant getting a new DvdRAM drive because of the problem i have been having making copies with my computer (see my other recent post).

If I go standalone, i of couse will get a component player/recorder.

[guns1inger]

I'm going to purchase a new RAM drive this week... If it doesn't solve the problem Im getting with freezes in my dvd copies, Im guess Im going to chuck copying on my computer and go the analog route, at least until the technology evolves to the point where all this buggy crap goes away and the process becomes as simple as--
put in original disk
put in blank dvd
hit copy
Run and done.

The studios spend an awful lot of money to make sure that the process is never as smooth as this. That said, for hundreds of thousands of the people the process is not much more difficult, so the problem is certainly yours, not the process.

[mike487]

I believe i would go with new drive.my burn drive started getting really picky about burning lately when i first bought it it would burn on any +r media at last the only media it would burn on was staples brand.and i was getting freezes and glitches at last on them finallt this weekend it stop at 50% through a burn and would not even eject the disc.but i guess it was its time to die after 2010 completed burns.