Can double side DVDR be used a two single side DVDR ?

[SingSing]

Remember that many DVDs used to have two formats on one DVD ?
One side has standard 4:3 format, and one side has the wide screen 16:9 format.

I have a bunch of these that I want to make backup copies.

I am trying to avoid to double the number of disc for backing up.

Can I burn use double side DVDR as a two single side DVDR ?
So, I can create the backup without double the disc.

Can I put it a double side DVDR and tell Nero it is a single side ?
or can I just make sure the second side is not burned, and then flip it over to burn the second movie ?
Or I need to use another burner software ?

[Baldrick]

I'm pretty sure that any dvd copy program will handle each side as a separate dvd. It's not like a dual layered dvd.

[usually_quiet]

Remember that many DVDs used to have two formats on one DVD ?
One side has standard 4:3 format, and one side has the wide screen 16:9 format.

I have a bunch of these that I want to make backup copies.

I am trying to avoid to double the number of disc for backing up.

Can I burn use double side DVDR as a two single side DVDR ?
So, I can create the backup without double the disc.

Can I put it a double side DVDR and tell Nero it is a single side ?
or can I just make sure the second side is not burned, and then flip it over to burn the second movie ?
Or I need to use another burner software ?

If you want to make exact backups of both versions, you could copy both versions to one dual-layer DVD as data (assuming there is room for both of them), but they won't be playable with a DVD player. If you want them to be playable in a DVD player, probably the only way to handle this would be to copy both versions to your hard drive and figure out how to add a top menu to choose between the two versions. In either case, I think it would be better to copy both versions to your hard drive first, then use ImgBurn, not Nero, to burn them.

[yoda313]

What about vobredo or something? Wasnt' there a program for merging two dvds onto one dual layer dvd?

Anyway if I understand correctly that you have a dvdr that has a recordable single layer on both sides I would do this:

rip your source discs to their respective folders

burn disc one to side one using imgburn

flip the disc

burn disc two to side two using imgburn

job done.

If I've oversimplified your request I am sorry.

[usually_quiet]

I guess I misunderstood. Probably because I have never seen 2-sided recordable DVD media, only dual-layer media, although I now see that Ritek and Memorex sell some that is double sided. For double-sided DVD-Rs, each side would be seen as a regular DVD-R, and you could copy and burn one side, and then the other.

[SingSing]

Double side DVDR.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-Pak-9-4-GB-MATRIX-by-Optodisc-8X-Double-Sided-DVD-Rs-/230792521801

[SingSing]

So, it is unlikely I can make a double layer DVDR work like a double side DVDR.

[Cornucopia]

Yes, you cannot.

DL discs don't have separate/independent access to the 2nd layer the way a separate side does. But you've already been told how to reauthor with a top level menu.

Scott

[usually_quiet]

So, it is unlikely I can make a double layer DVDR work like a double side DVDR.

I would say that dual-layer media is not a good choice and it would be far easier to use double sided DVD-Rs to copy double sided DVD-ROMs. If genuine, the Matrix/Optodisc media you are buying is made by Ritek, so hold onto your originals in case the backups turn out to be unplayable at some point.

[manono]

Why would anyone want the 4:3 (usually pan-and-scan) version anyway?

[yoda313]

Why would anyone want the 4:3 (usually pan-and-scan) version anyway?

possibly a directors cut? Or an 'unenhanced' version?

Case in point would be the original star wars laserdisc dubs that were finally released on dvd a few years back. The only "legal" digital release of the unaltered non-special edition versions. Those were letterboxed 4:3.

Edit - and possibly a foreign language version or rather a version released in another country with different scenes/dialogue?

[mazinz]

Why would anyone want the 4:3 (usually pan-and-scan) version anyway?

Because in many cases that 4:3 is actually an open matte full frame version of the film compared to the (and in also many cases) over-matted or just matted widescreen ratio. Many people like having the original open-matte version of a film, especially those in the Horror/exploitation/b film movie genre circles

[louv68]

Would putting both sides (as their own title) to a BD-R be acceptable to you? Do note that it would be "movie" only as you would lose each DVD sides menu.

If you're ok with this, BD-Rebuilder has that option. Of course, you then would need a Blu-Ray Player to playback your movies. Just my two cents.

[manono]

possibly a directors cut? Or an 'unenhanced' version?

Those would be done with angles/seamless branching. At least I've never seen those on a flipper.

Case in point would be the original star wars laserdisc dubs that were finally released on dvd a few years back.

That's right, letterboxed 4:3, hard telecined, and universally panned. I wouldn't use those atrocities as an example of anything. Besides, weren't the theatrical and special editions on two separate discs, rather than a flipper?

Because in many cases that 4:3 is actually an open matte full frame version of the film compared to the (and in also many cases) over-matted or just matted widescreen ratio.

I think I'd qualify that by saying 'in some cases' or 'in a very few cases'. If the original intent was for it to be viewed widescreen, then there's no need for the 4:3 version, in my opinion. Besides, as you know, with these flipper discs nine times out of ten one version is a heavily cropped pan-and-scan version from the days when people thought they still wanted that junk and many TVs were still 4:3 sized.

[mazinz]

I think I'd qualify that by saying 'in some cases' or 'in a very few cases'. If the original intent was for it to be viewed widescreen, then there's no need for the 4:3 version, in my opinion. Besides, as you know, with these flipper discs nine times out of ten one version is a heavily cropped pan-and-scan version from the days when people thought they still wanted that junk and many TVs were still 4:3 sized.

Of course we have pros and cons for both sides of that argument- but I will still disagree since the widescreen version of said film (and mainly for the genres I listed) is not always released with what the director wanted (many are released by major studios without dirs input) and as most with those type of films- many dirs know the real return would have been the home video market of the 80's and most were composed for the regular 4:3 open matte ratio despite having a theatrical (or limited theatrical release)

I too used to think that many early dvd releases did give you a pan/scan crap on the other side and some did. However as time went on and doing so true comparing it seems it to be the opposite with many having a matted widescreen ratio and open matte on the other. In fact the number of films I was finding this to be the case with is what really struck me.

But this discussion can keep going on and we are not helping the original poster any further by continuing it.

Personally I would use a dual layer dvd to merge both films on one disc deal with full menus via dvdremakepro. Though you may have to slightly shrink one of them down. And if the 4:3 is really a pan/scan version why bother?

[Cornucopia]

So, it is unlikely I can make a double layer DVDR work like a double side DVDR.

I would say that dual-layer media is not a good choice and it would be far easier to use double sided DVD-Rs to copy double sided DVD-ROMs. If genuine, the Matrix/Optodisc media you are buying is made by Ritek, so hold onto your originals in case the backups turn out to be unplayable at some point.

Easier still would be to put one side on a SL DVD-R, and the 2nd side on a 2nd SL disc.

Scott

[usually_quiet]

So, it is unlikely I can make a double layer DVDR work like a double side DVDR.

I would say that dual-layer media is not a good choice and it would be far easier to use double sided DVD-Rs to copy double sided DVD-ROMs. If genuine, the Matrix/Optodisc media you are buying is made by Ritek, so hold onto your originals in case the backups turn out to be unplayable at some point.

Easier still would be to put one side on a SL DVD-R, and the 2nd side on a 2nd SL disc.

Scott

I don't disagree, and it would provide the OP the opportunity to use higher quality media, but he doesn't want to use more than one disc.

[hello_hello]

I have a bunch of these that I want to make backup copies.

I am trying to avoid to double the number of disc for backing up.

Buy another hard drive.
I gave up burning stuff to discs for backups a few years ago. I bought a hard drive, then another to make a backup coy of everything on the first drive so I could forget discs forever. Best decision I ever made.
As all the TVs in this house now have built-in USB media players and the Bluray players can also play video via USB, I couldn't bare the thought of having to go back to discs. These days, they get ripped and packed away. The original discs effectively become the backups.