Panasonic E30 and Iomega Super DVD Writer DVD-RAM problem

[PaulR2002]

I've had the E30 for a few months without too many problems but recently bought the Iomega Super DVD Writer USB2 with a view to writing all those family movies and being able to store the programs I want by editing them on my PC first. The movies from my digital camera are AVI files which are converted by the bundled Writer software.

However, since buying the Iomega Writer I have had big problems with DVD-RAM discs. I have recorded the DVD-RAM discs on PC to 4.7Gb Panasonic discs but when I try and play them on my E30 I keep getting the UNFORMAT error shown, the E30 can then not erase or format the disc but the disc does play on my PC.

Can anyone help - I had the understanding the Super DVD Writer was fully compatible with the DVD-RAM...it remains to be seen.

Thanks in advance for help.

Paul

[nextlife1]

I have the same problem with the LG GSA-4040Band DMR-E100H. I have come to learn that it is a problem with the way the disks are written by the PC burner--the Panasonic recorders cannot read them, but the burners can read the disks made by the Panasonics. It appears to be a well-recognized problem but one I did not realize until I already had both. I am thinking about returning my 4040B and getting a new Panasonic burner for my PC so that I have true 2-way compatibility.

nextlife1

[PaulR2002]

Thanks for your reply nextlife1, I have to say I am surprised of the compatibility problem - afterall why else would anyone want a DVD-RAM writer, only Panasonic uses that standard (as far as I know).

It does seem crazy that the DVD-RAM writer won't actually work in a recognised DVD-RAM player.

ho-hum - I guess it'll be going back unless someone has a solution...

[saftrep]

The format that the Panasonic DVD recorder uses on a ram disk is different (vro file ext.) than that on a pc burner that can read dvd ram. There is nothing wrong with the iomega burner. You can get software that will read the vro format and allow you to edit the vro file from the panny and write it to a dvd (author) Try TMPGen Author. I am using it in the trail version and it works well for me. Hope this helps. I was unaware of the file format too when I bought my panny. I use the software above to author dvds I record from the sat.

[nextlife1]

SO just so I am sure. A DVD authored in a PC burner using TMPGen Author or similar software can be read in a Panasonic DMR-E100H?

nextlife1

[bobones]

SO just so I am sure. A DVD authored in a PC burner using TMPGen Author or similar software can be read in a Panasonic DMR-E100H?

Yes. A dvd-video format dvd-r authored by any software should be readable in a Panasonic recorder. Crucially, however, dvd-ram discs must be in VR (video recorder) format to be readable. VR format is completely different from dvd-video, and although conversion tools for VR to dvd-video are readily available, there are very few that will allow you to author VR format RAM discs.

VR format discs contain a single directory (called DVD_RTAV) containing several files one of which has the extension .vro. This file is an mpeg stream which can be manipulated by tools such as TMPGenc DVD Author and re-authored to dvd-video. Panasonic's own DVDMovieAlbumSE software allows basic in-place editing of VR format RAM discs (on a suitable dvd-writer) and has the ability to export and import mpeg files of a specific format, but that particular software is usually only available with Panasonic PC recorders and video cameras.

Dvd-video discs contain the more familiar VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders. The video_ts folder contains numerous files with .vob .bup and .ifo extensions. Dvd-ram discs containing dvd-video format files may well be viewable on PC software such as WinDVD and PowerDVD; however, they will not be readable in Panasonic recorders. (Interestingly enough, VR mode DVD-RW discs - from a Pioneer recorder for example - are readable in Panasonic dvd-players and recorders).

In general, anything you take from the PC to the recorder should be on dvd-video format dvd-r (not ram). The exception is if you have specific software tools that allow you to author (or at least edit) VR format discs, in which case you can use RAM media.