Mac OS support for DVD-Ram discs burned in a Panasonic HS2?

[Falcon500]

I recently bought an LG GSA-4040B DVD multi writer for my mac using OSX in the hope that it would be able to read DVD-Ram discs that were burned on the Panasonic HS2 standalone DVD recorder. I can't seem to get the Ram discs to mount under OSX to be able to edit the video on the disc. If I insert a new Ram disc into the LG drive it I can format it under Disk Utility and then use it like a normal hard drive. So the DVD-Ram part of the drive seems to work. It just doesn't seem to like the format that the panasonic recorders use.

Does anyone have any ideas on the format of the Panasonic DVD-Ram discs and how I can read that format on the mac?

[Thargok]

DVD-RAM drives were supported in OS 9. Some Astarte tools may allow you to edit it (but you have to boot in OS 9). There is no encryption on the disc, so you should be able to make a physical copy (drag it somewhere) and edit it from there.

[Falcon500]

I just found out that it is UDF 2.0 format. I can only find in the support files at Apple that they support UDF 1.5. I will give OS 9.2.2 at try to see if it can read the Ram discs...

[belongil]

Which drives support the reading of ram disks under OSX?
do they have to be able to write ramdisks, to read ram disks?

[jazzman]

You need to install the Softarch utility called "ReadDVD". Once installed (you have to run a terminal routine to remove it, but it's easy) your DVD-RAM udf images appear on the desktop. They then play properly with VLC or in Quicktime if you don't mind the wait for them to open. To further demux these properly, since they have an AC3 soundtrack on them you'll need the MPEG2WORKS (latest version is 3.3) tools sections program named "demux VOB with AC-3 file". Works like a charm. Still waiting for software to allow us to format or burn to DVD-RAM with our Macs in OSX however. Supposedly 1st quarter 04 (SoftArch sales support said recently). I have been successfully archiving many TIVO programs recorded on my DMRE100 to 20gb DDS4 backup tapes for quite some time now. Most of my editing is done on the Panasonic first because it's such a breeze.

[jazzman]

When I try Disk Utility to format or erase DVD-RAM in OSX(I have a Que firewire DVD-RAM drive) all I get is endless barber pole animation with no activity LED flashing on my drive (except right in the beginning). I can reboot in OS9 and use a SoftArch utility called DVD Ram TuneUp to format, mount and record to the cartridges however(with the same firewire drive).

[thoughton]

I'd guess it's your drive. I recently installed a Matsushita UJ815B and although the drive doesnt recognise a brand-new DVD-RAM disk when I first insert it (UDF2 perhaps?), I can format it perfectly fine with Disk Utility, after which it acts just like a removable harddisk (with Mac OS Extended filesystem). BTW, I followed AirForceRed's instructions on the MacNN forums and hacked a system file to get the iApps to recognise the drive, perhaps you need to do that as well. Note there are seperate instructions for Panther and Jaguar.

Belongil: as far as I know all DVD-RAM capable drives can write as well as read.

Cheers,

[Falcon500]

Thanks Jazzman for the heads up on that software that supports DVD-Ram UDF format. Their prices seem a little steep for their software but if it is the only alternative out there I guess I have no option...I also have no problem with formating the DVD-RAm in the LG DVD writer using Disk Utilitly (it is in a firewire case as well). My drive is not supported by the iApps but I can still format and write to the DVD-Ram discs on the desktop (MacOSX).

Thoughton: There are some drives that can read DVD-Ram but can't write to them. Mostly combo drives and DVD-Rom drives.

[Falcon500]

Here is another tip bit....Before anyone goes out and buys ReadDVD for OSX, it only supports Jaguar. Apparently it needs to be updated for Panther (tech support says sometime next year).