Record on DVDRW and copy to DVDR to save time and money

[komei]

As summarized in the Subject, it was a very simple trick once I realized it.

I recently purchased a Philips DVDR75/17 mostly to copy from video cassettes to DVDs. I wanted to use DVD+Rs to save money and avoid the risk of erasing the videos. However, DVDR75 only allows you to set the recording time in the multiples of 30 minutes. So, if you want to copy a 1h 15m program, you have to press STOP exactly after 1 hours 15 minutes. Otherwise you would waste space on the DVD+R and the other program(s) wouldn't fit.

Luckily, I have a PC with a multi-format DVD writer. So, I realized I should do any necessary editings (divide, erase) on DVDR75 and then copy from the DVD+RW to DVD+R (or even DVD-R) using the PC.

This solution may sound so obvious. But I thought there may be other people struggling with this problem. I coudln't find the right forum because this concerns DVD Recorders, Media, DVD Writers, etc. Could somebody suggest a right place to post this? Thanks.

[indolikaa]

It's a good technique, and not limited to DVD Recorders. I've got 5 Memorex DVD+RWs that are used to create a final product before they are moved to +R/-R.

[donpedro]

Yes... I did same.... Record to DVD+RW and make copy to DVD-R when I was done with editing.

That is what I don't like about Panasonic. You can't just "copy" from DVD-RAM to DVD-R. But again... if you buy Panasonic with HD, you don't need to.

[PhilipL]

Withdrawn

[donpedro]

I agree. What PhilipL sugested is much better and clean solution.

[komei]

Thank you for your replies. I had no idea about "navigation stream." Is there anywhere on this site (or elsewhere) where I could learn what it is?

If I'm unlucky enough to suffer from it, would the problem be limited only to navigation? Or could it also affect regular playback?

Philips DVDR75/17 has the "Make Disc Compatible" function and I use it before copying to DVDR. Would this alleviate the problem?

Thank you,
Komei

[yumagah]

If the original DVD+RW plays with no problems, you can use DVDDecrypter in ISO mode to make an exact copy of it on DVD+R. First copy the ISO to Hard drive and then burn it to +R. Some drives will stop reading the +RW disk and report an error when they come to the end of the data. Just save the ISO file and it should burn okay.

[mike1061]

If you rip the DVD+RW to the hd in an ISO mode, how long does it take to burn back to a +R disk? Does the computer have to re-encode, before it burns it back to disk? What if you edited out some parts would the computer have to re-encode before it burned to the +RW disk?
What I was thinking about was, recording TV shows to the +RW disk, riping them with the computer, editing out the comercials, and burning them to +R disk. I was wondering if this eliminates the long prosecess that the computer calls rendering?
Thanks Mike.

[seb]

If you rip the DVD+RW to the hd in an ISO mode, how long does it take to burn back to a +R disk? Does the computer have to re-encode, before it burns it back to disk? What if you edited out some parts would the computer have to re-encode before it burned to the +RW disk?
What I was thinking about was, recording TV shows to the +RW disk, riping them with the computer, editing out the comercials, and burning them to +R disk. I was wondering if this eliminates the long prosecess that the computer calls rendering?
Thanks Mike.

Depends what you use to edit/re-author. Some of them insist on re-encoding video which will take a long time. Others - like TmpegDVDAuthor won't re-encode. TDA also offers simple editing - OK for removing adverts but not frame perfect. MpegVCR will do frame perfect cuts, but will add a bit of extra time to the process (usually worth it).

Times depend on your hardware, but as a rough estimate it takes me 7-8 minutes to rip a 2 hour movie from DVD+RW. Another 15 for editing out adverts etc in MpegVCR and saving new mpg file. 5 minutes or so to create menu etc in TDA then 10-15 minutes to author files for burning. Then about 15 minutes to burn using ImgTool.

[mike1061]

Thanks
I have to give this a try.
Mike.