How do you convert dvd-ram to dvd?

[fsuorange]

Hello,

I would like to put my programs recorded with my panasonic dmr-e50 recorder from the dvd-ram onto dvd-r with my computer. However I would like to know the best way to go about doing this. I installed tmpgenc dvd author but do not know what to do next and what settings I should choose to get the best possible picture quality. I would also like to add motion menus that will play on dvd player so if anyone recommends any free motion menu template site, I would be very thankful!

Thanks in advance!

[Redman66]

This depends on whether your computer can read from DVD-RAM disks. The format of the video (when finalized) is that of a standard DVD format. But if your computer can't read DVD-RAM disks...well then I guess its moot. But doesn't the DMR-E50 record to DVD-R disks as well. You could record to dvd-r then edit on a computer.
(of course you do lose the rewrite capability of DVD-RAM)
Mainly, see if your DVD reader can read DVD-RAM. Otherwise you won't have any problems other than converting whats on the ramdisk to the computer...(You could use DVD2AVI/DVDShrink or any other firmware...)

[Redman66]

oops...replace "firmware" with "freeware"

<<<<<Needs more coffee

[fsuorange]

I have an iomega super dvd writer so it does read dvd-ram. Can anyone explain how to get the best possible quality using tmpgenc? Also is there a site with free motion menu templates?

[spiderman2k1]

I just got the LG 4081 8X burner and might burn duel layer with fireware update's. I payed $156 dollars free shipping at www.newegg.com the one thing I like about DVD-RAM is I download my software right on the DVD-RAM just like a hard drive or floppy drive.

[handyguy]

Lots of topics on this. You need to just import your DVD-RAM files to an authoring program that can read them. Some just rename to *.MPG

[fsuorange]

yes but file do you rename and how do you do that without it including the .mpg into the file name?

[spiderman2k1]

There are three file's it the last one. It'sa video file. It's also the biggest file. It's also the only file MPEG2VCR can read.

[corryn]

Not had much response on the Newbie forum.
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=209034
Any thoughts?

[wingnut]

Hi there,

I'm doing exactly this with a pretty high success rate, (but a few problems as well ), pop over to this thread

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=832762#832762

and take a look


Cheers

Ed

[macleod]

TMPGENC DVD Author is an app that will give you mothion menus AND import ram.

[corryn]

Well I tried TMPGenc DVD Author and it limped through on the second attempt. "Write to DVD" didn't work but "Create ISO" followed by "Copy ISO to DVD" did. A little more detail here https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=209034 . Why should going through the ISO step make a difference? Am I doing something wrong or am I just unlucky?

[corryn]

A bit more detail on this. I couldn't import from RAM ( DVD_RTAV ) with TMPGenc DVD Author as it complained that 5 of the 18 programs ( 1,2,3,4,7 ) contained a mix of formats ( is this the VBR issue? )

TMPGenc DVD Author has encountered a problem
Found the following problem in Program 1
The program is a mix of different video formats
The video compression format ( MPEG-1 and MPEG-2), resolution, and the aspect ratio ( 4:3 and 16:9) need to be the same within the program

[corryn]

Panasonic DME-30 and LF-M621E with DVD-MovieAlbumSE and MyDVD

I've posted various bits of this before but here is the complete story. I did end up with a working DVD-R but the process was far too convoluted.

I have a DVD-RAM disk created on my Panasonic DME-30 Video Recorder. It contains 18 separate programs recorded from an analogue video camera

I recently bought a Panasonic LF-M621 muti-recorder drive for my Windows XP machine with the intention of copying the films to the hard disk and making some DVD-R copies. I thought that by sticking to Panasonic products end-to-end and using the provided software I would avoid any possibility of incompatibility.

The first thing I did was use the included Panasonic DVD-MovieAlbum Copy Tool/VRCopy to copy the disk contents to the hard drive which worked fine, creating a DVD_RTAV directory with a single VR_MOVIE.VRO file. That seemed to be a dead-end as the DVD-MovieAlbumSE program seems only able to work from the RAM disk itself and having resorted in desperation to the documentation I had worked out that I needed to Export the programs in order to create a DVD. So I start up DVD-MovieAlbumSE with the original RAM disk in the drive. I can view all 18 programs and they seem fine.

Next I choose File Export / All Programs Export and this results in 18 .mtv and .mpg files and starts up MyDVD to continue the process. However despite the fact that all programs have the same origins MyDVD complains that there are 4 files that it cannot handle and I end up with 14 _ses directories and 14 .ses files. The message is as follows:- "One or more files could not be imported: MyDVD does not support this file type. Check the user guide for details on supported files"

Now I understand that there is an issue about Variable Bit Rate but I thought that the export process was supposed to sort this out.

Having failed with the included software I then turned to TMPGenc DVD Author. This couldn't import from RAM ( DVD_RTAV ) complaining that 5 of the 18 programs contained a mix of formats ( is this the VBR issue? ). Here is an example complaint:- "TMPGenc DVD Author has encountered a problem Found the following problem in Program 1 The program is a mix of different video formats The video compression format ( MPEG-1 and MPEG-2), resolution, and the aspect ratio ( 4:3 and 16:9) need to be the same within the program"

As a next step I tried to use the exported mpeg files from DVD-MovieAlbumSE as the starting point. TMPGenc DVD Author successfully imported all the files and while it was a bit clunkier to use than MyDVD it did allow me to create the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS files. I selected [Write] in the DVD Writing Tool and it set off writing to the DVD-R. Unfortunately 49% through writing to the disk it gave an error - which I didn't make a note of but was something like "invalid number". I then went back to MyDVD to try and burn the disk but it complained that there were things in the files that it couldn't deal with. Back to the TMPGenc writing tool and select [Write] again. This time I got "An error occured during reading" while "Writing sector 16 ( of total 2084860 ). Luckily it hadn't started writing to the disk. On a whim I selected [ Create ISO Image ] then [ Write ISO to DVD ] and this worked and I've tried the resultant disk in my video and another pc and it appears fine.

I have to say that I'm disappointed with the process all round. I chose a Panasonic drive because I have a Panasonic video and I hoped to use the supplied software so that the process was "single-source" from end-to-end.

[macleod]

the two issues I see are that you are doing multiple recordings on the same vro file. TMPGENC DVD AUthor does not like that at all. Also, the VBR issue IS probably the problem. Change to CBR.

[corryn]

the two issues I see are that you are doing multiple recordings on the same vro file. TMPGENC DVD AUthor does not like that at all. Also, the VBR issue IS probably the problem. Change to CBR.

How do I avoid doing multiple recordings on the same vro file? Or is this just a feature of the video recorder. Is there some way of splitting the single vro into one per program ( the programs are distinct as each was recorded in a single take ) so that other software will find it more acceptable? I would have thought that the supplied software would be ok with it but maybe I'm an idealist

Would the change from VBR to CBR make much difference to the quality?

I'd rather not re-record the cine films as it was a drag to setup. I've got a stack of straight forward analog videos to do next. For the cine I recorder on SP which is what I use for normal recording. I was wondering about using XP for the video tapes - are there any issues around this? Is it pointless for VHS quality originals?

I've had a chance to look at the DVD-R and my impression is that the quality is noticeably lower than the DVD-RAM original. It had something of a "digitized" look to it. Any thought?

[macleod]

How do I avoid doing multiple recordings on the same vro file?

Record one time on it and then rip it to your computer and then delete the playlist and start over.

Would the change from VBR to CBR make much difference to the quality?

Definetely. Which may be bad or good, depending on your settings. I am not home right now, so I cant give you my settings, but go into the settings section and change what seems logical (i.e. noise, etc.) IMO, my settings are optimal across the board and have resulted in GREAT recordings.

There is a slight difference between XP(1hr) and SP(2 hr), however, unless A LOT of it is fast motion, you wont see a difference. The biggest difference you will see will be in clarity of, say someones eyes. On XP, they will be clear, but on SP they may be a little duller. I would recommend doing a test clip of the VHS tape using both settings and then deciding for yourself (after you make the other settings changes).

The only changes I have seen after using tweeked settings is that some of the video is digitized (d-uh). What I mean is that hard diagonal lines appear a little jaggedy, however, if you look at movies that have the same type of scene, you see the same thing.

My wife has looked at my final conversions and then bumped them against the VHS player (quickly changing the input from DVD player to VHS player and back again) and is shocked at the better quality of the DVD over the original VHS tape. Part of this has to do with the TBC, settings changes, and the overall "goin' digital".

I would just read the manual and take a hard look at the settings that you can change on the panny and then do some testing. I have a toshiba 32" TV and all my stuff looks awesome on it. You may have a 52" plasma screen, where the colors are lacking or something.

I guess the short answer on the dvdr and dvdram may be settings related to. Again, all I do now is record the ram on XP mode, use TMGPENC DVD Author to author and burn on 100 year rated media. Family and clients are ALL happy. Personally though, I cant wait until the dual layer burners come out (and get cheaper) so that I can record just one DVDr instead of 2 for a two hour tape.

One other suggestion I would have is about your set up? Are you using S-Video or are you using the RCA plugs or (shudders) composite????? That WILL have an impact on your output.