Internal/external (DVD-RAM) DVD burner

[pjblevin]

I have a Panasonic E80H DVR. I've been sucessful in creating both DVD-R and DVD-RAM discs from TiVo downloads. This has worked out OK, after conquering some of the many complexities of the E80H. What I'd like to do now is occasionally make a copy of these DVD's that I've burned. I thought I could make DVD copies just using the E80H. But, as I learned, this is not possible. I have no interface between the E80H and my PC. What I'd like to do is install a DVD burner (that can handle DVD-RAM & DVD-R) in my PC. Either internal or external. I'm leaning toward an external drive, so that I won't have to disturb my CD burner in my PC. I've got USB 1.0. If it's not advisable to use an external setup, is it possible to install the DVD burner in the bay that now contains my original read-only CD player? In this way, I wouldn't have to disturb my CD burner & Roxio software, which I grown very comfortable with. As far as DVD-burning software is concerned, the only thing that I would be interested in is the capability to edit-out the commercials. Thanks for any help you can give.

pjblevin

[Redman66]

Sure you can put a new DVD burner in place of the cd player. All new DVD burners will play and burn cd's as well. That will allow you to copy to your hard drive or straight from disc to disc.

One catch though. If you want to read the DVD-Ram discs on you're computer that you've burned with the Panny, you will need a burner that supports reading DVD-RAM like the New LG Dual layer Super drive.

Otherwise most new (computer)DVD burners no longer support DVD-Ram.
Search and choose wisely.

[pjblevin]

Redman: Are you implying that DVD-RAM is on the way out? I like DVD-RAM, but I suppose DVD-R would also do the job for me. How about software.......all I really want to do is edit-out commercials. Is the software shipped with the DVD burner able to do this? Is there ANY software shipped with the LG DVD burner?

pjblevin

[ZippyP.]

You can put a DVD writer in place of your CD-Rom. It should be an easy swap for anyone that has done that sort of thing before. This would be best b/c an external DVD writer on USB 1.0 will only write at 1 X meaning it will take an hour to write a DVD.

As far as software, TMPGEnc DVD Author will import video from your recorder, you can do simple cuts to edit the commercials then make a menu if you wish and burn to disk. It will not re-encode so your footage remains intact.

The Pioneer 108 is a top notch DVD writer and it says it supports DVD-Ram, for read only though which should be all you need.

[pjblevin]

thanks

pjblevin

[yg1968]

A number of LG DVD burners support reading and writing DVD-Ram (and DVD+R and DVD-R) and will do what you need.

[pjblevin]

yg: I just "bought" (not an auction) a brand new LG 4160 on ebay from Canada........I hope it works out.

pjblevin