DVD-RAM disks and .VRO to .VOB??

[Spoffo]

I have a bunch of video material I've burned onto DVD-RAM disks using a stand-alone DVD recorder, and I've been searching for a simple way to get these onto my Mac and then burn them onto DVD-Rs.

Finally, with the help of this forum, I've solved the first challenge - reading DVD-RAMs on my Mac. (Look for Read!DVD here: http://www.softarch.com/ it works).

However, that leaves me with the problem that video files on the RAMs are .VRO, rather than the .VOB you need to make a DVD-R. You would think it would be simple: they're both MPEG files (you can play the .VROs beautifully with VLC), but that doesn't seem to be the case.

The only thing that's come close so far is if you set Toast 6 for "Video" (not "data" as when copying a DVD) and drop the .VOB files on it, Toast will re-encode them and burn a DVD-R. The one time I tried it, though, the encoding took forever (about 40 minutes for 20 minutes of video on a dual G5) and threw the sound seriously out of sync.

Any other ideas?

[pixeljammedia]

A suggestion: Drag the VRO out onto your desktop and rename it .mpg. Then Demux using BBDemux/FFMpegX/Streamclip or whatever demuxer you choose. Use sizzle to recreate your DVD structure.

[JoachimS]

MPEG2Works is your friend

Cheers,

JoachimS

[Spoffo]

Good ideas all, but there's one problem nothing has solved:

Whether I just drop the .VRO file in Toast or run it through MPEG2Works (de-mux to .m2v and .ac3 files, then re-mux to a DVD MPEG) the sound winds up seriously out of sync.

I've now tried this with 2 different RAM discs. Both play fine on the players that play RAM, and the .VRO files copied to the Mac both play fine in VLC, but the sound goes out of sync on both when I apply either of the above processes to move toward a DVD-R.

Any ideas?

[decay]

is there a way to try Read!DVD before buying it?
(demo download)

[Spoffo]

No. But they have a 30 day money back guarantee. They told me that you can call 800 656 5426 to get your $25 back if it doesn't work.

[Spoffo]

I think I may have found the answer to why I have this persistant sync problem. When I check the .VRO files using MPEG2Works, it shows that the actual picture size being laid down by the panasonic recorder is non-standard. Here's the data from one such file

VR_MOVIE.VRO
Mpeg 2 Program Stream File [Video/Audio]
Muxrate : 10.08 Mbps
Estimated Duration: 26:59.51s
Aspect ratio 4/3 (TV)
Interlaced, chroma format: 4:2:0
Video Format: NTSC
Display Size [720 x 480]
Size [704 x 480] 29.97 fps 9.56 Mbps
Audio : Mpeg 1 layer 1
free bitrate 44100 Hz
Stereo, No emphasis

Note that the size is actually 704x480, not 720. Browsing around the MPEG2Works forum, it appears that this can cause all sorts of problems for the underlying Unx routines that all these video/DVD apps use.

After a bunch of experiments with Sizzle and MPEG2Works, I think it's this non-standard size, rather than anything to do with the .VRO format of RAM discs vs. DVD-Video that causes re-coded files to be out of sync. (The same problem comes up with .VOB files recorded by the Panny on DVD-R)

However, while this represents progress (sorta) it isn't a solution.

Any ideas?

[Meritocracy]

Panny DVD recorders should have the Hybrid VBR Resolution set to fixed to avoid this situation. It's been discussed many times.

[geezerbuttz]

just to go back to demuxing ... I modified EXTRACTOR to do the job on a VRO file..

open the app find the filetype plist and add .VRO to its extension line in the plist , close and EXTRACTOR will be able to see the VRO file.


ok to be presice..
1) Right click on extractor and "SHOW PACKAGE CONTENTS"

2) Navigate to Content/resouces/ and open the "filetypes" plist in there..

3) add a new item at the bottom of the plist ( should be 5th item ) set the class to "string" and name the entry VRO ( notice the Upper Case here )

4) Add a new entry ( agiain at the bootom of the plist - number 6 ) set the class to "string" and name this "vro" ( lower case this one ..

5) save the plist.

close all window , and now you should be able to drag drop the VRO onto extractor and rip the streams.... Its what i use anyway.


GeezerButtz.

[hscottm]

I have been reading the various posts about bringing in recordings from standalone recorders on DVD-RAM. Also been looking on the Apple site..

I have a more fundamental question. I bought a DVD-RAM (read/write) drive - LG 4163B - and installed it in my mac. I have a Panasonic DMR-E30. But when I put one of the DVD-RAM discs in my computer, I get nothing - not even a "bad disc/disc needs to be initialized/etc" error.

Do I need READDVD just for this part? I see all the talk about MPEG streamclip being able to help, but am not sure whether READDVD is needed just to recognize the files on the DVD-RAM disc.

I dont mind buying READDVD, but dont even know for sure its the basic tool needed.

BTW, anyone have experience doing stuff like this WITHOUT the Hard Drive-based Panasonic recorders? Spoffo and others seem to have the higher-end models.

[Spoffo]

Yes READDVD is exactly what you need. Your problem is the same as mine. You have a drive that reads RAM disks, but your Mac OS doesn't. (Mine is a G-5 tower w/ OS 10.3.9) READDVD adds a patch so the Mac will read them.

[maetel99]

My understanding was that these recorders could all "finalize" discs to be in DVD-Video format. Can't you just do the "finalize" process and have a standard playable DVD instead of messing around with the VR mode disc and all its problems?

[hscottm]

Yes READDVD is exactly what you need. Your problem is the same as mine. You have a drive that reads RAM disks, but your Mac OS doesn't. (Mine is a G-5 tower w/ OS 10.3.9) READDVD adds a patch so the Mac will read them.

Thanks! I thought so, but dont want to drop money on it if it isnt what I need. So another related question - do I just get ReadDVD or do I get the same company's GreatVideo program (which looks like it comes with readDVD but has other helpful conversion features) or does MPEG Streamclip do the same stuff for free?

My understanding was that these recorders could all "finalize" discs to be in DVD-Video format. Can't you just do the "finalize" process and have a standard playable DVD instead of messing around with the VR mode disc and all its problems?

I am hardly the expert in this area, but I believe DVD-RAM discs do not finalize in the same way as DVD-R. In fact, my owners manual for the standalone makes the "finalize" process look like something that only the DVD-R discs need to do. I think the whole idea of DVD-RAM is for it to act like a 4 gig floppy so files are always there. Regardless, I have not finalized anything yet since the option isnt there for DVD-RAM in my menus.

[Spoffo]

#1 - I don't know about the companion program. back when I bought READDVD, it was a single stand-alone.

#2 - You're right about RAM disks. They are like a 4gb portable hard disk, and there's no such thing as finalizing one. The data structure is entirely different from a DVD (really designed for data use, not video) which is why so few stand-alone DVD players can read them, but many computer drives can. Finalizing a DVD-R essentially adds the standard directory files (like VTS_TS.IFO and several others) that a DVD player uses to read any standard DVD.

[greymalkin]

TDA will convert these to DVD-Compliant mpeg files without demuxing.

I used to do this when I recorded a wedding on a panasonic that recorded to dvd-ram.

I copied the files off the DVD-Ram to my hard drive, then opened them in TDA..i think you choose the "OPEN DVD" option....Anyways..it says it needs to copy them to your hard drive..say yes and it will make mpeg files...then just put them all together and re-author.

ACK! I just realized this is on a MAC...not sure if TDA is offered on the MAC???

[hscottm]

ACK! I just realized this is on a MAC...not sure if TDA is offered on the MAC???

Gee, was the forum name your hint?

There seem to be plenty of mac tools to help once readDVD is in place (which I just bought, will report tonight).[/quote]

[hscottm]

thanks to all.. ReadDVD did the trick (running on 10.3.9). Anyone know their upgrade policy, i.e. when Tiger version comes out if we'll get upgrades?

[JoachimS]

Just a reminder as this topic emerged again:

File size limit is 4GB. If your VRO file is bigger, you will not have access to it. Just the data in excess of 4GB will be copied.

Example: the file is 4.1GB, then 0.1GB will be copied.

This is a restriction of UDF 2.

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Disk_Format


Cheers,

Joachim

[hscottm]

Joachim - thanks for the reminder.

Personally, I will most likely be using DVD-RAM to just move things from my Dish PVR that have commercials to be cut OR for putting multiple episodes of 30-minute kids tv shows on one disc. Thus I shouldnt hit the single file, 4GB limit.

Its unfortunate that the UDF 4 GB limit basically runs in the face of the DVD-RAM storage capacity!

[JoachimS]

Spoffo has been doing a lot of experimants with VRO files lately.

Here is the link to another thread with a lot of tidbits:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=262974&highlight=vro

Excellent stuff.