DVD-RW to DVD-R

[lmemsm]

Been checking the other forums and I've seen some information on this, but I still don't have all the pieces worked out and was hoping someone can help. Wanted to copy something I recorded on a standalone DVD-RW recorder, cut and author it and save it out as a DVD-R from my computer (with Windows XP operating system). I'd also prefer to use Open Source software when possible.

Step 1:
I tried using DVD Decrypter to convert the files on the DVD-RW to files on my hard drive. I demuxed and they saved as M2V and AC3 files. The AC3 files say DELAY -66ms at the end of the titles. Do I need to do anything to get these files back in sync again? Is there a better freeware or Open Source tool than DVD Decrypter for this job (the DVD-RW isn't encrypted or anything)? So far, DVD Decrypter seems to work okay.

Step 2:
I wanted to cut some scenes. I usually use DVgate Plus for my editing of MPEG files, but it doesn't seem to like the file formats I created. I tried using mplex to join the files (mplex -f 8 -o vid.mpg vid.m2v vid.ac3), but it didn't like that resulting mpg file either. Noticed there's a -sync-offset option to mplex. Do I need to use this or should DVD Decrypter be creating files that are pretty much in sync? Read on one of the forums that the program cuttermaran works well for cutting m2v/ac3 files, but it doesn't like my version of .Net (and I have a later version than the one it asks for). I can take the file created by mplex and use mpg2cut2 or mpeg2cut on it. Is there a better open source or freeware program to use to cut files (m2v and ac3 or resulting mplexed mpg file)? Is there any way to get DVgate Plus working with the resulting video? It's been great for cutting standard MPEG files. I'm trying to avoid having to switch formats and lose quality as much as possible.

Step 3:
Assuming I can cut out the unwanted parts, next step is to author with DVDStyler. I have tried authoring with m2v and ac3 files and it works fine. It's a lot faster than giving DVDStyler a standard mpeg file to author with. Haven't tried using an mplex'd file yet in DVDStyler. Am hoping it will work okay as well, especially after it's been cut or edited. Normally DVDStyler does the mplex step for you.


Step 4:
If the resulting ISO image is too big to fit on disk, was thinking of using DVD Rebuilder on it. I can get about an hour to an hour and a half on a DVD-R and then I run out of disk. Anyone have any recommendations as to quality/# of disk needed tradeoffs? The DVD-Rebuilder program should be able to shrink down any ISO images larger than the DVD-R can hold, but I'm not sure how much is lost on picture quality.

Step 5:
Next step, I check the ISO image that DVDStyler creates using Daemon tools and a standard DVD playing program. Then, I burn the ISO file to a disk using DVD Decrypter. With DVD Decrypter no longer supported, is there another good program (preferrably Open Source) for burning ISO files to DVD-R? I've tried the CDrecord tools, but without much luck as far as recording to DVD-R. The mkisofs program works well for creating an ISO file from a bunch of authored files in a VIDEO_TS directory though.

Any suggestions for improving the steps so I can get all the way through the process or for tips on alternative Open Source software to use would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[ipdave]

I use TMPG DVD Author.

1. Capture with my Sharp settop DVD to RW.

2. Import Video from the RW to MPG on the HD.

3. Edit out commercials, start and end of the show(s).

4. Add (motion) menus.

5. Author.

6. Burn with Nero or Burnatonce

[lmemsm]

Guess I'll add to the post, since there hasn't been too many responses. I took my Aunt's wedding video and copied it using a standalone DVD-RW recorder. I wanted to be able to edit it, because the sound was awful and I wanted to add some titles and menuing and create DVD-Rs of it for various family members.

The first part of my post worked fine, but I found out mpeg2cut and mpg2cut2 don't work well with my authoring program. Have switched to mpeg2schnitt and it works fine with DVDStyler, especially if I bring in the .m2v and .m2a files separately without multiplexing them first. Found an English tutorial on mpeg2schnitt at:
http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/DigiTV/dvb-basics.htm
The program is good for figuring out where to put specific chapter breaks in DVDStyler too. There's an audio offset feature in mpeg2schnitt. The latest version has it hidden, so that you don't see it unless you right click on the files section. I'm assuming if DVD Decrypter says there's an audio offset, I need to use this here. Anyone know any more details on this?

If I need more editing, I can use virtualdubmod or DV Gate Plus on the mulitplexed MPEG to convert it to AVI. I found Windows Movie Maker which comes with later versions of windows does a great job in trying to edit what I needed to change with AVI files. Since the sound was so awful, I turned it off in Windows Movie Maker and added in my own WAV files. The WAV files were created from public domain sheet music. I type in the sheet music as ABC notation and run it through abc2midi. I convert the midi file to a wav file using timidity. Was also able to add some titles and transitions in Windows Movie Maker.

When I was done editing, I outputted the file from Windows Movie Maker as standard AVI and converted back to MPEG using DV Gate plus. Looks like avisynth and quenc would do a good conversion job as well, but I haven't had time to experiment much with them yet. Once in MPEG, DVDStyler works fine for authoring.

If anyone has any further tips for authoring with freeware, or suggestions how to improve the process, would love to hear them.

[SnoopyDad]

I've done this once before and it worked but I've been trying recently and its not working.

Copied a -RW using Decrpyter, files were saved to hd as .vobs. Edited each vob as needed using WOmble, tried to import then into Pinacle STudio 9 - and get the message 'unable to open' (this worked before).

Womble saves the vobs as mpg files which I have had no problems importing, opening, editing more if needed, in Pinnacle. Have also been able to add menus and chp pts, burn and works (aside from some vertical line issues; another post I have and still trying to upload an image).

How do I go about combining the vobs (if thats what they are) so that I can burn a DVD?

Thanks

[cd090580]

I use Tmpg Mpeg Editor and Tmpg DVd Author to make dvd from my standalone.

I open my dvd source with tmpg mpeg editor directly from the dvd-rw disk, I cut the unneeded parts and I output as m2v and ac3 to my hard disk.

Then I use tmpg dvd author to make my dvd.