Copying a Recorded DVD--Video_TS and Audio_TS

[solarblast]

I copied 9 30 minute programs off my DVR today onto a DVD burner on my Panasonic recorder. I've done this before. I then fired up Nero 6, as I've done in the past for DVR copies, and tried a copy. It failed with some "unreadable message". I looked at the DVD contents and found one folder, video_ts. The last time I did this, two folders, video_ts, and audio_ts were created. I'm told that audio_ts is empty. I tried on another PC with Nero 7 and got basically the same message.

Any clues to what's going on? Is there another way to make this copy. I'm not to happy about making another copy from the DVR, which by the way works in the DVD player and my PC--audio too.

[DB83]

Try Imgburn to make an ISO image of the disk and then use the same program to burn that image on to another disk.

You should also check the video_ts folder to endure that all expected ifo and bup files are ther. I have, on ocassions, found that my recorder did not create the bup's. But the disk still played fine.

BTW My recorder only creates one folder - video_ts

[solarblast]

Thanks for the reference. audio_ts is empty on the DVD that I can make copies from. Now it is possible that I'm looking at the disk is from a burn on Nero 6; however, it would be difficult to believe Nero added audio_ts. Well, maybe not too hard.

[guns1inger]

audio_ts is not used for DVD video discs, and technically it isn't actually required to be on the disc. That said, many early DVD players looked for it, so many burning apps still add it by default. All you need is the video_ts folder and it's contents.

Also, Nero is, frankly, rubbish for burning DVD video. It often complains about legitimate files and is simply not to be trusted in decision it makes or anything it tells you.

Use Imgburn for burning DVD Video. It does know what it is doing, and is about 3% the total size of Nero. (Imgburn is small, but all brain. Nero is huge but very little of it is actually used for thinking)

Start by copying the Video_TS folder to your HDD. Then use media player classic to playback the disc by opening the IFO files, not the VOB files. If the disc works, you have all you need and can burn with Imgburn.

If you have problems copying the content, or it doesn't playback correctly, post again with any error messages you received along the way.

[jman98]

When DVDs first came out, AUDIO_TS was part of the spec but was always empty. It may not be a requirement. I have some homemade DVDs of TV captures that don't have it and they have always played fine for me. AUDIO_TS was created for use in a future audio format that would use DVD discs instead of CDs. That format ended up being DVD-Audio and DVD-Audio discs do use it.

I have Nero 6 and while now the only thing I use it for is making audio CDs and sometimes data discs, if you burn DVDs with it then it definitely will create the AUDIO_TS directory for you. I agree with guns1inger that you should use ImgBurn instead of Nero to make DVDs.

[solarblast]

I'm putting this aside a bit, but I will be back with a progress report, and related material.

Yes, Nero hasn't gotten a good name from me, and mine is pretty outdated. I use if for specific items like the one I pursuing now, or just copying data files for backup purposes. I believe some previous posts have suggested other choices. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a Consumer Reports (magazine) that rates software like they rate cars, stoves, appliances, TV sets, etc. I find it useful to have more than anecdotal comments.

[solarblast]

I finally found some time to get back to this. I copied the video_ts folder to my HDD. There were two ifo files: video_ts.ifo and vts_01_0.ifo. I played the first with WMP and it gave me the header with 9 selections of the 9 30 min programs I recorded. Playing it didn't move anything, or did trying to select play off the screen. The second file just put WMP into a spin. I finally killed it after 15 min. The biggest file is 350M, vts_01_0.vob.

[solarblast]

How do I proceed? Where'd everyone go?

It's not obvious what to do in ImgBurn. I guess I could break down and print out the seemingly massive amount of information in their Help.

[guns1inger]

How do I proceed? Where'd everyone go?

It's not obvious what to do in ImgBurn. I guess I could break down and print out the seemingly massive amount of information in their Help.

I, for one, went away for a couple of days holiday.

If you spend a little time reading the help forum for Imgburn, you will find that there is a simple tutorial for burning DVD video.

At it's simplest, click on Mode -> Build (or select Burn files/folders to disc from the main menu)
Click on Browse Folders and select the Video_ts folder. Imgburn will work out that this is a DVD video disc, and configure itself accordingly.
Click burn. You may get prompted for an name for the disc.

However it sounds like what you have is corrupt, or not ripped correctly. If it won't play properly from the HDD, burning it to DVD won't make it better.

That said, any testing done with Windows Media Player must be considered suspect and of dubious value. Try VLC, Media Player Classic or the KM Player for testing.

[solarblast]

A holiday? No fair taking a rest.
When I inserted the DVD (XP), it fired up in Real Player 11.0.6, and worked. I then played it with Nero. (I couldn't find a way for RP to let me start it.) Those may not be as robust as the ones you mention, but I'll try one of them later this morning when I'm actually awake.

Searching on DVD tutorial leads me to many choices. Which is the simple one? I see, e.g.,
http://avs4you.com/AVS-DVD-Authoring.aspx?type=GoogleAdWordsSearch&gclid=CKPr06STnZgCFRYiagodDXDYng

[guns1inger]

Start up Imgburn and click on Help -> View Imgburn Guides. 2/3 of the way down the page is a guide called "Burning DVD Video files directly to single layer media with ImgBurn" which covers it off with easy to follow pictures.

[solarblast]

I seem to be up against it. I once again tried copying the video_ts folder to my HDD, and get Cannot copy VTS_os_1: Data error (cyclic redundancy check).

[solarblast]

Success! There were 9 30 minute TV programs on the DVD. One file gave the CRC, and, when I tried it on another PC, it was the same. I decided to burn a DVD with just the troublesome show, and use new file. It worked. Now I can erase 4.5 hours of video from my DirecTV DVR. Thanks for the tips.

[solarblast]

One other item.
That CRC certainly wasn't pleasant. Whenever it occurred, it eventually took down all folders that were open. Not responding was a frequent visitor when I used the task mgr to see why the machine had slowed.

[solarblast]

Yet another item. Near the start of the burn process, Imgburn insisted that my DVD drive was being used somehow. I finally just used Continue, and it did, successfully.