DVD Burner

[kbd]

I'm planning to buy the Sony DRU500a, and was wondering w/ that drive, can I copy a DVD movie exactly 1:1 with all the menus, chapters, ect.? Just like CloneCD allows u to copy 1:1 exact copy of a game or app cd, does the DVD burner do the same? If yes, which softwares. My main purpose is to burn DVD movies, back up PS2 games, and make my own home movies. Any suggestion would be much appreciated.

[Baldrick]

www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdripping#dvd

it does not matter what writer you have cause all dvd writers can only burn single layer dvd-5.

[Vejita-sama]

1) Yes and no. DVDs come in two formats: DVD5 (aka single layer) and DVD9 (aka dual layer). Single layer discs hold 4.7GB of data and dual layer discs hold 9.6GB of data. A DVD-9 disc is actually two single layer discs pressed together. They can not be burnt.

So all DVD+R/DVD-R media only burn DVD-5 discs. As an aside there's also DVD-10, which is a dual sided DVD-R but you need to flip the disc over.

So if you look at the DVD ripping guides to the left you'll find out there are 3 ways to back up most movies.

a. If DVD is single layer, use DVD Decypter to make/rip a disc img, then burn that image. You get all the menus/extras/etc.

b. If the DVD is dual layer, but the main movie is less than 4.7GB, you can only rip that. You'll lose all the menus/extras but the movie will fit on one DVDR. You can also re-encode the movie at a lower bitrate, spilce it back into the original VOBs and burn that, thus keeping all the extras.

c. If the DVD is dual layer, and the main movie is over 4.7GB you HAVE to either spilt the movie on 2 DVDR's, or re-encode it at a lower bitrate to fit on one (as above, if you want to re-encode so that the final movie is small enough to be spilced back into the original VOBs you can keep the menus/extras).

2) PSX games come in two formats. PSX2 format and DVD-ROM format. The PSX2 games (white bottom IIRC) can be backed up with a CDR. The DVD-ROM games (purple bottom IIRC) are all single layer. And as above you can just back a disc img and burn. 1:1 on the fly copying is not a good idea.

3) Home movies are all about the capturing software and the encoding software. File size wise you're limited to the max size of a single layer DVDR. You'll also want to think about the authoring software (how you make your menus, buttons, transition effects, etc). I like DVD Maestro, but again there are guides to the left on all this.

[thxkid]

one other way also, if the movie without menus is more than 4.4 gigs then you can use either DVD2DVDR and re-encode the DVD9 to fit on one DVDR this takes about 3-5 hours, or us the very good and cheap DVD2ONE for $42 that transcode the DVD9 to one DVDR in about 15-20 minutes, plus another 15-20 minutes to rip the DVD using smartripper or dycripter, both of these are freeware. Keep in mind that DVD2ONE says you can only use this software if you only plan to backup your bought DVD's, legally.

[kbd]

thanks a lot u guys. really help me out much and clear things up as well. Much appreciated.