What format do DVD recorders use?

[tim73]

I want to buy a DVD recorder (Goodmans Xpro). Do these recorders save files in standard video format, and can I then transfer them over to my PC? To make my question a little clearer, if I record something I want to keep on a RW disk, can I use DVD Shrink on my PC to rip and save it again, or does the format depend on which recorder I buy? Thanks

[Forum Troll]

Me thinks that they are usually in .VRO format, which you can open in many editors like VideoReDo or MPEGVCR and do any editing that you need, or you can import the .VRO in to TMPGENC DVD Author if you want to make a menu.

[midnightsun]

A lot of recorders let you choose whether you want to make a video-mode disc or a VR (video-recorder) disc. Video-mode discs are what you're used to dealing with everyday, VR discs are somewhat different and have the recordings stored in .VRO files. Most PC dvd-rom drives can read VR discs and you should not have any problems ripping the content and editing any way you wish.

The discs need to be finalized (that is handled by the recorder) in order for them to be readable. Once you finalize a -/+ WR disc its content cannot be edited unless you reformat the disc.

EDIT: just to clarify that .VRO is just another container for mpeg-2 and ac3. Whether you have a set of .vob's or a .VRO, what's in the files is exactly the same.

[tim73]

I see what you're saying. I haven't bought my recorder yet, so it seems I need one that can record in Video-mode. The trouble is, most of these recorders don't tell you on the box about tech specs, and it's hard to find any technical blurb on the internet about specific models. Also, as VRO is similar to MPEG, then I presume that quality will be lost when edited, which defeats the purpose of buying a DVD recorder in the first place doesn't it!

[lordsmurf]

DVD-Video, DVD+VR and DVD-VR mode.

DVD+VR is a variation of DVD-Video.
All DVD+R/DVD+RW recorders use the DVD+VR mode spec.
Even if it writes to a DVD-R disc (example: LiteOn 5005).

DVDs you buy in stores, rent, etc., are DVD-Video mode.

DVD-VR is pretty worthless.
DVD-VR is only available on DVD-RAM and DVD-RW

DVD-R and DVD-RW can use DVD-Video mode (although it is still somewhat different than the non-active DVD-Video discs that are authored in software).

[macleod]

I am going to disagree with Lordsmurf on his comment that DVD-VR is worthless. While it is true that the "majority" of dvd players do not play DVD-VR, at least for me, DVD-VR (DVD-RAM) is a great thing.

Setting aside other benefits of DVD-RAM, I can record stuff onto my RAM disc (they say 10,000 times), transfer it to my PC, use TMPGENC DVD Author to edit/author/burn and then delete the disc to be used again.

I do a lot with VHS tape and with my set up (Panasonic E-30 ->DVD-RAM -> PC), I would be spending quite a bit on DVD-R's if I didnt have the RAM option.

Others will argue that most of the DVD-VR stuff isnt used a whole lot and most players wont play them, etc., but for me, they do have a value.

[midnightsun]

Also, as VRO is similar to MPEG, then I presume that quality will be lost when edited, which defeats the purpose of buying a DVD recorder in the first place doesn't it!

No! When you edit, you simply cut out commercials or stuff like that, but the video will not be re-encoded! Software like womble, cuttermaran, videoredo, even tmpegenc (although not frame-accurate) will do.

As for -VR, I always record in -VR mode and do the editing on the computer. I don't care if -VR "as is" is not playable by most players, I'm going to edit it anyway and make a dvd-video out of that.

[samijubal]

I am going to disagree with Lordsmurf on his comment that DVD-VR is worthless. While it is true that the "majority" of dvd players do not play DVD-VR, at least for me, DVD-VR (DVD-RAM) is a great thing.

Setting aside other benefits of DVD-RAM, I can record stuff onto my RAM disc (they say 10,000 times), transfer it to my PC, use TMPGENC DVD Author to edit/author/burn and then delete the disc to be used again.

I do a lot with VHS tape and with my set up (Panasonic E-30 ->DVD-RAM -> PC), I would be spending quite a bit on DVD-R's if I didnt have the RAM option.

Others will argue that most of the DVD-VR stuff isnt used a whole lot and most players wont play them, etc., but for me, they do have a value.

RAMs only have 2 disadvantages, speed and compatibility, other than that they are the best DVD discs made. I've been using them for over 3 years. They can be heavily edited and recorded over without any problems or seams. Once they have been formatted they never need to be formatted again. There is no finalizing or unfinalizing. I have RAM discs that are 3 years old and have been used many many times, they still work like the first time. They never go bad unless they were defective to begin with. It's supposed to be 100,000 times, not 10,000. That remains to be seen though.

[mike1061]

Ok.
Can you record to a DVD-ram disk in DVD-VR mode (say a pannasonic E85), edit on the computer, and burn back to +r or -r disk in DVD+VR mode so that you don't have the playback issues? Without re-encoding?
Thanks Mike

[Noahtuck]

Yep,
DVD-RAM rocks!!!!!!! transfered MANY, MANY, MANY!!!!!!! LD's, VHS & TV shows to my pc, mostly LD's, then just changed the ext. to .mpg and used TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 to chapter, cut out what needed to be, added custom made motion menus!!!!! burn back to dvd-/+r's, works like a charm!!!!!!!

[samijubal]

Done many of them myself with TMPGEnc, no you don't have to re-encode. Unfortunately the lousy JVC doesn't do RAM for crap, so I had to go buy DVD-RWs when I have 190 RAM discs. RAM beats the hell out of RW.

[Noahtuck]

They never go bad unless they were defective to begin with.

I had one dvd-ram go bad but dummy me reformatted it quite a few times instead of just erasing it so i think that is why it fried
But all my other ram disc's work great. I'm using a panasonic DMR-E30 standalone.

[samijubal]

What brand of disc was it? I had many problems with older Optocrap RAM discs, they seem to have pretty much taken care of the problems on the newer ones though. I've had problems with a few of the of the new ones, but every one of the ones I bought 3 years ago to the tune of $10-$20 apiece failed within 1-8 uses.

[Noahtuck]

I believe it was a fuji dvd-ram.
But my other's are fuji also and i have had no problems but i did'nt reformat them, just erased them

[macleod]

I have been using the panasonic dvd-ram disk (wal mart has them 5 for $17). Once you get X recorded onto the disk, you'll need to wither copy the .VRO file over to the computer and then using an app like TMPGENC DVD Author to edit/author and then burn to DVD +/-R (half the time, I just let TMPGENC DVD AUTHOR do the authoring FROM the disc directly).

The issue that Noahtuck mentioned happened to me to and it came from reformatting the disc X number of times. Better to just to a quick erase vs a format.

[Noahtuck]

I have been using the panasonic dvd-ram disk (wal mart has them 5 for $17). Once you get X recorded onto the disk, you'll need to wither copy the .VRO file over to the computer and then using an app like TMPGENC DVD Author to edit/author and then burn to DVD +/-R (half the time, I just let TMPGENC DVD AUTHOR do the authoring FROM the disc directly).

The issue that Noahtuck mentioned happened to me to and it came from reformatting the disc X number of times. Better to just to a quick erase vs a format.

Actually i think it was the disc that came with my recorder, a panasonic disc, but i don't think the brand has anything to do with it either, just being a dummy and reformatting it instead of just a quick erase

[samijubal]

I've got Panasonic discs that I bought used off e-bay 3 years ago that have been heavily used, they still work fine. I never reformat after the first time, I just erase.

[Noahtuck]

I've got Panasonic discs that I bought used off e-bay 3 years ago that have been heavily used, they still work fine. I never reformat after the first time, I just erase.

Yep. all my other dvd-ram disc's still work great after heavy use also so i'm sure it was the multiple reformats that me and macleod were talking about.