DVD-R To PC HD & PC HD To DVD Burner TROUBLE

[jpjwilson]

Hello. I'm having trouble downloading to my PC DVD-Rs I've recorded for editing and burning purposes. The original video source of the DVD-Rs were satellite TV broadcasts I recorded with my PIONEER DVR-7000 DVD Recorder. The blank media used were PRINCO DVD-Rs 4.7Gb. Once finalized, all of the PRINCO DVD-Rs would playback beautifully and flawlessly on my PC (DELL DIMENSION 8200 P4 WN XP) and other stand-alone DVD Players from several manufacturers. So there were no compatibility issues with playback. I recently purchased the SONY DRU-500AX DVD+RW-RW Drive for editing and burning purposes. It installed easily enough, and playback and "exact disc-to-disc copies" perform perfectly. Where I have trouble is in trying to "capture" my recorded DVD-Rs to my PC's Hard Drive with the Sony DRU-500AX's software (RECORD NOW DX & MY SONIC) in order to edit and ultimately burn copies of them. The HD files created with the software would convert each of my DVD-Rs (each around 44 minutes long) into three files: one file was simply of the blank menu screen on my DVD-Rs -- another file was actual video & audio from the discs, but it would play fine for only 2-5 seconds or so -- then freeze -- jump ahead 5 or 10 seconds on the disc -- then play fine again for 2-5 seconds -- freeze again -- jump ahead again -- play fine again for 2-5 seconds -- freeze -- and so on and so on -- and the third file would not be recognized by my PC at all (incompatible or whatever) I believe the file type listed the discs as "GI" -type files.

Is there some type of software or program I could use so as to properly "capture" my recorded DVD-Rs to my PC HD for editing and burning purposes? -- besides simply copying exactly disc-to-disc with DVD-read-only drive to DVD+RW-RW drive? I guess I'm basically attempting to store my own recorded DVD-videos on my PC much like I store my audio CDs in the Media Library on my Windows Media Player. However, it appears there is a discrepancy within the software compatibility issues between my PC files and DVD-R files.

I would be most thankful to anyone who might be able to steer me in the right direction here.

THANKS.

[stecj]

I'm not 100% on your post, but a .GI extension is the global image format used in many burning softwares and is used to make exact copies. If you burned from your pioneer into a DVD .VOB type format using ulead or otherwise, you could strip them back off the DVD using any of the several strippers out there (I use DVD Decryptor), but they will still be in .VOB format when done and editing wil be a pain. Depends if you just want to be able to watch them (Power DVD wiil work).

Don't know if that helps or not.

Stecj

[jpjwilson]

THANKS Stecj. I'm able to watch/playback perfectly all my DVDs on my PC with either Power DVD or Windows Media Player. My trouble occurs when I attempt to download the DVDs in file format to my PC's hard drive with the available software (Record Now DX & MySonic) so I can later edit and burn copies with my Sony DRU-500AX burner drive.

THANKS again.

[Quigonsean]

Use DVDDecryptor to rip it to your harddrive, then use one of the many programs out there freeware here and at doom9.org to convert the .vob files back to .mpg, then you can edit away. If you don't wanna edit just leave the .vob, and .ifo files on your harddrive and watch them with power dvd. You need to get a ripper to copy/rip a dvd any dvd homemade or store bought to your harddisk.


Sean

[jpjwilson]

THANKS, Sean. I'll get a ripper and do just that. Is DVDDecrypter the best and most reliable one to use? Also, is there a considered best or most reliable conversion (.vob to .mpeg) program out there I can use? I most definitely would use the files for editing purposes and copy-burning and not just playback alone.

THANKS again.

[Quigonsean]

DVDDycryptor or Smartripper are generally considered the best. I prefer DVDdecryptor, but its 6 to 1 half dozen the other. I would UseDVD2AVI on the .vob files it will demux for you as well as combine the vobs then you can compress it with CCE or Tmpegenc which will give you a mpeg2 file, and if you need the mpeg2 and audio together as one file Tmpegenc has a tool for that under File/Mpeg Tools then simple multiplex. You can grab a Demo of CCE it is real fast, but more complicated to use than Tmpegenc, and requires a few more steps but it encodes in realtime or faster for the most part.

Sean