conversion using a dvd recorder

[tfcmaximus]

Alright, I don't no exactly what I need but I want to have a commercial DVD (Only for backing up) and then copy it to a DVD-R or DVD+R, i dont really care. I dont care about menus(whats the point). I was thinking about getting a DVD Recorder, the ones that sit out of the pc and cost about $600. I no how to copy a DVD to a DVD-R its just I HATE encoding/decoding, especially cause loss of quality. I have a limit of $ 900 dollars. FYI i have a Sony DVDRU500A and its great. But I especially like the record modes, so you can have up to 260( around there) for those really long movies. The only thing stopping me from buying it, is that I heard and pretty sure that I need a video stablizer so that the video looks right. If there are ways to get around or any proven ways to copy them in high quality, please tell me. OH and do I need the video stablizer on while im playing it or recording? IF you could help me out it would be great, thx!

[txpharoah]

Re-recording would not yield the same quality as a computer DVD-R or DVD+R setup that copies the disc. And it costs more. Then again, you get a digital DVD-VCR with a standalone. Your choice.

[tfcmaximus]

whats this digital VCR, i just want to get DVD commercial to DVD-R or DVD+R using a standalone recorder, can someone help me and tell me if it works

[Gil T Pleasure]

Firstly, standalone DVD recorders will not copy copy-protected DVDs (most commercial DVDs are copy-protected). Secondly, as txpharoah has stated, copying from a DVD player to DVD recorder yeilds a "generation loss" in PQ. Thirdly, the copy process is done in real time (ie, if the movie is 2 hours, then it will take 2 hours to copy it).

So save your money and buy a DVD burner instead and then use a ripping/copying software like DVDShrink (freeware) to rip/copy the commercial DVDs.

[tfcmaximus]

i said no converting thanks. I dont want to save my money i want it to work

what about getting this

http://www.dvnation.com/dve.html

and a APex DVD player cause it disables macrovision, what ya think

[vance43211]

if u do it that way all u will have is a crappy mpeg2 video and no dolby digital sound and it will takes 2 hr to do

if i use 2 hour, i would get a dvd burner for the pc. use dvd shrink or smartripper (free) to rip my movie, than use my dvd software to burn it

and that would be 2 hrs. or less with exact or almost exact video quality (it will be way better than that dvd stand alone video, that is basically captured video) and i'll have dolby digital or dts sound, not some basic pcm audio to listen to

[FulciLives]

I hate to say this but ...

I do most of my DVD stuff on a very old computer. I highly doubt your computer could be any slower. My computer is very slow doing full mpeg2 encoding (using TMPGEnc) but I can rip a movie and process with DVD2ONE and it only takes a little over an hour. That's 1 hour. 60 minutes.

If you don't have time to RIP a movie and then run something like DVD2ONE to then copy it back to a DVD-R then ... you don't make any sense.

You already have a DVD recordable drive. So what's the point in a stand alone IF your only purpose is to back up DVD disc. A stand alone DVD recorder is great for making copies from analog video such as VHS or TV shows from cable etc.

But for backing up a DVD you will get much better quality on a computer EVEN when you have to use something like DVD2ONE. Yes you loose quality when you make a dual layer disc fit on a single DVD recordable but doing it on the computer will almost definately give you better results than using a stand alone DVD recorder.

IF you are still somehow convinced that you want to use a stand alone DVD recorder to back up copy protected DVD discs then check out this link:

http://www.jvb.nl/

This website has PANASONIC brand DVD players that have been hacked to remove ALL forms of copy protection ... so you can use such a player to play back your original and copy it with a stand alone DVD recorder without any copy protection problems.

Please note this website has many region free DVD players but very few have had ALL forms of copy protection removed so make sure you get one of the Pansonic units since they all seem to have been given this treatment while some of the other model/brands were not so lucky.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Stay away from the APEX brand as most of their stuff is crap. People that say otherwise are seriously deranged :P

[tfcmaximus]

the only person i thank is FulciLives, because i told yall i ALREADY own a dvd writer and dont enjoy the DVD quality of rencoding at all. I happen to like real time much more than regular although i dont mind either one of them. If there is anyway yall could tell me something that would directly copy DVDs no matter if there above 4.7 gigs, thanks

[classfour]

tfcmaximus:

If you're dead set on real-time copying of a DVD with a burner (i.e. Panny E-20 to E-50), hack a DVD player (like an Apex) and turn off the MV (this SHOULD also remove the CGMS) or install one of those $300 TBC between your VCR/DVD player, etc. = $900

I've heard this setup would work (you can also buy one of those "digital video stabilizers" sold on ebay for $30 or less and a SIMA Copy Master - not color corrector) for under $100 total and do the same job. The quality WOULD NOT BE the same as the $300 TBC's give.

Happy Hunting.

[FulciLives]

Hello

If the ONLY concern is using a DVD as a source (not other possible copy protected sources such as VHS) then all you have to do is buy a DVD player that has both the MACROVISION and CGMS/A disabled. Such "hacked" DVD players are MUCH cheaper than buying an expensive "black box" or TBC and will work better than anything since the copy protection is NEVER introduced into the video stream to begin with. Follow the LINK I provided in my previous post in this very thread.

The real trick is trying to find something that works with old copy protected VHS tapes since a normal macrovision buster (such as the afore mentioned SIMA devices) doesn't always work ... some tapes still will not copy ... in which case you will need something like this:

http://sites.managerconsole.com/rkmedia/

CLICK on that LINK above and then on the left hand side of the website CLICK on PRODUCTS ---> DIGITAL VIDEO which will bring you to a page of the website offering the DVE (Digital Video Editor)

The DVE is a "black box" that has inputs and outpus in both S-Video and composite video. It will remove ALL forms of copy protection from a video stream including MACROVISION and CGMS/A and since it has video in and out jacks it will work with any video device such as a DVD player or VHS VCR or whatever.

I don't have one of these myself (I have no need for it) but I've read some posts on the AVS FORUM by users of the device that seemed rather happy with it.

The DVE is $299.00 from the provided website link. I've only ever seen it on one other website (don't recall which) but the price was the same.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman[/b]

[vance43211]

how about this. everybody needs to stop trying to help him


he thanks 1 person, when 5 or 6 people tries to help him out

and we're were trying to explain to him they coping was easier than capturing when he wasn't explain himself clearly (like a newbie does)

whats this digital VCR, i just want to get DVD commercial to DVD-R or DVD+R using a standalone recorder, can someone help me and tell me if it works

was thinking about getting a DVD Recorder, the ones that sit out of the pc and cost about $600. I no how to copy a DVD to a DVD-R its just I HATE encoding/decoding, especially cause loss of quality. I have a limit of $ 900 dollars. FYI i have a Sony DVDRU500A and its great. But I especially like the record modes, so you can have up to 260( around there) for those really long movies. The only thing stopping me from buying it, is that I heard and pretty sure that I need a video stablizer so that the video looks right. If there are ways to get around or any proven ways to copy them in high quality, please tell me. OH and do I need the video stablizer on while im playing it or recording? IF you could help me out it would be great, thx!

that is conflicting statements, 1st he had a dvd burner, then he needed a standalone

we were just trying to figure what his ungrateful self wanted

if he don't appreciate help, don't give it to him

hey he thinks capturing is better quality than encoding. LOL

[tfcmaximus]

sorry sorry sorry!

I very much no that capturing is way worse than encoding, the thing is a hate encoding do to the fact that the encoding quality can suck and i dont like those DVD2one and stuff like that. Yes I do own the DRU500a but i was just thinking that a standalone would be easier than a writer.
Oh and thank all of yall

So I need to get a fixed DVD player (disabled macrovision and that CCG or CCS stuff) that little macrovision disable box right, and then the recorder, which recorder and player should i get?

One more thing, how will this quality turn out?

THANKS

[FulciLives]

One more thing, how will this quality turn out?

As we have ALL been trying to tell you ... quality is BETTER when it is done on a computer. Don't like what DVD2ONE and other such programs provide? Guess what! It ain't gonna look any bettre using a stand alone recorder.

As far as backing up dual layer discs ...

Either get DVDXCOPY which allows you to split the original onto 2 DVD-R (or DVD+R) discs. There will be no quality loss.

The other option is to manually re-encode the movie using something like TMPGEnc or CCE but this option will take a LONG time and keeping the original menus etc. is not easy to do really.

The stand alone DVD recorder is just not a good option for backing up another DVD

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[tfcmaximus]

alright alright, then tell me how the people from china copy movies, because when my parents went to china they bought me a copied dvd and it was copied for sure, fake menu, fake label, but dvd quality. if someone could help me that would be really great, or if i have to re-encode, what are those vob to smaller vob programs agian? thx

[vance43211]

are u talking about the new bootleg movies that they are using digital camcorders and are burning straight to dvd and not vcd like they use to?
the digitals camcorders are the answer.

it's a lot better quality, but still not as good as a true dvd burn

[FulciLives]

alright alright, then tell me how the people from china copy movies, because when my parents went to china they bought me a copied dvd and it was copied for sure, fake menu, fake label, but dvd quality. if someone could help me that would be really great, or if i have to re-encode, what are those vob to smaller vob programs agian? thx

I know what you are talking about but most of those are done using professional level tools you don't have. Also many of them are REAL dual layer pressed discs. They simply RIP it and process it with an advanced authoring program (probably something like DVDMaestro or Sonic Scenarist) and then all they seem to do is add some Asian subtitles and change the language/subtitle menu to show those options.

It probably is VERY easy IF you know what you are doing and IF you can then create a master that can be used to create a dual layer disc.

The home hobbyist could probably do all of this except we don't have the ability to do dual layer discs.

Since you are so quality crazed (not a bad thing) then you should look into DVDXCOPY which will let you split a single dual layer disc onto 2 DVD recordable discs. The quality will be the same as the original otherthan the fact that it will be spread out over 2 discs.

Of course there are many single layer discs out there and those can be copied bit-for-bit using DVD Decrypter. You only run into "problems" when the original is dual layer.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[dafoe]

Wow!

Maybe I'm missing something here, but you seem to be trying awfully hard to turn something incredibly simple into a complicated task.

Here's what you do:

1) Rip the main movie with DVD Decryptor in file mode

2) Split the resulting movie files between two DVDRs. Make sure both discs have the main menu

Presto! You now have the movie in it's original quality without re-encoding. With a good burner and ripping drive this shouldn't take more than an hour.

Why on Earth would you want to spend 2 hours making an inferior copy of a DVD by dubbing it with a 6-$700 DVD recorder?

I have a Kones 3000 which is manufactured 100% code free. I can record any DVD to VHS with no problem. When I try to record on my either of my DVD recorders I get a message stating "You are not allowed to copy this material"

I had this problem with Final Destination. Just for the hell of it, I recorded the DVD to VHS. No problems. When I tried to record the VHS to DVD I got the same message!

I was able to copy Swordfish with a Video Clarifier. But, even the Video Clarifier didn't help with Buffy.

However, those are the only discs I've tried since I can get a much better quality copy with my PC burner as well as menus and specials.

So I think you might be a little dissapointed if you shell out $600-$700 for a set-top solely to record commercial DVDs.

Either way, good luck.

[dafoe]

Sorry, FulciLives

I basically repeated your advice I hadn't read your post.

[TIVOROCKS]

Ok dude here ya go...

I have a Panasonic DMR-E20 DVD recorder
I have a Panasonic RP-91 DVD player

I bought a chip from the jvb site mentioned above which takes care of the macro etc., and installed it in the RP-91. The E20 recorder can be set to record to a DVD-R in 1, 2, 4, or 6 hour modes. The 1 hour mode would probably be considered "near" DVD quality, but unrealistic for backing up DVD movies as most all will be over 1 hour in length. For movies that were less than 2 hours in length I used the 2 hour record mode. Quality was still acceptable to me. Movies over 2 hours in length would require using the recorder in the 4 hour mode which yields not so great results.

However....

After about six months using this technique the price of PC burners came down to a point at which a bought a Panasonic LF-D321 burner. I have not used the E20 since, except for transferring videotape to DVD-R. PC based DVD backup does take time and involve a learning curve but the end results just don't compare...especially on DVD-5 backups which are easy as hell and true 1:1 backups.

In reality I consider this whole DVD to DVD-R thing a hobby. Half the fun is experimenting with new software and techniques. Recording to the E20 just wasn't this much fun, hahaha!

[tfcmaximus]

THANKYOU, jeez yall really helped this time, i got everything straightened out... There is only problem im having now. I'm using DVDxcopy xpress, i hate, HATE dvdxcopy(the first one that cameout) because so much dificulty getting it to play right. but xpress is awesome. The only thing is, it has some errors at the end, guess what 5 minutes until the end to! just five more minutes and the whole movie would of been done and its dvd quality. in fact i couldnt even tell the difference. and it was only 3.5 gigs and the main vobs were 5.6 before it was fixed with dvd xcopy xpress! thats really good. I dont care about menus at all, just the main movie. THE ERROR SAYs... something like error, couldnt read title set, or something like that. yes, i unlocked by playing it in powerdvd. and no i cant post in there forum because umn well (lets just say i forgot my userid ; ) Im about to test DVD shrink 2.0 and see how it fixes it. But thankyall so much, yall gave me lots of nice info, which persuaded me to keep my DVDRU500a, especially cause of the amount of features it has, thanks so much

( oh and i like dvd decryptor and everything, its just that it cant always read all the dvd files, just curious to why people dont use smartripper more, its great!)

[FulciLives]

I like DVD2ONE very much. It always works for me and the quality is almost always very good.

Give it a try

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[txpharoah]

just curious to why people dont use smartripper more, its great!)

Smartripper is limited as compared to DVD Decrypter, and is older software.

[tfcmaximus]

thanks, ill try both and thanks for info about smartripper, also good news, i got dvd x copy xpress working, the dvd needed to be cleaned and it actually works now...

[jrdunn78hawk]

Hi tfc maximus,

When you said this statement about xcopy xpress:

"The only thing is, it has some errors at the end, guess what 5 minutes until the end to! just five more minutes and the whole movie
would of been done and its dvd quality"

Im guessing that you mean five mins from the end of the burn it threw up an error. I too had this problem and found that when it has finished encoding the disc and asks for a blank press cancel. This ends xcopy xpress but the encoded files are saved in the temp folder which u specified. Then burn all the files onto a DVD disc using nero in DVD video mode. This stops errors and burns great!!!