pana dvd-ram to computer?

[jzaman]

Here is one that can read DVD_RAM (it is not a DVD writer but it is a fast CD writer and fast DVD ripper) for less than $70. It reads any DVD_RAM disk (without cartridge) from my Panasonic E-20 or Panasonic E-60.

Product Name: Samsung 52X/24X/52X + 16X DVD/CDRW Combo Drive
Manufacturer Part Number SM-352B

[Specialist]

Jerry:

FYI: I wasn't encoding anything - I was looking for a program that would
accept a DVD-RAM vro file recorded on my E20 (704x480, broadcast DVD)
without wasting a ton of time on re-encoding.As DVDMF2 (I never purchased VS7 - the info I used IS ON ULEADs WEBSITE) wouldn't use
the "higher than 8500 bps or so" video stream recorded on the E20, it would re-encode every time - loosing the AC3 stream in the process.
If you don't believe me: Purchase a panny recorder and get familiar with
the trials of video transfer.

The bitrate the E20 encodes to in two hour mode is higher than Ulead DVD MF2 can accept; the one hour mode is true 720 x 480, but again
is still at a higher bitrate than DVDMF can handle without encoding.

Absolutely not true.

As I emphasized earlier, I worked with the DMR-E30's high quality output and Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2, in my tests, did not re-encode the output of the DMR-E30 - even when high quality mode was used.

To be able to specify "higher than 8500" bitrate, all one needs to do in Ulead MovieFactory 2 (non-AC-3 version) is specify MPEG audio instead of LPCM audio and the video bitrate can be adjusted upward.

I have my custom menu set at 9500kbps right now.

So one can adjust Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 to handle very high bit rates without re-encoding.

I activated the ADVANCE encoding options in Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 by following the following steps on my Windows 2000 computer:

1. Clicked MY COMPUTER;

2. Clicked C: drive;

3. Clicked DOCUMENTS & SETTINGS folder;

4. Clicked the ALL USERS folder;

5. Clicked the TOOLS > FOLDER OPTIONS and made sure that under the VIEW tab that Windows was set to VIEW HIDDEN FOLDERS;

6. Clicked the APPLICATION DATA folder;

7. Clicked the ULEAD SYSTEMS folder;

8. Clicked the ULEAD DVD MOVIEFACTORY folder;

9. Clicked the 2.01 folder;

10. Clicked the DVDMF i-n-i file and then typed ADVANCE=1 under the [VIODRIVER] heading and saved the file.

I then closed and then re-opened Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2.

Now there's a new ADVANCE button that appears under the COMPRESSION tab in the Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 encoding options!

Indeed, one can bring in an AC-3 MPEG recorded on the Panasonic player/recorders and cameras and not re-encode them - just add menus and burn them.

However, one must not attempt to EDIT them or re-encoding will occur (unless one has purchased either Ulead MediaStudio Pro or Ulead DVD Workshop AC-3 with their AC-3 support.)

Set the bit rate of Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 to match the maximum bit rate of the Panasonic recorded file.

Do this both for the DISC TEMPLATE MANAGER and for the PROJECT SETTINGS.

Check the DO NOT CONVERT COMPLIANT FILES box and then burn.

You will see that if you do this properly, the AC-3 will 'pass through' to the disc and there will be no re-encoding.

Try it.

You'll see for yourself.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Specialist]

I am using a DVD RAM disc by the HItachi DVD RAN video camera
'Can I verify that I definitely have to get a DVD ROM drive that is DVD RAM compataible ?

Check the Panasonic Web page here:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelList?storeId=11251&catalo...tGroupId=11059

Many of the player models on this page are DVD-RAM compatible.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Specialist]

I am recording VHs to DVD-R using princo media (princo's work find on my 1100W apex on backups). When I complete a capture and finalize the DVD-R it will ONLY play in the E20.

The DVD-R discs that are finalized in the Panasonic player/recorder may not play in all players.

In my tests, the discs finalized in the DMR-E30 model played fine in stand alone players.

But they would not play in many third-party add-in DVD-ROM drives that we had installed into computers on our network.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Specialist]

Thanks for the excellent schooling on panasonic products and using the DVD-RAM media for video transfers; however, you may want to buy one or bone up on the subject before advising us poor lost persons trying to use pannys instead of capture cards.

Please try the steps I outlined and you won't experience any re-encoding.

As I mentioned, I worked with a Panasonic DMR-E30 and I have confirmed that re-encoding of AC-3 source material will not occur - even when using the Ulead tools that don't officially support AC-3.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Specialist]

Tonight, I again confirmed what I had learned several months ago when I worked with a Panasonic DMR-E30:

No re-encoding will occur when burning Panasonic files - even with Ulead software that doesn't officially support AC-3 audio.

Ulead VideoStudio 7...

http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm

...doesn't officially support AC-3 encoding.

Tonight, however, I visited my local Ultimate Electronics store.

I brought a blank DVD-RAM disc with me and the salesman was more than happy to demonstrate the new Panasonic DMR-E50 player/recorder model.

We recorded a few seconds of video.

I then took the disc home and inserted it into my Panasonic computer drive - an SW-9571.

These are the exact steps I took to extract the MPEG from the DVD-RAM disc and then create menus in Ulead VideoStudio 7's DVD authoring module and then burn the file to a DVD-RW disc WITHOUT RE-ENCODING:

1. I opened Ulead VideoStudio 7.0;

2. I inserted the DVD-RAM disc with the Panasonic DMR-E50 recording into my Panasonic computer drive - the SW-9571;

3. In Ulead VideoStudio 7.0, I selected FILE > CHANGE CAPTURE PLUG-IN and I selected the ULEAD DVD-VR CAPTURE PLUG-IN;

4. I then clicked Ulead VideoStudio 7.0's CAPTURE step button;

5. I then clicked the OPTIONS icon and then clicked VIDEO PROPERTIES and browsed to the DVD_RTAV folder on my DVD-RAM disc;

6. I then clicked the CAPTURE icon button and a pop-up screen appeared with a thumbnail representing the video that was recorded by the Panasonic DMR-E50;

7. I clicked on the thumbnail and then clicked FINISH to 'capture' the file to the Ulead VideoStudio 7.0 timeline;

8. I then observed the file's properties by right mouse clicking on it:

VIDEO -
FORMAT: 24 BITS, 704 x 480
COMPRESSION: NTSC DVD, FIELD B, VBR, 9556 Maximum Bit Rate
FRAME RATE: 29.97
TOTAL FRAMES: 1201

AUDIO -
FORMAT: DOLBY DIGITAL AUDIO
ATTRIBUTES: 48000HZ

9. During Ulead VideoStudio 7's EDIT button step, I then clicked the EXPORT button;

10. After clicking the EXPORT button, I clicked the Ulead DVD-VR Wizard;

11. I did so because I wanted to observe the pop-up to see where the program was temporarily storing the extracted MPEG file;

12. The pop-up revealed the file had been given a name - uvs030721-001.MPG and was stored here:

D:\Temporary\uvs030721-001.MPG

13. I then cancelled the Ulead DVD-VR Wizard AND DELETED THE FILE FROM THE TIMELINE;

14. I then clicked the SHARE step button and then clicked CREATE DISC, causing the Ulead VideoStudio 7 DVD authoring module to appear;

15. Having earlier made note of the location of the extracted MPEG file, I clicked the ADD VIDEO button and browsed to the file to import it;

16. I received this three-line message:

"[D:\Temporary\uvs030721-001.MPG] contains AC-3 audio tracks."

"Ulead VideoStudio does not support this audio format."

"Please convert the audio first to a compatible format."

17. I ignored the message and clicked OK.

18. I then clicked the button in the lower left hand corner of the authoring module interface and set my DISC TEMPLATE MANAGER AS FOLLOWS:

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Field Order B
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 9556 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

19. I then clicked the other button - the one with the large CHECK - in the lower left hand corner of the interface to adjust my PROJECT SETTINGS as follows:

MPEG files
24 Bits, 704 x 480, 29.97 fps
Field Order B
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 9556 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

20. I also checked the DO NOT CONVERT COMPLIANT FILES box;

21. I then clicked the NEXT button and chose my menu;

22. I then clicked the NEXT button and tested the menu on the software player;

23. I then clicked the NEXT button and arrived at the final burn page;

24. At this point, I ejected the DVD-RAM disc from my Panasonic drive and I inserted a clean DVD-RW disc;

25. I then clicked the OUTPUT button to burn the disc;

26. After the disc was finished, I checked to make sure the AC-3 audio had 'passed through' without re-encoding to either LPCM or MPEG Audio by closing the authoring module and then clicking the CAPTURE button step in Ulead VideoStudio;

27. I again made certain the Ulead DVD-VR Capture Plug-In was selected and I browsed to the location of the Video_TS folder on the burned disc;

28. I then clicked the CAPTURE button and the pop-up confirmed the file's properties as follows:

Video :
MPEG-2 Video
4:3 Ratio
704 x 480 Size
1201 Frames
9556 Kbits/sec

Audio :
Dolby AC-3 Audio
stereo Mode
48.00 kHz
2 Channel(s)

IT WORKED!

So - as you can see - one *can* use Ulead VideoStudio 7 and Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 to burn AC-3 MPEGs recorded in Panasonic player/recorders - and burn the material to disc with nice menus - WITHOUT RE-ENCODING!

Good news for Panasonic player/recorder owners!

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[jzaman]

I've also used Ulead products to bring Panasonic e-20 or e-60 DVD-RAM rtav structures in. Videostudio 7 to capture it and Workshop ac3 to edit and author. (I wish workshop would import RTAV so it could all be done in workshop only but that is another subject.). I have tried many approaches but this approach works the best for me. I make sure the PAN is set at Fixed and I do not edit the capture from the PAN. Except for what I edit out in Workshop later the Ulead conversion skips audio and video recode and cranks out a DVD-compliant vob folder in 30 minutes for a typical 2 hour SP movie. Of course, I use the advanced settings revealed by "The Specialist" to provide the proper template. I also own TmpGenc DVD author and a few other authoring packages so I've tried them out also. Tmpgenc author sucks out RTAV with gusto and it can also be used in the capture(conversion from RTAV to MPG) step. I have no audio/video sync problems with this method and I'm not a Ulead affiliate.

[markjj]

Specialist.

We live and learn. Having bought an E50 I thought I could chuck a ram disc into the pc , edit, put fancy menu's on etc. with DVDMF2. How wrong I was.

This thread has been so helpful but the issue I had was being able to edit some video (nothing fancy - simply trim the start, end and ad's) and then run it through MF2 which I guess is just not possible without the AC-3 support. And I cannot justify the cost of DVD Workshop after my recent hardware purchase. My workaround so far has been to use TMPG DVD Author (thanks classfour) to trim the video where required then save on hard drive in VIDEO_TS folder. I can then open that edited file in MF2 and add menu's etc whilst keeping the soundtrack. It's long winded but gets the result. Unless anyone can suggest otherwise......

[donpedro]

When I complete a capture and finalize the DVD-R it will ONLY play in the E20.

I cant throw it into the apex and have it play. It will bring up the menu for the movie, I'll press the play button for the first chapter and it will play the first frame, then about 1 minute or so later it will play a frame a little further down in the movie (the frame looks fine, but I wasnt wanting a slideshow LOL).

It looks like this issue
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=175473

[CHAOS]

Why are you using dvd-ram disks? Why don't you select to make a dvd-r on your E30 & then put that disk in your computer & edit that video? Would that work easier?

Why waste a dvd-r, ram can rewrite.

I have transfered alot of laserdisc's with my e30, i just re-name the file ext. from .VRO to .mpg and use TMPGEnc DVD Author to do all my editing and rearranging and it allows the ac3 to pass right through without re-encoding it, they have all come out great and sound great!! as easy as you could ask for.

[macleod]

donpedro,

Thanks for the link. That REALLY helped me out. I was going nuts over this one. Basically, I just need to reauthor all of my dvd-r's that i made using the e-20 and I should be set. That and take out that stupid, go-forsaken menu that they make you put in.

thanks again!