What the heck is DVD-RAM used for anyways?

[RabidDog]

many read-only dvd drives will read dvd ram, NEC dv5800 for instance. Not tested but it is in the spec.

[JoBo]

Rabidog,

Can you give me more dvd-rom drive models that can read dvd-ram, It doesn't seem to have many of them.

[ZenZen]

NorthStar wrote

was just wondering, how do you capture a film thats over 1hour (xp), you do have to swap disks i presume, so you have to miss out on something, even if its only a few seconds, what if its an important bit with action wouldnt that be annoying?

You can use XP (1 hour) or SP (2 hour) mode. The Panasonic has 4 settings, including 4 hours and 6 hours, but these are not much better than VHS quality, and so you would use them for "watch once and dump" recordings. The XP and SP modes are fantastic, and difficult to pick the difference between them. Even better is the FR (Flexable Recording) mode. Here you simply enter the time required to capture, and the Panasonic adjusts the bitrate to just fit onto the DVD-Ram disc. Same way as you use VBR in any encoder. Eg: A docco runs for 1hr 5 mins, or a movie runs for 2 hrs 23 mins..You simply enter these times onscreen, and the bitrate will be adjusted accordingly

Jobo wrote

You seem to have some experiences with dvd-ram and dvd-recorders. When you put an recorded dvd-ram on the computer drive can you view it like an normal movie with a software like Power dvd? Is there an video_ts and audio_ts folders that are created when you record on dvd-ram? Can you extract the *.m2v file and *.ac3 file with DvdDecryptor on the dvd-ram disc? thanks

You can see it on the ramdisc in a folder called DVD_RTAV. Inside this folder is couple of small files (ifo) and a main movie file called VR_MOVIE.VRO which can be up to 4.37gb in size. You can view this with PowerDVD, or you simply transfer the VRO file to your HD, then use TMPGENC DVD Author to edit it, cut out station breaks, etc, add a menu and chapters, etc etc, and burn it to a blank DVD as you normally would. Also DVD Lab will read in the files, but I think you have to change the extension from VRO to VOB.

I have an LG DvdRam reader, and my friend has a Panasonic, and in both cases, the only downside is the time it takes to transfer the VRO file from ramdisk to HD...Up to 25 mins if it is full. Do others have similar experiences, or are you finding it much faster

[JoBo]

Thx for the reply Zen Zen,

My retail store has the Lg DVD-8160BB, is it the one you have?

[ZenZen]

My LG DVD-ROM drive is model GDR-8162B. That's in Australia. Maybe a different model number in other countries. Cost me $99 AUD which is about $70 US. Just make sure it includes the words "DVD-RAM" on the back of the box.

[Simmerheli]

My question is... Does DVD-RAM require special writer software?

I have two DVD-RAM recordable devices (Panasonic -- DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and Iomega -- DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-RW).

I've checked into Nero but this dosn't seem to support it (at least what I've seen from ahead's site).

-Mike

[Specialist]

Actually, DVD-RAM is just one of the three formats (DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM) supported by the DVD Forum, the organization
described at this link...

http://www.dvdforum.com/forum.shtml

Moreover, DVD-RAM appears to be ahead of its DVD+RW rival in some key product areas:

DVD DISC CAMCORDERS

Examples:

1. Panasonic VDR-M30 DVD disc camcorder:

http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/camcorder/dvdcamcorders.asp

2. Hitachi CRD10 DVD disc camcorder:

http://www.hdal.com/products/products.ihtml?step=3&pid=1066&parent=51

3. Hitachi DZMV350A:

http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/camcorders/dvd/dvd_index.shtml

DVD PLAYER/RECORDERS

As the news release at the following link reveals, the sales of new
generation DVD player/recorders with DVD-RAM capability captured 70%
of the market during the first quarter of 2003:

http://www.digitalproducer.com/2003/06_jun/news/06_16/npd0617.htm

Nearly all of Panasonic's stand alone player models pictured at this
link...

http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/dvd_players/homeplayers.asp

...will read DVD-RAM discs.

Moreover, Thomson DVD players (GE & RCA brands) will feature DVD-RAM playback beginning in 2004 as this news release reveals:

http://www.thomson.net/gb/06/c03/030828.htm

In addition, many other manufacturers are marketing player/recorders
with DVD-RAM support.

They include...

1. Toshiba's new D-R1 player/recorder:

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvr/product.asp?model=D-R1

2. Samsung's DVD-R3000 player/recorder:

http://www.samsung.com/Products/DVDPlayer/DVDRecorder/DVDPlayer_DVDRecorder_DVD_R3000.htm

3. JVC's DR-M1:

http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/dvd/dr-m1/

4. Panasonic's DVD player/recorder models:

http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/dvd_recorder/dvd_recorder.asp

SAMSUNG appears to be releasing three advanced DVD-RAM capable models this coming month:

http://www.samsungusa.com/cgi-bin/nabc/news/b2c_press_detail.jsp?eUser=&oid=68389&location=home

There are no camcorders based on the DVD+RW format, to my knowledge.

I found it interesting that even Sony - a "+" format backer - released camcorders that write only to DVD-R and DVD-RW.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

Maybe so, but none of the standalone DVD recorder models from Pioneer, Sharp, Philips and RCA are capable of burning to DVD-RAM discs.

[makntraks]

8) now dead and all but buried. :P

[qoute="next"] Not dead. It is a great format.

Sound like a good poll question

Cast my vote for "dead"[/quote]

Right alongside the ZIP 100, especially the parallel (sp) port version...

makntraks

[Supreme2k]

Getting back to the original point of this thread...

What is a "silly slap"? I thought it was bitch-slap, as in straight up rollin' like a pimp, dawg

[Specialist]

At the bottom of the Web page at the following link...

http://www.jonesgroup.net/videocomputers.htm

...I maintain a list of computer drives that will read and write to DVD-RAM.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

I'm planning to buy a dvd recorder that can record on dvd-ram and dvd-r. I want to know which dvd-rom computer drive can read dvd-ram disc. I don't think that my pioneer 105 can read dvd-ram disk so I'm planning to buy a dvd-rom that can read dvd-ram.

[igalan]

I have a burner that can burn DVD-RAM, but I haven't used DVD-RAM media. The reason is that even it is far better than DVD-RW or +RW, it's a lot less supported, so sooner or later you'll be limited on the devices that will be able to read that media (you're already very limited). And I need my discs to be as compatible as possible, so I can use them on any computer. Since I don't use RW media for long term storage (I use +/-R) no problems here.

Look how ZenZen uses DVD-RAM: use during "production" but DVD-R for storage; because you can't share your DVD-RAM with your friends, family... DVD-RAM it's probably better for using on standalone DVD recorders, but then you have to burn DVD+-R if you want to share them with someone else.

Kind of what happened to Beta tapes, they are better than VHS but nobody uses them, except on professional equipment (where they are largely used).