DVD recorder help.

[bja5150]

Hello,
New to the world of DVD recording, but have some knowledge with it. I have a good HP Athlon 250e with the HP 300 DVD+RW/+R writer. I have 1 GB RAM with various video programs - Roxio Cd/DVD creator 6, Pinnacle 8, and the onboard Windows Movie Maker. I just got the Sony RDR GX7 and it is so cool. I wanted to record some tv stuff and transfer over some video to disc. That is where I am at. So my,
RDR-GX7 plays DVD Video, DVD-RW VR, +RW, and -R
HP Writer plays +RE and +R
I tranferred over a cool video using the -RW VR mode to set chapters manually, but it seems I can't use it in my computer now.
1. What would be the best and easiest way to transfer video to dvd with what I got. Basically, I am restoring some videos and for some baby video I want to make a master with a menu screen and then burn a few copies for other family(so it will have to burn to a -R or +R for better compatibility).
2. How do you capture video from a burned disc like +RW to your computers hard drive for editing and movie creation.

There is so many issues on compatibilty and what works with what so basically I am just trying to find what works best with the other. VR MOde has some cool features, but I am finding it hard to work with other things outside the sony player. Any help would be appreciated and I am sorry for the newbie questions. I can't wait to get this stuff down. There is so much potential and fun in store. Thanks
Brent

[DaveS]

Brent - welcome aboard! You'll have a lot of fun w/ this stuff and will waste (I mean spend) as many hours as you want on it!! I picked up on your post b/c I too have an RDR-GX7 which I am very happy with although we are definitely in the minority of people on this board.

Re your questions:
"1. What would be the best and easiest way to transfer video to dvd with what I got. "

Easiest way is to hook up your vcr to the Sony, set the quality based on the length of your tape, hit record on the sony and play on the VCR. Suggest to try this on a RW disc first and try the various settings so you know how they work.

"Basically, I am restoring some videos and for some baby video I want to make a master with a menu screen and then burn a few copies for other family(so it will have to burn to a -R or +R for better compatibility). "

If you can create something you like on your sony (not in VR mode) you can copy it on your PC. Download dvddecrypter, which you can use to rip your dvd to your hard drive and then use that set of files w/ DVDdecrypter (or roxio) to burn other copies. In dvddecrypter, under Modes, you can use ISO (read, when ripping, write when buring) to create a single image file of your DVD..this is fine for just making straight copies. Or you can use the File mode - this will give you and audio and video titlesets which you can burn for copies, and can use to do more editing.

"2. How do you capture video from a burned disc like +RW to your computers hard drive for editing and movie creation. "

DVDDecrypter as above to capture the files. Then, you can either edit the VOB (video object) files directly or extract the mpeg program streams from them and edit those. (I recommed the latter although (1) I'm not the expert and (2) people do also edit VOBs directly or rename them to mpeg files and edit them (although I'm not a fan of that)).

I don't use Roxio so I don't know whether it can import VOBs for editing - I would try that first to keep it simple. I don't think Studio 8 (S8 ) can import VOB's for editing / authoring, but you could use vobedit to open each VOB file and demux it first (e.g. pull out the mpeg and audio files) although the interface on vobedit isn't that friendly. edit: also see post

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=215379 info on rejig (but I can't say that much about it)

"There is so many issues on compatibilty and what works with what so basically I am just trying to find what works best with the other. VR MOde has some cool features, but I am finding it hard to work with other things outside the sony player."

My opinion is that if you are planning to do any kind of 'real' editing or menu creation, do that on your PC w/ something you recorded on a RW (not in VR mode) since you have that luxary.

Good luck & hope this helps a little..

[bja5150]

Hey thanks for your help. I knew getting that new Sony would have its challenges. I am just trying to figure out the best ways to go and the simplest. As a get better with stuff, I will experiment a little more and really start hammering out some cool stuff. For now, I will stay away from the -RW VR mode and stay with the +RW to get it to the computer. I'll do the doctoring I need to on the computer for those certain discs I want to copy and put those on DVD-R so they will play in my other familys players. Thanks again.

With DVD media in general "Why can't they just all get along?"

[DaveS]

the sony's very capable and the VR mode probably has a lot of use but path of least resistance to using the mpegs from the sony on the PC would be one of the other formats...I may look into whether it's possible to read the VR format on the pc but I'm not yet sure what it takes...editing will be easier using a keyboard & mouse rather than the remote control, so I feel comfortable saying what I said...anyway, good luck & see you around...

[Back2Future]

the sony's very capable and the VR mode probably has a lot of use but path of least resistance to using the mpegs from the sony on the PC would be one of the other formats...I may look into whether it's possible to read the VR format on the pc but I'm not yet sure what it takes...editing will be easier using a keyboard & mouse rather than the remote control, so I feel comfortable saying what I said...anyway, good luck & see you around...

I have the Sony and really like it. I find the DVD-RW VR mode to be ideal for my use. I mostly archive some SF shows that I like, (Stargate, Star Trek, the new BattleStar Galactica). I also have the DirecTiVo.

My basic process is:
- Capture the show with TiVo Season Pass,
- Dub it over to the Sony RDR-GX7 in LP mode, 3 eps per disk.
- Use the Sony's A-B erase to Edit out the commercials on the original (no playlist)
- Use Ulead MovieFactory 3 Disk Creator (supports AC3 audio) to rip the MPGs off the disk. Each erasure creates a seperate MPG file.
- Do some clean up of the cuts and join the mpgs into titles, create the chapters and menus.

I can get 4 eps per DVD this way because the commercials are more than 1/4 th of the running time. I find that it is much easier and faster to do the main edit on the Sony. Maybe because my PC is just barely adaquate (866 PIII, 256 Mbytes ram, 120 Gbytes disk.)

End of long story. The VR mode works great for me.

[DaveS]

Back2Future - interesting...I'll have to play around w/ VR a little when I can find the time...just wondering, how do you go from tivo to the sony - does tivo support firewire out? Can your sony deck control the tivo? I don't have a tivo but it's on the wish list so just wonding..

[Back2Future]

Both my TiVo and DVD recorder are connected to my Sony A/V amp via S-video cables and L/R audio cables. I use the TiVo Save to VCR function to play the selection and start the DVD recorder. The recorder has an increment recorder timer and just after I start the recording, I can increment the record time in 30 minute increments till I get to the lenght of the TiVo program.

Basically it is an analog dub. That's the only way, that I know of, legel or otherwise, to get the recordings off the TiVo. The DTiVo can't control the DVD Recorder, or vice versa, as far as I know. If someone knows different, I'd sure be interested...

I'd put a TiVo high on your priority list. Once you get used to using the Season pass and other feature goodies, you'll never watch live TV again. (plug, plug....). I actually don't remember anymore what night the programs are on. I just go to the Now Playing list and say 'Hmmm, what do I feel like watching...'