set top recorders question...

[tsantsa]

I dont have one of these but a cousin of mine does and is having problems...I use a computer and I know how to use the damn thing. But I know nothing about the set top recorders (or whatever they are called). I have told her to come here and sign up and read and what not but I don't think she is getting it to well...

SOOO my question is: Are there any guides that deal with these types of recorders? If so would one of you kindly link them to me so's I can email some pages to her?

She has begged me to come by and figure it out for her, but I want her to figure it out herself...know what I mean?

She has a smasung dvdr-4000. I think she uses it in conjunction with her tivo but am not too certain of that...

ANY help here would greatly appreciated...(I have already begun looking at the guides section, but all I am finding is stuff about pc transcodes and reencodes...)

[hudsonf]

The first thing I would suggest is read the manual that came with the recorder cover to cover. When she's ready to try it use rewritable disc until she is gets used to using it. and if she still has problems ask in the "DVD Recorders" forum. They're not much different than a vcr.

[teegee420]

You made no mention of any specific problems she is having. Tell her to be a big girl and post her questions on her own. :P

[tsantsa]

Well, I am trying to be nice and get her started...give her a little nudge if you will.

I think the problem she is having is that the discs she is making arent playing on other dvd players...I'll find more out for sure.

[spectroelectro]

None of these people are giving you useful information. You need answers to your questions, not lectures.
Here's the skinny on set-top DVD recorders:
They come in two varieties. Some record to DVD+R, others record to DVD-R.
However, all set-top DVD recorders record in a slightly non-standard format. This non-standard format uses VOR instead of VOB files, and typically does not include the AUDIO_TS folder you're used to. (FYI: standard DVDs authored on a computer contain a VIDEO_TS and an AUDIO_TS folder, tho' the AUDIO_TS folder is always empty. This was to allow for DVD-Audio, which hasn't caught on as the designers of the DVD had hoped.)
The best way to deal with a set-top DVD recorder is to use the set-top DVD recorder to record stuff (TV shows, etc.) and then transfer the recorded DVD to your computer for editing and re-authoring.
Panasonic set-top recorders can use DVD-RAM, which has many advanatges. DVD-RAM (despite claims t the contrary) remains a strong format widely used throughout the IT industry for data backup. It's a random-access medium, not a serial-access medium, and so it acts like a hard drive rather than a typical DVD-ROM disc. You can copy a DVD-RAM disc very quickly and erase it fast. DVD-RAM is re-usable.
Once you've recorded the video on a set-top recorder disc, for maximum compatibility you'll want to pop the disc out of the set-top recorder and into your computer. Copy the VOR files from the DVD disc onto your computer hard disk. If you have a Panasonic DVD recorder (well, if your sis does) then it's especially easy -- provided you have a DVD drive that can read DVD-RAM format. The latest Pioneer 107 DVD burner will read DVD-RAM discs, and a number of cheap DVD-ROM drives will read DVD-RAM discs. Check the specs -- you can find inexpensive DVD-ROM drives that will read DVD-RAM. Cost? Around $30.
If your sister doesn't have a Panasonic set top DVD recorder, then she'll have to burn DVDs which you must read and re-author for full compatability on all DVD players. DVD-Rs are now cheap -- Ritek 4xs are gong for about 70 cents a pop in qty 100.
If your sis's set-top recorder uses DVD+R, you'll need a DVD burner capable of reading DVD+R discs. The latest Pioneer 107 does this, and many other brands do as well -- the latest Sony, the latest NEC, etc. If you have an older DVD burner, think about getting a DVD ROM drive that reads DVD+R.
If your sis's set-top recorder uses DVD-R discs (Sylvania, Panasonic, Sony) you can simply read DVD-R discs off your DVD-ROM or DVD burner drive and rip 'em the way you would normally rip any DVD.
SmartRipper has some advantages over DVDDecrypter in my experience because SmartRipper gives you more info. It will tell you about multiple ac3 audio streams, for instance, while DVDDecrypter won't. However, either tool works well for ripping DVDs.
Remember to go into SETTINGS and click on RIP TO ONE VOB FILE. This will rip the entire DVD to a single VOB file on your hard drive.
You must then demux the audio and video portion of the VOB file. All set-top DVD recorders record AC3 audio when the recording is more than an hour long, so your audio will be in ac3 format.
If you want to cut out commercials, download the freeware Chopper XP. This cuts VOB files directly, YOu can use this freeware tool to slice out the commercials. Then use M2 Edit Pro or TMPGEnc to add together the sections of the VOB file you've cut up. Use EDIT -> INSERT -> GENERATE on m2Edit Pro, or FILE -> MPEG TOOLS -> MERGE & CUT in TMPG. In TMPG, remember to select MPEG-2 as the stream type -- this is important! You can also add togheter MPEG-2 files with Womble MPEG VCR.
Once TMPG or m2 Edit Pro or Womble MPEG VCR have stitched together the cut VOB files for you, you'll want to demux the final file into audio and video portions. You can do with this with BBMPEG or TMPGenc.
Then simply feed the separate ac3 and m2v streams into any DVD authoring application and burnt he DVD.
One note: WOMBLE MPEG VCR understands how to read the VOR files created by a set-top DVD recorder. So does Chopper XP. Some other apps don't. TMPGenc has considerable trouble reading some VOR files from some set-top DVD recorders. I have found WOMBLE MPEG VCR invaluable, so it's highly recommended. Ditto Chopper XP.
Bear in mind that you must have an ac3 DirectShow filter installed in your computer to correctly de-mux ac3 streams in TMPGenc. You can get ac3 filters at www.doom9.org, as well as many other places.
VOB files are not very different from standard MPEG-2 files -- they have a header, but that's about it. VOR files are only slightly different from VOB files.
If you want to squeeze more video onto your final authored DVD, try ReJig or DVDShrink. Of the two, ReJig seems to work better, and it's free. Both bothw ork well in shrinking video down without producing excessive encoding artifacts.
For absolte maximum compatability across all possible DVD players, you should burn your DVD sing either RccordNow Max (version 4.5 stil available as a free 30-day trial download) or Nero 6.X using the UDF 1.02 file format, not 1.05. Many incompatibilities are due to the use of the UDF 1.05 file format. If you're not familiar with the intricacies of the UDF formats, check out the many fine guides both on this forum and at www.doom9.org
NOTA BENE: Dolby AC3 files created with BeSweet are known not to play back on Panasonic brand DVD players. So if you re-encode the audio, bear that in mind. Otherwise, BeSweet is a superb audio encoder/transcoder, and it's free -- also recommended: the AC3Machien and Oggmachine GUI frontends for BeSweet.
Otherwise, you should produce DVDs that play on virtually any DVD player if you use the above procedures. Both m2v video and ac3 audio streams created by any ofhte major set-stop DVD recorders are gob-standard, and once the DVD is reauthored, it should play without problems.

[ZippyP.]

In response to the above...

That's VRO not VOR.

The Panasonic recorder that I use (DMR-E50) certainly does create VOB files. It uses VRO when recording to DVD-ram.

[makntraks]

In response to the above...

That's VRO not VOR.

The Panasonic recorder that I use (DMR-E50) certainly does create VOB files. It uses VRO when recording to DVD-ram.

Probably a simple typo... I gotta say though that was quite a reply

makntraks

[ZippyP.]

.. I gotta say though that was quite a reply

If there's one thing I hate it's mis-information

[DaveS]

Well, I am trying to be nice and get her started...give her a little nudge if you will.

I think the problem she is having is that the discs she is making arent playing on other dvd players...I'll find more out for sure.

it could be the format of the disks (e.g. -R vs. +R) but also could be that when you record onto -R, your set top recorder needs to finalize the disk before it will play in standard players..if you forget to do this, it will probably play ok in your set top recorder, but not in a regular player.

[bobinga]

help to know what kind of recorder.
a pioneer 210 /310
is simple enough to be a vcr