Copying my short film(s) with a DVD-R recorder.

[CaptainChambers]

I am an independent filmmaker and I am looking at ALL of the DIY and low-budget options in front of me. I am searching for blank DVD-Rs, and I am (more than likely) going to purchase a DVD recorder unit, such as the Pioneer DVR-220-s. I have read the reviews posted here in regards to this unit and I think it will be a good buy, but this brings me to my question: if my DVD is created with menus and other options, will that information transfer in the recording process, or am I stuck with simply copying ONLY the film footage itself?

And does anyone reccomend a reliable/high quality blank DVD for making copies? I am looking at, I believe, Ritek or Pandisk.....

http://www.hermosadigital.com/index.asp?MMP=1

....please note that I included this link for reviewing purposes only. I am simply asking advice.

I hope this provides enough information. I am trying to find the best way to save and earn money in the filmmaking process. Thank you all for your time.

Captain out.

[Capmaster]

Welcome aboard Captain

Your question involves DVD recorders and media. Since you need the recorder before you can start recording, I'm moving this to the DVD Recorder forum. You'll get lots of help there.

I suggest you also post a media-only question in the media forum. Thanks

[samijubal]

I tried that Pioneer and didn't like the picture myself. I've got a 4DTV satellite with high quality video and can pretty easily see the difference in recorders, the Pioneer was too grainy for me. For about the same price as you would pay for the Pioneer at Wally World, you can get the JVC from e-cost. The JVC definitely has a better picture and will record to RAM too, the Pioneer won't. I myself like the Prodisc DVD-Rs, 235 or so of them I haven't seen a bad one yet. I buy them from Rima.com for 40 cents apiece in lots of 100, that includes shipping. I guess when you talk about menus and options transferring you mean burning copies on a computer, if so then yes they will. The discs I burn using Nero on my computer are exact copies of the originals with everything that was on the original disc on the copy.

[gshelley61]

I treat my DVD recorder as a MPEG2 hardware capturing device that happens to store the files on optical discs (DVD-RW, etc.)

You could edit your film on the computer then record the finished output from the software editor to a DVD recorder (either with DV streaming over firewire cable, or high quality analog out from the video card). This would save you lots of MPEG2 encoding time. Software MPEG2 encoding on the computer can take a very long time... over 24 hours for a two hour video in some cases. A DVD recorder is real time. Two hours of video takes two hours to record (capture).

To create a custom menu and burn multiple copies, you would load the recorded DVD-RW (in DVD-Video format - don't use VR for this) into an authoring program like TMPGEnc DVD Author. It will allow you to pick chapter points, make a menu, and create your "final" DVD file structure. Then use a disc writing program like Nero Express to burn as many finished DVD-R's as you like.

Do yourself a favor and get a DVD recorder that can record to -RW's in DVD-Video format (not just DVD-RAM in VR). The JVC DR-M10SL is an excellent unit with really nice image quality... it records to DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM.

[lordsmurf]

Where to buy good media:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/othervideo/buymedia.htm

Kind of good media to buy:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

The JVC is probably the best recorder, and the Pioneer and LiteOn units are runner-ups. I won't fault you if you go with a Pioneer, it's not a bad choice by any means.

The recorder does not copy menus, only the audio/video. You'd have to remake menus by re-authoring on a PC and burning a new final disc. You'd want to follow this guide for that: http://www.digitalfaq.com/edit/recorderedit/recorderedit.htm and then any authoring guide to do the re-author (this is a budget program: http://www.digitalfaq.com/authorburn/tmpgencdvda/tmpgencdvda.htm)

[CaptainChambers]

First thing, I want to say thanx to everyone for posting. This information is of extreme value to me and will help shape my decision.

Next, where can I find a good deal on the JVC DR-M10SL that was spoken of? And someone else mentioned a JVC but no model number....

As for copying on the computer, the answer is no. I have a colleague that is using a Panny DMR-E30 to copy his films onto DVD....knowing him, he is probably dubbing from a VHS copy. I want to take my DVD masters (given to me by my editor) and play them on my DVD player and record them. I want to create menus (on the master) and have that copied as well. I have someone at Panasonic researching this for me as we speak. Maybe this will shed more light on the situation. Thanx everyone!

[hech54]

I'm afraid the almighty himself could be researching for you and he will tell you that a DVD Recorder will not copy the menu. The fastest and easiest way is copying via a computer DVD Burner.
Having both a Recorder and a Burner is THE way to go if you have the cash.

[gshelley61]

First thing, I want to say thanx to everyone for posting. This information is of extreme value to me and will help shape my decision.

Next, where can I find a good deal on the JVC DR-M10SL that was spoken of? And someone else mentioned a JVC but no model number....

As for copying on the computer, the answer is no. I have a colleague that is using a Panny DMR-E30 to copy his films onto DVD....knowing him, he is probably dubbing from a VHS copy. I want to take my DVD masters (given to me by my editor) and play them on my DVD player and record them. I want to create menus (on the master) and have that copied as well. I have someone at Panasonic researching this for me as we speak. Maybe this will shed more light on the situation. Thanx everyone!

Try eCost.com for a good price on the JVC DVD recorder.

If you are receiving DVD masters to start with, you should rip them to your computer and re-author with your new menu, etc. A DVD recorder would not be necessary in that case. There is no loss of quality doing it that way, either. Authoring (or re-authoring) does not re-encode the video file. You can then burn as many copies of the finished (re-authored) DVD as you like.

[CaptainChambers]

If you are receiving DVD masters to start with, you should rip them to your computer and re-author with your new menu, etc. A DVD recorder would not be necessary in that case. There is no loss of quality doing it that way, either. Authoring (or re-authoring) does not re-encode the video file. You can then burn as many copies of the finished (re-authored) DVD as you like.

Captain: What kind or how much signal loss are we talking? And I am not able to utilize a computer for this at this time. I guess I need to look at the PROS vs. CONS in this scenario....any comments?

[gshelley61]

You would use freeware (DVDShrink, DVD Decrypter, SmartRipper, etc.) to download the files of the DVD master given to you by your editor. Hopefully, it is in standard finalized DVD-Video format. It might be in VR format, or if it is a data disc it could be a basic .mpg I suppose.

A simple DVD authoring program like TMPGEnc DVD Author can handle all three of those MPEG2 file formats (VOB, VRO, MPG) no problem. You pick the chapter points, make a menu, create the "final" DVD file structure, then burn to DVD-R with Nero Express or something similar.

My point is if your basic film is provided to you in the form of a DVD-Video disc to start with, then you wouldn't want to use a DVD recorder. It's better to make a direct file copy with the computer because there is no D>A>A>D quality loss that way. Plus, to make your custom menu and burn additional copies, you have to do that on a computer anyway.

[BSR]

if my DVD is created with menus and other options, will that information transfer in the recording process, or am I stuck with simply copying ONLY the film footage itself?

With a standalone DVD recorder, you will not have menus. And will also have a quality loss on your recordings.
With a computer, you can get exact duplicate of your DVD with menus. Many free softwares available to do this.
Can also buy DVD duplication equipment, but I think that would be more expensive.
Also might want to look into places that make copies for you. Would be a lower investment to start with until you feel ready to buy your own duplicating equipment.

[CaptainChambers]

Well, I don't really have a comp setup persay, but for the sake of argument, can someone direct me to a comparison list of DVD writers for PC? I saw people discussing the Liteon....5001, maybe? I am just trying to find the BEST way, which is not always the cheapest. I can have 1000 DVDs replicated at Imatek with case and artwork (on disc and insert) for around $1550. I just want to go a little smaller than that. Thanx again!

[gshelley61]

I'm very happy with my LG GSA-4082B (OEM)

It is a five format DVD burner (RAM, too)

$52.95 here:

http://www.panatechnology.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=117_123_28&products_id=39

[BSR]

Do you need 1000 DVDs, do you need artwork on your disk and an insert. If so then Imatek might be the best route.

For you to burn 1000 DVD's on your computer, figure it would take over 10days, 24hrs a day and you would have to put a blank DVD in about every 15minutes depending on the speed you burn.

For a printer to print artwork on your disk and also do your inserts, I seen others mention the Epson R200 for about $99. But you will need a computer for this also.

DVDwriters: https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters