Problems with re-autoring DVD-Rs created on DVD-recorder

[MheAd]

Hi!

I've just received a bunch of DVD-R discs from this guy.
The discs are private videos, sourced from VHS and transfered to DVD-R using a stationary DVD-recorder (Pioneer DVR-220).

The discs will play normally on my stationary DVD-player (Pioneer DV-575SA) and on my computer software DVD-player (CyberLink PowerDVD).

However, when I wanted to re-author the discs, I noticed that something is seriously wrong. My computer won't recongize the discs. In "My Computer" the discs are recognized as "CD-ROM" and I can't access them from there. When I run the discs in DVD-Decrypter, which is the program that I use for de-multiplexing of the DVDs, it won't recognize it either. It tells me that the disc is missing Video_TS folder and I need to use ISO mode. With other words, it thinks that this is a disc with non-DVD-video material on it! After selecting the ISO mode, the discs are readable, but the only thing I can do from there is to create an ISO image with the very same structure, which is like doing nothing.

I noticed that the discs are labeled with following signature:
$ Pioneer DVR-04S Bases Volume $

Could it be that they are not finalized on the DVD-recorder???
In either way, I would like to know how to extract (de-multiplex) the contents of these discs properly. Also, if it turns out that there is no other way to do it, can this guy, who originally recorded the disc simply finalize them (if that's what it's causing the problems) with his recorder without having to make a completely new transfer all over again?

Thanks in advance!
M\[/b]

[andydd]

HHm..I have a Panasonic DVD recorder, if I dont finalize the a DVD-R disc, they are playable by the Panny recorder..but thats all !. They will not be recognised by any other player and my PC just sees it as a blank disc.

If I use DVD -Ram disc, they will be recognised by my pc as a DVD_RTAW folder. They can be played by certain software, new PowerDVD for example.

So it does sound like maybe the discs you have arnt finalized.

[MheAd]

Well, since my own DVD-player is from the same brand as recorder that originally created them (Pioneer), maybe that's the reason it can read them?

Okay, let's say they aren't finalized. Can I still extract them somehow or do I have to send the discs back to the guy who created them?

[fscrocco]

I have a Panasonic and not a Pioneer so I don't know for sure, just taking a stab here. Does your computer read the data? If so, you can transfer the data and create a VIDEO_TS file and AUDIO_TS folder on the computer. If not, see if your friend can finalize, then do above. I use Tmpeg DVD Author all the time to re-author existing discs. When I first got the Panny, I did all my recordings as a straight dump to dvd-r. Now I use DVD-RAM exclusively, then author on the computer, then burn to -r.

[chas0039]

First, if our problem is finalization, it can be done after the fact without reburning. But I think the problem is otherwise. I also have Panasonic but I know that the files created to the RAM discs are different form those sent to -R discs and I get the same Decrypter error message you get. I would suspect that someone with the same Pioneer machine you have can confirm this but I don't think you have a finalization problem or they wouldn't play on your standalone player even if it is a Pioneer. I would guess that the files on your disc are non-standard video files. I would find out what extension these are in and then search through the editing section to see which tools are available to read these files and convert to standard VOB.

[MheAd]

Hey guys and thanks for trying to help me out.
First of all, I should have pointed out that this guy I know is not exactly close enough to touch, so to speak. You see, I live in Sweden while he lives in the States, so I would rather like to avoid to send him back the discs. It would take at least 1 month until I would get them back.

If this issue regards the finalization in the first place - I don't have a clue. That's what we are trying to find out here.

Like I pointed out before, my computer won't recognize the discs. If I try to access them through Windows explorer I get "The disc structure is either unknown or corrupted". So with other words I'm not even able to see what kind of folders/files/extensions are on the disc!

The only way for my computer to access the disc is if I try to run it directltly throug PowerDVD player. But I still don't have any ability to see what files exactly are on the disc as the disc starts playing instantly. The same thing is on my stationary Pioneer DVD-player.

I hope I made myself more clear now than in the original thread-opening post.

Thanks in advance!

[MheAd]

GUYS! Great news!!!
I've made some progress with solving my problem.
After testing ISOBuster, I finally managed to access the content of the concerned discs. All of the discs have a single file with *.VRO extension.

I still don't know if the reason that I couldn't access the files inside the discs through Windows Explorer is because the fact that the discs weren't finalized or due the fact that the structure was damaged after all, but I don't care now that I finally found the start of the solution.

I can extract it with ISO buster to my hard drive with no problems. Now the question is which tool should I use to de-multiplex them (VRO-files)?

Also, is there a way for a DVD-recorder to record directly to VOB format (and creates the Video_TS folder too) instead so I don't experience similar problems in future?

[Panash]

I have the Pioneer 220 as well, and have the same problems and like you, I've tried ISOBuster.

It does sound like the discs are not finalised, and I haven't found a solution yet for this. As soon as you finalise the discs, the usual video_ts folders appear. I then pass them through 'videoReDo' 'QuickFix' as this cleans the timestamps.

Also check that the discs are not written in 'VR mode' as this is a really strange format. VR mode is only supported by DVD-RW discs though, and you say that you use DVD-R.

Sorry not to be much help, but I'd be interested in a solution too.

PN

[jeanl]

I think Panash is right. VRO files are non-finalized DVD files. When you finalize, you get the standard VOB files which can be imported in lots of authoring tools.
Also, I think I've seen that the latest version of TMPGenc DVD Author can import VRO files? I may be wrong here though...
Jeanl

[MheAd]

I'm happy to confirm that TMPGEnc DVD Author can import VRO files and create Video_TS folder with compatible VBO files inside.

So, to all people who happen to have the same problem like I had - unfinalized DVD discs created on stationary DVD-recorder.

Simply use ISO Buster to access the file content of the discs and extract the VRO file to hard drive. Then simply open that VRO file with TMPGEnc DVD Author and do what you desire with it.