Transfer of DVD-RW (-VR mode) from DVD recorder to PC

[joeg04]

I want to transfer recordings on DVD-RW (VR mode), made on a standalone DVD recorder, to a PC (Windows XP SP2, supports UDF 2.0).
I read, that there are 3 kinds of DVD drive for PC:
- drives, that don't support reading DVD-RW in VR mode,
- drives, that read only finalized DVD-RW disks in VR mode,
- drives, that can read unfinalized DVD-RW disks in VR mode.
Unfortunately, I can't find anything about that in the manuals of many DVD drives.

According to the following link, the Plextor 708A can read unfinalized DVD-RW disks in VR mode and most (but not all) drives have hardware support for reading finalized VR mode (section VI 3a):
http://www.dvdboard.de/forum/showthread.php?s=1628c8bd0c2daa294c0dcb4fdf480093&threadid=65311

Does anyone know a list, which DVD drive for PC belongs to which of the above 3 categories or knows at least other drives than the Plextor, that supports reading unfinalized DVD-RW (VR mode)?

[piano632]

I do this all the time with my Pioneer drive. Pioneer's can read unfinalized DVD-RW VR, but since VR mode is a UDF format I think it is necessary to have some sort of UDF reading software installed on your PC (i.e. Nero InCD or the like) for it to be readable on any drive.

[joeg04]

Which Pioneer DVD drive? In my experience, the Pioneer DVR-107 reads only finalized DVD-RW (VR). WinXP Service Pack 2 supports UDF 2.0, so I think an additional UDF reading SW is not required.

[ckwok1]

I want to transfer recordings on DVD-RW (VR mode), made on a standalone DVD recorder, to a PC (Windows XP SP2, supports UDF 2.0).
I read, that there are 3 kinds of DVD drive for PC:
- drives, that don't support reading DVD-RW in VR mode,
- drives, that read only finalized DVD-RW disks in VR mode,
- drives, that can read unfinalized DVD-RW disks in VR mode.
Unfortunately, I can't find anything about that in the manuals of many DVD drives.

According to the following link, the Plextor 708A can read unfinalized DVD-RW disks in VR mode and most (but not all) drives have hardware support for reading finalized VR mode (section VI 3a):
http://www.dvdboard.de/forum/showthread.php?s=1628c8bd0c2daa294c0dcb4fdf480093&threadid=65311

Does anyone know a list, which DVD drive for PC belongs to which of the above 3 categories or knows at least other drives than the Plextor, that supports reading unfinalized DVD-RW (VR mode)?

I believe most, if not all, new DVD writers can read unfinalized DVD-VR formated disc provided your OS has the necessary software installed.

[louv68]

joeg04,

I stumbled across this same problem the other day when a friend asked me if I could combine two discs he had recorded on his standalone recorder. I thought all I needed to do was rip them and then use DVDShrink to combine them. I was partially correct. When I ripped the discs with DVDDecrypter, DVDShrink did not recognize the files. I'm guessing it was because they were in VR mode. The way I solved it was by ripping the DVD's with VobBlanker (no blanking, stripping, or skipping), just ripping the DVD. VobBlanker must "convert" them into standard DVD compliance, thus allowing DVDShrink to recognize them.
Hope this works for you.

[piano632]

I have WinXP SP1. I'm using Pioneer 106D drive with Nero InCD installed. I forgot to mention that I extract the videos as .mpg files using Cyberlink PowerProducer as this seems to be one of the very few that work with unfinalized VR discs on WinXP.

[otpw1]

A workaround on my ILO dvdr 04 is to record a couple seconds of garbage. Then record in another session after that. Dvdshrink will recognize the files following the garbage and open them in reauthor mode. I have no idea if this will work on another unit or why it even works, but it does on the dvdr 04.
This only needs done once per disc following an erase.

[Guitarman]

joeg04,

My question would be, are you forced to use VR mode or can you record in Video mode?? DVD-RW in video mode will give you a normal readable structure to transfer to the PC. Also, unlike a DVD-/+r, when you finalize a DVD-RW, it can be re-formatted/unfinalized on the recorder when you're done with it. Finalizing on a DVD-RW is not permanant.

[joeg04]

Guitarman,

I am not forced to use -VR mode. But it would be easier to have a format, that needs no finalizing at all. And that might be the case with -VR format. I try to find another solution than Nero InCD, because I read that it has many bugs that make the whole PC instable. See:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68931
I'm still searching for information, what the difference is between an unfinalized and a finalized -VR data structure.

[Guitarman]

Guitarman,

I am not forced to use -VR mode. But it would be easier to have a format, that needs no finalizing at all. And that might be the case with -VR format. I try to find another solution than Nero InCD, because I read that it has many bugs that make the whole PC instable. See:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68931
I'm still searching for information, what the difference is between an unfinalized and a finalized -VR data structure.

joeg04,

The only rewritable DVD format that doesn't need finalized after recording is a DVD+RW. Between the +RW and -RW formats, the -RW is the only one that needs to be finalized before being usable in another drive (for the most part). But finalizing a -RW does not make it unusable like finalizing a +/-R would. Also, the -VR format is mainly for using the disc for features like time shifting and stuff like that and does not have a standard DVD file structure. Video mode is for creating a standard format DVD and is better for editing and transfering to a computer. What's kinda funny is that +VR does use a standard DVD file structure. I have a Pioneer DVDR420 and I never use the VR mode to record, always use video mode. That way, I have a file structure that is compatable with all the editing software and the drives have no problem reading it as long as I finalize it first. When I'm done transfering the video to the computer, I re-initialize the disc and use it again. Also, don't know if you know this or not but finalizing a DVD-RW in -VR format takes forever. In video mode, it takes about 1 minute. Huge difference. Here is a small list of useful facts.

1. DVD-RW's need finalized to be compatable. +RW's do not.
2. DVD-RW's can be erased and used again, even after finalizing. Finalizing a DVD-RW only makes it compatable for other players.
3. DVD-RW's in VR mode take up to 30 minutes to finalize. In video mode, only 1 minute.
4. DVD-R/RW's in VR mode are the only recorded DVD's NOT using a standard DVD file structure.


I hope some of this helps for your recording. It sound to me though that, for what you want to do, record in video mode, finalize after recording and you will have a disc that will be easily readable and transferable on the computer.

Let me know how it goes.

[joeg04]

In video mode, only 1 minute.

I hope to save even that minute, if -VR can be read unfinalized into the PC. -VR in 2 hour mode has 720x576 pixels (PAL) resolution and can be read into TMPGEnc DVD Author.
Also, -VR records a widescreen flag (16:9) from a digital settop box (DVB-S) automatically, even if that signal changes during a recording. That may happen for example, if the recording starts a few minutes before the movie starts. Then the "wrong" parts can be edited away on the DVD-RW (VR) before read into the PC.