Modes VR and Video

[emsdallas]

I have not been able to find information regarding, VR and Video modes when recording on DVD-R and DVD-RW.

I am going to buy, soon I hope, a DVD Recorder/VHS player, that I will use primarily to transfer all my VHS tapes to DVD's. I keep reading cautions about VR and Video modes, but do not understand. I know that the blank media used to burn the DVD dictates the compatibility when playback on other DVD players.

Do I have to choose one of these two modes, or can I simply finalize the disc when burning DVD-R or DVD-RW. I know the difference between -R and -RW.

[hech54]

I am going to buy, soon I hope, a DVD Recorder/VHS player.

Don't buy a combo unit...they suck.

[Cornucopia]

Ok, I'm going to go out on a limb a little here:

I've got a Pioneer PRV-9000 Industrial DVD recorder, which can do DVD-Video (to -R or -RW media) or DVD-VR (to -RW media only). Other units may give you more options than this.

On this unit, with -RW media, you've got to choose the video structure up front before doing any recording. And it needs a few sec. to "prep" (format initializing). -R media is only DVD-Video mode and doesn't need any prepping or initializing.

DVD-Video mode is identical in structure to what you would get from a factory-pressed, store-bought disc (although it's basically next to impossible for it to have multi-angles, multiple audio streams, or subs).
You've got the same usual IFO,VOB, and BUP files in the VIDEO_TS folder.
You've got the 720x480, 704x480, 352x480 and 352x240 resolutions only (for NTSC).
You've got ~1Hr max or ~2Hr max bitrate settings (other recorders usually have more bitrate options here, this was quite early as recorder models go).
Chapter marks are available in choices of: Never, Every 3min, Every 5min, Every 10min.
Audio is 2ch AC3 (~192/224/256kbps)
DVD-Video mode REQUIRES finalizing to play in other players. On this particular recorder, because of strict adherence to the spec, it does a minimal time/leadout of 1GB, which means finalizing at 1x can be up to 15-20min (other recorders are much faster here).
That's it for DVD-Video mode.

Then there's VR mode.
In addition to the Video mode resolutions, you also have 540x480, 480x480, maybe more.
For bitrate settings, you've got anywhere from ~1Hr to ~6Hr, maybe more (esp. with DualLayer capabilities if they're out there yet).
Chapter marks can be the above choices, but also on any I-frame of your choosing after the fact.
Audio is either 1ch (Mono) or 2ch (Dualmono or Stereo) AC3 and can be various bitrate like above, or higher or lower, and sometimes even be uncompressed LPCM (at highest setting).
Structure is mainly IFO and VRO files in the RTAV folder.
You can finalize if you want to (takes just a minute to couple of minutes) for improved compability (and UNFINALIZE if you change your mind), but you don't need to because any system that is said to support DVD-VR is also supposed to support unfinalized discs.
With VR mode, you can also additionally create your own playlists (do on-disc editing), create your own thumbnails, sometimes customize your menus (beyond simple text menus of DVD-Video mode).
There are probably DVD-VR mode recorders that can use -R media, but this option would disallow UNFINALIZING, True reclamation of space when erasing, and maybe some chaptering choices, etc.

Those are the main differences.

DVD+VR is supposed to give you the best of both worlds, including less or no initializing, less or no finalizing, customizability along with compabibility.
They use a very slightly modified version of the DVD-Video mode, and record onto +R or +RW media, and pretty much ALWAYS in multiple sessions/tracks (while the -R and -RW is only occasionally in multiple sessions). So there is SOME compatibility problems, but not much.

I don't have a +VR recorder so pardon if my summary is incorrect or incomplete.

HTH,

Scott


>>>>>>>>>>>
edit: and I agree, don't buy a combo unit, they suck.

[Cornucopia]

I didn't mention RAM media, but it probably has the same (or more) options as what the -RW media have in terms of mode.

Scott

[emsdallas]

Ok, I'm going to go out on a limb a little here:

I've got a Pioneer PRV-9000 Industrial DVD recorder, which can do DVD-Video (to -R or -RW media) or DVD-VR (to -RW media only). Other units may give you more options than this.

On this unit, with -RW media, you've got to choose the video structure up front before doing any recording. And it needs a few sec. to "prep" (format initializing). -R media is only DVD-Video mode and doesn't need any prepping or initializing.

DVD-Video mode is identical in structure to what you would get from a factory-pressed, store-bought disc (although it's basically next to impossible for it to have multi-angles, multiple audio streams, or subs).
You've got the same usual IFO,VOB, and BUP files in the VIDEO_TS folder.
You've got the 720x480, 704x480, 352x480 and 352x240 resolutions only (for NTSC).
You've got ~1Hr max or ~2Hr max bitrate settings (other recorders usually have more bitrate options here, this was quite early as recorder models go).
Chapter marks are available in choices of: Never, Every 3min, Every 5min, Every 10min.
Audio is 2ch AC3 (~192/224/256kbps)
DVD-Video mode REQUIRES finalizing to play in other players. On this particular recorder, because of strict adherence to the spec, it does a minimal time/leadout of 1GB, which means finalizing at 1x can be up to 15-20min (other recorders are much faster here).
That's it for DVD-Video mode.

Then there's VR mode.
In addition to the Video mode resolutions, you also have 540x480, 480x480, maybe more.
For bitrate settings, you've got anywhere from ~1Hr to ~6Hr, maybe more (esp. with DualLayer capabilities if they're out there yet).
Chapter marks can be the above choices, but also on any I-frame of your choosing after the fact.
Audio is either 1ch (Mono) or 2ch (Dualmono or Stereo) AC3 and can be various bitrate like above, or higher or lower, and sometimes even be uncompressed LPCM (at highest setting).
Structure is mainly IFO and VRO files in the RTAV folder.
You can finalize if you want to (takes just a minute to couple of minutes) for improved compability (and UNFINALIZE if you change your mind), but you don't need to because any system that is said to support DVD-VR is also supposed to support unfinalized discs.
With VR mode, you can also additionally create your own playlists (do on-disc editing), create your own thumbnails, sometimes customize your menus (beyond simple text menus of DVD-Video mode).
There are probably DVD-VR mode recorders that can use -R media, but this option would disallow UNFINALIZING, True reclamation of space when erasing, and maybe some chaptering choices, etc.

Those are the main differences.

DVD+VR is supposed to give you the best of both worlds, including less or no initializing, less or no finalizing, customizability along with compabibility.
They use a very slightly modified version of the DVD-Video mode, and record onto +R or +RW media, and pretty much ALWAYS in multiple sessions/tracks (while the -R and -RW is only occasionally in multiple sessions). So there is SOME compatibility problems, but not much.

I don't have a +VR recorder so pardon if my summary is incorrect or incomplete.

HTH,

Scott


>>>>>>>>>>>
edit: and I agree, don't buy a combo unit, they suck.

Thank you for your explanation that was easy to follow--One more question

The reason I'm purchasing a DVD/VCR combo unit is the following
1. Transfer all my VHS tapes to DVD--using DVD-r
2. Time shifting for daily TV recording--using DVD-rw so the same disc can be used again each day(supposedly -rw can be used approximately 1,000 times)

What modes do you recommend for each?

[guns1inger]

If you are serious about your VHS transfers, and quality is a priority (and it might not be - some people just want the pictures across, even at a cost), you will get better results from two standalone units, perhaps with a TBC in between them.

The other issue with combo units - it one component fritz's, you lose both while it gets fixed.

And don't believe the marketing proganda about 1000 rewrites. Just look at the posts about RW's that crap out after only a dozen or so uses. If timeshifting is a priority feature for you, get a hard drive unit instead, and save the +/-R disks only for the keepers.