confused about DVD-RW finalize step

[moxiecat]

Hello,

I recently bought a JVC DVD recorder after years of using a Philips. So I am learning the quirks of the -R/-RW format as opposed to the +R/+RW format. (Mostly because Philips has driven me crazy and there doesn't seem to be a top-quality +R DVD recorder out there comparable to the JVC.)

I recorded a program on a -RW disc (using VIDEO mode, at lordsmurf's suggestion). Now I want to take the disc to my computer, rip the MPEG in DVD Decrypter, and reauthor the video using DVD Workshop (better menus, etc.) I used to be able to just take the rewriteable disc out of the Philips, pop it into the computer, and rip it. Then when I was done, the +RW disc went back into the DVD recorder and was erased.

However, do I have to do something different with -RW discs? Do I have to finalize? And if I finalize, can I still re-use/erase the -RW disc after ripping it on the computer? (If not, that seems to defeat the purpose of using a rewriteable disc!)

This might seem to be a no-brainer question--but after searching through posts and seeing all the discussion of VR Mode vs. Video Mode, -R vs. +R, I thought it might be easier to see if a JVC user out there knows if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks in advance.

[piano632]

-RW discs (video mode) need to be finalized just like -R. You can then reuse the disc by reformatting it. VR mode can be read without finalizing on some drives with certain software.

If your PC drive can read RAM discs, you might try one of those, since they don't have to be finalized. Just don't use anything above FR150 on -RAM or VR mode -RW since you will get a non-DVD compliant frame size.

[moxiecat]

Ah, thank you, piano632. I didn't know anything about this format/reformat business. Why do -R and +R have to be so different?

That should solve the problem. Thanks so much!

[garyjo]

Not to confuse you, I have a LiteOn 5005 that permits changes to *finalized* -RW disks. No need to reformat the -RW disks to reuse them. I discussed with LiteOn Tech Suport and they were equally surprised.