DVR to computer;

[bruddap]

I just recorded a movie to my DVR from my cable box onto a DVD-R and finalized it.
I would now like to put the file onto my computer to email it to a friend.
What converting software do I need? I assume I need to convert it to a mpg of some sort (1or2).
Can I use DVD shrink to copy the DVD? That way I'll get an ISO, correct?
Thanks and sorry if this has been asked before, I did a search and I guess I don't know enough to be able to do an educated one.

Thank you very much for your time and any help you can give me.

Paul

[steveryan]

How large is the file? Emailing it might not be a good idea if it's a huge file. Anyway, if it plays fine for you then all you need to do is drag the VIDEO_TS folder onto your hard drive then burn the folder with ImgBurn.

[bruddap]

So when I put the DVD in my computer's drive it'll already be in VIDEO TS format?
That's all I need to know. I don't really need to email it I can just give him a hard copy. I was just wondering if I'd be able to work with it as is. I didn't know how the computer would read the DVD recorded off the TV.
I've dealt with VIDEO TS before, so I'm good to go.

If I'm not mistaken DVDShrink makes VTS files too, so I can just use that to copy it.

[steveryan]

You don't have to use DVD Shrink, your DVD isn't copy protected and won't need to be shrunk.

[bruddap]

Got ya, I guess I was just going to use it to copy the disc.
What would you use?

[steveryan]

All you need to do is drag the VIDEO_TS folder onto your hard drive then burn the folder with ImgBurn.

[jmkeuning]

It seems you solved your problem by just copying the disc. Also know that you could use AutoGK to convert the DVD to a custom sized AVI file. You may be able to get it small enough for email...

[dcsos]

Sometimes DRAG AND DROP works, but only with certain settop recorders and when the DVD VOLUME recorded is finalized in the settop

Usually, its good practice to use DVD SHRINK with no shrinkage selected, just to get the VOLUME structure from a home VR recording method properly ordered on the HARD DRIVE VIDEO_TS folder

[FulciLives]

I always use DVD Decrypter to RIP discs that I made with my stand alone DVD recorder. I know that it is not copy protected and that you can just "drag it to the HDD" but somehow I just feel "safer" RIPPING it "proper" with DVD Decrypter.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[bruddap]

It seems you solved your problem by just copying the disc. Also know that you could use AutoGK to convert the DVD to a custom sized AVI file. You may be able to get it small enough for email...

While I ended up using DVDShrink to copy my DVD (and I gotta say I got a pretty good copy of the original), I'm going to try this method too.
Usually I'm going from AVI toDVD, I like the idea of learning to go the other direction too.
You guys are all awesome for helping me out,
Thanks,
Paul

[FulciLives]

autoGK is the best program for converting a DVD to an MPEG-4 AVI file.

At least I feel that way so it must be true :P

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[dcsos]

Did you ever use Vidomi?
I like this one and Super
(a gui for ffmpeg and mencoder)
for what Fulci likes Autogpk
Making Mpeg-4 on Windows

[dcsos]

Did you ever use Vidomi?
I like this one and Super
(a gui for ffmpeg and mencoder)
for what Fulci likes Autogpk
Making Mpeg-4 on Windows

oops theres two how'd that happen?

[bruddap]

Super! I forgot all about my 'Super' program, it's a great one.
I have several video programs (VOB2MPG,AVI2DVD,SonyArch,Vegas,Nero,DVDShrink and on) and I forget what I have sometimes.
I see some of these programs let you burn to a CD. I've never tried using CD's instead of DVD's for my files. Naturally I've used CD's for small data files and audio mp3's, but can you fit a file like a movie on one? I know this isn't the place to ask this question, but could someone let me know why I'd want to do this and where to look.
Thanks

[FulciLives]

You can take a full length movie and convert it to MPEG-4 (XviD or DivX) and get it down to the size of a single CD-R but most times the quality will suffer.

autoGK allows you to set the file size. I usually use the 2 CD size (1400MB) and for most full length movies that is a good setting.

If you pick the 2 CD size preset then it will give you two files so you can burn the movie across two CD-R discs. If you go into the CUSTOM SIZE and pick something other than 1400MB (for instance if you pick 1399MB) then you get one big file ... but then you have to burn it onto a DVD-R which is what I do.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[bruddap]

Wow, now I know why you can burn image CD's in PowerIso and Isobuster. I guess those are compressed MPG4's (maybe). They come up .DAT files, but I usually extract them somewhere and change the extension to.mpg and burn as usual. I think this is a long way around, but I always have problems trying to burn .DAT files.
As you can probably tell I've only been fooling with video conversion and such for a few months. There is tons to know, but with just a little knowledge and forums like this one, I've been having a blast!

[FulciLives]

Wow, now I know why you can burn image CD's in PowerIso and Isobuster. I guess those are compressed MPG4's (maybe). They come up .DAT files, but I usually extract them somewhere and change the extension to.mpg and burn as usual. I think this is a long way around, but I always have problems trying to burn .DAT files.
As you can probably tell I've only been fooling with video conversion and such for a few months. There is tons to know, but with just a little knowledge and forums like this one, I've been having a blast!

That sounds like a VCD or SVCD or worse yet a KVCD.

MPEG-4 is generally speaking in an AVI file ... not a MPG/MPEG file.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman