Format for recording, playing on different unit, then re-using disk ???

[TVTimeShifter]

I am exasperated & can't figure out the answer.

All I want is to use the DVD recorder in the same manner as I have always used my VCR:

1) record stuff from the TV until the media is full
2) play it back either on the same unit or in the other room on a DIFFERENT unit (in this case a DVD-Player-only)
3) erase and re-record on the same media (otherwise DVDs would be too expensive to use).

I've spend a lot of hours trying to learn about the various formats (+ vs - and VR vs Video) so I think I can formulate a decent question at last.

If I understand correctly:

1) VR-Mode disks can be Un-Formatted and re-recorded again and again, but not Video-Mode

So I need to format my RW disks in VR-Mode so I can re-use the media.

2) VR-Mode won't usually play on a DVD-Player because the player wants to see Video Mode.

3) some info indicates that some formats will possibly play on individual DVD-Players because they do in fact have the same encoding as Video Mode.
4) Using the standard 2-hour recording time is most likely to work.

For 3 & 4 see this thread:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/vr-mode-dvd-rw-and-computer-t300171.html
posts by
Jeremiah58 posted 2006 May 08 18:48
and
FulciLives posted 2006 May 08 21:09
But re "As you can see there are time settings where VR mode will use a non-standard DVD resolution" I do not understand this from looking at the chart embedded in the post.

5) Video-Mode automatically creates an index of each item recorded, so you can select which you desire to watch when playing on a DVD Player. What happens with VR-Mode in a DVD Player (presuming it works) -- does it only play straight through ???

Can anyone give me detailed answers instead of the above clues?

I would prefer to record using the 4 or 6 hour per disk length.

I will not spend time fiddling with the media on my computer to make it work in the DVD-Player.

I don't want to spend more money on equipment unless necessary.

Would an expensive but simple solution be to buy two DVD recorders of the same model? Or a Player by the same manufacturer as the Recorder?

Is there a cheap DVD-Player that has a good reputation for playing VR-mode successfully?

Is there more success with newer formats (RAM, +RW, etc) being viewed in a DVD-Player?

I got a cheap DVD recorder at Target ( TruTech ZV450TT8, warranty by Funai) but it is going back, it is defective.

I replaced it with a expensive LG Electronics RC797T but its not out of the box yet, although I think the 30 day return period has expired. This one does +RW and RAM.

I need a DVD-Recorder that includes an HD Tuner, so that limits my choices. I have an antenna, not cable.

The TruTech unit has somehow ruined a disk. I recorded 3+ hours in 4 hour mode, and then switched to a slower mode to give me one more hour. Now it won't read the disk at all and wants to format it. Obviously it should not have allowed me to switch the time mode if it cannot handle multiple time lengths on the same disk.

Sometimes it spins a disk forever and won't eject or load it. The tech support guy said its bad & take it back.

TIA

[guns1inger]

I have a Pioneer recorder. I use TDK -RW discs. I write to them in video mode, not VR mode. I bring them to the PC and copy the contents to the HDD. Often I will erase the disc on the PC in Imgburn and put new content on it to play in the recorder (sometimes DVD Video, sometimes avi content). Once watched, I will then record over it i the recorder. In video mode I can finalise and unfinalise an RW disc without any problems. I have half a dozen RWs that I keep in rotation for recording, for testing, and for transfer between devices. I have no problems at all.

Either you are making it more complicated than it needs to be, or your machine is. Either way, something simply isn't right. It should be as simple as using a VCD, and for me at least, it is.

[alanza]

Hi !
Probably something went wrong when you read the info on the forum.
As far as I know, the ONLY format that can be read by ALL dvd players is the VIDEO format. The VR format can be read anly by the dvd-recorder itself and by other compatible dvd recorders.
All you nee to do is:

- use RW discs (both "+" or "-" is the same), avoid RAM discs, that have only little support (Panasonic and few other)
- initialize them in VIDEO mode
- record your videos at the desired quality (consider that 4 hrs on a single layer disc gives a poor quality, you should not go beyond 2 hrs SP mode IMHO...)
- finalize the disc

Now the disc can be read by ANY dvd player.

If you want to add new videos on the same disc, then unfinalize it, add the video, and finalize once again.

That's it !

Please, try this procedure and let me know the results. Also specify the make/model of your dvd recorder, this could help.

Ciao !

[Bjs]

Welcome TVTimeShifter

Its not "whether" one is more suitable for the work involved , but ability of the players involved to accept the media type used .

Like all , one scratch and there gone .

From what I have seen of dvd-ram , it index's the segments in similar fashion as for dvd-video , but dosent support menu's and should be finalized... you can skip back and forth , but thats it .

I have never finalized a rw yet , no problem .

The dvdrx250 only allows 10% of the internal hd to be used to store files transfered from an external usb drive ... 10% for recording ... the remainder is for timeshifting , a waste considering 250gig hd .

The media I use is datastream pro - dvd+rw , and the wintal dvdrx250 records to folder sets , both video_rm and video_ts are shown , but set to vm , simply because its easier to work with .

Slow loading disc , the manual should specify the brand more suitable for the unit ... recovery of the data from the disc may prove impossible , but give isobuster a run .

A unit that supports hd signal is certainly going to limit options , and its not hd writen to dvd , its down converted .

LG DBRH1979
Panasonic : DMR-EZ37VP-K

Consider a separate hd tuner , check its output type , and match dvd recorders input requirement .

[TVTimeShifter]

Several of you have talked about altering the DVD disk using a PC. This is not acceptable; I need another solution.

When I say "time shift" I mean that I will record a program today and watch it tomorrow. I do not mean "time slipping" to pause the program in real-time.

AFAIK a disk initialized in Video Mode cannot be un-Finalized. Am I wrong?

My Trutech DVD-Recorder says it has unfinalize capability, but the instructions are poorly written and it does not tell me which mode(s) can be un-Finalized. When I try to un-Finalize a disk in this unit, the option does not appear.

[guns1inger]

My Pioneer will happily unfinalise a video-mode RW. DVD-R or DVD+R cannot be unfinalised. Worst case, it can just erase the contents and it is ready for use again.

[David K]

+RW only supports Video mode, does not need to be finalized (at least that was the case with traditional DVD+R/RW recorders), is playable in other DVD players, and can be erased (full disc) on a computer as well as the Recorder (although it is probably better practice to erase through the recorder). This has been my experience with my Philips DVDR615.

[TVTimeShifter]

OK, as I continue my search for knowledge, it appears that only the DVD-RW disks make a distinction between VR-mode and Video-mode formatting.

The DVD+RW and DVD-RAM disks only have one sort of formatting, which is neither of the above format names.

So the question becomes whether my several-year old DVD-Player can handle the +RW format or not. I suppose it won't unless the instructions say so ???

Second, apparently a DVD-RW can be Un-Formatted and re-used as a blank disk. Correct?

[guns1inger]

Unless it states specifically that it cannot read/write to a particular format, I would not assume that it can't. My first DVD player never mentioned any writable media as something it could play, yet it could play pretty much any format except SVCD and DVD-RAM discs.

[jman98]

TVTimeShifter - You are focusing on the wrong thing. Instead of worrying about VR-mode and Video mode, remember this:
DVD+/-RW discs can be erased.
DVR+-R discs cannot be erased.
That distinction is what you need to remember.

Whether your old DVD player can handle DVD+RW or not is something you'll have to find out by testing. I strongly recommend Verbatim DVD+/-RW discs. Other brands may give much poorer results. I have personally found DVD+RW discs to be a lot more reliable than DVD-RW.
Your results may vary.

DVD-RW can be erased and re-used, but I think that focusing on the word "un-formatted" is likely to give you the wrong idea. The discs will have to be re-formatted, not un-formatted, to be used again.

[TVTimeShifter]

Well, the function on the DVD says "unformat" so that's the term I used.

One thing I'm still not clear on:
1) I record stuff in Video Mode on a -RW
2) I Finalize it so it will play on a DVD player
4) I can then unfinalize it

5) at that point, have I wiped out what was on the disk? Or does it just 'unlock' it so I can erase what I don't want?

6) In any case, the disk can be re-used (does it have to be formatted again?)

[piano632]

Depending on the recorder, unfinalize should just remove the finalization process but leave the recordings intact. You can then delete the programs individually. But I think in Video Mode you can only gain space on the disk by deleting the programs from the end of the disc. (Example: if you have 4 programs on the disc, you have to delete #4 to gain more recording space. If you delete 1, 2, or 3 without deleting #4 then your space will not increase but those programs will be gone.) The beauty of VR mode is that you can delete anything anywhere on the disc and gain additional recording space, but of course, VR mode is not compatible with standard DVD players.

[jab1]

i have just purchased a dvd ram dvd recorder so i can video my sons 1st year of life. How can I now play this on my computer? what software do i need. I run xp professional. Also what is the best software to edit the dvd before playback on my tv? Please help.

[TVTimeShifter]

Jab1 -- would you please start your own thread instead of hijacking mine.

My question explicitly excludes working with DVD media on a computer.

[jab1]

wow excuse me - mistake by a frist timer - chill!

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. PLEASE STOP post your same question everywhere.
/ Moderator Baldrick

[alanza]

@TVTimeShifter
what piano632 says is exactly what most dvd recorders do with VIDEO MODE rewritable DVDs.
I have a Pioneer DVR520H, which can use only "-" DVDs (both R and RW).
When I use -RW discs, I have 2 options:
- INITIALIZE, which performs a sort of format on the disc, erasing everithing and specifying which mode is to be used (VR or VIDEO)
- UNFINALIZE, which removes the finalization on the disc, and allows to add more videos on the disc (and on the resulting DVD menu).
Please note that the VIDEO mode discs are like "sequential" discs, so you can only add your stuff at the end of the disc, if you remove something you won't free up the space.
Anyway, every dvd recorder implements these functionalities on it's way, so it depends...
Can you specify make/model of your dvd recorder ??

Ciao !

[TVTimeShifter]

Thanks for the help. I've got it figured out now. I want to use "VR Mode."

But for some reason my unit formats RW discs automatically into Video Mode, and I cannot change that setting; so I have to manually re-format new discs before I use them.