Converting DVD-RAM to DVD WITHOUT re-encoding?

[MePerson]

Is it possible to copy the video steams directly from a DVD-RAM to a (standard) DVD, keeping all titles and chapters, without re-encoding the video? There are other guides on the internet, but they all involve re-encoding, which takes time and loses quality.

Maybe it's possible to do this if you first extract the MPEG2 stream, and then make these into .VOB?

[Baldrick]

Tried tmpgenc dvd author? It should be able to import from dvd-ram and not reconvert.

[borax]

You can try projectx or dgindex to demultiplex the video and audio files from your DVD-RAM. If this works, these can be put to a DVD with any authoring program you like. Good authoring programs will not reencode the video.

BTW: DVD-RAM is only a standard for a rewritable DVD, not a 'video' standard. How your recorder organizes the content (video, audio, chapters...) on a DVD-RAM is manufacturer dependent. Usually it is some kind of transport stream, but there are other containers used also.

[MePerson]

I'll try those programs. Thanks!

Also, will DVD Flick re-encode the video?

[bmwracer]

My Panasonic recorder just creates a .VRO file on the DVD-RAM disc, which I just rename to .MPG and it plays just fine on my PC when I'm editing out the commercials...

[usually_quiet]

Tmpgenc dvd author can find the individual programs on a RAM disk, and would be the easiest way to come close to doing what the OP wants to do.

I have no idea what the file structure is like on the OP's discs, but there are actually no menus present on the RAM discs my Panny makes. The recorder just creates a menu-like display showing the programs recorded in the .VRO file. Also, the individual programs are not divided into 5-minute chapters as would be found on a finalized DVD-R created by the same recorder.

There are differences between the structure contained in .VRO and .mpg files. One difference is that a .VRO file contains markers to separate individual programs, while an .mpg does not. I also know that a .VRO files doesn't have the same navigation packets that a VOB has either. I don't know what other differences exist. Given a choice, I would prefer to use something that is specifically intended to be used for .VRO files, rather than change the file extension to something else. I currently use MPEG Streamclip to select and demultiplex clips within a .VRO file, so I can either use a more precise editor, or author them to DVD.

[handyguy]

Panasonic Movie Album is nice, you probably can't find it anymore but it came with my DVD-RAM drive. Let's you read your DVD-RAM on your computer & edit it & output.

[MePerson]

What I'm looking for isn't a way to make it into .mpg files (I already know how), but to burn them to a DVD without having to make new chapter markers, and also without re-encoding the video or audio.

[Nelson37]

If you have DVD-Compatible MPG, then no re-encoding is necessary, just author it.

Chapter marks, however, I'm pretty sure are part of the authoring into VOB files. Many authoring progs will import vairous types of text files for chapters.

[MePerson]

I just figured it out.

First, I use the software that came with the camcorder to make them into .mpg files.
Then I put them into SUPER video converter, selected .VOB output, and checked Direct Stream Copy for both audio and video.
I took those .VOB files and put them into DVD Styler.
I clicked Burn DVD, and it made the DVD.
Then to make it play all the titles at once, I loaded the files into DVD Shrink, and made a backup of only the titles, and not including the menu.
Now it can be burned to a disc.



One question though: how can I make the multiple titles into multiple chapters in one title?

[LJB]

Why are you using SUPER?
Load the mpg file into DVD Styler or DVDflick (Latest version) and produce your video_ts folder.
Use imgburn to do the dvd burning.

[MePerson]

SUPER lets you convert into VOB without re-encoding. DVD Flick won't let you do that.

[usually_quiet]

Deleted. No point in saying what I said anymore.

One question though: how can I make the multiple titles into multiple chapters in one title?

DVDStyler has decent documentation: http://dvdstyler.sourceforge.net/docs/DVDStylerManual.pdf

Reading it might prove very useful in achieiving your goal. After that, if you have questions I am sure someone here will be glad to help you.

[MePerson]

Okay, so I'll make a Play All button with a command to play each of the titles in sequence, and a Chapter Select that will only play one title.