DVD-RAM to DVD help

[pannayar]

My panasonic DVD recorder's most preferred media seems to be DVD-RAM with lots of editing options, quick start from standby etc. But if I record to DVD-RAM, I see a totally different format that I am not used to and cannot reauthor/burn.

If possible, please recommend a simple (and freeware tool) way to convert it to a regular VIDEO_TS dvd format which I can burn or reauthor with DVDShrink? If the process is too much to do OR if there is no freeware for it, I guess I will have to stick to using +RW in the recorder... My various searches are not finding any solution.

Thanks.

[usually_quiet]

There is no simple freeware tool to do what you want. TDA will come closest, but it isn't free (although it has a free trial), and while I think it is easy to use, it isn't the automated solution you seem to be after.

If you want free, be prepared to do some additional work. I use MPEG Streamclip to create clips from the .VRO file on DVD-RAM discs from my Panasonic recorder. If I use MPEG Streamclip to demultiplex the clips, or to convert them to .mpg files when exporting them, they can be imported into several free authoring tools, though I don't use DVD Shrink. I prefer GUIFordvdauthor, though perhaps DVDAuthorGui would be easier for you to learn.

[pannayar]

Thanks. I have used GuiForDvdAuthor, so I am familiar with that. Yes I dont think I want to go the TDA route since it is not free.

Typically, how long would MPEGStreamClip take (for VRO to mpg) and then I assume it is GFD (for mpg to VOB)?

[usually_quiet]

It takes about 30 seconds for MPEG Streamclip to read the file, then it asks you if you want fix timecode breaks. Click on "Fix Now" and then "Proceed" and a minute and a half later, you are ready to select your clips. The interface is a bit awkward to use, so that can take some time.

When you are ready to export your clip choose "Convert To MPEG" on the File menu. It usually takes a few minutes longer for MPEG Streamclip to convert the clip to .mpg than it would take to copy a VOB file of the same size to my HDD. It doesn't re-encode anything when it does this.

[pannayar]

I installed MPEG stream clip... but having trouble getting a MPG file that I can use with GFD. After opening the VRO file, what do you export it as? There seem to be a lot of choices... MPEG / MPEG with MP2 audio / Headed MPEg...

After I convert tp mpeg. the output does not seem to have any video...
GFD complains saying "no navigation packets"...

[usually_quiet]

[s:2a4a3f6a09]For GFD, just use "Convert to MPEG..." Do not use "Convert to MPEG with MP2 Audio..." or "Convert to Headed Mpeg...". [/s:2a4a3f6a09] [Edit] I just tried this and it didn't work. I'm not sure why, because I could have sworn it did work for me at one time. I know for sure demultiplexed files work fine and it doesn't take too much longer. See below. [end of Edit]

The author includes good documentation in English along with the download. I strongly suggest that you read it in order to understand what this program can do, and what the various options are for. It may save you some confusion and frustration later.

If GFD continues to complain, select "Demux" instead of "Convert to MPEG...", and "Demux to M2V with AC3". I usually do that anyway because I do more precise editing with a different program that requires demultiplexed files.

[victoriabears]

For the purposes of taking a dvd recorded program to PC for editing I have not seen any advantages over DVD-RW, but then I've got the TMP/Pegasus suite of prigrams which do work very well and are not that expensive.

[usually_quiet]

For the purposes of taking a dvd recorded program to PC for editing I have not seen any advantages over DVD-RW, but then I've got the TMP/Pegasus suite of prigrams which do work very well and are not that expensive.

I tend to agree about DVD-RAM and DVD-RW. There are only a few things that are not possible to record on a Panasonic recorder without using them, and I haven't ever recorded any of them. Recording to a DVD-RW and editing on a PC is what I prefer to do, but only the OP can decide what is or is not worth the effort.

That being said, once and a while I find that I have recorded something on a DVD-RAM disc that I want to keep, so eventually I found a free tool to copy clips I want to save onto my hard drive, usually as demultiplexed video and audio. The OP asked for free, so I told him what I use. I have a very small budget for this hobby, and use very few programs that are not free. If I had to pay for all of them, I wouldn't be editing video or authoring DVD's.

[pannayar]

I am perfectly happy with using DVD+RW. The main reason why I am trying to see if I may have a reasonable solution with DVD-RAM is because the panasonic dvd recorder seems more friendly towards it... No "writing to disc" screens on TV, quicker formatting and most of all a instant wake up from standby...

I looked at the pretty huge and nice documentation of that mpeg stream clip tool, tried to glance to see if I could find anything that I may be doing wrong, may be I need to read in more detail...

Most likely the DVD-RAM discs will go back to the store

[pannayar]

The demuxing to m2v/ac3 and reauthoring w/ gfd worked like a charm!

Thanks a lot usually_quiet

The process was almost instantaneous for a 3 min clip that I tested. Let me see how long it would take for a couple of GB.

Another question: When I have multiple recordings done, there is only one .VRO file, what is the easiest to split out the individual ones? For now I can always reauthor using gfd and then use dvdshrink to cut out the portions that I need, a few steps to do but doable, any other easier way?

Thanks again!

[usually_quiet]

The demuxing to m2v/ac3 and reauthoring w/ gfd worked like a charm!
Another question: When I have multiple recordings done, there is only one .VRO file, what is the easiest to split out the individual ones? For now I can always reauthor using gfd and then use dvdshrink to cut out the portions that I need, a few steps to do but doable, any other easier way?

Thanks again!

Sorry, TDA can detect the individual recordings, but I know of no free tool that can do it. (That is one of the reasons why TDA is so often recommended for working with VRO files.)

The only tip I can suggest for MPEG Streamclip, is to use the "Log Window" selection from the "List" menu and make note of the timecode breaks. (For my Panasonic recorder, these indicate the end of each recording session.) Once you have done that, use the "Go to Time..." selection from the Edit menu to input the start and end times for a selection. Use the "Go to In", "Go to Out" and "Go To Keyframe" selections on the edit menu to select good spots for starting and ending the clip.

[pannayar]

Hmm, yes I am able to start the "fix time breaks" process and note down the split points.. however that in itself seems to take a while if I have 4GB...

Is there any shortcut to know where the split points are without actually fixing the breaks? May be the VR_MANGR.IFO file would have some info inside it..?

[handyguy]

Panasonic made a program just for this purpose, Movie Album. Out of date however.

[usually_quiet]

Hmm, yes I am able to start the "fix time breaks" process and note down the split points.. however that in itself seems to take a while if I have 4GB... :(

Is there any shortcut to know where the split points are without actually fixing the breaks? May be the VR_MANGR.IFO file would have some info inside it..?

No, that won't work. For one thing I haven't found a program that can decipher VR_MANGR.IFO. IfoEdit sure can't read it.

It takes 1 to 2 minutes to fix the timecode breaks on a disc containing 4.26 GB on my 7-year-old computer. (I timed it.) If it takes so much longer for you that you want to skip that step, then I guess your only other option is to use the Properties submenu on the DVD recorder and record the length of each program, and using those times as a rough estimate, navigate to the start and end points using the "<<" and ">>" buttons and the arrow keys on your keyboard, plus "Go To Keyframe".

I said at the beginning that using MPEG Streamclip for extracting clips from DVD-RAM discs was not the quick and easy solution you were looking for. If are finding that using it is too much work for you, I think you should go back to using DVD-RW and a process with which you are more comfortable.

[usually_quiet]

Panasonic made a program just for this purpose, Movie Album. Out of date however.

Panasonic no longer bundles it with camcorders, DVD drives, or DVD recorders, and hasn't for some time. It is no longer available for purchase from them as a separate product. There's always Ebay, but since this product requires some kind of activation key, buying it there may not work out very well.

I just spent some time trying to hunt down a source for someone, and it may or may not be available as a replacement part from Panasonic for one of their old DVD drives. I never heard back from them as to whether or not it is availble that way. If it is, the cost is something over $17, plus shipping and possibly tax.

In short, it is difficult if not impossible to get a legitimate copy of this program. So why keep suggesting it?

[pannayar]

This is what I timed yesterday... with a 40 min clip of about 3 GB (XP mode recording). Demuxing to mv/ac3 took about 8 mins (I think) and reauthoring thereafter with GFD took about 11 mins. I interrupted the fixing layer break process so I do not know how much that would have taken. So I can expect to spend about 30 mins (for 4.5GB) and still I would have to split them down to the individual pieces... Reauthoring the same directly with dvdshrink normally takes about 8 mins. So far the/any benefits of DVD-RAM (atleast for my intended use of shifting the recording to PC) are not compelling enough I think I am going to be with +RW for now.

ps: I was quite fascinated that after formatting the DVD-RAM with the PC, it could used just like a removable storage / floppy like. However the transfer (write) to it was only about 500 KB/second - a 2-3x panasonic DVD-RAM.