I have been trying to determine the best way to archive my old (analog) home videos onto DVD. My Panasonic DVD recorder can record on either DVD-R(W) or DVD-RAM. The advantage of DVD-RAM is that it has much better editing capabilities. You can add chapter breaks where you want and easily delete unwanted footage. After editing these disks, however, I would like to be able to copy the finished product onto a more widely-used medium such as DVD-R. I can't try it at home since my current DVD drives don't read DVD-RAM. I might be willing to invest in a DVD-RAM drive for my computer if I were sure that I could copy onto another format (with the editing changes intact). Anyone have any experience with this, or maybe knows another place I could ask?
I'm a bit confused. You say your Panasonic can burn both DVD-RAM and DVD-R(W). I have a Panasonic (DMR-E85H) and it will burn DVD-RAM and DVD-R but not DVD-RW. So, first question is - are you sure you can't burn DVD-R? Assuming that you can't burn DVD-R, why not put a DVD drive in your PC that will read and burn DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R and DVD+R? You then can take your DVD-RAM disc, copy the files onto your PC, do more editing (if you wish)then burn onto any type you want. I use a LG GSA-5160D external drive and a LG4163B internal drive that handle all these (plus CD's). I'm sure there are lots of other drives that will handle multi-formats.
Hi there I am experiencing the same problem namely my Panny DMR-E55EB can record to dvd-r and RAM disks. It's the conversion from RAM disks to dvd-r that is the headache. Various people have suggested that if you copy the files from the ram disk(assuming that your pc drive can read them)on to your hard drive and rename the .VRO file to mpg or to .VOB you can then proceed to convert to VOB files. I have tried this but I just get a tall skinny picture- e.g. using VSODVX to DVD converter. If anyone knows a really effective and simple method I would love to know how Groucho
For wvmcl & groucho edit your video as you like, then the easiest way is to plug you AV cables into your VCR record it to VHS then re-record onto a DVD-R. save yourself many headaches and money. use SP setting to record to save picture quality .
Hi Again...As previously stated that is not the problem, I have sucessfully transferred VHS tapes onto dvd-r. It's recordings that have been made from the TV onto RAM disks that I need to convert via my pc that is causing the headache. Transferring media from RAM onto VHS then onto dvd-r throught the dvd recorder is pointless and a waste of time- also picture quality will be poorer. The new burner thatI bought for my pc reads RAM disks and also can write to them- but if I want to reuse them again I need a programme that will convert VOR files..to VOB.. My Panny will not allow other types of media like DVD-RW or +RW to be used otherwise I would elect to use them instead.. Groucho
[ grocho ] Wait a minute I assume that we are speaking of a stand-alone unit.If its a PC Drive, this is the wrong forum. If the unit [wvmcl] has will record a DVD-RAM disk I should think that it would play one [nitran22]is Right I have done this with a VHS and the quality is not effectly degraded. A PC without the PROPER equipment could be much worse I suggested that another stand-alone DVD recorder be used, There will be no degrading of the copy assuming that the transfer is bit rate for bit-rate. I have also done this. A good stanr-alone recorder would be a better investment than the PC equipment [grocho ] Your post seems to present the same problem No Offence. I think you are fighting the problem
I have a Panny too, and have successfully edited and transferred many movies/ tv episodes etc from the RAM disk to dvd-r. TMPGEnc Express will load the ifo/.vro files directly, and if , when you import, you specify that the file is 16:9 and not the 4:3 that it will default to, it will also output the file in the correct format (this assumes that it's a widescreen picture to start with). You can also edit very easily too. Or, using Nero, as I do, you can just rename the .vro file to .mpg and import just as you would with any other movie file. This will mean. however, that Nero will input the file in 4:3 aspect (this is actualy how Panasonic writes a widescreen file to RAM disc...it's the t.v that will "stretch" the picture to its correct widescreen aspect). Just export as a 4:3 too. If you have a widescreen tv, you will be able to tell your tv to expand the aspect to 16:9. If you want the edited file to play as widescreen on your computer, or you want your tv to play it as 16:9 by default, then do the following: 1) Copy the ifo's and bup's to another location, just in case! 2) Open each .ifo file with IFOEdit, look for all references to aspect size and change the 4:3 to 16:9, and save the ifo's. Your movies will then be "de-squished". Hope this helps!
At Last...the PENNY has dropped or should that be "Panny"-someone who has actually bothered to read what is going on and has grasped the nettle.. Sorry but havn't got a clue what LCSCHG and NITRAM22 are going on about. The original thread was concerned with the following: QUOTE: After editing these disks, however, I would like to be able to copy the finished product onto a more widely-used medium such as DVD-R. I can't try it at home since my current DVD drives don't read DVD-RAM. I might be willing to invest in a DVD-RAM drive for my computer if I were sure that I could copy onto another format (with the editing changes intact). END QUOTE The point I was trying to make was that most people like myself have Panasonic DVD recorders in their lounge and want to do exactly as the above i.e transfer the recordings they have made from the RAM disks. (The DMRE5EB STANDALONE DVD RECORDER does not have a hard drive and using a DVD-Ram disk on a Panasonic creates VRO files instead of VOB(which is the normal file format on DVD disk). So now you have made your recording from the TV onto RAM disk, and you want to re-record over the RAM disk again and again from your TV you obviously have to transfer the files onto your hard drive using your PC. (RAM disks are designed to be reused thousands of times over) Until recently, most burners did not recognise RAM disks but the newer ones like the NEC ND4550 which I have just installed in my PC does. Problem not over- because although you can now play the output from your hard drive you have to convert it into a video file so that it can be burned and saved onto a dvd-r for example, so you can then play it back through the dvd recorder. (still with me?) Software programmes like Dvdshrink, Nero, DVD dycryptor cannot read the VRO files TO CONVERT them into the correct format. TMPg enc may be the answer but this is not a free programme alas. More expense!
Sorry Groucho, but I must disagree with you...Nero can read and convert vro files. I'm assuming that you have a full working version of either Nero6 or Nero7 installed on your pc, and that you have a working knowledge of how to edit, insert fades/wipes etc if needed, create chapters etc and burn to your hard drive and dvd-r (all with Nero), and that you have a dvd drive on your pc capable of reading DVD-RAM disks. I'm not too sure about that because: Quote: I can't try it at home since my current DVD drives don't read DVD-RAM. and quote: Until recently, most burners did not recognise RAM disks but the newer ones like the NEC ND4550 which I have just installed in my PC does End Of Quotes Anyway, this is how to import .vro files with Nero..please be aware that you will need to re-create any chapters required with Nero, because Nero cannot read the ifo files on your RAM disk. 1) Make a directory on your hard drive to contain your movie file. 2) Copy VR_MOVIE.VRO from your RAM disk into this directory. 3) On your hard drive, rename VR_MOVIE.VRO to VR_MOVIE.MPG.(this isn't strictly necessary, but just humour me for now!) 4) Open your NeroVision 3 or NeroVision4. 5) Select the "Make Movie" option 6) Using the magnifying glass icon, browse and add your file from the directory you have just created. If you humoured me, the file will be shown in the window. If you didn't, just use the drop-down "files of type..." box to read All Files (*.*) and your vro file will appear in the window. 7) Import your file. Now you should be able to edit/create chapters/ burn etc. Nero will import your file as one long title, irrespective of how many separate titles you have on your file. However, it should separate each title into segments (you'll see a "+" sign next to your file in the media window) This will make it easier to edit. For all other Nero functions, there are many guides out there, and many people on these forums far more capable than myself of guiding you through it all. I know this works, because I've done it myself many times, with excellent results. Hope this helps...and good luck!
Thanks Ratae for both your excellent inputs Question -Have you actually tried to burn the import files onto a dvd-r using NERO??. I have found there are two methods of getting the files off the RAM disk onto the hard drive. 1- Using Nero Express 3 and selecting Import Disc produces several .mpg files, in a string- instead of one long file and, 2- Copying the whole disk over using the copy function in Explorer which will produce: 1. a VR_MANGR.IFO file 2. a VR_MANGR.BUP 3 and a VR_MOVIE.VRO I have tried to use NERO to burn onto a DVD-R but it just does not seem to work even if you rename the files. I have even tried to use the excellent VSO DVX to DVD programme converter which can actually recognise .VRO files but the ouput is a tall skinny picture. As you previously suggested I might have to buy TMPG ENC I am using NERO 6 latest version. This is so frustrating unless I am being completely stupid Thanks again for your help. Groucho
Groucho, please try to perform the steps outlined step by step in my "guide".It will work, I have done it many times and yes, I have many dvd-r's burned by Nero from my RAM disk. You won't need the ifo files from your ram disk at all, as Nero will create its own when you finally get to burn, As for the "tall skinny picture", please refer to my original post, it explains how to rectify it by editing your ifo file created by Nero. Hope this helps!
Ratae- I think I may know why this is happening- MY NERO 6.60 OEM suite may not be the full version- that is too say I am getting an error message to do with the DVD-VIDEO plug is required that decodes mpeg files. I'm sure you are right as I have followed your steps to the letter... Need to try and get an updated NERO version- with DVD- PLUG IN. If anyone out there knows a good seller on "***bay" please let me know. Groucho
I have HITACHI DZ-MV730E dvdcamera and I have a problem with RAM-disks, couldnt have 100% working video, i would use dvdlab or ulead video studio to import stuff from DVd-ram and as i convert it to mpg file or anyother i get no soud! I cant believe all u have to do is >>3) On your hard drive, rename VR_MOVIE.VRO to VR_MOVIE.MPG And I have now mpg file with which I still have problem with editing mpg file as i tried to convert it into smaller size mpg, got no sound again but at least i can burn it onto DVD and this time it worked, thanks Ratae.
Hi guys, I've a similar (no, actually the same) problem. Vadimo was kind to direct me here. Here's the thread I started on the subject: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/298395 But I'll join you guys trying to solve this. I've a nero OEM too, and that definitely does not do the job. Similar to you guys I don't have sound usually after converting/ripping the files off the dvd. Tried ulead too, promising, but the sound was missing, and the update does not work...support is non-existent.
Possibly the reason why you aren't getting any sound is because the soundtracks from Panasonic files are encoded using AC3 (Dolby Digital 2/0) format. Without the AC3 plug-in, TMPGenc will not be able to read the soundtrack, nor, I suspect, will Nero OEM. The full version of Nero will accept your files without problem..as I said before, I've successfully re-authored lots of RAM files to standard dvd-r's using Nero, with excellent results. Hope this helps!
Ok solution at last: Ulead Movie factory 4.0 full is doing it all smoothly. (the bundle is not able to do it!) Nero 7 (full) did not see the episodes correctly, it showed me 347 chapters instead of 3...but all is ok now.
