Official DVDR thread

[chlngr1970]

This will be the Official DVD Burning thread. This is where we will be discussing all things DVD-R. First, a few ground rules.

• There will be no talk about ripping Copyrighted DVDs
• Any reference to copying Copyrighted materials, including, but not limited to, DVDs, video tapes, Laser Discs, and such, will be removed and the poster will receive an official warning. Posters not complying with the warning then face suspension and/or permanent ban from the forums
  
• This discussion can include software that relates to authoring your own personal DVDs, such as home movies
• Discussion of recording TV shows for archival purposes is acceptable.
• Discuss DVD-R hardware, from stand alone burners, to PC drives.

I am personally looking into getting a DVD burner for my HTPC by the end of the year. I am debating on weather or not to wait till they come down below $200 before I get one. I already know I want a good quality one, so an off brand is out of the question.

Discuss away.

j

[feldon23]

I'd like to find out the difference between the Pioneer A04 and the 104 and the higher-end ones.

Also I hear that there is a wide range of quality between the DVD-R media. I really feel like I'm being ripped off if I pay $6 for DVD-R media when I can get it for $1.99 from some websites. But I'll pay it if the compatibility with DVD players out there is substantially higher.

Will this be a place where we can talk about software as well?

If I want to do serious animated menus and have very high quality compression, what software should I be starting with? I would produce all the raw materials in Adobe Premiere 6.

[tomdkat]

I would like to know the difference between DVD-RW, DVD +RW (or is it DVD-R+W), and DVD-RAM.

Peace.....

[videoworx]

I'd like to find out the difference between the Pioneer A04 and the 104 and the higher-end ones.

They are identical, one is OEM (the 104), and the other is Retail (A04). The retail version includes DVD media and burning software. Both these drives burn General DVD-R and R/W discs up to 4.7GB

Higher end models, such as the S201 drive burn authoring DVD's (3.97 and 4.7 GB).

What's the difference between General and Authoring?

The general format uses a different wavelength to record the data, and prevents CSS data copying. In other words, General DVD-R burners prevent bit-for-bit copying of DVD's - hence GENERAL USE.

The DVD+R / +RW format developed by Sony and Philips (among other developers) is a newer recordable format that is VERY incompatible with most players. This will change as newer players and ROM drives adopt the format. It does have advantages over DVD-R, in that it records in both CAV and CLV formats, and can burn faster - but for now, DVD-R is a more compatible format.

DVD-RAM, yet another format is only compatible with DVD-RAM players/drives. It can hold 9.4 GB (2 sided), and is targeted towards people that want massive data archival, or people that want to record a lot of tv shows on one disc.

There is a lot more to this...I'll see if I can dig up some white papers on techy stuff if it's needed...

[videoworx]

If I want to do serious animated menus and have very high quality compression, what software should I be starting with? I would produce all the raw materials in Adobe Premiere 6.

Adobe Premiere 6.5 allows direct MPEG2 exporting. You'll need separate authoring software (like Sonic MyDVDit!) for the menu design and button programming. Buttons and menus are generally designed in applications like Photoshop, although most DVD authoring programs support most popular still image formats (BMP and Jpeg, for instance). Animated menus will generally consists of several layers of MPEG2 video, buttons and text, etc....play with the software, and expect to burn a bunch of test DVD's...

[videoworx]

man, i'm on a roll....4x burners are being introduced 4th quarter in all flavours (DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD+R, and W's). That's when current 2x's (the current series) will drop below $200. I'm still crying that my A03 cost me $599 (and that was a bargain when I bought it eons ago)...

[Kimmo]

Originally posted by tomdkat
I would like to know the difference between DVD-RW, DVD +RW (or is it DVD-R+W), and DVD-RAM.

Peace.....

Here is a good FAQ

[brian]

Wow Kimmo, thanks for the great link. I wasn't even aware that there was a difference between dvd+rw and dvd-rw.

[videoworx]

that FAQ is a little vague on compatibility issues, especially DVD+ formats. In real world tests, both DVD+R and DVD+RW failed to play in MANY players and ROM drives. DVD-R is still the ONLY recordable format that will play in ANY current model DVD player.

DV.com (requires registration) has a decent chart that lists formats and compatibility tests...

http://www.dv.com/features/features_...02/labarge0702

[Kimmo]

Did you check out the rest of the site? There are more FAQs here. There is tons of information on that site, even comparison and compatibility tables. According to the site, it only looks like older players won't play the discs. It seems like the DVD+ format is more flexible for recording, according to the comparison tables.

[videoworx]

Yeah, and if you go to Apple Computer's website, it claims their computers run circles around a 2 Ghz P4...the point is you need unbiased compatibility tests on real-world machines...not some propaganda from the DVD+RW alliance...I think DVD+RW is a great format, and once players are updated to support the format, it'll be an awesome thing. Right now, 8 out of 10 people who own a DVD player can NOT read a DVD+ disc. That is something you should consider before purchasing a burner.

[Kimmo]

I don't know about it being propaganda, more like a bias. That's why you do your research to get the one that suits your needs the best. But anyway, I won't buy one until the prices come down mostly for media. PC based recorders aren't so bad but the media, in Canada anyway, is still too high for my home use. I'd consider the stand-alone DVD recorder, but that is too costly. However, the PVR/DVD recorder combo is very tempting, but it will have to wait also.

[thaggas]

First, I want to thank all the people upstairs for making this thread and making it "stick" So thanks!

I've got a Mac G4 933 with a CD-RW/DVD-R Superdrive. It's pretty sweet. The problem: at home I have a Phillips DV850 and it won't play the stuff I burn. So my input is going to be limited for a while. I have iDVD and DVD Studio Pro. From the manuals, I can easily say that DSP is superior on all fronts, and is as complicated as you want to make it.

[octopus1256]

I've wrote an article on the differences of DVD-R/RW DVD+R/RW and even some on ROM and RAM.

http://www.epinions.com/content_2812387460

It'll be nice to see some more page hits

Also, tell me of any mistakes.

[tomdkat]

Does anyone have any experience burning data DVDs? Like for making computer backups, etc...

Peace....

[thaggas]

While I haven't personally on the Mac (although I will be this week) my boss has done it on his PC and syays it works like a charm and a great way to get 4.7G of info onto one disc.

[artood2]

errrr bootleg (j/k)


are there any stand alone dvd-r writers? like there are cdr writers? any gotchas apart from the limited by definition editing features..?

[videoworx]

are there any stand alone dvd-r writers?

Stand-alone DVD writes come in 2 flavours. For consumers, you can buy VCR-like recorders, with all the bells and whistles you'd find on a high-end VCR or Tivo - a Pioneer model even has a Firewire input so you connect your camcorder directly to it. Best Buy and similar stores sell several DVD recorders.

For pro's, companies like discmakers.com sell stand-alone DVD replicators - which will burn and copy DVD-R's (because these units use the Pioneer A04, you can NOT use these devices to duplicate movies and software, only your existing DVD-R material).

I hope that answers your question

[videoworx]

any gotchas apart from the limited by definition editing features

I don't quite get the wording here, but I'll try...Stand-alone burners do not allow you to create menus, and other interactive elements (like optional audio tracks, easter eggs, etc). Menu's will be automatically created with thumbnails showing each track you've recorded. Panasonic's EM20/30 models allow you edit, delete and move the video around ONLY if you use the DVD-RAM format. Toshiba has a model out in Japan that allows you to record to a hard drive, edit the data, then burn to DVD (a PVR and dvd burner in one, essentially). These will probably make it over here right after xmas, i would assume.

If you like designing menus, and alternate audio tracks, you will need to buy a PC/Mac based DVD burner and software.

[MARVEL]

Originally posted by videoworx
Stand-alone DVD writes come in 2 flavours. For consumers, you can buy VCR-like recorders, with all the bells and whistles you'd find on a high-end VCR or Tivo - a Pioneer model even has a Firewire input so you connect your camcorder directly to it. Best Buy and similar stores sell several DVD recorders.

The only problem with that is I, and I'm sure many others, have a P.O.S. model VCR, then again aren't they all? I guess that means cool digital stuff from HBO like Hard Knocks. Not to mention all of the archives of FSU football games that would take up far less space than a video tape. Being able to break down Game film on disc would be so cool and the only format that would hold an entire game would be dvd.

[1138]

http://news.com.com/2100-1040-957191.html?tag=fd_top

I'm very interested...

[chlngr1970]

ME TOO!!!!

that looks like a great solution, and may make Sony the king of DVD R in the future. I am definately going to check work Monday and see if that is in our future

j

[rolisme]

Say I amke a movie, or transfer existing home movies to the computer and burn it to a DVD, would it be regionally encoded, or would it be region 0. Is there an option to regionally encode (not that I would want to or anything, I am just curious)

[videoworx]

You can specify region coding in most (pro) dvd authoring applications. Consumer-level apps (like iDVD) use Region 0 - making it more friendly to author home movies and send them to other countries.

[tomdkat]

Here is some info some of you might find useful...

Peace....

[thaggas]

On the other hand, I know some computer DVD writers will only you reset the region code five times before it locks it down. I'm not sure what the purpose of this is. I believe this is a feature on the Pioneer A04. It is controlled through whatever program happens to be running the writer.

[boddah]

Originally posted by chlngr1970
ME TOO!!!!

that looks like a great solution, and may make Sony the king of DVD R in the future. I am definately going to check work Monday and see if that is in our future

j

I've been trying to follow this one for awhile, but haven't found much news outside of CNET & Sony themselves. (CNET posted an article about the included software earlier today) I'm seriously considering buying this drive, depending on the reviews.

Do you know of any other places I might find news on this specific drive?

[videoworx]

The drive isn't really out yet. Sony isn't even selling it on their website, but I contacted them. Apparently, it will be shipping before November (yay). Other than the fact that it supports all (but 2) DVD formats, I'm more excited that it can burn at 4x (only with DVD-R's, not +R's).
Pioneer is releasing the A05/105 drive in November, which will also burn at 4x

[1138]

I'm also waiting on that Sony dirve.

[boddah]

I've seen a couple sites with 10/15 release dates for the Sony drive, but that's probably nothing official.

[videoworx]

I just bought the drive from Dell. I spoke to someone, and was told it would ship within 2 weeks. Heads up, if you own a business, you get 2 stackable 10 % discounts (one is instant, one is a coupon from dealnews.com) on the drive, and free shipping. Cost me $268, half what I paid for my Pioneer A03!!!

[boddah]

This may be a stupid question, but do PC DVD players play all regions?

[videoworx]

This may be a stupid question, but do PC DVD players play all regions?

Only if you have an older 4x or slower DVD-ROM drive, and Scene Genie (a software utility that allows software DVD players to access all regions...)

All DVD-ROM drives 5x and faster have a nasty bug that locks the region code after the 4th region change (so after you put in a region 1 disc, then a region 2 disc, then a region 4 disc, then a region 1 disc again, you are DONE!).

There are many firmware patches (which will void your warranty) that will unlock the rom drives (including burners)...you can find many here:

http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/do...mwarepage.html

and lots more info here:

http://www.vcdhelp.com

So, to play all regions on a current DVD-ROM drive, not only do you have to patch the firmware, you also need a software player that can play all regions (see the above links for more info)...

The industry has made it very hard for the average consumer to play all regions on a dvd-rom drive, simply to avoid piracy - but it is not illegal to patch firmware and use multi-region players - just be aware you will most likely void any warranties on your hardware.
Also be aware that you could ruin the drive by changing the firmware (incorrect patching, system freezing during patching, and similar reasons will render a drive useless)

[ALLCRAFT]

where do i get the sofewear to copy dvd fils to dvd rw this is urgent is somebody can help


ty

[rtcpenguin]

?

if you want to copy a dvd, that is frowned upon here...

[chlngr1970]

We accually have a place to discuss all things DVDR. My only question is, are you talking about taking home movies and putting them on DVD, authoring your own DVDs, or copying store bought (rented ) DVDs. The first two are acceptable topics. The last one it VERY taboo, especially a site like this. I'm going to leave this open hoping that this is about one of the first two, and move/merve this thread with the official DVDR thread.

j

[boddah]

I noticed that several places (Best Buy, Circuit City) have begun advertising Sony's new drive, all at $349.99. I'm still holding out for some reviews, but seeing it in print was very tempting.

Thanks for the links videoworx, I've already spent a couple hours studying up The firmware patching makes me nervous.

[videoworx]

I noticed that several places (Best Buy, Circuit City) have begun advertising Sony's new drive, all at $349.99. I'm still holding out for some reviews, but seeing it in print was very tempting.

Dell actually called me about my order last week, and said the product had been delayed, but it should ship by the 21st (tomorrow). Hopefully I'll get it this week. I will post a review with all the different formats soon after that...

[chlngr1970]

Cool. I think that I may have to invest in this a little sooner than I planned. I was going to wait till they were less than 200 before buying a DVDR drive, but....

j

[godmoney]

I revently got a DVD+R burner for my PC and I'm still trying to find a damn decent way to make DVD video. I'm trying to make a DVD of stuff I can't talk about on the board, but for some reason, the application I'm using, Ulead DVD Workshop won't read the files right or some crap. It pisses me off because I made really nice menus and everything. If anyone knows anything about this program, please PM me or whatever to see if I can fix this damn problem...the DVDs gonna be real sweet if I can just make it.