Re: Copying DVD-RAM to DVD-R

"Mike Tickle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Having just investing in a Panasonic DR-E50 and eagerly awaiting its
arrival
> I have started thinking about how best to use it.
> DVD-RAM disks are a bit more expensive than DVD-R disks, but have the
> advantage  can use them again and again.  I see my self doing all my
> recording on the DVD-RAM disks as this allows me to use them like VHS (but
> with all the advantages of DVD).

Good idea - they're getting cheaper every day and the rewrite cycle means
you'll probably never wear one out.

> However I can see my self getting in the situation where I have stuff on
> DVD-RAM disks that I want to keep and I could move on to DVD-R (cheaper
> disk).  Or wanting to put something I have recorded on to DVD-R so someone
> else can watch it.  I am also planning to use the DMR-E50 to do some basic
> video editing of my home movies once I have put them on RAM (moving clips
> around, cutting bits etc) as my PC is not powerful enough and again I
would
> want to put these, when finished, on to -R disks for friends and family.
>
> So how do I best go from DVD-RAM to DVD-R?
>
> I want to avoid getting a DVD player (set top box) that reads DVD-RAM
disks
> as I have limited space under the TV and this will result in an analogue
> copy not a digital one (probably with a loss of quality)
>
> Since I have a DVD-R write in my PC I would favour getting a DVD-ROM drive
> capable of reading RAM disks and making digital copies.  Can I do this?

Absolutely.

I
> can't find and DVD drives for a PC that state they can read RAM disks
other
> than the expensive DVD-RAM.  Do such drives exist at sensible prices?
Where
> could I get one?

I have a Toshiba SD M1712 http://tinyurl.com/pzfl which is inexpensive and
reads DVD-RAM. I use it for the same purposes as you would. Don't know if
it's available in the UK.

> Assuming I can get a DVD-RAM reader at a suitable price (under 50 UKP) can
I
> just use Nero to make a copy of the RAM risk on to a -R disk?

Not sure if Nero can read DVD-RAM file structure, as it differs somewhat
from that of DVD-R, but worth checking out. Best inexpensive program for
simple reauthoring of your DVD-RAM discs that I know of is TMPGenc DVD
Author. It's a dead simple application you can use to trim the start/end of
your video, compile short videos, insert chapter points and replace or
simply remove the lame Panasonic menu screen.
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/e_main.html

> If I take this route is there anything I need to watch out for?
>

Many DVD-ROM drives that read DVD-RAM are crippled to read DVD-RAM at no
greater than 2x speed. This makes ripping a very slow and frustrating
process. Fortunately, there are sources for firmware updates that will
remove this speed limit. Check with http://forum.firmware-flash.com/ to find
out if the DVD-RAM drive you're considering is listed. In the case of the
Toshiba drive mentioned above, check out
http://hijacker.rpc1.org/toshiba_nolimit/

> Thanks for any advice.
>
>
> Mike
>
>