Camcorder direct to DVD recorder questions

I've got a client that does focus groups and sometimes they ask me to videotape them. The clients usually want a VHS copy right on the spot. So there is no editing. Well, now some clients are beginning to want a DVD-video instead of VHS.
I do not have any experience using a set-top DVD-Recorder and I was wondering if anyone can chime in on their reliability for making DVDs from an external source such as a camcorder. These disks do NOT need any menuing or anything fancy. And honestly, they don't need to be pristine in their image quality either. But since the sessions often last over 2 hours, they need to allow for more than two hours of footage. And they cannot have any major hiccups. The recording needs to be pretty reliable.
So can anyone recommend any (US) models that are reliable for this sort of application? I noticed that some have disk drives and I thought that the reliability might be better to record onto disk then make a "fast copy" to DVD. Any thoughts on this method vs just strait to DVD? Still others have a firewire input. Might I obtain better quality coming from a DV camcorder using firewire to the DVD recorder? Or, is this only used when the source is actually recorded onto DV tape, which I cannot use do to session lengths?

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http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=106

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Recording Camcorder video to DVD with Satellite 1900

I have just tried to record a video from my camcorder to a DVD-R but kept getting the message 'drive not found' My computer is a Satellite 1900 and happily plays DVD's. but would appear not to want to record them.
Does the type of DVD make any difference, is there a way to make the computer recognise the disc in drive E:
The video happily transfers from the camera to the computer and I can play it on the computer but cannot transfer it to a DVD disc, anyone with any ideas??

Hi
One question; do you have an DVD writer or only the DVD reader!?
Please be sure that you can also burn DVD with your notebook and not only view.
Second question; what burning applications did you use?
I use Nero and its my favorite burning program. It supports many burning modes and burns the medium with best performance.
Check it!

VHS - DVD Recorder - PC - Premiere Pro CS6: Workflow Questions

Hello,
I hope I have this posted in the correct place. I am seeking advice and suggestions for VHS tape to digital transfers. Here is my current workflow:
VHS tape is played back on a Panasonic PV-D4744S VCR and is recorded directly (via composite A/V cable) to a Panasonic DMR-ES40V DVD recorder and onto a DVD-R, -RW, or +RW.
The disc is then copied into a Windows 7 folder with all of the contents of its VIDEO_TS folder intact; this folder is saved on several external hard drives for safe keeping.
I then open and import a copy of the .vob files into Premiere Pro CS6, where I minimally scale the video to eliminate the distortions (“VHS tearing”) on the sides and bottom of the VHS source video. The result is a very clear video which fits perfectly in a 4:3 project window on my 16:9 HD computer screen with minimal pillarboxing.
It is at the stage of export where I am stuck.
The final DVDs are going to be viewed on a 16:9 widescreen TV, as well as on an iMac computer. I’ve read all much about interlaced scanning (VHS, Laserdisc, TV) and progressive scanning (computer, LCD TVs), but I’m still not sure if I can make a DVD which will look proper on both TVs and computers. In addition to the scaling, I am using Premiere to add chapter makers and poster frames to the video, which I wish to then export to either Encore CS6 or NeroVision – I love Nero’s animated 2D and 3D menu selections. What export settings should I use in Premiere which are closest to the original, imported .vob files? I’ve exported some test videos in MPEG2-DVD format to folders, but they are huge compared to the original DVDs made on the standalone recorder, i.e., 12.8GB on Premiere export compared to the 4.7GB import.
Are there settings to make the Premiere export as close to the original DVD import of 4.7GB without sacrificing quality? Should I simply import the sequence into Encore as a timeline and let it perform the heavy lifting of automatically compressing the files to fit on a 4.7GB DVD? NeroVision seems to not accept the MPEG2-DVD files; it “sees” only the .m2v video files and not the .wav audio files.
In a nutshell:
I want to take a raw DVD-R (or -RW, +RW) recorded on a standalone and copy to hard drive, add chapter markers and minimal scaling in Premiere Pro CS6, then export and burn a DVD that will look good on both a 16:9 TV and computer screen.
I'm trying to get this project finished for a soon upcoming family get together. Any suggestions, tips, and general advice would be greatly appreciated.
Eric

Hi Eric,
The issue I would have with the workflow is that DVD is heavily compressed for delivery - not meant for re-compressing again. You're re-compressing a file that's already been compressed as small as can be. Most DVD recorders have different quality settings, like 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours. Use the 1 hour mode on the DVD recorder to get the "best" quality source if you must re-edit the stuff. The typical workflow would be to have some sort of capture device on the computer that records a larger, less compressed file to begin with.
As for export from Adobe using Media Encoder, choose "MPEG-2 DVD" of course, and select "NTSC DV" for the preset. Under the VIDEO tab, you'll need to adjust the encoding bitrate according to the video length. A good rule of thumb is to use 560/minutes=bitrate, and I will round down a touch for safety margin. This assumes Dolby Digital audio on the DVD (AME exports .wav audio and Encore converts to Dolby). Note that most folks don't go over 7 or 8, for best compatibility (the max limit is a bit higher, but quality of VHS source is not going to get any better anyway at higher rates, GIGO).
Regarding audio for the DVD, could be that Nero expects ONE file with audio and video. In AME, look under MULTIPLEXING and change from NONE to DVD, this will combine them. Then under AUDIO, choose DOLBY or maybe MPEG will work for you. Use a 192k bitrate for audio if going that route.
Note sure what you meant about the 16:9 screen - would recommend against putting the 4:3 source material into a 16:9 sequence in Premiere in you are, this will do more harm than good. Stay with 4:3 throughout, including the DVD creation - the DVD player and TV ought to know what to do with it. You're actually REDUCING the resolution if you use a 16:9 workflow. Note that if you encode a 16:9 DVD using 4:3 material in the 16:9 frame, and then play that DVD on a 4:3 TV, bad news - it gets letterboxed AND pillarboxed and you end up with a small video surround by black on all sides. Not cool.
I'd stick with interlaced - if you deinterlace the footage at any point, you are essentially throwing away HALF the resolution, which is weak to start with for SD. Most software players will have Preferences settings to let you tweak the playback/deinterlacing at that point, and TVs will handle it fine.
PS - if you use Encore, then just export the .m2v and .wav files using Media Encoder, import both to Encore, and Encore then does NOT recompress the video any further (as long as it fits), only the audio gets the Dolby conversion. Do NOT use Multiplexed files in Encore.
Hope this is all helpful
Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

Recording fios tv to DVD recorder with tivo/fios cablecard

ok this post is for my dad....and if ur thinking why the hack does he want a dvd recorder when they already have a tivo...don't ask my dad is kinda weird he still "tapes" shows on VHS tapes using vcr, and tapes radio shows on cassettes....then again he also still pyas his bills with a pen, a check and the us postal service.....
anyway, I didn't know much about the world of dvd recorders before a couple days ago, so I have a few questions before and if I actually decide to get him one.
Question 1: we currently have an HD TV with an HD tivo connected and a multistream verizon fios cablecard. My question is regarding copyright limitations....what prevents you from just recording any tv program onto dvd, as you still can onto a VHS? and what percentage of the channels/shows have this protection? like would he only be able to record from the original 12 or so broadcast channels? this is my main concern....he watched a lot of the sports channels like espn espn2 golf channel nbatv etc....
Question 2: also, when doing my research I thought of another benefit a dvd recorder may have. I have been putting all the family home videos which are on vhs onto dvd, but it's a bit of a process. I use an external usb capture device made by Hauppage hooked up to the VCR then the computer captures it realtime and generates an mpeg video file on my hard drive, THEN I have to spend the 1 or 2 hours it takes to convert to DVD format and burn with Nero so it can be played on a regular DVD player......so....question being....
can a standalone DVD recorder hook up to a VCR to transfer video direct to a DVD, or do you have to buy a DVD recorder with a built in VHS deck?
Question 3: oh and someone once told me that you can only play the recorded DVD's on the recorder, and not other regular DVD players...I couldn't believe this was actually true...but was he right?
TIA!

Answers:
Question 1: if the DVD recorder is connected to the TIVO there shouldn't be anything prohibiting him from recording. The signal sent out from the TIVO is an unencrypted feed that can be processed by anything (TV, VCR, DVD recorder, ETC). As long as theres no restrictions within the DVD recorder itself, you should be fine to record anything. This also means you have to record realtime (press play on TIVO and record on the DVD recorder and wait the amount of time for the event to end before pressing stop)
Question 2: You would need to talk to the tech support for your DVD recorder. Its going to depend on what types of video streams and formats it will accept as a source
Question 3nce again this is a question for the DVD recorder tech support, not Verizon. It depends on the file format that the recorder saevs the file as. Not only that, but different players also can read different formats. So you have to take a look at the recorder and the dvd play back device
Anthony_VZ
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Problem with Direct to DVD VRD-MC6: Playback width wrong

I made a DVD copy of a tape in my Sony Digital 8 Handicam DCR-TRV310, using an iLink cable, to my Direct to DVD VRD-MC6. Play back of the DVD in my Sony Blue Ray DVD player BDP-BX510 on my Sony KDL-46WL140 Bravia TV was stretched width wise, distorted. Adjusting the width setting on the TV did not fix it. Play back from the camera directly to the TV is fine. Proper 4:3. How do I fix this? Will the VRD-MC6 Direct to DVD make a proper 4:3 aspect ratio copy from my Digital 8 Handicam?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hi
Welcome to the Sony Community!
The picture display of your TV is depend on the external input resources.
Blu-ray Player ( BDP - BX510 )
Kindly perform the troubleshooting steps below:
1. Turn on your Blu-ray
2. Press Home button on your remote ( Blu-ray )
3. Go to Setup
4. Go to Screen settings
5. Select Screen Format > Change it to Normal.
If nothing change:
1. Go back to Screen Settings
2. Go to DVD Aspect Ratio
3. Select Pan & Scan
NOTE: When you choose the Pan & Scan option, the sides of the movie will be trimmed and it will display a
full – height picture on the entire screen of the TV.
NOTE : Kindly play your dvd into your computer ( if applicable ) to determine the aspect ratio of the recorded DVD disc.
IMPORTANT: If you still have this issue perform the troubleshooting steps below for your TV.
Television ( KDL - 46WL140 )
Kindly check this link for the steps on how to troubleshoot picture looks too big or stretched.
If my post answers your question, please mark it as "Accept as Solution"
Thanks, ↔Dave

Can you put the small DVD discs from a camcorder in the DVD slot of the iMac?

Stupid question...can you put the small DVDs from a camcorder in the DVD slot of the iMac?

That could be a challenge. If I am not mistaken that camera strictly records to DVD - RW and has no digital output connectors, is that right?
My only experience with a camera like that was a bad one. I was able to get the video off the disc using a tray-loading iMac but it was painfully slow.
iMovie (for example) is designed to work with camcorders such as those specified in this reference:
http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html
I cannot find the DCR-DVD92 in that database
You might consider finding an external USB slot-loading DVD drive, but as I say my experience was painfully slow, and you might run into file format compatibility challenges.
I am sure it's possible but it won't be as easy as importing video from something like an iPad or iPhone. I still use a camcorder on occasion but it has a FireWire port. That's easy.

DV camera signal direct to DVD?

I would like to burn video in real time, directly from my DV camera to a DVD. I can't seem to do this in iMovie or iDVD.
iMovie seems to want to save the video to the hard drive, but not to a DVD. It then takes 15 minutes and several steps to get the video to DVD.
iDVD will only take video from a tape inserted in the camcorder - it won't just take the camcorder signal and burn directly to DVD.
Hopefully I'm just missing something. If not, anyone have any suggestions?
I'm using a Cannon video camera and firewire connection to my MacBookPro.
Thanks

iDVD will only take video from a tape inserted in the camcorder - it won't just take the camcorder signal and burn directly to DVD.
Try this instead of starting a new project use a QT movie / folder saved to your desktop and then follow these 2 steps below:
Click Here
Btw .... the only way i know of making a dvd in real time is to use a dvd player/recorder with digital FW input. Connect your minidv camcorder/camera via i.Link (4 pin to 4 pin) and record directly to DVD-R like this:
Click Here:
It's best not to have any time code breaks whatsoever within your movie when using iDvd'08.
However, the nice thing about the second approach is that my own Dvd Recorder will record just about any dv or analog source and it could care less about time code breaks. It records the Dvd every time regardless of time codes.
A third option I should mention is using Toast which also allows burning directly to Dvd-R (although not quite as fast as the second option I listed above).
And lastly, I've burned directly to Dvd-R via i.Link on our PC also (however it takes twice as long as our mac/s even though its clock speed is nearly twice as fast and is an intel dual core cpu).
Hope one of these approaches works for you also. It does for me. Good luck!
Message was edited by: SDMacuser

VCR to DVD recording

I have a bunch of old VCRs that I'd like to put onto DVD. does anyone know how to wire a VCR to a DVD-R to do this? Can it be done? Can you hook a DVD-R to a computer and do the same. thanks

Hello Avalon 78676,
In the future, please take the time to pick the approrpiate forum category for your posting. It ensures that your questions get answered more quickly
Now for your question:
If you have a DVD Recorder for a TV, You simply take your VCR and connect it directly to your DVD recorder through the Red White Yellow A/V plugs.
*******DISCLAIMER********
I am not an employee of BBY in any shape or form. All information presented in my replies or postings is my own opinion. It is up to you , the end user to determine the ultimate validity of any information presented on these forums.

FCE or DVD recorder?

This may not exactly be a FCE only question but I get great help from you all in here and I am learning the ropes on FCE and transferring vhs to DVD.
My question is this.
If I want to make an exact replica of a vhs tape, am I better off just using a vhs/DVD recorder combo and just copying the vhs directly to DVD? Or is there a benefit to using FCE?
I have begun the process of transferring old VHS tapes to DVD and am starting to wonder if the lengthy process of using FCE to capture the video then use TOAST to burn the DVD is worth it. I also wonder if the video quality would be better/same or worse if I just used the DVD recorder?
I don't know enough about capturing and transferring analogue video into DV to know whether or not it loses any image quality in the process, that is why I'm wondering about using the DVD recorder option vs. FCE.
Again, I realize this isn't FCE specific so I hope I don't offend anyone by placing this question in here but I appreciate any help/advice you have to offer.
Thanks,
Ehren

OK, the quality going from the tape player to DVD was as good as could be expected. I doubt anyone could tell the difference viewing the DVD vs. the original footage.
BUT -
If you are thinking that at some time you are going to want to edit this material, *than do not, repeat, do not convert it to DVD first. You are opening up a giant bag of hurt to do so.* Continue on with the method you are currently using to ingest the footage to FCE, and save those ingested files on an external drive to edit later. Make a copy of your external drive so in case something happens to the first external, you have a backup copy.
Going to DVD and then attempting to reconvert the video from the DVD is a time consuming and video degrading process - if you intend to edit, I repeat, do not go to DVD first. When you go to DVD, you are converting the video to an MPEG format, and MPEG is for delivery, not editing. The fundamental structure of the video gets changed, and when you try to back the other way - from DVD to a format you can edit in FCE, you will see the effect of the conversion.
Your other option is to do both methods - dub the tapes to a DVD recorder to make quick DVD copies, then at your leisure ingest your tapes into FCE.
I did not rip the footage to make the duplicate DVDs, I just let Toast make a disc image and then make copies from the disc image to other DVDs. The DVD was never converted, it was just copied.
Hope this helps -
MtD

DVD RECORDER & A MAC

If i was to get a dvd recorder to recode tv programs how do i attach a dvd recorder to my mac so i can then edit the footage???
Thanks
Simon

record video directly from tv, vcr, dvd player http://www.elgato.com/
edit the video in imovie http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#imovie

8mm Camcorder transfer to DVD using Roxio

Hello. I am looking for an economical way of moving 8mm Camcorder tapes to DVD.
From some research, it seems that the Roxio program, in conjunction with the DVD recorder in my iMac will do this. I would appreciate if anyone that has information on this could comment. Thank you.

I have done lots of this.
You don't need Roxio.
If your camcorder has Firewire, connect it to your Mac. If not look at the Grassvally ADVC300. Audio and Video go in, FireWire comes out. It also comes with a nice Macintosh application that works flawlessly with iMovie 06 and iDVD 08/09 (I have used it a few times with iMovie 09).
The program that comes with the ADVC300 has some nice filters that can improve video and audio of the source material. The ADVC300 will take Audio and Video from any source and convert it to FireWire (iMovie will treat it like a camera).
http://www.grassvalley.com/products/advc300
I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 08/09, why?
iMovie 08/09 uses 'single field processing' meaning every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage. iMovie 06 uses ALL of the image to form the video.
Your primary workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, so iMovie '06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels aspect ratio, and original quality. If you share your movie from iMovie '08 / 09, it gets re-rendered at 640x480 or less, and then iDVD upscales it back to 720x480. The end result is obviously not as good.
iMovie 06 and iDVD 09 is a "lossless" combination.

DVD-RW question

I'm not sure if this is the right forum but it's a simple question: Can I erase-reformat-rerecord DVD-RWs with my Mac Pro? My former Mac couldn't handle DVD recording so it's new to me. Perhaps a reference to an Apple help page. Thanx,
Ken

Hi,
I don't know about the Finder, but I suppose it's possible with Disk Utility. If you have Toast there are 2 options to delete RW media (+ or - doesn't matter): a fast mode will delete it, but you must use Toast to burn something the next time and a slower mode will take longer, but the media will be writable with any software.

Using MBP as a DVD recorder transfering from an HDD recorder ?

I have a television and want to buy an HDD recorder. but i do not want to buy a dvd recorder also as i have this macbook pro. If i record a programme that i want to keep forever.... Is it possible to move the programme from the HDD recorder to the MBP so i can then dump the programme to DVD??????
macbookpro 2.33GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8) 20gig ipod 4th gen, G4 powermac

I have a television and want to buy an HDD recorder.
but i do not want to buy a dvd recorder also as i
have this macbook pro. If i record a programme that i
want to keep forever.... Is it possible to move the
programme from the HDD recorder to the MBP so i can
then dump the programme to DVD??????
You can connect the composite video and analog audio out to a EYE TV 250 which has a cable that connects to its little mini USB port for this very purpose, then record to MPEG-2 using the hardware encoder built into the device. Since it also has a tuner you can record TV directly using the EYE TV as well. It is a PVR like you have basically.
A DVD recorder might be similarly priced, maybe even less . I use one with DVD and HD to record from the line out on my PVR but I have the EYE TV 250 as well.
What you can't do is input composite TV into the MacBook if that's your idea.

Connecting iMac to Panasonic DVD Recorder

I need to connect my new iMac to my Panasonic DVD Recorder, which only has 3-RCA input. I tried it via connecting the iMac to my HDVT and then from the TV to the DVD Recorder , but that did not work. Is there a way to connect the iMac to the DVD Recorder? With my Windows Notebook it's no problem at all. I want to record movies from a German TV Station, that streams via FlashVideo.

I assume you are trying to send the signal from iMac to DVD recorder, not the other way, although it is not entirely clear.
The Mini DisplayPort does not provide a signal for composite output. Therefore, there is no simple adapter that will output to an RCA connection.
Maybe you can find a way to capture the stream directly and bypass the need for the DVD recorder.

Standalone DVD recorder as converter

I'm tired of looping through my camera every time I want to output something to tape. I'd like to have a capture stream and a playout stream set up all of the time to minimize setup time. Is anyone out there using a standalone DVD recorder as a converter / recorder? My Sony RDR-GX315 is not recognized by Final Cut.
pb g4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Not exactly sure what the poster wants to do with the DVD recorder but here is my experience:
At home I have a fairly new BenQ DVD recorder. The only way I have successfully recorded to it from the puter was by first passing thru my Canopus ADVC 110. FW from the puter to the Canopus, S-VHS from the Canopus to the BenQ. For best results, I first export the sequence to a Quicktime movie then play that back from the Viewer. Works quite well. The one time I tried to pass thru the BenQ to one of my NTSC monitors I got kind of sketchy playback results; freezes and jitters
At the studio, I have an older Panasonic DVD Recorder. I go FW out of the G4s to the deck directly and can monitor and record with very little probs. Again, I find if I export to QT movie first and play that into the Panny, it works very well. Also works great for passing thru to the NTSC monitors.
The other day, due to some gear being in the field, I tried passing a VHS deck thru the Panasonic to the puter ... that did not work so well.

Camcorder direct to DVD recorder questions

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