Tell me why I need dvd software on my pc... (1 Viewer)

[Kevin G.]

...for my miniDV home movies. When I can just buy a Firewire compatible DVD Recorder??
I have been reading every post I can by you guys. It seems the process is long and tedious to transfer to my PC, as well as taking HUGE ammounts of space on my hard drive..., and then to DVD, only top find out that it will not play on my DVD player anyways...

 

[SethH]

Wait, can you explain further? Why won't they play on your DVD player? Is your player really old? Most players made in the last 4 years or so should play most all recordable media. Most people want to move the movies to their computers to edit them before burning to DVD.

 

[Parker Clack]

I just transfered some old movies from my tape to DVD using Ulead's DVD Movie Factory with no problem. That program will allow you to burn straight to DVD from your miniDV.

 

[Gary_E]

Kevin,



As stated above, newer players will play most recordable media, including dual-layer media. Quality media is very important to insure good burns and compatible playback. There is plenty of up-to-date information available from media vendors regarding media/burner/player compatibility.

-Gary

 

[Christian Behrens]

Of course, that could be a problem with a DVD created by a stand-alone DVD recorder as well. If you favorite player doesn't play DVDs created on a PC, chances are it won't play those coming from a SA DVD recorder either...

-Christian

 

[Kevin G.]

Well my dvd player is no dinosaur, it's an Onkyo DV-CP 701, and I have been using every recording media I have, to attempt to record a nice home movie dvd. I have Nero OEM, My DVD, Record NOW, and some freeware...But all I've been able to produce is a nice CD that plays on the computer, complete with wipes/transitions, and titles, but no chapters, as I'm unsure how to create those. My Nero states that I need to buy the MPEG 4 to create a dvd... so ok no prob. But the others are set up to transfer and still no luck.


Yes I just followed that thread, but exactly my point, why spend a couple more bills for a program, when I could upgrade to a stand alone dvd recorder?

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

Right - some players will not play rewritable DVDs, some will play -R but not +R, etc., etc. It may also depend on how you code the DVD. If anything a PC-based DVD recording solution will probably give you more options and ability to test and fine-tine. (Hell, once you've created a digital file from some analog source it takes much less time to burn it to different types of discs and using different options than a "straight" DVD recorder which has to digitize and record the analog material each time. Could save a lot of time in the long-run.)

Regards,

Joe

 

[Christian Behrens]

A CD with DVD-formatted contents (sometimes referred to as miniDVD) will play in very few players, it's just not what they expect to find on a CD.

Or did you mean to say you used a blank DVD, not CD?

-Christian

 

[Kevin G.]

No I used a blank DVD-R, but it looks to be in a video CD format and not encoded as a dvd.

 

[SethH]

Are you using trial versions of the software or do you have the full versions? The trial versions often will not encode MPEG-2 which is required for use in DVD players. Also, what MPEG-2 settings are you using when you record.

 

[Kevin G.]

My Nero is full but will not encode...(I always get a popup that says upgrade) All others came with the Dell.
But, again I ask...why buy a 200 dollar program...

 

[SethH]

You can buy a $50 program that will do everything.

Personally I don't consider a stand alone box an upgrade. They offer no flexibility and you can't use them to back up data on your computer. Also, if your player won't play discs burned [correctly] on a computer then it won't play discs burned on a stand alone either.

 

[Parker Clack]

Kevin:

The Ulead DVD Movie Factory standard edition is only $49.99 and the Disc Creator version is only $99.99. Upgrades are even cheaper.

They both do a great job for what you are wanting to do.

 

[SethH]

Adobe Premiere Elements is also very good and its price falls between the two programs Parker mentioned.

 

[Kevin G.]

Thank you all VERY much, sorry for playing devil's advocate, but I have been so frustrated trying to make these dvd's that I really considered buying a recorder. I will definitely look into the ULEAD programs. I will try to update as I go .