I'm just at that point where my desire to transfer my entire library of video tapes onto DVD blanks meets the lower price ranges of blank DVDs. I am having a problem trying to decide which blank DVD brand and type to use. Here's how my problem lies and hopefully someone out there will be able to put in their own two-cents about it:
I need DVD+R Blanks. Video Tapes are not going to get me anywhere near DVD digital quality, so I do not need high-end blanks. But I want sufficient quality better than just simple data storage.
The blank DVD manufacturers not only haven't agreed upon one set standard for DVD format, but they also won't all call their different quality of disks by the same names. Manufacturers also won't exlain what their terms mean, so one can not decide which one is right for them. I mean, what is the difference between blank DVDs used for "Authoring" and those used to copy video taped movies onto?
I finally found a hint at what 'Authoring' means. It means that you put your own video project onto a disk. But what does that really mean about the disk? No one explains that end of it.
Yes, I know all about VCDHelp.com and that's where I got the best help so far. And decent reviews of the different types are practically non-existant. What to buy?
Any suggestions as to Brand and Model of blanks to go with? Which one do you use and how does it work for different applications?
posted on January 27, 2003 02:33:57 PM new
I'm looking at doing the same thing and during my research have spoken to a number of supliers of the upper end burners. Across the board everyone has reccommended Pioneer blanks. Not sure on models though. According to a couple different people I have spoken with (including ones that don't sell blanks and have no incentive to upsell) cheaper blanks run a much higher risk of manufacturing errors that can fry your burner.
posted on January 27, 2003 02:38:38 PM new
I've been doing research on this--my film library is HUGE
My advice? Wait. Just a bit longer. Currently there is a war reminiscent of the beta/vhs wars of the 70s & early 80s going on in the recordable DVD industry. Two formats are leading the war: DVD-R and DVD+R. DVD-Ram is also a weak contender. Not to mention the fact that the blue-laser recording field is gathering steam (& it can put much more info on a disc that the current green-laser recorders.) I read all I can get my hands on, and it looks like the format war is nowhere being won.
If you just CAN'T wait, ;D , then you might want to consider a DVD-burner being offered by Soney for use in computers. It records in both DVD-R and DVD+R, so you'd win no matter which format comes out on top. Big drawback, though is that the recorder currently lacks input/output plugs that would allow it to be attached to a VHS machine for transfer It is called the Sony DRU 500--the interior version costs about $359 and the exterior version costs about $429. Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on January 27, 2003 02:55:39 PM new
What Bunni said.
I've been waiting on the fence here too because of the incompatibility. Even within "type" you may not get compatibility. I think PC MAg recently tested burners. It's like 80% comp. WITHIN type. And of course I think Toshiba and Sony are trying to line up partners for ANOTHER standard that fits double or more data to the disk.
You are going to want nifty little menus you can design etc when you transfer different evnts, shows, etc from tape. This is where the "authoring" comes in. You can get freeware and low cost progs to do this (they come with the burner even). You'll need more powerful progams to edit commercials out of the data stream and re-sync everything. You can get a lot of practical tips from www.avsforum.com. This is very popular among ReplayTVers. You transfer the Simpsons episodes you've recorded on your Replay to PC, edit, etc and then "author" a DVD of your fav. episodes complete with custom menus. Everybody is VERY helpful as long as you look around first and don't ask the same question somebody's asked a million times, in which case some get snarly.
posted on January 27, 2003 03:03:34 PM newYEEE-HAW!!!!!
Take a look at this!! It had been a couple of weeks since I looked into DVD recorders last, and this thread made me take a quick peek. And look what I found:
http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/3072
"LAS VEGAS (CES, Booth #N109), Jan. 8, 2003 - Fueling innovation in an emerging category, Sony Electronics today unveiled the industry's first dual compatible -RW/+ RW DVD home recorder, enabling high quality DVD recording and unsurpassed picture performance from a variety of original sources.
Compatible with popular DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R/+RW discs, the RDR-GX7 DVD recorder gives users a wider selection of recording and viewing choices. The new model also incorporates several picture improvement technologies to create enhanced DVD recordings, especially effective when transferring content from video sources such as VHS or 8mm camcorders.
The new recorder is equipped with convenience features such as i.LINKŪ (IEEE-1394) digital interface as well as an intuitive, easy-to-use graphical user interface that allows for simple, yet powerful interoperability with compatible camcorders. It also offers easy recording and editing from broadcast programs via off-air antenna, cable, or satellite receivers."
It's due out in JUNE, and will cost in the neighborhood of $800.
Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on January 27, 2003 03:13:50 PM new
This sounds like an all in one unit like a VCR that uses the current PC drive's format handling. As such I wouldn't think it would be as versatile as sticking the current drive in a PC.
posted on January 27, 2003 06:17:45 PM new
First, thank you for all of everyone's well-written inpuyt so far. It's helping me. My situation is that I have a nice setup on my computer:
- Dual P-III/1000Mhz w/2Gb RAM engine
- ATI All-In-Wonder Readeon 8500DV 128Mb Video Card
- Ulead Media Studio Pro for editing
- A brand new stereo VCR for playback to my video card
- A brand new DVD player that plays DVD/CD/MP3/VCD/SVCD
I got the DVD player for the SVCD's I've been making. Now that I've worked out the details and I am fairly good at this, all I need to do it to use the Play-Through recording function; that is, I drop the video tape in, skip past the ads and coming attractions and warnings then play the tape and click the button on my pc and the DVD is supposed to burn a copy of it. That's the plan at any rate.
Whether DVD-R or DVD+R wins out, there will be blanks for both. Like I said, I want to get good enough quality to reflect a copy from a video tape, but not spend $3.00 to $5.00 a blank for it. There are places on the Internet that have off-brand name DVD blanks really cheap in bulk, but I do not want to trust them and the Brand Name stuff is STILL usually $3.50 apeice or more!
Maybe by this summer things will sort themselves out price-wise and quality-wise. Right now, DVD burning is emerging from the high-end hobbyist region into mainstream sales. I heard several news reports that the hottest electronic item sold this Christmas was DVD players and sellers could hardly keep up with demand. I know I bought my DVD burner then.
OK, just like a computer then -- you stick to well-known Name Brands so you won't get screwed by no-name cheapies. Thanks for that reassurance of my fears.
posted on January 27, 2003 06:44:14 PM new
Back in January of 1978, when I bought my first VCR, video tapes were just as expensive as DVD blanks are now. As VCRs gained in popularity, the prices on tapes dropped. The same thing will happen with DVD blanks once DVD recorders become mainstream items.
But even when the prices drop, I would still stick with name brand blanks. Less chance for problems. I still do the same with blank video tapes. Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on January 27, 2003 07:31:16 PM newOK, just like a computer then -- you stick to well-known Name Brands so you won't get screwed by no-name cheapies. Thanks for that reassurance of my fears.
ESPECIALLY WHERE PICTURES COME IN. QUALITY OF THE DVD ALSO MEANS QUALITY OF THE PICTURE.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
[ edited by Twelvepole on Jan 27, 2003 07:34 PM ]
posted on January 27, 2003 08:39:05 PM new
Boriller
My wife & kids bought me a Dell computer for Xmas. I have wanted to transfer my old vhs tapes, of the family, that I have recorded over the years to DVD's.
The burner is a Phillips DVD+rw+r CD-rw-r. The unit has what is called a dazzle, It is made by DAZZLE, It transfers VHS analog to digital vidio
I have a program called video wave, it Captures the digital transfer. It will automatic capture, author, make chapters as it burns to the blank. It takes about 20 min to burn 120 min. a full DVD, after the vhs or 8mm has been captured. I could burn 240 min per blank but have not tried that. Later I will take classes at dell.com to learn the complete use of the program.
So far I have transferred 85 vhs & 8mm tapes to digital DVD's with no problem. I have yet to find a DVD player that will not play them. I use FUJI blanks. The quality is great!
It takes a lot my time but, what the heck, I'm retired.
posted on January 27, 2003 08:41:39 PM new
>QUALITY OF THE DVD ALSO MEANS QUALITY OF THE PICTURE.
That's my question. Since VHS movies are often not the best quality and they are analog and on magnetic media, the picture is usually kinda grainy. Therefore, I am not sure if the recording would be able to take the full advantage of high-end blank media. If not, then what is the next step down so that I can match the quality of the recording vs. the media? I mean, I couldn't care less if one hundred years from now my recording of Old Yellar still works. I just want the quality to be at least equal to my recording.
posted on January 27, 2003 10:21:12 PM new
Verbatim. Ritek. Lots of names I've never heard of in the blank recording industry. The only information that I've been able to discern off of the Internet is to NOT purchase any blanks being mae in China, as the quality is poor. Right now, I am not overly fond of Sony or their products, as I have discovered how poorly they offer online support for their products. The last few computer drives that I had to return and to replace with better ones were also Sony. I guess I will look for Panasonic, as that seems to be the standard right now.
posted on January 28, 2003 01:28:21 AM new
DVDs are a digital format. While a "quality" brand may produce a longer lived disk or have a lower number of disks that fail, there is no difference in the actual recording. The software, sampling, encoding, etc can all a make difference in what you see and hear but all these being equal the resulting recordings are the same.
posted on January 28, 2003 11:22:46 AM new
Now there's a sensible, clear explantion that I should have figured out for myself. Thanks DeSquirrel.
As I said before, longivity isn't the issue, but an error-free recording surface is what I seem to be after. NOw that I know that, I can hound some of these brand name manufacturers to put out some error-rate info so consumers can match one to the other.
It is called the Sony DRU 500--the interior version costs about $359 and the exterior version costs about $429.
[ edited by Twelvepole on Jan 27, 2003 07:34 PM ]