Burning DVDs on the PC

exalted512

Ok, I recently got a new PC a month or two ago
its a Dell Dimension XPS
SWEET computer
anyway...about 2 weeksago I tried to test out the DVD burner with a few of my brother's DVD's that i wanted
so i go to wally world and pick up 5 dvd-rw's
try to burn Pirates of the Carribean
it gives me an error
so I call up Dell and explain my situation...they proceed to tell me that my burner doesnt support the dvd-rw format
it can only do dvd "+" rw formats
im kind of mad...i had just opened 4 of the 5 individual wrappers around the dvd-rw's to make sure i didnt get a bunch of duds...
so i just wasted 12 bucks
lol
im cheap
go to best buy and pick up 25 DVD+RWs
come home...try burning again
it tells me i dont have enough space on my blank DVD
try ****...same thing
the blank DVDs are 120 minute videos
the movies are like...124 minutes...
so i can back to best buy to look and see if they have anything bigger than 120
nothing
so i tell the guy at best buy my problem...
now i know from my experience in car audio...best buy guys arent exactly the most knowledgeable people in the world
but this guy seemed to half-know what he was talking about
but all he pretty much told me was i needed to get some type of compression software that can be downloaded for free off the internet...
does anyone now what hes talking about?
if so...will this affect the sound quality/picture?
i tried looking at the individual files to take out the 'deleted scenes' or some of the extras but to no avail
so does anyone know what i should do?
i have Sonic DVD burning software and the burner is from Dell
thanks
-Cody

nadams

Erm, well.... I'm going to go ahead and assume that you're burning a backup copy.

We use DVDXCopy (back when it was legal to purchase), and it works great. However, there are programs out there that will cut out the extra 4mb. From what I understand, that 4mb is not actually data on the disc.... it's what makes it copy protected. The computer thinks that it's too big to fit on the empty DVD, therefore it won't let it burn. I'm not gonna tell you how to get around that, but google can be your friend.

Good luck with your backups!

nadams

Pauly

Yes "BackUps"

exalted512

didnt i say backups?:D
-Cody

nadams

PS- regarding DVD media, you typically want to stay away from any of the "-" medias for anything other than data (IE- files) because some DVD players do not play them well. the "+" formats are more readily... read.

exalted512

thats good...at least i got the good format...and didnt even know it:D
-Cody

polktycoon

Dvdshrink

Regarding the dvd formats, it debateable whether or not one is more compatible than the other. I've always read that the -R types were more compatible. -R format came out before the +R. It usually depends on how old your dvd equipment is. Your mileage may vary.

scottvamp

I still find it interesting that very few people are burning flawless uncompressed DVD's. Especially with the hope "dude I got a DELL" and can burn DVD rentals and never buy a movie again.

One of the only cases I have heard of saving big money is a friend who "modifies" X-Box's and downloads games on the WWW. He is up to 70 - slaps them on the XBox's 120g hard drive.
Nice......

exalted512

Originally posted by polktycoon
Dvdshrink

Regarding the dvd formats, it debateable whether or not one is more compatible than the other. I've always read that the -R types were more compatible. -R format came out before the +R. It usually depends on how old your dvd equipment is. Your mileage may vary.

thats the program they he was talking about...thanks...ill try that

Originally posted by scottvamp
I still find it interesting that very few people are burning flawless uncompressed DVD's. Especially with the hope "dude I got a DELL" and can burn DVD rentals and never buy a movie again.

i think i missed something here...care to explain?

thanks again
-Cody

scottvamp

If you could easily burn DVD's, we would no longer buy them we would just rent them for $2 and burn'em. My thing is to retain commercial quality for PQ and SQ. Therefor thier can't be ANY compression. Many people buying new computers are under that impression.
Lets us know how the program works.............

faster100

I just got a dvd burner and downloaded super dvd copy... i burned cody banks spy movie what ever for my kids, copied it perfectly, Dolby digital the works... Only it took 8 hours to copy and burn,, is this common?

PolkThug

Originally posted by scottvamp
If you could easily burn DVD's, we would no longer buy them we would just rent them for $2 and burn'em. My thing is to retain commercial quality for PQ and SQ. Therefor thier can't be ANY compression. Many people buying new computers are under that impression.
Lets us know how the program works.............

You CAN do it. With DVD Shrink you can rip out all the extras to make room for the video on a single layer. I remove the menus, subtitles, and Dolby tracks and just keep DTS track with the movie. However, if a movie is too long you will have to sacrifice PQ.

However, CC has a dual layer burner out now, but they don't sell the media for it, go figure!

Regards,
PolkTHug

PolkThug

Originally posted by faster100
I just got a dvd burner and downloaded super dvd copy... i burned cody banks spy movie what ever for my kids, copied it perfectly, Dolby digital the works... Only it took 8 hours to copy and burn,, is this common?

That seems way too long. Time to upgrade :-)

Shizelbs

Originally posted by faster100
I just got a dvd burner and downloaded super dvd copy... i burned cody banks spy movie what ever for my kids, copied it perfectly, Dolby digital the works... Only it took 8 hours to copy and burn,, is this common?

Thats a long time. My roommate could rip and burn a disc and be done with it in 3 hours. What speed drive do you have?

Personally, I am waiting until the end of the year, or however long it takes for dual sided media to be released. Drives better be faster and cheaper by then anyways. DVD burners are really nice. Its so nice to be able to back up all my files when I reformat on a single DVD instead of a bunch of CDs.

faster100

No i build computers and its pretty up to date, actually been slacking the last year.... Its a brand new pioneer 8x8

Shizelbs

Why is it taking you so long then? 8 hours seems way too long. What programs are you using?

faster100

i used super dvd copy, freeware....... I was also useing the computer all day as well.... I dont know why it took so long, maybe because i didnt save to disk, i let it cache from the burner and then inserted the blank dvd+r......... dunno

maybe the new program, dvd shrink will work better

Shizelbs

You say you were using the computer at the same time? That could have an affect on the duration it takes to rip it.

nadams

You buy computer parts from CC? Igh

newegg.com has the burners for under $80 (when they're on sale), but you can still only buy the media one disk at a time, for $18 a piece :eek: That hurts....

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-106-953&DEPA=0
Burner

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-132-353&depa=1
Media

Sami

Originally posted by PolkThug
However, if a movie is too long you will have to sacrifice PQ.

You can split the movie to two discs with DVDShrink.

http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/dvdshrink31-main.htm

exalted512

Ok i downloaded DVD shrink and need some more help
here's the options im given:
menus:
1. AC3 5.1-ch Unspecified
1. AC3 2-ch Unspecified

just keep the 5.1?--if i do...will i still be able to play it if i dont have surround sound?

main movie:
1. AC3 5.1-ch English
2. AC3 5.1-ch French
3. AC3 2-ch English

5.1?...again...will it play from just a tv without surround sound?

---

subpicture:

---

1. English

---

2. French

i checked english

Extras:
1. AC3 2-ch English
1. AC3 5.1-ch English
2. AC3 2-ch English

just 5.1?...same questions as above
thanks for your help!!
i appreciate it a lot!
-Cody

nadams

Leave everything but the French. It should allow you to burn it, then. No need to get rid of everything.... just one part that will let you burn it.

Sami

If it lets me fit the movie into one disc without compressing, I will delete everything except DTS (or DD if no DTS) track. Subtitles don't take much space. I don't need the extras and I prefer to start the movie without menu so my backups only have the main movie with surround track.

exalted512

thats what i did...i started at 5:37...its 5:43 and 37% encoded and says it has 12 minutes left...ill let you guys know how long it takes
thanks for all your help
-Cody

nadams

I guess it's really personal preference. I prefer to leave as much as I can. If you remove the 2ch audio track, and then only have the 5.1, it's probably going to screw up the audio for you. Unless it downmixes it to stereo somewhere along the line, you're going to be missing 3 channels of sound, including most of the dialog.

Sami

Originally posted by nadams
I guess it's really personal preference. I prefer to leave as much as I can. If you remove the 2ch audio track, and then only have the 5.1, it's probably going to screw up the audio for you. Unless it downmixes it to stereo somewhere along the line, you're going to be missing 3 channels of sound, including most of the dialog.

Actually there is no sound at all if you leave out the 2ch, in 2ch rigs of course. In surround systems with DTS/DD that's all you need, either a DD or DTS track.

nadams

Good to know...

exalted512

well...it took 21 minutes to download to the computer and 13 minutes to go to disk
and...
it wont work...on the DVD player in the living room...it said please check disk
on the one in my room...it says bad disk
any ideas?
-Cody

PolkWannabie

What DVD player do you have and/or what formats is it capable of reading and what format was the media you copied it onto ?

Demiurge

If it's not a Plextor you're wasting your money. Best Burners on the market.

exalted512

Originally posted by PolkWannabie
What DVD player do you have and/or what formats is it capable of reading and what format was the media you copied it onto ?

the one in my room is some KLH pos
the one in the living room is GE
dont know the formats
i used dvd+rw dvd's
-Cody