Looking to grab a dvd recorder for the cpu this weekend. So many choices to choose from. Are they all the same, I don't really need software, its all available for free on the web. Any particular brand you'd recommend? Will be used for xbox game backups cough cough and dvd back ups cough cough. wink wink, yada yada. cheers
DVD R+-RW 8x8 or whatever, which one?
- Thread starter pizzapest
- Start date
I have the LG 4040B Multi-format DVD burner (all 5 formats). I don't know how great it is yet because I haven't been able to burn a single DVD! CDR's burn fine, but the packaged software BLOWS! NeoDVD5Plus absolutely sucks! The mpg's it rips are not able to be de-multiplexed by programs like TMPGEnc, therefore you can't export and burn with another program. I even used the Neo tutorial and rip & burn a DVD but it never worked.
I've had it 8 months and don't know what to do now. I'm considering uninstalling Neo and going with Adobe Premiere (which I have), ripping with the firewire connection supplied on my SoundBlaster Audigy 2 soundcard.
I've had it 8 months and don't know what to do now. I'm considering uninstalling Neo and going with Adobe Premiere (which I have), ripping with the firewire connection supplied on my SoundBlaster Audigy 2 soundcard.
WCD, what are you using to burn? Is your packaged software Neo? I'm sure the burner is great, I'm just having problems with the software.
My friend uses Nero and some sort of shrinking software, maybe an add on within Nero. He claims he makes near perfect copies of dvd's, including sound and menu's. I've seen his work, takes about 2 hours on his Pentium 3 450. I can't wait to start renting dvd's again.
I use LG multi format too. Also use DVD Shrink (this is free on the web). Only works for DVDs, but I have been able to burn anything I wanted so far. Lost one when I was learning the software, but it has a great guide available as well.
Hey Happy TapperThe Happy Tapper said:
I'm using Sonic MyDVD for making my own mpeg movies...
For making "backup's" I'm using DVD Decryptor and DVD Shrink.
I have a LG DVD Burner & a Panasonic DVD burner. I have Nero but never use it. For burning porn or TV I use Roxio Easy CD & DVD creator or NeoDVDplus5 software. For DVD movies, I like to back up with DVD X-Copy Express as it is simple to use. When burning DVD's it is best to have your virtual memory maxed out, and make sure you use DVD's that will play on your player.
Just get the LG 4040B . Its a great drive and cheap. Copies everything and produces backups without much effort.
Been using mine with DVDShrink,Anydvd and Nero without any problems.
Had all the rest at some point and for the money The LG drive kicks ass over the rest. The end result is the same with all of them,just how much you want to spend.
Been using mine with DVDShrink,Anydvd and Nero without any problems.
Had all the rest at some point and for the money The LG drive kicks ass over the rest. The end result is the same with all of them,just how much you want to spend.
Well, I'm glad to see at least some people have had success with NeoDVD5Plus but I've uninstalled it and given up on it. I do agree with the fact that it makes great copies (I've made two copies of a buddy's homemade DVD's and they're flawless).
I'm currently in the market for a broken Digi8/MiniDV that can only power up (need it for the ADC pass-through). I have to call around to some repair shops and see what's available. Once I get that, I can use firewire and try out some of the other great software suggested in this thread.
I'm currently in the market for a broken Digi8/MiniDV that can only power up (need it for the ADC pass-through). I have to call around to some repair shops and see what's available. Once I get that, I can use firewire and try out some of the other great software suggested in this thread.
I heard that dual layer 8.5 Gbyte burners may be out in a month or so. You can already by a dual-layer burner from:
www.sonystyle.com
With dual-layer, you'll be able to "back up" movies without the lossy compression.
www.sonystyle.com
With dual-layer, you'll be able to "back up" movies without the lossy compression.
For DVD's I found that Ulead DVD Workshop works well for me in generating the movies, the chapter stops, slide shows, menus and custom look to the screens. It's burning function has been really reliable using a Pioneer A104 and A106 but be warned that while it is multiplexing it can take a whole day to generate the files and the disc image before burning. This process also needs about 25 Gb of free space for temp filing as it generates the files and finally the end files will take up roughly 3 times the original space as the original 4.4 Gb file you were trying to encode (leave some empty space so you don't find out after processing that you don't have enough space). Warning though, DVD workshop uses PCM audio which does not work on older players.
Nero 5.5.09 has also worked well for me in generating CD-r/rw's and DVD-r/rw. My A106 is a multi-format but I have no use for DVD+r so I can't say how well Nero works for that. Since I use DVD workshop, I have not tested Nero for video DVD's. The data DVD's have been readable on all of my computers.
IMHO Roxio easy CD-creator now sucks. It is a huge program, temperamental and has so many conflicts with other programs that it drove me nuts (one was even with Adobe Acrobat 5 which is a very common program). The video DVD's it created worked ok but I found it restrictive in the creative department for customizing your DVD project (and less intuitive).
Lastly, as a note to all about 321 Studios DVD-express (I should probably keep this hush hush) but the company lost it's suit with the US gov't antipiracy commission and was ordered over a month ago to stop distributing its DVD-express with the content security system decryptor keys (the stuff that digitally unlocks the disc contents). DVD-express is no longer available on the web with the keys. However, Future Shop had a couple of copies of DVD-X Copy Platinum which contains DVD-express with the decryptor key. If you want to "back up" DVD's this is the last of the software that easily "backs up" your encrypted content.
For those who don't know, DVD Xpress will basically "back up" the whole disc (menus, extra content and the movie) and only adds a screen that says the disc is a backup. Since real DVD's are multi-layer they hold 9.4 Gb of data. DVD Xpress will compress the data to fit a single layer DVD-R. There is a small loss in image quality and may be a small pause in the movie where the original might be switching layers, but not really that big a deal and certainly better than those awful VCD's and DVD clones from China.
DVD Xpress works well (only a few DVD's where the menus and extra content would not burn but never encountered a disc where the movie itself could not be backed up, but this was with a "free, patched" copy from Kazaa). Now that I have the licenced copy, no glitches yet.
If you plan to snake a copy from Kazaa, pls read my virus warning first.
Nero 5.5.09 has also worked well for me in generating CD-r/rw's and DVD-r/rw. My A106 is a multi-format but I have no use for DVD+r so I can't say how well Nero works for that. Since I use DVD workshop, I have not tested Nero for video DVD's. The data DVD's have been readable on all of my computers.
IMHO Roxio easy CD-creator now sucks. It is a huge program, temperamental and has so many conflicts with other programs that it drove me nuts (one was even with Adobe Acrobat 5 which is a very common program). The video DVD's it created worked ok but I found it restrictive in the creative department for customizing your DVD project (and less intuitive).
Lastly, as a note to all about 321 Studios DVD-express (I should probably keep this hush hush) but the company lost it's suit with the US gov't antipiracy commission and was ordered over a month ago to stop distributing its DVD-express with the content security system decryptor keys (the stuff that digitally unlocks the disc contents). DVD-express is no longer available on the web with the keys. However, Future Shop had a couple of copies of DVD-X Copy Platinum which contains DVD-express with the decryptor key. If you want to "back up" DVD's this is the last of the software that easily "backs up" your encrypted content.
For those who don't know, DVD Xpress will basically "back up" the whole disc (menus, extra content and the movie) and only adds a screen that says the disc is a backup. Since real DVD's are multi-layer they hold 9.4 Gb of data. DVD Xpress will compress the data to fit a single layer DVD-R. There is a small loss in image quality and may be a small pause in the movie where the original might be switching layers, but not really that big a deal and certainly better than those awful VCD's and DVD clones from China.
DVD Xpress works well (only a few DVD's where the menus and extra content would not burn but never encountered a disc where the movie itself could not be backed up, but this was with a "free, patched" copy from Kazaa). Now that I have the licenced copy, no glitches yet.
If you plan to snake a copy from Kazaa, pls read my virus warning first.
