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239 Posts
Hello Everyone!
I have to tell you ... this whole DVD-R thing is just about driving me completely insane. I just don't understand why the darn things are so incompatible. For instance, I have 2 different DVD players (an older Pioneer unit and a rather new Cyberhome CH-DVD 500 unit). I also have a friend who has two Panasonics, a RV32 and the new S35S that he just got at BEST BUY a week or so ago for like $99. I have made some DVD-R's in a few different ways with the following results:
1.) Copy a DVD5 to a DVD-R with a computer (*.iso rip and burn)
Using DVD Decrypter you can simply RIP a DVD to your HDD in ISO mode then burn it back to a DVD-R but this only works with a DVD5 or another DVD-R (does not work for DVD9). This process creates a DVD-R that will play back in either of my DVD players as well as a Panasonic unit (RV32 and the new 35S) with no problems. Using a fairly new SONY PC with Win XP home and the 104/A04 Pioneer DVD-R drive. So far I've only tried this method with commercial made DVD discs (for backup purposes).
2.) Copy a DVD9 using DVD2ONE. In case you don't know DVD2ONE is a software program that basically compresses a DVD9 down to a size that will fit on a standard DVD-R. I have the most current version (ver. 111) and have only done full disk backups (there is also an option to back up just the movie with no menus whereas full disk backup does everything including all menus and extras etc.). DVD2ONE creates your VTS and VOB files which then need to be burned to a DVD-R and I've been using Nero to do this in NERO EXPRESS mode (which I am told makes a compliant DVD-R disc). Again using the SONY computer mentioned above. A disc created this way works on all the players mentioned except the Cyberhome. It simply locks up the Cyberhome as it tries to read the disc. Have to unplug power, plug back in, then eject the disc as soon as power is restored.
3.) Panny Standalone DVD-R from different sources. I have about 3 different DVD-R discs that were made on either an E20 or E30 and in all cases they play back flawlessly on the Panasonic players but do not play back on the Cyberhome. The Cyberhome plays back about 30 seconds or so ... will pause for a while (maybe another 30 seconds if not more) then continue playback for just a bit then repeat this cycle. These will play back on my Pioneer but there are moments (far too often like once every couple of minutes) where the screen breaks up into big ugly block pixels. Please note that 2 of the 3 DVD-R discs in question where recorded from VHS sources and 1 from a LaserDisc (for backup purposes).
4.) I have only one DVD+R that was made on a european model Philips standalone. This plays back with no problems on my Cyberhome which converts it to NTSC very nicely. The material recorded to the DVD+R was from a PAL VHS so yes the DVD+R here in question is PAL format. Cannot test on the other three units as they do NTSC only.
Well, as you can see, if you followed the above, the Panasonic units played back all of the different DVD-R discs with no problems. But the Pioneer and Cyberhome can only sometimes play back DVD-R discs depending on how they were made. Am I the only one that finds this really stupid! I mean, I will probably just end up getting a Panasonic player but what do I tell a friend I give a DVD-R disc too? Hope it works if not the new Panasonic S35S is only $99 at BEST BUY here is your "free" DVD-R (a say "free" as my friend may have to buy a new DVD player to play it).
I love DVD. Had to deal with VHS for far too long and LaserDisc was great but yeah I gotta admit DVD is now better than LD and much cheaper than LD ever was but for crying out loud a VHS tape recorded on just about any VHS VCR will work in ANY VHS VCR. Unfortunately DVD-R is not this way and it sucks big time. I wonder if this is by accident (too many manufactor's doing things slightly different and not to "spec") or if "the powers that be" have done this to us on purpose as some grand scheme of driving us all INSANE and stopping the sharing of DVD-R discs.
So next time you give a DVD-R to someone tell them if they don't have a fairly recent Panasonic DVD player ... well just tell them that if it doesn't work it's either a free coaster or a DVD-R that costs the price of a new DVD player!
Mad and Ranting ...
- John "FulciLives" Coleman
I have to tell you ... this whole DVD-R thing is just about driving me completely insane. I just don't understand why the darn things are so incompatible. For instance, I have 2 different DVD players (an older Pioneer unit and a rather new Cyberhome CH-DVD 500 unit). I also have a friend who has two Panasonics, a RV32 and the new S35S that he just got at BEST BUY a week or so ago for like $99. I have made some DVD-R's in a few different ways with the following results:
1.) Copy a DVD5 to a DVD-R with a computer (*.iso rip and burn)
Using DVD Decrypter you can simply RIP a DVD to your HDD in ISO mode then burn it back to a DVD-R but this only works with a DVD5 or another DVD-R (does not work for DVD9). This process creates a DVD-R that will play back in either of my DVD players as well as a Panasonic unit (RV32 and the new 35S) with no problems. Using a fairly new SONY PC with Win XP home and the 104/A04 Pioneer DVD-R drive. So far I've only tried this method with commercial made DVD discs (for backup purposes).
2.) Copy a DVD9 using DVD2ONE. In case you don't know DVD2ONE is a software program that basically compresses a DVD9 down to a size that will fit on a standard DVD-R. I have the most current version (ver. 111) and have only done full disk backups (there is also an option to back up just the movie with no menus whereas full disk backup does everything including all menus and extras etc.). DVD2ONE creates your VTS and VOB files which then need to be burned to a DVD-R and I've been using Nero to do this in NERO EXPRESS mode (which I am told makes a compliant DVD-R disc). Again using the SONY computer mentioned above. A disc created this way works on all the players mentioned except the Cyberhome. It simply locks up the Cyberhome as it tries to read the disc. Have to unplug power, plug back in, then eject the disc as soon as power is restored.
3.) Panny Standalone DVD-R from different sources. I have about 3 different DVD-R discs that were made on either an E20 or E30 and in all cases they play back flawlessly on the Panasonic players but do not play back on the Cyberhome. The Cyberhome plays back about 30 seconds or so ... will pause for a while (maybe another 30 seconds if not more) then continue playback for just a bit then repeat this cycle. These will play back on my Pioneer but there are moments (far too often like once every couple of minutes) where the screen breaks up into big ugly block pixels. Please note that 2 of the 3 DVD-R discs in question where recorded from VHS sources and 1 from a LaserDisc (for backup purposes).
4.) I have only one DVD+R that was made on a european model Philips standalone. This plays back with no problems on my Cyberhome which converts it to NTSC very nicely. The material recorded to the DVD+R was from a PAL VHS so yes the DVD+R here in question is PAL format. Cannot test on the other three units as they do NTSC only.
Well, as you can see, if you followed the above, the Panasonic units played back all of the different DVD-R discs with no problems. But the Pioneer and Cyberhome can only sometimes play back DVD-R discs depending on how they were made. Am I the only one that finds this really stupid! I mean, I will probably just end up getting a Panasonic player but what do I tell a friend I give a DVD-R disc too? Hope it works if not the new Panasonic S35S is only $99 at BEST BUY here is your "free" DVD-R (a say "free" as my friend may have to buy a new DVD player to play it).
I love DVD. Had to deal with VHS for far too long and LaserDisc was great but yeah I gotta admit DVD is now better than LD and much cheaper than LD ever was but for crying out loud a VHS tape recorded on just about any VHS VCR will work in ANY VHS VCR. Unfortunately DVD-R is not this way and it sucks big time. I wonder if this is by accident (too many manufactor's doing things slightly different and not to "spec") or if "the powers that be" have done this to us on purpose as some grand scheme of driving us all INSANE and stopping the sharing of DVD-R discs.
So next time you give a DVD-R to someone tell them if they don't have a fairly recent Panasonic DVD player ... well just tell them that if it doesn't work it's either a free coaster or a DVD-R that costs the price of a new DVD player!
Mad and Ranting ...
- John "FulciLives" Coleman
