DVD vs. DVD's VR Format

[Freehold Fred]

What is the difference between DVD Recording format and DVD Video Recording (VR) format? Do all/most drives read both formats? Which software is applicable to editing the VR format and what are its advantages?

[jcampi]

I always record movies on our camcorder in the video format. I don't edit them on the PC. I merely edit as I film and copy the entire DVD onto a normal size DVD-R disc. I believe the VR format allows you to edit with proper software on the PC.

[Freehold Fred]

Thnx, John,

Here is a reply I got from a member of my computer club and someone who is in the business:

The reason I posted this is that I got a DVD recorder as a gift from a supplier.
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Unlike traditional DVD formats, DVD VR (Video Recording) supports creation
of a DVD disc that can be re-edited without importing the existing video
content back to a computer. New videos can be added to the disc, existing videos on the disc can be trimmed or deleted, chapter points can be added and menus can be revised. There are two different DVD VR formats, DVD-VR and DVD+VR, and each has its own set of limitations in terms of editing and playback compatibility. When you delete DVD+VR format video, you cannot necessarily re-use that space, while with DVD-VR you can re-use it. However, a DVD-VR formatted disc will only playback on a DVD-VR aware device such as a home DVD Recorder that supports DVD-RW or DVD-RAM. A DVD+VR formatted disc will play on most DVD players. Also DVD-VR uses playlists instead of the navigation menus normally found on a DVD, while DVD+VR uses regular menus (with a 30MB space limitation for menus, menu video and menu music).
Each format is compatible with certain types of DVD media. In general,
DVD-VR format is used with DVD-RW and DVD-RAM discs, and DVD+VR is used with DVD+RW discs. This link shows a useful chart with the different DVD formats and their behaviors: http://www.ulead.com/learning/general/video_04_1.htm

[jcampi]

Sounds good to me. When I burn home video using the Video format I can view them on any DVD player.

[Freehold Fred]

More...

I am recording off my Cable using a Samsung DVD recorder.

The recorder only accepts DVD-RWs, but need to convert to DVD+RW in order to play on another recorder.

My first attempt to convert using CloneDVD failed (CRC error, but I think there is some copy protection raising its ugly head even though it is not a movie, but direct Cable/TV).

My Samsung DVD Recorder saves the main file as a .VRO when the disk is formatted for VR recording.

After 'finalizing' the disc, disk is supposed to be playable on other recorders. I have a cheapie 7" player that I haven't tried you and I bet that it will work. However, I cannot play this disk on my computer with various players: WMP, Sonic My DVD, PowerDVD, InterActual, WinAmp, etc.

I found a piece of software to convert the .VRO (apparently a variable bit recording) to .MPG.

My intent is to convert the .MPG back to DVD+RW.

My question: Will there be any degradation in all of this process; i.e., is MPG lossy when taken directly from a .VRO file?

[Freehold Fred]

Bottom Line: How do I convert DVD-VR format to the normal DVD-V. As of now, I cannot take my resultant .mpg from the DVD-VR and burn a DVD.

[See full thread to understand what's going on]

[Freehold Fred]

JIC anyone is interested, I hacked out the following solution:

Using TMPGEnc, piece of freeware, I was able to extract the MPGs from the DVD-VR.

Then I was able to edit the videos with Cyberlink's Producer 3.

Initially, I was unable to burn the DVD because my MPGs bloated to over 5.6 GB (that's what I was afraid was happening; losing quality somehow).

So I 'burned' a DVD to a DVD folder and NOT to a DVD+RW.

Then I copied just the chapter files that I really wanted to a new folder and using Nero, finally burned my DVD+RW. The quality is off, most noticeably with the sound not in sync with the video. Oh well.

Along the way, I discovered the Cyberlink's Producer does let me create a DVD VR disk, so I will go back and reexamine this product.