Tried to read the DVD disks produced by my E95 with a DVD/CD Writer on
a PC.

BUT - it wouldn't even consider reading the DVD-RAM disk, which I need
it to do in order to retain quality.

However it DID read the DVD-R disk. There was a folder called \VIDEO_TS
In this there were the following files:

VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_2.VOB

I copied these OK to my PC.

Unfortunately though Windows Media Player wouldn't touch them. Do I
need a codec to play these on a PC. Better still I'd like edit them
with WMP.

Then there is the problem with the DVD-RAM disk - but that's another
matter!!

Cheers - Chris B.

In message .com, CJB
writes
Unfortunately though Windows Media Player wouldn't touch them. Do I
need a codec to play these on a PC. Better still I'd like edit them
with WMP.

Realplayer should run them.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.rhylonline.com

On Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:41 GMT, "CJB"
allegedly wrote:

BUT - it wouldn't even consider reading the DVD-RAM disk, which I need
it to do in order to retain quality.

How so? Does the E95 create the files in a different manner? Surely they
are still MPEG2 videos.

However it DID read the DVD-R disk. There was a folder called \VIDEO_TS
In this there were the following files:

These are the files created in the process of building a DVD. The video,
audio, menus, subtitles etc, are multiplexed (merged) into the files that
you see.

Unfortunately though Windows Media Player wouldn't touch them. Do I
need a codec to play these on a PC. Better still I'd like edit them
with WMP.

In order to play "them", you'll need a software DVD player like PowerDVD,
WinDVD or something like that. You should have had one with your DVD-ROM,
but I guess that depends on the manufacturer.

If you want the original video and audio you will need to de-multiplex the
VOB files. Then you'll need an editor that can handle MPEG files, and
there are plenty around with varying degrees of functionality.

"Download VideoReDo (www.videoredo.com) which will load VOB files, let
you edit them, and then save them as DVD compliant MPG."

Thank you - sounds exactly what I need!!

However I am a bit disappointed that I can't use DVD-RAM since I
thought that that was designed for importing to a PC ready for
converting and compressing but retaining maximum definition. Having to
use a an already compressed format such as DVD-R will mean that I'll
lose an amount of detail.

Cheers - Chris B.

On Wed, 25 May 2005 17:44:08 GMT, "CJB"
allegedly wrote:

However I am a bit disappointed that I can't use DVD-RAM since I
thought that that was designed for importing to a PC ready for
converting and compressing but retaining maximum definition. Having to
use a an already compressed format such as DVD-R will mean that I'll
lose an amount of detail.

I think you need to take stock of your definitions.

DVD-R is a disc format. It does not specify what kind of data is put onto
it.

DVD-RAM is another disc format. Ditto for it's data.

DVD-Video uses compressed video in MPEG2 format. You can put the files
that make up a DVD-Video onto DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RAM, etc. In any case,
the video files themselves will be the same.

DVD-RAM is intended to act just like a hard disc, you can add, modify and
delete individual files. It's ideal for backups, or home use DVD
recorders. To use DVD-RAM discs, you need a DVD drive that specifically
understands the DVD-RAM format.

From what I know about these stand alone DVD-recorders, they simply record
the video and audio that you feed it. The video will be in MPEG2 format,
so it's compressed already, it doesn't matter what disc you put it on.
I'm sure someone here will correct me if I'm wrong, which I would welcome.

Ok thank you. Hmm - confusing. So you say that when I play analogue
into say a stand-alone DVD recorder with hard drive then the footage is
converted to MPEG2 regardless. This is a 'lossy' format isn't it? It is
possible to choose between XP, SP, LP and EP - so I guess that defines
the percentage of detail lost.

Then when I burn a DVD-R or DVD-RAM disk the very same files get
transferred but in a different recording format - but the data remains
the same.

So given that I am able to read DVD-R disks I can copy the said files
to my PC hard drive. They have extensions as VOB, IFO, etc.

What I need to do now is to convert them into AVI or MPEG or Qucktime
or RealVideo or WMA whatever.

Unfortunately Windows Movie Maker and Windows Media Player do not
recognise these. So I need some other package to do this?

What's the best format(s) for burning to CD and/or uploading to a web
server with a link from a web page for anyone wishing to view the said
video file?

Many thanks - Chris B.

On Thu, 26 May 2005 16:33:20 GMT, "CJB"
allegedly wrote:

Ok thank you. Hmm - confusing. So you say that when I play analogue
into say a stand-alone DVD recorder with hard drive then the footage
is converted to MPEG2 regardless. This is a 'lossy' format isn't it?

Yes. But some/most people don't even notice. DVDs use MPEG2, but with
a high enough bit rate, people don't necessarily tell.

It is possible to choose between XP, SP, LP and EP - so I guess that
defines the percentage of detail lost.

Most likely. LP would have a lower bitrate than SP.

Then when I burn a DVD-R or DVD-RAM disk the very same files get
transferred but in a different recording format - but the data remains
the same.

As I understand it, although I don't have a standalone recorder.

Unfortunately Windows Movie Maker and Windows Media Player do not
recognise these. So I need some other package to do this?

Yes, you'll need something to demultiplex the VOB files. Have a look on
videohelp.com for a myriad of tools.

What's the best format(s) for burning to CD and/or uploading to a web
server with a link from a web page for anyone wishing to view the said
video file?

Obviously with a CD, you're limited to around 650MB. On the net, it
depends on your target, a lot of people have broadband and don't mind
downloading a 30MB video file. But there are others on dialup still and
they won't want that file.

Personally on the net I tend to use WMV format and aim for a picture
size and bit rate that will give me between 2-4MB. This is OK for dial-
up people and still allows them to see what's going on.

OK - many thanks for the info. I'm begining to get the picture (pun
intended!!). Next stoop is to convert the VOB etc. files into WMA. I
take your point about large video files. 2-4 Mb is OK. Right now my VOB
file is 1.2Gb !!! Chris Brady.

On Tue, 24 May 2005 16:09:32 +0100, Tony Morgan
wrote:

Your prime need is obviously a PC drive that will support both DVD-RAM
and DVD-R. I'd suggest that you have a look at the Panasonic (Matsui)
SW-9573-C (about £118 plus VAT).


MATSUI and PANASONIC are two different companies.

MATSU****A and PANASONIC are the same family of companies

Matsu****a info from here
http://www.panasonic.co.jp/company/en/gp_0005.html