I use –RW disks (video mode) with the dvd 505. I have a laptop with a dvd +RW burner (it just burns to +R(or +RW) disks).

Question 1
I have used dvd backup software (dvdXcopy) to successfully rip the mini dvd to a larger dvd. Am I sacrificing any quality? I really have no clue. I assume the 5.1 surround sound comes through as it does on other DVD discs but I really do not know. Maybe I need to look into the software myself. I have not been able to find anything out and thought maybe someone would know off the top of his or her head.

Question 2
There are some scenes I would like to edit and burn to an 8 cm DVD. I have read the other post concerning ripping and I would like to know the exact process for ripping the files without losing quality.

For example, it seems like I can use the clunky software supplied with the DVD 505 (please tell me which program to use…or give me a screen shot or two), to rip, or maybe you drag and drop from windows explorer, the mpg (or .vob I am not sure) to the hard drive. It might help if a fellow user could detail the process (which program to use, which files to copy etc) of copying to the hard drive via the USB (or should I use my dvd drive….).

I think I then need to purchase NERO 7 ultra. After that what do I do? Do I edit the scenes I want to edit and then add then files and then burn? Does it keep the 16:9 ratio and the 5.1?


Also since the 8cm disks are bigger, can I copy 2-3 mini disks to one larger disk with the NERO 7 (Assuming I store each mini dvd on my computer somehow…hopefully from the directions above).

Thanks for your help.

You probably are not losing quality if it was a straight copy. The sound should also not have changed. If any re-encoding happened, you would have lost quality. This would also have taken a long time. (45 mins +)

You can use Picture Package to copy the clips to the PC via a USB connection to the camacorder or directly from DVD. The copied files will be called xxxxx.mpg. Or you can just directly copy the .VOB files in the VIDEO_TS directory on the DVD to your PC. You will lose 16:9 this way if you have shot in widescreen, but this can be restored as per the sticky on editing in the 403/5 forum, using fix12c utility.

I would rather suggest Ulead VideoStudio 10+ because Nero is not really an editing program. Ulead will do all you want, and will also work directly off the DVD without any ripping rquired.

Ulead VS10+ will also author DVDs so you can burn your edited clips to a 12 cm DVD with your own choice of menus, titles etc.

Regards

Mike

Do you only lose the 16:9 if I get the .vob files? Does the .mpg from picture package keep the 16:9? I assume the 5.1 ss stays?

I will look into Ulead VideoStudio 10+. Thanks again!

Picture Package should retain 16:9 and 5.1.

Regards

Mike

When you say use Picture Package do you mean use the PP Duplicator, PP DVD viewer, PP Menu, or PP Producer 2? Also, does it just copy to the temp directory...i.e. do I have to move it out of the temp directory before I close the program? I do not see a program that just rips to the HD.

Thanks

Mike means the Sony "Picture Package" software that came with your Sony DCR-DVD505. And if I remember right, with Windows XP the default puts the files in your "Image Transfer" folder (look in your "My Documents" folder for the "Image Transfer" folder.

__________________
Joe Louvar -
Sony DCR-DVD405
Ulead VideoStudio 10+

In your thread you said the following: "You will lose 16:9 this way if you have shot in widescreen..."

I have been copying all of my video to my hard drive using my PCs DVD drive. I have also used Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 to copy DVDs from my hard drive. I have not lost the 16:9 widescreen format nor the 5.1 Stereo Surround sound. I have never installed the supplied Picture Package software, simply because I don't need it.

I was curious, is it because of the Roxio program that I am using that is preserving my widescreen format? I was under the impression that when you made the statement, you were referring to someone copying the miniDVD directly from their PC to the hard drive. I could be wrong but I don't know why that would change the format since you would be copying bit-for-bit, byte-for-byte from the miniDVD to your hard drive.