How to merge camcorder DVDs to a DVD5?

[Fjord]

My neighbor has a Sony DVD camcorder that records directly on 8cm DVD-RW. She wants to make a regular DVD5 by copying or combining several of her camcorder DVDs into one DVD5, playable in a DVD player.

The camcorder DVDs contain a folder VIDEO_TS with several .vob, .bup, and .ifo files. When played in a DVD player (PowerDVD5 in my case), a menu of clip thumbnails appears, with forward/back arrows to go to next/previous page of thumbnails. Presumably the camcorder appends video to a .vob and updates the clip menu every time you film a new clip.

My neighbor is not interested in editing or messing around with the footage, just copying it to normal DVD, and if possible to combine several camcorder DVDs onto 1 DVD5. She has a PC with 1 DVD burner, firewire port to connect the camcorder, and plenty of harddisk space.

I have recently started using Sony DVD-Architect, and I have Nero6/7 but have only used CD and data-DVD functions in Nero. I'm not familiar with the freeware/shareware/low-cost DVD software that my neighbor might be able use, so I could not advise her right away. She is only a novice PC user, so user-friendliness is top criteria. It does not have to be free. I'll appreciate any help with the following questions:

1. What is the simplest/friendliest program that will copy camcorder DVD to DVD5 (without editing or recoding)?

2. Is it possible to merge several camcorder DVDs onto 1 DVD5, and what is the simplest program that will do this?

3. If it is necessary to re-author, to create a new menu for the multiple camcorder-DVD compilation, what program would you recommend for a novice?

4. Is it possible to make a DVD5 on DVD+-RW, and then later add another "title" to the same disc (from a later camcorder disc). Or does a normal DVD always have to be burned at one time?

[ammck55]

Welcome to the Forum, Fjord:

1. A simple copy and paste will move the files from disc to a folder on your hard drive. If your friend's cam uses the standard 1.4 GB discs, three of them will fit on a single layer, DVD5 disc.

2. Yes it is possible. Forum Rules discourage asking what's "best", or "easisest", but that said, DvdReMake Pro (http://www.dimadsoft.com/dvdremakepro/index.php) is often suggested for this job. At the top of its lst of features is this description:
Put multiple DVDs together preserving original menus;

Take a look at this thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96211&page=1&pp=20) for an idea of how difficult this task is using freeware tools; difficult for us Newbies, that is. :)

3. See #2

4. Yes, but I'd not suggest trying this, at first. With RW media, you may run into compatibility issues; a wildcard that you, or your friend, will not need. This is going to be difficult enough without sorting out a media problem which RW's are famous for. Pick a brand of media that works well with your standalones and go with that after previewing your finished files in a software player to make sure you've got it "down".

ammck55

[ammck55]

Welcome to the Forum, Fjord:

1. A simple copy and paste will move the files from disc to a folder on your hard drive. If your friend's cam uses the standard 1.4 GB discs, three of them will fit on a single layer, DVD5 disc.

2. Yes it is possible. Forum Rules discourage asking what's "best", or "easiest", but that said, DvdReMake Pro (http://www.dimadsoft.com/dvdremakepro/index.php) is often suggested for this job. At the top of its lst of features is this description:
Put multiple DVDs together preserving original menus;

Take a look at this thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96211&page=1&pp=20) for an idea of how difficult this task is using freeware tools; difficult for us Newbies, that is. :)

3. See #2

4. Yes, but I'd not suggest trying this, at first. With RW media, you may run into compatibility issues; a wildcard that you, or your friend, will not need. This is going to be difficult enough without sorting out a media problem which RW's are famous for. Pick a brand of media that works well with your standalones and go with that after previewing your finished files in a software player to make sure you've got it "down".

ammck55

[Fjord]

Thanks ammck55. Sorry I violated the forum rules on my first post. I'll try out DvdReMake Pro. I had already read the thread you mention, which left me wondering where to start. So I really appreciate your suggestion.

[setarip_old]

3. If it is necessary to re-author, to create a new menu for the multiple camcorder-DVD compilation, what program would you recommend for a novice?
Unless I've missed something in the suggestions already made, a simple way to accomplish this, using a commercial product would be to use "TMPGEnc DVD Author". You can obtain a FULLY functional free 30 day trial version of this commercial program at:

www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tda.html

[ammck55]

setarip-I pointed Fjord at one piece of software. You pointed him at another. What is there to miss? Keep your comments on target.

Fjord-Many times, you'll receive pointers to more than one piece of software that will do the job. We usually try to recommend freeware tools, but since your target requires some "heavy lifting" with the freeware tools, I pointed you to DvdReMake Pro. setarip has obviously had success with the TMPEg product, so you have at least two choices given this advice. I'd suggest taking a look at both of them and making a choice based upon how easy their respective documentation is to unravel. If you get stuck with either of these app's, or a different one, go ahead and start a new thread with a good title aimed at your specific sticking point.

ammck55