Help on backing up DVDs

[kaalya]

Hello everyone !!

I am new at this forum, hence if there are some mistakes that I make, I apologise in advance.

I have read the FAQs but have not found a solution to my predicament, that's why this post.

I have the following equipment:-
1. A Sony DCR DVD Handycam (mini DVD)
2. An IBM thinkpad with a CD writer
3. A 5.1 dts multi region DVD player (local Indian brand that plays the mini DVDs directly)

Background:-
Along with my Handycam, I had bought a few mini DVD- RWs and now they are full.

Since they are very expensive compared to full sized CDs, I thought it will be a good idea to backup the content ( I am the IP owner, as they are homemade videos) on a CD format using my CD writer and reuse the mini DVDs for future videos.

I took the following steps:-

1. Downloaded AutoGK and installed the software
2. Copied the mini DVD content onto my hard drive
3. Converted all the files to a single avi format file (700 MB)
4. Burned this file as a data file onto a blank CD
5. Inserted the file into my DVD player, that plays all sorts of Video CDs.

Problem:-

The avi file plays very well using a windows media player on my PC, but refuses to play on the DVD player. DVD player says "unknown format".

Question:-

Is there any step that I have missed, or done wrong? or Is there another format that I need to convert the DVD files to?

[CWR03]

It's likely that your standalone player doesn't support video file playback. What is the specific brand and model number of your player?

[mod]

Hi, and welcome to the forum :)
Probably the problem is that your player is not able to play mpeg4 content, like divx, xvid etc, so you'll have to encode to another format, dvd or vcd or svcd. (What's the name of the player?)
If you plan to make more discs also consider to buy a standalone capable of mpeg4 playback (there're cheap ones), you could save space storing more videos per single dvd.

EDIT: ha! too late..

[kaalya]

Thanks CWR and MOD for your quick responses.

The make of the DVD player is Onida and the model is DFX-7100.

Their website is www.onida.com and the website manual says that this model is capable of playing DVD Video, VCD, Audio CD, DVD+-R/RW, CD+-R/RW, JPEG, Kodak Picture CD,MP3, SVCD and MPEG 2 formats.

I don't understand the difference between MPEG2 and MPEG4 but if my DVD player does not support the avi format, how do I convert my DVDs to a format that it will support? AutoGK does not seem to give an option other than avi.

Thanks

[mod]

this model is capable of playing DVD Video, VCD, Audio CD, DVD+-R/RW, CD+-R/RW, JPEG, Kodak Picture CD,MP3, SVCD and MPEG 2 formats.
Ok, your player can't playback mpeg4

I don't understand the difference between MPEG2 and MPEG4
On the forum there're a lot of infos about it.

if my DVD player does not support the avi format
AVI is a container, not a format, but this isn't important now :)

how do I convert my DVDs to a format that it will support?
Here we are. The miniDVDs are supported by your player, so the easiest way would be to keep em.. but they're expensive. Imo a solution could be to use an authoring software and create 4.7 GB DVDs (or DL) containing more than one video streams.
Another one could be making (S)VCDs, the quality isn't high but you can use CDs.
There're a LOT of infos about authoring and making (S)VCDs here on the forum, so just take a look at the index and choose ;)

[setarip_old]

Imo a solution could be to use an authoring software and create 4.7 GB DVDs (or DL) containing more than one video streams.The poster appears to only have a CD burner...

[mod]

The poster appears to only have a CD burner...
Right, sorry I missed it. Well, think about (S)VCDs then..

[kaalya]

Thanks folks for your help.

Have evaluated the cost of a new DVD player versus buying many mini DVDs / SVCDs and am buying an MPEG4 compliant player

Thanks again

[CWR03]

You might even consider buying a DVD burner - I don't know what media prices in India are like, but in the US DVD+R storage is much cheaper by the megabyte than CD-ROM storage. I rarely find a spindle of 100 CD's for under $20, but I can get a spindle of 50 DVD+R for $12.

[feedback]

I found a site in India that sells 10 blank 4.7 DVD's for Rs.299.
If Rs. is an indication for Indian Rupee that would be about $6.50 US Dollars which seems rather high to me for 10 blank disks.

Another thought for kaalya, if you decide to play or show your Mpeg 4 at a friends house that friend will need a Mpeg 4 capable player also.

[kaalya]

Hey thanks for the help guys.

My miniDVD Handycam is DVD-R. If I do decide to buy a DVD burner, will converting these to a format of DVD+R (since the blank media seems to be cheaper) be an issue?

I do have a friend in California who can get me a spindle of 50 when he comes over next month.

Any recommendations / cost indications for a DVD burner? What do I need to watch out for to ensure that I don't make the same mistake that I did while buying the DVD player?

[CWR03]

My miniDVD Handycam is DVD-R. If I do decide to buy a DVD burner, will converting these to a format of DVD+R (since the blank media seems to be cheaper) be an issue?
The format of the media is of no consequence to the data it contains. The only incompatibilities are to the drives or players that can read them.

I purchased a Pacific Digital burner on sale which has successfully burned many, many hundreds of disks without a single coaster. I see the same unit at the store from which I purchased it, still priced at $59 US.

Not only are DVD+R a bit cheaper, they're more compatible in most newer standalone players.