Getting started with editing home recorded dvd's?

[diana1096]

I've been recording my DD's programs off the television and would like to take the dvd's and put all the episodes to each show on their own disks.
I've been using a liteon LVW-5116GHC+ set at 8 hours (extended mode I believe) to record almost all of them. I recently had to switch from dvd+R to -R because the recorder was grinding loudly and I thought maybe it was the disks themselves. I will know tomorrow if that's what it was or not.
Can someone please point me to some tutorials (maybe 1) that will explain step by step in plain english how to accomplish this and what software I will need? Maybe a tutor?
I think my DD age 6 would find it easier if I could do this instead of having to pull out a notebook and lookup each episode she needs for classroom time or just to watch her favorites.

Thanks so much~Diana

Also, will I need something for my computer since it only records on dvd+r's and the new disks will be burned on dvd-r's? Can that be done?

[CWR03]

You should have a higher compatibility with DVD+R media with bitsetting enabled in the burning program. Most of them are enabled by default now.

As far as which program to use to make a standard video DVD, both Roxio and Nero have media editions with easy-to-use editing and burning programs.

[diana1096]

So copy the files to HD and then try and burn them?
How do I accomplish that?
Should I be making a data disk because roxio 6 basic (which I have) Doesn't recognize the files when I use the VCD (dvd) builder. Which would make sense I think because the recorder it's self doesn't read VCD's I believe. I know it only reads certain burn formats.
Thanks for helping :)

Also while looking at the setup I noticed that it has the following
output bitsteam or PCM
mpeg Bitsteam or PCM

I changed the mpeg is to bitsteam instead of PCM since I read that PCM is Mono? Is this the correct setup or should I change it back? The reason I ask is because on 1 disk the sound is off on some of the recordings. It seemed to skip parts and then suddenly come back. Since I read that bit about the pcm being mono I thought maybe that had something to do with it?

[CWR03]

PCM audio is simply an uncompressed format, which can be mono, stereo or even six-channel. If there's a problem with the audio on the disk from your DVD recorder, there may be a problem with your blank media.

You do not want to make a data disk, nor do you want to create a VCD if you want to maintain decent quality. You'd need a higher version of Roxio (one that contains DVD Builder) or Nero's media edition. Since there's no protection on a disk from a DVD recorder, you should be able to import the video files directly into whichever program. Roxio's DVD Builder, for example, will let you import segments of video which will appear as chapters, and it will automatically create menus just like a regular store-bought DVD. You can edit out commercials or trim around sections quite easily. Assuming the files from the DVD recorder are DVD-compliant, it wouldn't need to re-render before it burns, so the process should be fairly fast.