how to view and edit .vro files on pc

[jpbeer]

Hi, I’m looking for some info on how to back up recordings from a Pioneer DVD HDD recorder in Japan. Now that all broadcast tv has gone digital, it seems that pretty much everything broadcast here has the “one copy” cprm protection on it. This only allows me to back up a recording to a DVD RW in “VR mode” and seems to only be playable on the device on which it was recorded, (is this true?) That’s a bummer because that particular device is on the fritz and I’m not sure how much longer it will be usable. I have several recordings that I would like to keep and make somewhat “future-proof,” but I’m finding the task daunting.

I was able to get the files on my computer with dvd decrypter in iso read mode, leaving me with a large ISO image file and a 5Kb MDs image file. I then used Iso Buster to extract what I could (not really fully understanding ISO buster yet, but working on that) and ended up with a .VOB file, which looks like something usable, but nothing I currently have can seem to open it. Using another part of the files in ISO buster I extracted .VRO file and corresponding VR_MANGR.IFO file. Nothing I have seems to do anything with that either. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on new programs to deal with this, but am willing to pay for legit software that will do the trick. I hoped that buying iso buster would solve my problem, but maybe I need something more?

I’ve done quite bit of searching, but haven’t stumbled upon anything simple or useful yet. I’m really looking for a quick fix on this because there are a few programs in which my restaurant and I appeared and I would like to get lasting copies of those before my DVR dies.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Ghitulescu]

the solution (one of them) has already been given here, use TMPGenc DVD author, it can read all the clips from the VRO. You can also use any video editor to cut at clip boundaries, it would however pose some problems if there are resolution changes.

[kurkosdr]

Related Tip: Switch you recorder's recording settings to "Video mode" (from "VR mode").

This option is usually under "Disc options/settings" or "Disc recording options/settings". See the manual for more. For example, in my recorder's manual (http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/3293880111.pdf), the setting is on page 99. Hope your recorder's settings menu is similar.

This will produce DVDs playable in ALL DVD players (and viewable and editable on PCs of course), in the standard .VOB (DVD-Video) format.

Only one caveat: Don't forget to "finalize" the DVD after you 've finished recording, in order for it to be 100% compatible with all DVD players.

Cheers.

PS: Sure, this won't help with any DVDs you 've already written, but it will help you avoid vro files from now on.

[Ghitulescu]

On Pioneer models the VRO mode has way more options than the VideoMode.