What Do I Need?

[ermadea]

My PC came with a cd writer, but I would very much like to edit home made dvd's(Take out the adverts and such). My dvd recorder wont let me do that, and I can only overwrite whole titles, so if a programme is left recording, I can't, like video recording, wind to the end and then start recording again right at the end of the last recording,(Are you still with me?) would an external dvd writer let me do that, that is edit out parts I don't want and would I also be able to burn dvds with that, any help or ideas would be appreciated, as I don't really know what I need to buy. Iam running Windows xp service pack 2, and use Windows media player.

[romko]

Get a dvd recorder with a hard drive. You have far more control over what you burn onto a disc, and can do pretty much what you are asking. even though for editing VHS is still more versatile, even if the qusality isnt as good - I like using audio dub etc!

quote:
----- DVD-RAM: the most durable of all. I bought 20 of them as soon as I
got the DVD recorder, and so far I have used just one of the discs for
time shifting. The entire disc gets formatted as much as once or twice
per week, and it�s still going strong. The plus side of using a
DVD-RAM is that you can record something, and edit it using the DVD
recorder, that�s one thing that can�t be done using a DVD-RW. The
DVD-RW only allows you to erase a full segment, ot to keep it, but you
can�t edit the segment. Also, after editing the DVD-RAM, you can
reclaim the free space left by the editing and use it to record more.
That�s something that can�t be done with a single VHS tape unless you
make a copy of the edited version. Why is this useful? If you are doing
a timer recording of a TV show, want to keep it, but also do you want
to erase the commercials. You can erase the commercial after the
recording, and also get some free space in the process. The only
disadvantage of DVD-RAM discs is that they are not playable in most DVD
players (unless they are designed to do that), while a DVD-RW can be
playable by most DVD players after finalizing the disc. -----

from thread dvd recorder on newsgroup sci.electronics.repair

hope this helps!

[JB9000]

First off all buy a dvd writer drive to put in ur pc then get some dvd editing software, i've seen this recently being given away on front of magazines, think theres one such programme called pinnacle or something. As long as u want to edit your own content theres a wealth of programmes i should imagine. if you want to author copy protected dvds then there a programme thats called dvd shrink that does the job.
Sorry i cant be anymore help.

[ermadea]

Thanks romko, very interesting, but as I just got the dvd recorder at Christmas, Iam not looking to buy one with a hard drive, I was really looking for something I could edit on the pc, and as it says dvd ram is not playable on most recorders, mine only supports + and - formats, anyhoo, thanks again for the very useful information, which I have copied.

[ermadea]

JB9000, Thank you, I swear your answer was not there when I replied to romko, that is much more what I wanted to hear, so you reckon I should buy a dvd writer for the pc and then get some editing software? I will look around then for something suitable, but I don't know what to buy, are all external dvd writers much the same?

[pauln90]

You can buy a dvd writer for your PC for about �20 this will be a direct replacement for your cd writer.They are easy to fit.
Once the dvd writer is installed you can download your recordings from your dvd recorder onto the PC.

To remove adverts etc you will need editing software I use Videredo Plus.It is about $50 to buy but you can download a trial copy which lasts for 14 days which will give you time to see if it suits your needs.I find it very easy to use.If you do a Google you may find free software

Once the files are edited you need a programme such as nero to prepare the movie files for burning to a DVD.

Have a look at this site It will give you an idea of the type of DVD writer you need

http://www.savastore.com/products/components/o ptical/

Hope this helps

[ermadea]

Thanks pauln90, but I don't think Iam competent enough to replace my cd drive with an internal dvd drive, good site though, and I appreciate your help