BS: Home Made DVD problem

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Tangledwood
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 04:28 AM

I must have struck lucky then, no problems here although I've only used it on a couple of CDs that I bought at the Smithsonian.

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 09:18 PM

Those hacks don't really work well. I tried a few, but the picture quality is awful.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Tangledwood
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 04:49 PM

"There are also programs out there that will convert DVDs from different regions."

There are also codes that can be entered to most DVD players that enable them to read all regions. A search for "hack" + the model number should come up with something.

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 03:39 PM

DVD Shrink 3.2 is the best one, and it works in partner with NERO, so you need both. You can copy directly or reduce it in size to fit a standard DVD, or you can copy to a dual-layer DVD with no compression, but you need to have an earlier version of NERO (6.0 or earlier) to use it if you want to watch your copies on anything other than your computer. The newer versions of Nero have a lot of VISTA nonsense in them that limits the use of your copies, even though they're legal, etc. The newer NERO will also slow your computer to a crawl because it has an indexing feature called Nero Scout. Even though you may say not to install it via custom installation, it's still in there.

There are also programs out there that will convert DVDs from different regions. I found one for watching some films that haven't been released in the U.S. but it has a free trial period and after that you load a different of their programs with a free trial period--the page to actually buy the software has never worked, it might be a U.S. legal thing. I've bought films via Amazon and eBay where I had to use that software to read the disk to make a copy and convert the zone on a new disk, using DVD Shrink, so I can watch it here. I don't know if using a region-free player will allow you to copy DVDs to play anywhere, but that's a different question.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: richd
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 03:19 PM

This might work. http://www.freewarezoom.com/archives/free-dvd-ripper. A lot of free stuff is cruddy.

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: GUEST,AR
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 02:55 PM

Thanks mike. Really all I am looking is a basic set up which allows me to stick a DVD into computer, record it, then pop a blank in and make a copy, I am not hi tech, so don't need the add ons most seem to offer.

Thanks for talking the time to reply.

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: richd
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 02:53 PM

PC screens and TV screens are different. 16:9 only works properly on widescreen TV. If you record/edit in 16:9 a 'normal' ratio TV will stretch and distort the picture to fit the ratio. As last post suggested by far the best option is to record 4:3. There is nothing to be gained shooting in 16:9 unless you know it will only ever be watched on widescreen.Camera viewfinders also tend to include more than you will see on a TV screen. TV automatically 'masks off' some of the image, to avoid problems with frame edge etc. Computer monitors include the whole frame. Pro cameras include safe area guides to help correct framing, but as a rule of thumb you should aim to frame important elements of the scene pretty close to the middle of the screen.

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: open mike
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 02:31 PM

perhaps you can take the movies in 3:4 ratio instead of 9:16,

there is also a letterbox format...let us know what you find out!

I think DVD is more universal than VCR...no different systems (PAL, NTFS?)

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: GUEST,AR
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 01:25 PM

My laptop has a DVD re writer, I am looking for a programme that I can copy my DVD's with. There are several on the web, I have no idea which one to choose. I normally copy my DVD's on my second domestic set, I have two linked in to my television but it takes ages to copy them.

If anyone can advise it would be a great help.

Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:42 PM

TV's always used to trim. If it is a CRT version it was to hide fly-back. Dunno about LCD & Plasma - they don't have the resolution yet to warrant any outlay. even with HDMI.

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Dazbo
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 02:23 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Dazbo
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 05:23 PM

Cheers I'll have a look at the DVD settings tomorrow or tuesday as it's morris practice tomorrow night. I'm region 2 PAL.

Subject: RE: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 11:57 AM

You may be lucky that the DVD player will play the homemade disks. Sometimes they won't, if the player is older. If you have a menu of choices for the DVD player (probably under Setup) maybe just play with the different settings? The TV is displaying what the DVD is sending to it, so perhaps the fix is there.

Just a guess.

Oh--where are you? What is your DVD zone? I don't know if it makes a difference, but it might help those offering suggestions figure out what you're working with.

SRS

Subject: BS: Home Made DVD problem
From: Dazbo
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 05:03 AM

I have a mini DV video camera that I've been mainly using to film folkie type things (in a 16:9 ratio) and with my PC (running Vista) used the movie and DVD maker bundled with the software to make DVDs. When I play them back on the PC they are fine. However, when I play them back on the TV with my DVD player either the TV or (I suspect) the DVD player trims about 5% of the picture off sides and possibly from top and bottom too.

The wide screen TV has various options on picture format (14:9, Wide, 4:3 etc) and the edges are missing on all options. The DVDs are produced in 16:9 and, as I've said above, the picture is complete on the PC.

Any ideas on how to correct the problem, or even where the problem is?

Thanks