[quote name=\'DJDustman\' post=\'119713\' date=\'May 29 2006, 09:34 AM\']
Hi there, have questions regarding the dvd's.
How does one edit out commercials before finalizing the dvd? Do you need a program to do that? Can you edit them on the DVD player itself?
[/quote]
Different strokes for different folks. I have a DVR (TiVO-like device that digitally tapes multiple shows off TV) that records shows in their entirely. I have my DVD recorder hooked-up to the DVR and, when I play back the shows I've taped that I want to permanently record on DVD, I cue them and record them in real-time while pausing the DVD recorder when commercials come up. When I'm dubbing VHS tapes or DVD discs with gameshows to a DVD recorder it's the same thing: play the source, record with the DVD recorder, pause the recorder when commercials come-up (unless the fellow that did the original VHS/DVD tape was kind-enough to already skipped the commercial) and unpause it when commercials are over.
Now, once you stop your recording of a particular program there should still be space in the disc to record more material unless your recording fills the length of the speed recording selected (60m, 120m, 240m and 360m). STOPPING A RECORDING SESSION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THE DVD IS READY TO PLAYBACK ON ANOTHER DVD MACHINE. You can start and stop a recording as many times as the selected recording speed will allow. Example: you tape 25 min. of 'WML?' off of GSN by hitting Record (starting with the opening, pausing when commercials come on and then stopping as soon as the credits are over) and hit the Stop button at the end. If you selected the SP 120m speed you have 95 min. of free space left; if you selected XP 60m speed you only have 35 min. left, and so on. If you're adventurous and know what you're doing you can change recording speeds between recording sessions to increase/decrease the amount of recording space left in the disc. Using the above 'WML?' example, after recording a commercial-free 25m episode at SP 120m speed I can switch over to SLP 240m mode and, instead of having 95m left, I would have 190 min. of recording space (i.e. double the 95 min. from SP speed, which is approx. double the recording capacity if I were to switch to XP 60 min. mode). Just remember: XP 60m recording speed = excellent, SP 120m recording speed = good, SLP 240m recording speed = mediocre-to-bad (except for B&W kinescoped shows in good condition, which look OK) and SLP 360m recording speed = BAD
Now, once you've filled the disc to capacity (or recorded what you wanted and you're sure you don't want to record anymore) you're ready to FINALIZE the disc. ONCE A DVD-R OR DVD+R DISC IS FINALIZED ITS CONTENTS CANNOT BE RECORDED OVER OR ERASED; IT'S DONE. This is why you should go the extra mile and try to remove the commercials manually when recording the disc because, whatever you record in a disc, is there from when you hit Record until you hit Stop EXCEPT THE COMMERCIALS OR PORTIONS OF SHOW YOU DON'T WANT that you've paused. There are Rewritable discs (DVD-RW or DVD+RW) that theoretically you can Record and Erase over and over (like a VCR cassette) but these discs are the most likely to be corrupted and/or not be compatible with other DVD players. Just remember not to hit Stop when taking out commercials in a recording session, because DVD's recognize Stop as the end of a chapter. Record at the start of a show, pause to take out commercials/unwanted segments, then Stop when the show is over. When you get around to finalizing the disc each recorded show will be its own chapter that you can click and watch w/o commercials (or w/commercials if you have no other choice than to let them in, but you can fast-forward thru them like we do/did with VHS since forever).
