Deleting recordings on a DVD-RW disc

TRIPS · 30-05-2011, 17:10

I have started to copy a TV series on to DVD for a relative, i thought i could delete and record latest episodes on the same discs as long as they were DVD-RW.
recorded a few episodes on DVD-RW discs,i had to finalise the discs so they could be played on another DVD player,
I then found i couldn't delete watched episodes.
Is there no way i can record onto DVD-RW and then delete the recordings
or just record over old recordings.

grahamlthompson · 30-05-2011, 17:29

If a recording is made using the DVD-Video standard so that the discs can be played in a normal DVD player then the title navigation data is built in. The only way to alter the title content is to reformat the disc and re-author it.

DVD Recorders can use a different format that allows you to add and delete content until you finalise the disc. Such recordings are generally only playable in the DVD recorder that recorded it.

It's possible to also use rewritable DVD's a big floppy discs with a PC but again you can't normally play the video content using a DVD player.

TRIPS · 30-05-2011, 19:42

Thanks Graham,
So once i finalise a DVD -RW i cant delete or edit.
afaik as long as you dont finalise an ordinary DVD+R you can edit and delete recorded programs on that disc, i cant see the advantage of DVD-RW over an ordinary DVD disc.

dmp · 30-05-2011, 19:56

If you eraze the content of a dvd-r then the space taken by the recording is lost and the size of the disc is reduced by the size of the removed file. With a dvd-rw then once the disc is erazed it keeps the origininal size and can be written on time and time again.

Dave

TRIPS · 30-05-2011, 20:10

Ah i see,thanks Dave.

mllfap · 30-05-2011, 21:40

If you had a Pioneer recorder you would have no problems.
They have an Unfinalise option so you can undo it , delete what you want to delete then finalise it again.
But from what I've seen most recorders will only allow you to delete all the content once you finalise the disc

mllfap · 30-05-2011, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmp

If you eraze the content of a dvd-r then the space taken by the recording is lost and the size of the disc is reduced by the size of the removed file. With a dvd-rw then once the disc is erazed it keeps the origininal size and can be written on time and time again.

Dave

Thats only true if you use -RW in its VR mode , not in VIDEO mode which is what most recorders support and discs recorded in VR mode won't play in many normal players.

Video mode will only allow you to reuse the space in the position its in.
For example - if you have 4 half hour shows on a disc and you delete programme 2 and 3 you could only record in VIDEO mode in that one hour section in the middle.

In VR mode the 1 hour of space is fully recovered and its will be as if the 1 hour is at the end of the current recordings.

This is a limitation of +RW too

TRIPS · 30-05-2011, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by mllfap

If you had a Pioneer recorder you would have no problems.
They have an Unfinalise option so you can undo it , delete what you want to delete then finalise it again.
But from what I've seen most recorders will only allow you to delete all the content once you finalise the disc

I have a Panasonic, DMR-EX78 DVD Recorder. there dosent seem to be an option to delete DVD-RW disc when it has been finalised.

mllfap · 31-05-2011, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRIPS

I have a Panasonic, DMR-EX78 DVD Recorder. there dosent seem to be an option to delete DVD-RW disc when it has been finalised.

I think Panny are like most recorders.
You can only re-initialise or reformat it to erase it.

Panasonic took years to support -RW(VIDEO) and tried to make its buyers use the RAM discs for rewritables.

But even though they gave in and offered -RW(VIDEO) a few years back I don't think they've ever offered -RW(VR) because it can't do anything that RAM can't do

stryvya · 31-05-2011, 17:20

so there's your answer, your Panasonic, DMR-EX78 will use DVD-RAM discs

Go and by a couple and record and delete at will, like a Hard Drive on a Computer

only drawback (Maybe) if other equipment cannot use DVD-RAM

TRIPS · 31-05-2011, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by stryvya

so there's your answer, your Panasonic, DMR-EX78 will use DVD-RAM discs

Go and by a couple and record and delete at will, like a Hard Drive on a Computer

only drawback (Maybe) if other equipment cannot use DVD-RAM

Thanks for advice everyone,
If relatives DVD player plays DVD-RAM.
problem solved.

mllfap · 31-05-2011, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRIPS

Thanks for advice everyone,
If relatives DVD player plays DVD-RAM.
problem solved.

If your relatives player plays DVD RAM I'll eat my hat.
Modern recorders might do and many Panasonic players will do but if their player is neither of those the chance of it playing RAM are remote which is why the format never caught on.

Buy a hard drive recorder then you can keep all the episodes on there and write and erase discs at your leisure until you've finished with them then delete them from the hard drive.

TRIPS · 31-05-2011, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by mllfap

If your relatives player plays DVD RAM I'll eat my hat.
Modern recorders might do and many Panasonic players will do but if their player is neither of those the chance of it playing RAM are remote which is why the format never caught on.

Buy a hard drive recorder then you can keep all the episodes on there and write and erase discs at your leisure until you've finished with them then delete them from the hard drive.

I do have hard drive on my player, the problem is making recordings for relative to watch on their dvd player, i prob will be making a lot of recordings and just finding way to cut the cost.
Dont think mine can play DVD-RAM.
from manual
This unit records and plays DVD-R, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, and
+RW, and plays DVD-RW (DVD Video Recording format). However you
cannot directly record to a DVD-R DL or +R DL disc on this unit (playback
and copy are possible

pavier · 31-05-2011, 22:50

On both my 7 year old Pioneer and 2.5 year old Sony HDD/DVD recorders you can unfinalise video mode -RW discs, although the older Sonys were based on Pioneer components/software so they're more or less the same.

Both recorders allow re-use of finalised video mode DVD-RW discs by the option to either unfinalise and erase content or to re-format/initialise the disc which wipes everything, freeing up the whole disc space.
When unfinalised, the video mode disc only regains usable space for the last titles erased in the list. Erasing titles earlier than the end of the list will not give up the vacated space for re-use. In VR mode you can erase anything anywhere and re-use the space.

I've no idea about DVD+RW discs, never use them.

grahamlthompson · 31-05-2011, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRIPS

I do have hard drive on my player, the problem is making recordings for relative to watch on their dvd player, i prob will be making a lot of recordings and just finding way to cut the cost.
Dont think mine can play DVD-RAM.
from manual
This unit records and plays DVD-R, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, and
+RW, and plays DVD-RW (DVD Video Recording format). However you
cannot directly record to a DVD-R DL or +R DL disc on this unit (playback
and copy are possible

DVD-R blank discs cost about 16p each in bulk these days.

MrGiles2 · 01-06-2011, 08:56

I sometimes use DVD-RW for recording. I FORMAT the disc on the DVD recorder if it has been used, this wipes the disc. I then recopy and finalise before it can be used on other machines.

DVD-R can only be used once. They are cheap enough to buy, from e-buyer you can buy a block of 100 discs for about £25.

grahamlthompson · 01-06-2011, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGiles2

I sometimes use DVD-RW for recording. I FORMAT the disc on the DVD recorder if it has been used, this wipes the disc. I then recopy and finalise before it can be used on other machines.

DVD-R can only be used once. They are cheap enough to buy, from e-buyer you can buy a block of 100 discs for about £25.

I buy 100 Ritek full face printables from a weekly computer show (National Motorcycle Museum) for about £16.00.

Chasing Shadows · 01-06-2011, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGiles2

DVD-R can only be used once. They are cheap enough to buy, from e-buyer you can buy a block of 100 discs for about £25.

And from Asda you can buy a spool of 50 for £3.70.

TRIPS · 01-06-2011, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows

And from Asda you can buy a spool of 50 for £3.70.

wow,didnt realise discs are so cheap.£8.95 for 50 now.but still a lot cheaper than a few years back.problem solved.

mllfap · 01-06-2011, 22:54

Why not record the programmes on your hard drive and keep them there.
Put togerther a -RW copy for your relatives player and then if you need to add recordings just wipe the -RW and copy another compilation .
If programmes from the previous disc are needed again just don't delete them from the hard drive until you've completely finished with them.

If you ensure your hard drive recordings are in SP you could edit the ads and padding out and as long as you ensure the total is 2 hours or less you can burn your dvd in 8 minutes.

If your recordings are in XP or the wrong quality level you will always have to burn in real time but there's no need to if you work things out first

TRIPS · 02-06-2011, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mllfap

Why not record the programmes on your hard drive and keep them there.
Put togerther a -RW copy for your relatives player and then if you need to add recordings just wipe the -RW and copy another compilation .
If programmes from the previous disc are needed again just don't delete them from the hard drive until you've completely finished with them.

If you ensure your hard drive recordings are in SP you could edit the ads and padding out and as long as you ensure the total is 2 hours or less you can burn your dvd in 8 minutes.

If your recordings are in XP or the wrong quality level you will always have to burn in real time but there's no need to if you work things out first

This is exactly what i wanted to do milfap but as i said in OP once i finalise -RW disc i am unable to edit in any way.
are you saying as long as i record the DVD-RW in SP mode i am able to edit the disc after it has been finalised.

Chasing Shadows · 02-06-2011, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRIPS

This is exactly what i wanted to do milfap but as i said in OP once i finalise -RW disc i am unable to edit in any way.
are you saying as long as i record the DVD-RW in SP mode i am able to edit the disc after it has been finalised.

No, he's saying don't wipe them from your hard drive. So, if you need to make changes, just format the DVD RW and re-record it with the recordings which are still on your DVD recorder's hard drive.

mllfap · 02-06-2011, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRIPS

This is exactly what i wanted to do milfap but as i said in OP once i finalise -RW disc i am unable to edit in any way.
are you saying as long as i record the DVD-RW in SP mode i am able to edit the disc after it has been finalised.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows

No, he's saying don't wipe them from your hard drive. So, if you need to make changes, just format the DVD RW and re-record it with the recordings which are still on your DVD recorder's hard drive.

Thats right.
Don't delete anything from the hard drive until you are 100% finished with it.
Then instead of editing it you can simply erase the disc and do the new recording including ones from before because they are still on the hard drive.

If you make sure your hard drive recordings are in SP you should be able to do a high speed HDD to DVD copy in under 10 minutes.
If they are in XP you will have to copy in real time unless the total is under 1 hour.

MrGiles2 · 08-06-2011, 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows

And from Asda you can buy a spool of 50 for £3.70.

And if you buy too cheap, you might increasing the risk of disc failure which would be a complete waste. You only get what you pay for.

Chasing Shadows · 08-06-2011, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGiles2

And if you buy too cheap, you might increasing the risk of disc failure which would be a complete waste. You only get what you pay for.

True - but of the last spool of fifty which I bought from Asda at that price, none have failed yet. And I'm over half way down the cake pack. But then, I do have a very sturdy DVDR which seems capable of writing to (and finalising) anything.

30-05-2011, 17:10	#1
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Deleting recordings on a DVD-RW disc I have started to copy a TV series on to DVD for a relative, i thought i could delete and record latest episodes on the same discs as long as they were DVD-RW. recorded a few episodes on DVD-RW discs,i had to finalise the discs so they could be played on another DVD player, I then found i couldn't delete watched episodes. Is there no way i can record onto DVD-RW and then delete the recordings or just record over old recordings.

30-05-2011, 17:29	#2
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	If a recording is made using the DVD-Video standard so that the discs can be played in a normal DVD player then the title navigation data is built in. The only way to alter the title content is to reformat the disc and re-author it. DVD Recorders can use a different format that allows you to add and delete content until you finalise the disc. Such recordings are generally only playable in the DVD recorder that recorded it. It's possible to also use rewritable DVD's a big floppy discs with a PC but again you can't normally play the video content using a DVD player.

30-05-2011, 19:42	#3
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Thanks Graham, So once i finalise a DVD -RW i cant delete or edit. afaik as long as you dont finalise an ordinary DVD+R you can edit and delete recorded programs on that disc, i cant see the advantage of DVD-RW over an ordinary DVD disc.

30-05-2011, 19:56	#4
dmp Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,755	If you eraze the content of a dvd-r then the space taken by the recording is lost and the size of the disc is reduced by the size of the removed file. With a dvd-rw then once the disc is erazed it keeps the origininal size and can be written on time and time again. Dave

30-05-2011, 20:10	#5
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Ah i see,thanks Dave.

30-05-2011, 21:40	#6
mllfap Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 515	If you had a Pioneer recorder you would have no problems. They have an Unfinalise option so you can undo it , delete what you want to delete then finalise it again. But from what I've seen most recorders will only allow you to delete all the content once you finalise the disc

30-05-2011, 21:43	#7
mllfap Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 515	Quote: Originally Posted by dmp If you eraze the content of a dvd-r then the space taken by the recording is lost and the size of the disc is reduced by the size of the removed file. With a dvd-rw then once the disc is erazed it keeps the origininal size and can be written on time and time again. Dave Thats only true if you use -RW in its VR mode , not in VIDEO mode which is what most recorders support and discs recorded in VR mode won't play in many normal players. Video mode will only allow you to reuse the space in the position its in. For example - if you have 4 half hour shows on a disc and you delete programme 2 and 3 you could only record in VIDEO mode in that one hour section in the middle. In VR mode the 1 hour of space is fully recovered and its will be as if the 1 hour is at the end of the current recordings. This is a limitation of +RW too

30-05-2011, 22:04	#8
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Quote: Originally Posted by mllfap If you had a Pioneer recorder you would have no problems. They have an Unfinalise option so you can undo it , delete what you want to delete then finalise it again. But from what I've seen most recorders will only allow you to delete all the content once you finalise the disc I have a Panasonic, DMR-EX78 DVD Recorder. there dosent seem to be an option to delete DVD-RW disc when it has been finalised.

31-05-2011, 00:10	#9
mllfap Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 515	Quote: Originally Posted by TRIPS I have a Panasonic, DMR-EX78 DVD Recorder. there dosent seem to be an option to delete DVD-RW disc when it has been finalised. I think Panny are like most recorders. You can only re-initialise or reformat it to erase it. Panasonic took years to support -RW(VIDEO) and tried to make its buyers use the RAM discs for rewritables. But even though they gave in and offered -RW(VIDEO) a few years back I don't think they've ever offered -RW(VR) because it can't do anything that RAM can't do

31-05-2011, 17:20	#10
stryvya Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CAMBORNE, Cornwall Posts: 147	so there's your answer, your Panasonic, DMR-EX78 will use DVD-RAM discs Go and by a couple and record and delete at will, like a Hard Drive on a Computer only drawback (Maybe) if other equipment cannot use DVD-RAM

31-05-2011, 20:35	#11
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Quote: Originally Posted by stryvya so there's your answer, your Panasonic, DMR-EX78 will use DVD-RAM discs Go and by a couple and record and delete at will, like a Hard Drive on a Computer only drawback (Maybe) if other equipment cannot use DVD-RAM Thanks for advice everyone, If relatives DVD player plays DVD-RAM. problem solved.

31-05-2011, 20:59	#12
mllfap Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 515	Quote: Originally Posted by TRIPS Thanks for advice everyone, If relatives DVD player plays DVD-RAM. problem solved. If your relatives player plays DVD RAM I'll eat my hat. Modern recorders might do and many Panasonic players will do but if their player is neither of those the chance of it playing RAM are remote which is why the format never caught on. Buy a hard drive recorder then you can keep all the episodes on there and write and erase discs at your leisure until you've finished with them then delete them from the hard drive.

31-05-2011, 21:56	#13
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Quote: Originally Posted by mllfap If your relatives player plays DVD RAM I'll eat my hat. Modern recorders might do and many Panasonic players will do but if their player is neither of those the chance of it playing RAM are remote which is why the format never caught on. Buy a hard drive recorder then you can keep all the episodes on there and write and erase discs at your leisure until you've finished with them then delete them from the hard drive. I do have hard drive on my player, the problem is making recordings for relative to watch on their dvd player, i prob will be making a lot of recordings and just finding way to cut the cost. Dont think mine can play DVD-RAM. from manual This unit records and plays DVD-R, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, and +RW, and plays DVD-RW (DVD Video Recording format). However you cannot directly record to a DVD-R DL or +R DL disc on this unit (playback and copy are possible

31-05-2011, 22:50	#14
pavier Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 691	On both my 7 year old Pioneer and 2.5 year old Sony HDD/DVD recorders you can unfinalise video mode -RW discs, although the older Sonys were based on Pioneer components/software so they're more or less the same. Both recorders allow re-use of finalised video mode DVD-RW discs by the option to either unfinalise and erase content or to re-format/initialise the disc which wipes everything, freeing up the whole disc space. When unfinalised, the video mode disc only regains usable space for the last titles erased in the list. Erasing titles earlier than the end of the list will not give up the vacated space for re-use. In VR mode you can erase anything anywhere and re-use the space. I've no idea about DVD+RW discs, never use them.

31-05-2011, 23:34	#15
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by TRIPS I do have hard drive on my player, the problem is making recordings for relative to watch on their dvd player, i prob will be making a lot of recordings and just finding way to cut the cost. Dont think mine can play DVD-RAM. from manual This unit records and plays DVD-R, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, and +RW, and plays DVD-RW (DVD Video Recording format). However you cannot directly record to a DVD-R DL or +R DL disc on this unit (playback and copy are possible DVD-R blank discs cost about 16p each in bulk these days.

01-06-2011, 08:56	#16
MrGiles2 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Teesside Posts: 1,940	I sometimes use DVD-RW for recording. I FORMAT the disc on the DVD recorder if it has been used, this wipes the disc. I then recopy and finalise before it can be used on other machines. DVD-R can only be used once. They are cheap enough to buy, from e-buyer you can buy a block of 100 discs for about £25.

01-06-2011, 09:50	#17
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by MrGiles2 I sometimes use DVD-RW for recording. I FORMAT the disc on the DVD recorder if it has been used, this wipes the disc. I then recopy and finalise before it can be used on other machines. DVD-R can only be used once. They are cheap enough to buy, from e-buyer you can buy a block of 100 discs for about £25. I buy 100 Ritek full face printables from a weekly computer show (National Motorcycle Museum) for about £16.00.

01-06-2011, 10:28	#18
Chasing Shadows Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,536	Quote: Originally Posted by MrGiles2 DVD-R can only be used once. They are cheap enough to buy, from e-buyer you can buy a block of 100 discs for about £25. And from Asda you can buy a spool of 50 for £3.70.

01-06-2011, 11:28	#19
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Quote: Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows And from Asda you can buy a spool of 50 for £3.70. wow,didnt realise discs are so cheap.£8.95 for 50 now.but still a lot cheaper than a few years back.problem solved.

01-06-2011, 22:54	#20
mllfap Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 515	Why not record the programmes on your hard drive and keep them there. Put togerther a -RW copy for your relatives player and then if you need to add recordings just wipe the -RW and copy another compilation . If programmes from the previous disc are needed again just don't delete them from the hard drive until you've completely finished with them. If you ensure your hard drive recordings are in SP you could edit the ads and padding out and as long as you ensure the total is 2 hours or less you can burn your dvd in 8 minutes. If your recordings are in XP or the wrong quality level you will always have to burn in real time but there's no need to if you work things out first

02-06-2011, 15:53	#21
TRIPS Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,584	Quote: Originally Posted by mllfap Why not record the programmes on your hard drive and keep them there. Put togerther a -RW copy for your relatives player and then if you need to add recordings just wipe the -RW and copy another compilation . If programmes from the previous disc are needed again just don't delete them from the hard drive until you've completely finished with them. If you ensure your hard drive recordings are in SP you could edit the ads and padding out and as long as you ensure the total is 2 hours or less you can burn your dvd in 8 minutes. If your recordings are in XP or the wrong quality level you will always have to burn in real time but there's no need to if you work things out first This is exactly what i wanted to do milfap but as i said in OP once i finalise -RW disc i am unable to edit in any way. are you saying as long as i record the DVD-RW in SP mode i am able to edit the disc after it has been finalised.

DS Forums

Deleting recordings on a DVD-RW disc

02-06-2011, 16:33	#22
Chasing Shadows Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,536	Quote: Originally Posted by TRIPS This is exactly what i wanted to do milfap but as i said in OP once i finalise -RW disc i am unable to edit in any way. are you saying as long as i record the DVD-RW in SP mode i am able to edit the disc after it has been finalised. No, he's saying don't wipe them from your hard drive. So, if you need to make changes, just format the DVD RW and re-record it with the recordings which are still on your DVD recorder's hard drive.

02-06-2011, 21:55	#23
mllfap Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 515	Quote: Originally Posted by TRIPS This is exactly what i wanted to do milfap but as i said in OP once i finalise -RW disc i am unable to edit in any way. are you saying as long as i record the DVD-RW in SP mode i am able to edit the disc after it has been finalised. Quote: Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows No, he's saying don't wipe them from your hard drive. So, if you need to make changes, just format the DVD RW and re-record it with the recordings which are still on your DVD recorder's hard drive. Thats right. Don't delete anything from the hard drive until you are 100% finished with it. Then instead of editing it you can simply erase the disc and do the new recording including ones from before because they are still on the hard drive. If you make sure your hard drive recordings are in SP you should be able to do a high speed HDD to DVD copy in under 10 minutes. If they are in XP you will have to copy in real time unless the total is under 1 hour.

08-06-2011, 08:29	#24
MrGiles2 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Teesside Posts: 1,940	Quote: Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows And from Asda you can buy a spool of 50 for £3.70. And if you buy too cheap, you might increasing the risk of disc failure which would be a complete waste. You only get what you pay for.

08-06-2011, 09:31	#25
Chasing Shadows Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,536	Quote: Originally Posted by MrGiles2 And if you buy too cheap, you might increasing the risk of disc failure which would be a complete waste. You only get what you pay for. True - but of the last spool of fifty which I bought from Asda at that price, none have failed yet. And I'm over half way down the cake pack. But then, I do have a very sturdy DVDR which seems capable of writing to (and finalising) anything.