copying DVDs to backup projects

watson

Well-known member
so i have a question about burning DVDs. I have a g5 with FCP and DVD studio Pro. I have a number of projects that i have finished, have a full quicktime file and a dvd studio pro file for the dvd design, but i need to clear up some harddrive space. i have the projects backed up to miniDV as well as a few data DVDs but the problem i'm running into is what should i do if i need to burn more DVDs. I thought that i could just drag the video TS folder onto a blank DVD and it would work fine but when i do that it doesnt start playing by itself. I tried putting in a burned DVD and copying the videoTS folder onto the desktop and then burning it onto a DVD but once again it doesnt start playing like a normal DVD. So i was wondering what you guys do. Does anyone know of a good way to be able to copy DVDs i have made for future copies? If i can figure that out then i can delete the quicktime files. Thanks.
 
if your original dvd is setup properly to play from the begining, simply copying video_ts and audio_ts folder to another dvd should work just fine. if you're using toast it has a 'copy' feature that will automaticly grab the original dvd burn a copy with 1 click. :) If it doesn't play from the beginning it is just a matter of properly building the dvd.
 
Yep, I have a G5 with DVD Studio Pro, and thats how it works for me. I DO use Toast 5.23 also. I drag the audio ts and video ts files into a folder on the desktop, drag it to Toast, and burn it. Put it in a DVD player and it starts auto, or the menu comes up. It IS amazing how a couple projects can start filling up even a big hard drive. If you don't have Toast, its definitely worth the price.
 
When I need to organize Final projects (final meaning ready to be authored to dvd, editing is completely done) I backup using 2 dvd's.

1) Contains all my DVD Studio Pro project files - .m2v, AC3, .psd, any menu items, EVERYTHING that would go on to the final dvd but left in its pre-build state. These should all fit on a regular 4.7gig disc. Having this backup will save you when you need to fix something on the dvd. You can always drag all these files onto a harddrive and open it up, fix things, hit build and it's updated.

2) Contains the actual FINAL DVD. This can act as your Master for dubbing VHS tapes, making more DVD copies.

Having a miniDV master copy of the FCP project is a good idea too. I love being able to hit Apple + DELETE and then EMPTYING the TRASH. AHHHH more space. :thumbsup:
 
Thanks guys i'll have to play around with the settings. When i normaly burn DVDs from DVD studio pro and put them in a player they start playing. Its only when i burn from a DVD it doesnt seem to want to play. Any idea on what settings i should have in DVD studio pro? My plan to back up my files is to have a miniDV copy, a DVD with the studio pro files, and a DVD copy. Im going to look into toast, i have seen it before and seems nice.
 
watson said:
Thanks guys i'll have to play around with the settings. When i normaly burn DVDs from DVD studio pro and put them in a player they start playing. Its only when i burn from a DVD it doesnt seem to want to play. Any idea on what settings i should have in DVD studio pro? My plan to back up my files is to have a miniDV copy, a DVD with the studio pro files, and a DVD copy. Im going to look into toast, i have seen it before and seems nice.

Assuming you are copying dvd's you have authored yourself (that DON't have any copy protection, if you've set it that way) and not Rented DVD's (that DO have copy protection) Then you should have no problems. The only thing I can think of as to why your copies of the original DVD aren't playing is that you might have it set to not auto play, in either your DVD player's preferences or in your DVD's project settings. UNCHECK DVD Player's "When DVD Player Opens - Start Playing Disc" & "When Disk is Inserted - Start Playing Disc" And see what happens. Test it in other external players too.

Good luck
 
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