Adding Clips to a DVD without Deleting DVD

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:40 pm

Hello,

I just purchased VS11 and absolutely love it. Does anyone know if this version allows you to add clips to a DVD that already has clips on it without deleting them? I used to do this with another program in DVD-VR format that allowed me to add clips to a DVD.

When I tried to burn a DVD in DVD-VR format in VS11, it doesn't play on my DVD player like my other ones did. The format in VS11 says "DVD-VR (no menu)" Does anyone know what "(no menu)" means?

I appreciate any help.

Thank you,

Julie

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:32 am

I don't have one of those standalone DVD recorders but the discs that you use with them are generally re-writeable discs DVD-RW and DVD+RW as opposed to the standard write once discs DVD -R and DVD +R

Those discs from standalone DVD recorders do not have a conventional DVD menu but something that can best be described as an index.
When you add/delete recordings the index is updated to reflect the content of the disc.

This is termed the DVD-VR format.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:00 pm

Thank you for your response. Here's what I'm trying to do. I put 300 images on a DVD. Next week, I'll have more to add to that same DVD but will want to keep the 300 that are already on there.

I've tested it and when I go to burn the added images, I get this message when I press "Burn" :

Erase Existing Disc Data & Start Outputting?

If I press "yes", the program will delete what's already on the DVD. If I press "no", the program just stops the burning process. I'm using the DVD-RW and format DVD-VR (no menu).

Please let me know if you know how to add images/videos without deleting what's already on the DVD. I appreciate all your time and help.

Julie

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:47 pm

I'm a little confused here..

If you want to simply store stills on a DVD just for storage reasons then you want to create a data DVD of which on a RW type DVD you can use something like NERO to create a DVD to keep adding stills (as data) on different sessions.

Is this the kind of thing you are enquiring about?

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:17 am

Hi Clevo,

I'm sorry if I confused you. I not only want to put stills on the DVDs but also videos. I have a few videos to put on a DVD now but next week I may have a few more I'd like to add on to the same DVD but I can't figure out how to do this without the program deleting the existing videos on the DVD before adding the new ones on. I don't want to use Nero since I just paid $100 for this VS11. Please let me know if this all makes sense or not. I appreciate you trying to help me.

Julie

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:16 am

Whilst I do not like using re-writeable discs - I have tried various makes, used various DVD burners and various computers. Re-writeable discs seem OK on first use and then rapidly deteriorate.

You might like to adopt the following workflow which may solve your problem.

1. Get hold of one or two re-writeable discs. Also get hold of some DVD -R discs.

2. Create your DVD Project with VideoStudio and make sure you save it as a project file. Do NOT remove from your computer any of the material you have used - videos, images, music etc.

3. Burn your DVD onto a re-writeable disc (This is a temporary disc).

4. When you have more material to add, open your original VideoStudio Project file. Now add your fresh material.

5. Erase the re-writable DVD disc and burn a new copy containing your new material.

Continue to do this until your disc has reached its capacity and you cannot add more material. Now it is time to burn the project to a DVD -R disc.
You can then once again erase the re-writeable disc and use it for your next project.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:53 am

Great advice. I guess I can't do what I'm trying to do. It just doesn't make sense that VS11 has the option of "DVD-VR" which is the format used to do what I want to do but I can't figure it out. Hmmmm, I'll keep working at it. If I can't figure it out, I'll do what you said to do. I like the idea of doing a final copy on DVD-R. Thanks for all your time. It's greatly appreciated.

Julie

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:12 am

VS has the VR mode mostly so that people can write back to RAM discs which use that standard.

Because VS is assuming you want to make a video type disc it is always going to finalise the disc when you finish. It is a quite natural assumption on the part of a burning module specifically designed for a video editing program. In turn, when you put that disc back in to add to it the program ses a finalised disc so the only way it can deal with it is to unfinalize it = re-format.

The kind of flexibility you are looking for would only come from a purpose built DVD burning software that allows all possible types of output on all possible types of disc...of course that takes you to Nero or to Steve's excellent workflow suggetion.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:08 pm

Lancecarr,

What a great explanation. Thank you for that. There is an option that you can choose before you burn "Do Not Close Disc" which is what I thought was leaving the DVD unfinalized so I can add videos. I tried it but it didn't work. Your explanation made perfect sense. I appreciate that.

And Steve, I'm going to do what you said. It all just makes good sense. Your help and knowlege are greatly appreciated.

Julie