CD/DVD Recording

[nbblood 0]

Ok, I tried to search and didn't find the answers to all my questions. Of course as fast as technology and prices change, I think current, relevant information would be useful anyway.....so here goes.

I'm looking at the Sony DVDirect DVD recorder as an option to burn digital stills while I use my PC for video editing. My first question is: Is there a recorder out there that records both CDs and DVDs?

I was thinking that a CD is plenty of room to record digital stills and cheaper than buying DVDs which is overkill.

But that led me to more questions. What are current costs for DVDs vs. CDs? Maybe it's not enough to worry about, but to be honest, I just don't know what the going rates are for blank CDs and DVDs are right now. (I currently don't have to buy my own.)

What about setting up an external burner from my PC and use that for stills and my existing one for video? Is that feasible? Cheaper?

I guess I'm just ignorant of what my options are. I haven't had to worry about it but may in the near future. I'm looking for a setup to maximize efficiency for video and stills simultaneously without spending an unreasonable amount of money. (For reference, the Sony DVDirect is within reason, but I wouldn't want to spend too much more than that.)

Is recording stills to DVD instead of CD going to be too costly down the road?

What are your recommendations?

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[billvon 2,990]

>Is there a recorder out there that records both CDs and DVDs?

Sure. Most laptops will do that. Get one with Firewire, the appropriate reader and you're good to go.

[nbblood 0]

Ok, I got that, but I want to use the laptop to edit video while I burn the stills separately. I know doing both on the same machine is easily done, but I'm thinking of efficiency while editing multiple videos and I don't want to tie my computer up on stills if there is a reasonable option.

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[billvon 2,990]

>but I'm thinking of efficiency while editing multiple videos and I don't
>want to tie my computer up on stills if there is a reasonable option.

So get another one. Get a cheap used laptop for $200; that's about the price of a dedicated burner anyway.

[ozzy13 0]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ei=eenbSdy4BqXMM-Shod0N&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=ez+digimagic&spell=1

These are the ones we use at my dz. I picked one up for $200. We use recordable DVD players for the DVD

Never give the gates up and always trust your rears!

[Dokeman 0]

try to find one of these
http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/RDS/RDS.HTM

I picked one of these up on ebay new in the box for about $30 about a year ago

[PhreeZone 20]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/RDS/RDS.HTM

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[faulknerwn 38]

I have an external burner hooked up to my Mac - I burn the stills on the internal (slightly slower) and the DVD's on the external which is a faster burner. The Mac can do 2 burns at once without issues...

[parachutist 2]

There is another option: Burn the photos to a data folder on the video DVD. Using Sony Vegas it's an option in the DVD Architect application... both video and data get burned to one disc at the same time.

One caveat to doing this: You basically need to hand people an instruction card. I print one and put it into the DVD sleeve. The card tells them the photos are in a "photos" folder on their DVD. People are so accustomed to getting separate DVD and CD, and they may not be aware of how to navigate to the folder on their computer.

[nbblood 0]

Yeah, I thought about this too but came up with two problems I wasn't satisfied with.

1. I put myself in the customer's shoes and thought that I really wouldn't want to take the DVD of my skydive someplace to get pictures printed and risk losing or damaging my DVD. Sure we emphasize to make copies, but I know that some never do. So I thought separate products would be better for the consumer.

2. Using this method I could not burn simultaneously so it wouldn't be quite as efficient.

Those are just my thoughts though.

I've actually taken Billvon's idea. I have an old laptop. It never really crossed my mind to have both computers for separate functions. It's old and slow but I'm cleaning it up now to make it more efficient. It does have a CDR drive so it should be just fine. I had the answer without having to spend a dime......DUH!!! Thanks, Billvon!!

What about DVD+R and CD bulk prices? What are they going for these days? Anybody?

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.