Compatability with VCRs

[jimschumacher525]

After working my way through several new videos, using Adobe Premiere Elements 7, I tried running them on my JVC VCR. I keep receiving an error message suggesting I'm using the wrong format. That's particularly strange, since the videos were originally recorded on DVD-RW disks, and that's precisely the format the VCR says it's made for. Any suggestions out there? Jim Schumacher

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

Hi Jim and welcome to Muvipix.

I'm assuming that the JVC VCR is a combined VCR and DVD player. Couple of questions. What brand of DVD-RW disc are you using? Do you have a DVD-R disc that you can try?

[Steve Grisetti]

Welcome to Muvipix, Jim!

Further what John suggests, remember that home-burned DVDs are very different than commercial DVDs -- and DVD-RWs even more so. Even DVD players that can play home-burned DVDs have problems with DVD-RWs. (And, as John says, brand can also make a difference. Poor quality brands like Memorex can be a bigger challenge for DVD players than higher quality brands like Verbatim.)

I'd recommend you try burning a Verbatim DVD (nor RW) and see if it plays.

These problems are virtually never related to the software that created the DVD. It's almost always a compatibility issue between the player and the disc media itself.

[jimschumacher525]

Though I'm a newcomer to this community, I really appreciate to speed and helpfulness of both of your responses. I was really thrilled when flash-drives became readily available. Why? Because there seemed to be so many compatibility issues with nearly every disk I worked with. Now that I'm (finally!) retired, this seems an ideal opportunity to do some serious learning. When my brother retired from practicing medicine, he took up golf. I figure working with computer's even better than golf. Same frustration level, coupled with increased personal productivity.

[Steve Grisetti]

Well, you'll find lots of friends, colleagues and helps here, Jim. Muvipix is a community of videomakers whose goal is to assist, inspire, support and learn from each other. You won't find a friendlier group anywhere.

[Chuck Engels]

Welcome to Muvipix Jim

[momoffduty]

Welcome to Muvipix Jim! There is a large knowledge base here from the people to books to the tutorials.

[jimschumacher525]

Still working on my compatability project... As suggested, I bought best disks I could find (Sony) (DVD-R). Brought them home and tried-em out... Basically, I didn't get as far as I did with my Memorex DVD-RW disks. The program wouldn't permit me to load anything into the copy tray.

I'm beginning to wonder if I might not need a different video tape recorder. Mine's admittedly old. Could it be there's something out there less persnickety?

[Steve Grisetti]

I'm not sure what you mean by "the program wouldn't permit me to load anything into the copy tray" but, before you make any assumptions that involve replacing equipment, it might be worth running some more tests.

Can you test your DVD (or even your DVD-RW) in someone else's DVD player to make sure the problem is with your player and not with the disc itself?

Also, when you put your burned DVD (or DVD-RW) into your computer, your DVD player software should launch automatically and play your movie. Is this not happening?

I'm also concerned that you say you can't load your new, blank DVDs into your computer's DVD drive. Software has nothing to do with that. What exactly is happening with you try to load a blank disc in your drive?

[Peru]

Welcome!

As suggested, I bought best disks I could find (Sony) (DVD-R).

Try Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden.
Sony is not very compatible.

[Chuck Engels]

Jim, I think you need to start at the beginning and tell us everything you can about what you are doing

Please include as much information as possible about your software, computer and video equipment. That will be a big help and will lead to a faster solution and better understanding of what you are trying to do.

[jimschumacher525]

Hi, Steve and John! I'm amazed by your thoughtfulness. It's great, having your expert help. It's strange! For fifty years, I earned my living by writing and speaking in public. Now, when I try being specific about technical matters outside my field, I realize just how slippery words can be.

When I said I was having difficulty moving images into the cue tray, that really didn't mean I couldn't load the DVD. What was not happening was that I couldn't click and slide the image of my video into the cue area, where it could be recorded into the machine.

Every technical field has its own, specialized vocabulary. Guess I'm still in the learning stage when it comes to video editing. Still, it's difficult to imagine that makers of DVD recorders haven't yet capatalized on the ability of at least some of their machines to use disks produced by computers.

By the way, I've got a dear friend even older than I, who explains his computer phobia by saying, "I'm sorry, but I just never learned which end of these gadgets I can pour the water into!" Seemed creative to me!

[Chuck Engels]

There are plenty of DVD players that can play home burned DVDs Jim, the brand and type of disc is very important however. I'm still not quite sure what you mean by

What was not happening was that I couldn't click and slide the image of my video into the cue area, where it could be recorded into the machine

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

There are plenty of DVD players that can play home burned DVDs Jim, the brand and type of disc is very important however. I'm still not quite sure what you mean by

What was not happening was that I couldn't click and slide the image of my video into the cue area, where it could be recorded into the machine

Jim, are you trying to 'drag and drop' the video onto the DVD for writing? Can you describe a little more fully what/how you are doing at this point, and what software you are using?

[jimschumacher525]

Hi, John, Steve, et. al.; Boiling-down each of your responses, I've decided to go on line to order Verbatim -R disks. Why? Stores locally don't seem to handle Verbatim. Soon as these disks show up, I'll load one into the tray on my tower to see if Premiere Elements 7 will accept them as "compatable." Assuming Verbatim passes that test, then I'll procede to make a disk -- but only through Premeiere Elements 7. I believe that where I ran into trouble was using a different program to create the disk. I'll let you know what happens.

I'm really quite hopeful this solution will work. I'll admit, my initial skepticism came out of bad experiences with disk incompatability at nearly every turn. More later.