Ripping a DVD that was recorded in VR format

I've made dozens of DVDs on a Phillips set-top DVD recorder, using DVD+R media. Now, I want to rip them (using Handbrake) so I can watch them on my Apple TV through iTunes. Problem is, Mac won't read the disk. Simply says "You've inserted a blank disk". Ignore or OK are my only choices. I believe the Phillips recorder used VR format. Yes, I finalized the discs when I made them. I also tried making a copy of the original DVD; that didn't help. The disks will play on my Pioneer set-top recorder, and one of my 2 Windows PCs. Problem with ripping them on the PC is that it takes about 3 times longer than on the Mac, and the resulting filesize is about twice as big. Obviously, I want to do this on my Mac! Mac has a Matshita DVD-R UJ-868 drive (factory installed). I would be SO grateful if anybody could help me. I've searched all over the web for help on this, to no avail.

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 31, 2010 9:13 PM

17 replies

capaho

Level 4

3,677 points

Apr 2, 2010 5:22 PM in response to Cindyjk

But I thought that Toast was just a burning app. Does it also rip?

Toast can rip discs that are not copy protected. I use it to make iPod files from recorded TV shows, but I usually format a DVD-VR in video mode rather than leaving it in VR mode, dub the show to it, then finalize it. That way Toast sees it as an ordinary DVD. The same method might work with Handbrake.

Cindyjk Author

Level 1

42 points

Apr 5, 2010 8:21 AM in response to Jon Walker

Jon, what did you mean by "a weak burn"? I think you're on to something here. Since I posted my original question, I've successfully ripped a couple of DVDs recorded about the same time, using the same Phillips recorder, as the ones I can't rip. I never used 6-hour mode to record, but occasionally would something longer than 2-hour mode in order to squeeze onto the disk an extra minute or two so the complete program would fit. That, of course, would vary from disk to disk, since the programs I was putting on the disk would vary. So what exactly is a "weak burn"?

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Ripping a DVD that was recorded in VR format