Is there software that will smooth out bad files?

[MutinyFever]

Here's the problem. My original is damaged and will no longer play. My backup is on crap media and the burn has some errors (skips and bad pixelation). I would like to make a new backup from the backup and smooth out the areas where the data is failing. What strategy should I follow?

Thanks.

Michael

[NightTran]

buy a new original

[MutinyFever]

Okay. Same problem, but with home movies. What's your answer now? I actually do have some problems with my wedding dvd.

Michael

(A new wedding is definitely not an option.)

[drfsupercenter]

Was it on a VHS originally? I know my parents' wedding was on VHS and I converted it to DVD for them.

If it was a DVD, what is the problem with it? Does it skip, or is it a burn/encoding problem?

[MutinyFever]

The copy I have is an unencrypted dvd. It appears to be clean and scratch free, but when I try to play it it pixelates in several spots, and seems to skip in one. Also, I can't hear the vows, a problem with the original recording equipment, and I am wondering if there is a way to boost the audio. I know that in mp3 circles people are able to "normalize" audio, and I wonder if there are similar techniques with dvd.

Initially I posted this about making a backup of a messed up backup, and I would still like to know techniques to repair files. I'm still a newbie to all of this, but I am not afraid to wade deep into the advanced user waters. If I can't understand it, nothing is lost, but if I can, then much more can be gained.

Can you point me to an FAQ about making a dvd from a vhs source? I'd love to do that for some of the ultrasounds we took of my boys before they were born.

[drfsupercenter]

OK, to convert a VHS to a DVD you need either a DVD recorder or a TV Tuner/capture card.

My mom used to take tapes to a place called "Troy Video Transfers" (I live in Troy, MI) that would do it for like $50 a tape. Now I just hook a VCR up to the back of my PC and record it here. Capture cards run about $100, so it is only worth it if you would be taping TV shows on your PC.

Now, I had a problem with pixelation on a Verbatim disc that had no scratches. Sometimes it's just a problem with the player and the disc. What I would reccomend is making two or three copies as backups, one of those should work.

Now, about volume. There are a couple of options. The only one I know is to convert it to a WAV or MP3 and then converting it back. This would mean demuxing and remuxing, but that can all be done for free.

The first step is to get the DVD on your hard drive. If you don't already have DVD Decrypter, get it and rip in File Mode. I know it's unencrypted but with my homemade DVDs I have had trouble dragging and dropping files.