DVD Recorder with HDD

[Tony Plachy]

Gorts, Not sure if this belongs here or in hardware.

Folks, I just bought a Panasonic DMR-E80H DVD recorder with HDD and I love it. I time shift TV like crazy because I am totally addicted to some programs and in the past I have used professional grade SVHS recorders to get better resolution and I would use up a consumer grade machine in two to three years. This thing is incredible for 500 bucks you can record almost 40 hours in the SP mode which as near as I can tell on my cable system is broadcast grade. If you want to archive something you can either burn a DVD-R or even better a DVD-RAM. Say goodbye to your VCR. Panasonic has just announced a 100 model with a 50% larger HDD. I hope I am not being a babbling idiot here and everyone and his brother already has one of these. :)

[Claviusb]

This is more of a Hardware thread, so I've moved it. :)

[Jamie Tate]

I had the original version of this. It was a Panasonic something or other.

The first thing I did was to compile the first season of Scrubs (recorded on DVD-RAM's in SP mode) so I could burn DVD's in the proper order. I loaded them onto the hard drive in the best quality mode, made playlists and burned DVD's in the SO mode. I thought they'd look just like the DVD-RAM's they came from. Well, they looked like Quicktime movies. There was some serious generation lose going on. It doesn't make digital copies of the video. The picture gets changed to analog and is then re-compressed. I'm waiting for them to fix this problem before I buy another one. I'd love to have another DVD recorder.

[Tony Plachy]

Originally posted by yesman
I had the original version of this. It was a Panasonic something or other.

The first thing I did was to compile the first season of Scrubs (recorded on DVD-RAM's in SP mode) so I could burn DVD's in the proper order. I loaded them onto the hard drive in the best quality mode, made playlists and burned DVD's in the SO mode. I thought they'd look just like the DVD-RAM's they came from. Well, they looked like Quicktime movies. There was some serious generation lose going on. It doesn't make digital copies of the video. The picture gets changed to analog and is then re-compressed. I'm waiting for them to fix this problem before I buy another one. I'd love to have another DVD recorder.

Yesman, I record to the HDD then copy to the DVD-RAM, it is an all digital transfer, no loss unless I choose to down grade it when I copy to the DVD-RAM.

[cliff barua]

Originally posted by ALP

If you want to archive something you can either burn a DVD-R or even better a DVD-RAM.

Not to be a thread crapper (because I agree with everything ele that you've said :) ), but DVD-RAM is the worst option if you're thinking about lending these out (unless the other person also has a Panasonic DVD player or recorder - which I do).

I have a Phillips DVD+RW / +R recorder (which has had a history of issues, though not mine specifically), and I prefer to use the +RW discs because I may end up erasing stuff or lending to my sister to watch. For straight watching (i.e. just for watching and then erasing), I can pop the +RW disc in either my Panasonic or Sony DVD player and watch (no finalizing, etc). With DVD-RAM, you can't do that (unless it's to another Panasonic).

Having said that, the HDD is a great addition and the time slip features and rave reviews bode very well for the Panasonics :thumbsup: .

Cliff

[Tony Plachy]

Originally posted by cliff barua


Not to be a thread crapper (because I agree with everything ele that you've said :) ), but DVD-RAM is the worst option if you're thinking about lending these out (unless the other person also has a Panasonic DVD player or recorder - which I do).

I have a Phillips DVD+RW / +R recorder (which has had a history of issues, though not mine specifically), and I prefer to use the +RW discs because I may end up erasing stuff or lending to my sister to watch. For straight watching (i.e. just for watching and then erasing), I can pop the +RW disc in either my Panasonic or Sony DVD player and watch (no finalizing, etc). With DVD-RAM, you can't do that (unless it's to another Panasonic).

Having said that, the HDD is a great addition and the time slip features and rave reviews bode very well for the Panasonics :thumbsup: .

Cliff

Cliff, everything you said is fine and I agree, I will use the DVD-RAM for my own archieves and use DVD-R to lend out.

[metalbob]

So, if you record in one speed and don't convert when burning, all should be the same correct? The editing features actually work well? I would be great to cut out commercials and burn each break as a chapter.

I have also heard that one of the other models (I think it was Technics) actually has adjust able audio as well, making it possible to fit a bit more than 2 hours on a DVD with great quality.

Also, there is a new Pioneer model coming out with Tivo included.

I am dying to buy one of these. When are dual layer DVD-Rs coming out? I almost want to wait, but as we now with all technology, the new and improved version comes out the week after we buy anything!

[Michael St. Clair]

There was some serious generation lose going on. It doesn't make digital copies of the video. The picture gets changed to analog and is then re-compressed. I'm waiting for them to fix this problem before I buy another one. I'd love to have another DVD recorder.

The new one (DMR-E80H) fixes the re-encode problem. Anything you record to the HD in "DVD-R compatibility mode" is not re-encoded when burned to DVD.

It also fixes a bug where the black level of the incoming signal was boosted.

Dual-layered recordable DVD will likely never happen. Single-layered blue-laser high-density will happen, but the discs you burn will not play on today's players.

[Tony Plachy]

Originally posted by metalbob
So, if you record in one speed and don't convert when burning, all should be the same correct? The editing features actually work well? I would be great to cut out commercials and burn each break as a chapter.

I have also heard that one of the other models (I think it was Technics) actually has adjust able audio as well, making it possible to fit a bit more than 2 hours on a DVD with great quality.

Also, there is a new Pioneer model coming out with Tivo included.

I am dying to buy one of these. When are dual layer DVD-Rs coming out? I almost want to wait, but as we now with all technology, the new and improved version comes out the week after we buy anything!

Based on about two weeks use I can highly recommend the DMR-E80H functionally (obviously I cannot say anything about its reliability). You can get them at many places on the web for about $500. Panasonic has a new 100 model that has a 120GB HD but it cost over $900. Has a lot of features that the 80 does not have for interfacing with a computer or a camcorder, but since I do not use mine that way I am happy with the 80. I am thinking of replacing my other VCR with another 80.

[metalbob]

I actually have access to a discount through the Panasonic store, but suprisingly enough, I am concerned about warranty and being able to return it etc. I used to have a hook up with Sony and I bought a horrible mini-system that was non-returnable.

[metalbob]

Also, if I wanted to replicate a DVD-R I just made, I read somewhere it has to be to a DVD-RAM disc and then can be copied back to the hard drive. True?

[Tony Plachy]

Originally posted by metalbob
Also, if I wanted to replicate a DVD-R I just made, I read somewhere it has to be to a DVD-RAM disc and then can be copied back to the hard drive. True?

I believe you can replicate from a DVD-R to the HD, perhaps M. St. Clair can comment he seems to be very knowledgeable in this area. I find the Pansonic store excellent (I just bought some DVD-RAM's there at the best price I could find in stock). The warranty from Panasonic is typical (90 days, 1 year parts). I bought mine from MJSHOW and got an extended warranty (I view it as insurance). There are plenty of web sites that are in NYC that have even better prices the problem is I have to pay NY's ridiculous sales tax.

[metalbob]

Originally posted by ALP


I believe you can replicate from a DVD-R to the HD, perhaps M. St. Clair can comment he seems to be very knowledgeable in this area. I find the Pansonic store excellent (I just bought some DVD-RAM's there at the best price I could find in stock). The warranty from Panasonic is typical (90 days, 1 year parts). I bought mine from MJSHOW and got an extended warranty (I view it as insurance). There are plenty of web sites that are in NYC that have even better prices the problem is I have to pay NY's ridiculous sales tax.

I work in NYC so, if I have it sent to work, I will have the same sales tax problem. I don't like paying for extended warranties, but Best Buy once screwed up my computer while under warranty and had to replace it with a brand new one that was twice as fast as the one they ruined. Not bad for $40 or so if you are lucky.

I think I am going to seriously start looking at picking up this unit. Anyone else tried out the other brands that are available? Toshiba, Pioneer?