DVD Recorder Widescreen Format

[TLA]

I am looking to replace my old Sony recorder that has finally started acting up after many years of service. I would like to be able to record widescreen format on DVD-R and have read that the Panasonic is incapable of that. I have not been able to find any information on the Toshiba DR-410 for example. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Terry

[guns1inger]

My Pioneer recorder has no problem doing true 16:9

[TLA]

Thansk guns1inger. Can you tell me the model of the Pioneer that you have? Was there any indication when you bought it that it would or wouldn't do 16:9?
Terry

[usually_quiet]

Since Pioneers are no longer made for N. America, the closet thing you will find to one here is the Magnavox H2160MW9. If you are recording using its ATSC/QAM tuner, it apparently can record anamorphic widescreen. The link below is about its ability to record anamorphic widescreen.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...4&postcount=62

One can obtain a Pioneer made for another part of the world from a specialty store. However, without an ATSC/QAM tuner, these graymarket recorders will only be useful when connected to a set-top box or DTA converter box. Unfortunately only some STBs output anamorphic widescreen on anything other than component or HDMI and I have never seen a DVD recorder with those inputs . Most of the coupon elegible DTA converter boxes do provide a setting for anamorphic widescreen, and I now use one of those with my old NTSC-only DVD recorder.

[edit]My DVD recorder is a Panasonic DMR ES10 btw. The fact that these anamorphic widescreen recordings are tagged 4:3 is mostly irrelevant. All I need to do to view them in widescreen is set the TV to display 16:9.

[jagabo]

[edit]My DVD recorder is a Panasonic DMR ES10 btw. The fact that these anamorphic widescreen recordings are tagged 4:3 is mostly irrelevant. All I need to do to view them in widescreen is set the TV to display 16:9.

I agree. If you're recording from an analog source (composite, s-video) then there is no difference in the signal that is arriving at the DVD recorder. A 16:9 image is simply squished into the same signal as a 4:3 image. The only difference as far as the DVD recorder is concerned is whether the recorder sets the aspect ratio flag to 4:3 or 16:9. If a 16:9 video is flagged isa 4:3 all you have to do is override the flag in your player/editor. If your cable/sat box outputs a letterboxed 4:3 image you are out of luck no matter what DVD recorder you use.

Recording from an ATSC tuner is a different case. The DVD recorder can either downscale to an anamorphic 16:9 DAR frame or downscale and letterbox to a 4:3 DAR frame. If it does the latter you're pretty much out of luck.

[guns1inger]

these recorders will only be useful when connected to a set-top box or DTA converter box.

I have mine connected to a digital STB via s-video and get the 16:9 flag, so the recordings get tagged correctly.

[jagabo]

I have mine connected to a digital STB via s-video and get the 16:9 flag, so the recordings get tagged correctly.

Does it automatically detect whether the source is 16:9 or 4:3? I didn't think an s-video signal had any way of flagging that. I know European broadcasters include a flag in the Line 21 data but I didn't think NTSC signals did.

[usually_quiet]

these recorders will only be useful when connected to a set-top box or DTA converter box.

I have mine connected to a digital STB via s-video and get the 16:9 flag, so the recordings get tagged correctly.

According to the manual, my Panasonic could do that too, when using DVD-RAM, but there's no way for me try it with my equipment.

It doesn't seem to detect a 16:9 flag when used with my DTA converter box's S-Video connection. I don't have an HD cable box, only SD. Even if I did, it appears the Motorola boxes my provider supplies can't be set up to output an HD picture downsized to 720x480 anamorphic widescreen via S-Video or composite, only via component, so I could only record a letterboxed 4:3 picture from it.

[guns1inger]

I have mine connected to a digital STB via s-video and get the 16:9 flag, so the recordings get tagged correctly.

Does it automatically detect whether the source is 16:9 or 4:3? I didn't think an s-video signal had any way of flagging that. I know European broadcasters include a flag in the Line 21 data but I didn't think NTSC signals did.

PAL land, so NTSC restrictions and omissions do not apply

[TLA]

Thanks to all of you for your informative replies, even if some go well over my head.

I will be hooking this up to a DVR through S-video, I suppose. Sounds like there is a toggle in the recorder that allows me to switch between 4:3 and 16:9? That would be simple - is it common to all new recorders?

Any recommendations on recorders? I do not need a tuner, and I do like the idea of the 1080p upconvert.

Terry

[usually_quiet]

Thanks to all of you for your informative replies, even if some go well over my head.

I will be hooking this up to a DVR through S-video, I suppose. Sounds like there is a toggle in the recorder that allows me to switch between 4:3 and 16:9? That would be simple - is it common to all new recorders?

Any recommendations on recorders? I do not need a tuner, and I do like the idea of the 1080p upconvert.

Terry

In that case, it's your DVR NOT your DVD recorder that will determine whether or not you can record a 16:9 picture.

Connect the DVR to the TV using only S-Video, and set the TV to display a 16:9 picture. If you can set your DVR up to give you a picture that fills the screen and looks good, using just S-Video, then any DVD recorder will work. If you can only display a letter-boxed picture, then you can't record a widescreen picture with any DVD recorder.

Do you understand what anamorphic widescreen is? If not, look it up on Wikipedia, or VideoHelp's glossary http://www.videohelp.com/glossary. Do you understand that even if the anamorphic widescreen video you record is flagged to display 4:3, it can be overriden by a digital TV's picture control, and often your DVD player as well, to display as 16:9?

I don't think a 4:3 or 16:9 setting for recording is a common feature for new DVD recorders, but it is common for playback.

[edit] I gave you the best recommendation I know of for a DVD recorder. It's about $165 as a refurb or $228-$270 new. WalMart and Target sell them new, but they must be ordered online.

A Pioneer from a specialty retailer will cost much more and will not be under warranty in the US. The majority of others have problems with timed recordings or less than good picture quality or over-sensitivity to copy protection (they detect it when it isn't present).

[TLA]

That was helpful - I did not understand before reading. I will try out your suggestions.

Terry