Panasonic e-80 DVD-R compatibility with other dvd players??

[busterw]

After a lot of reading on the different recorders, I just ordered a Panny e-80. My intent is to make a little extra cash by copying people's VHS home movies to DVD for a fee, at least enough to pay for the recorder anyway. Whether this will be possible or not will depend completely on compatibility with other players of course as I already have anough people wanting their vhs home videos copied to DVD to preserve them.

After deciding on the e-80 and ordering it, I read this post. It implied that DVD-R disks made on a panny possibly won't work on the majority of even newer DVD players without burning to DVD-RAM first, then authoring on a PC and burning them on a PC DVD-burner. Some people had noted that the only way they were getting copies from the e-80 recorder to be most compatible was to do this. Is this true? If so, It seems the $500 for the panny e-80 PLUS another $150 for a PC DVD-burner could have been spent better on another brand recorder.

However, then I found this page, 2nd paragraph under September 16th, which COMPLETELY contradicts the other post and makes me think the other folks were using crap for media.

Any opinions are welcome.

Thanks!

[handyguy]

No writer or recorder makes dvds that play on every dvd player there is. My Panasonic e30 dvds play on anything I put them in use Accu dvds. Some people could do better to change the recording mode from 'auto' to fixed' I suppose.

[busterw]

Since my recorder hasn't arrived yet, I'm not fmailiar with "auto or fixed". What is that?

Thanks!

[ejai]

It is true, they are not compatible with some players. The authoring function is in a world all to itself.

I own an E30 and E50 and both do not create disks that are fully compatible with some dvd players. Once I started using the dvd ram and computer to author all the problems pretty much went away. The same players that wouldn't play the Panasonic authored disks played the computer authored ones without a hitch.

I agree it's a lot of money for a unit that has it's own authoring system that isn't compatible with a lot of dvd players on the market. If I knew what I know now I would of waited a little while longer.

In fairness, the Panasonics have excellent quality and if you don't mind using the computer to author it can still be a great deal.

[handyguy]

I think someone said they don't make an AUDIO_TS folder, but you could copy it to the computer & add one to make them more compatible.


ejai, how did you convert dvdram to dvdr?

[ejai]

I was one of those people who noticed that the audio_ts folder was missing. I'm not sure that it is the reason the dvd players have problems playing them.

What I do is:

Remember in order to copy the dvd-ram file to the computer you will need a drive that can read dvd-ram

- Record the video to dvd-ram

- Use a software called Mpeg2vcr to copy it to the computer's hard drive or you could copy the file *.vro file on the dvd ram disk to the computer and change the "vro" extension to "mpg".

- I then use Ulead's DVD Workshop to create the menus and author the file to dvd-r.

Depending on how fancy you want the menus to look the process can take 45 mins to an hour to complete. Add an additional 30 mins to burn the dvd-r.

[busterw]

Remember in order to copy the dvd-ram file to the computer you will need a drive that can read dvd-ram

And the brand & model burner you use since obviously it will read a dvd-ram is a what?

Thanks!

[donpedro]

Is this true? If so, It seems the $500 for the panny e-80 PLUS another $150 for a PC DVD-burner could have been spent better on another brand recorder.

Yes it is true and I don't believe that another recorder will solve that problem. At least Philips DVDR 75/17 did same think.

However, then I found this page, 2nd paragraph under September 16th, which COMPLETELY contradicts the other post and..

It would be nice if you can do your own test when you receive recorder. Burn one disc in XP mode and visit all your firends, family and stores that will let you play your DVD and post results here.

makes me think the other folks were using crap for media.

If you read that post that you are refering to or any other post where people were able to overcome this, you will see that they (and me) used exactly same media and by re-authoring on PC problem went away.

I think someone said they don't make an AUDIO_TS folder, but you could copy it to the computer & add one to make them more compatible.

Nope. That is not reason why they are not compatible. Read post mentioned by busterw.

[handyguy]

"And the brand & model burner you use since obviously it will read a dvd-ram is a what?"

Panasonic lf d521 reads that format. Since I have a Panasonic recorder, I also bought panasonic dvd players & dvd writers & they all play the same formats. Only the dvd player doesn't accept cartridge based disks.