Perhaps Im horribly confused but...

[MeekloBraca]

I just bought the Panasonic ES20 and i plugged everything in. I have a good video on the tv right now and a dvd disc in the drive. It wont take Memorex DVD+R disks apparantly. I try and click record and nothing happens, record mode nothing happens. The remote works, I can get to the settings etc but nothing in terns of recording. As ive said ive connected everything properly. It sounds like there is a recording input on this that I dont know about. At least thats what Im hoping. Please Help!!!

[sjc160]

Perhaps you should try a different brand DVD+R disc. Many people on this board have nothing but bad things to say about Memorex Discs, although personaly I have had no problems.

[MeekloBraca]

I have a disk in there that it reads. Thats not an issue right now.

Also when I play a tape on the vcr it is connected to the video playback in awful. Wobbly lines and such, it looks like its tracking is way off but thats not the case.

[Noahtuck]

Yeah, i'd try a diff. brand!
I picked up a 25pack of memorex -R for my panasonic standalone recoder about 2 months ago and had nothing but problems with everyone of them in it.
Actually they were the only ones i have even had a problem with in my recorder.

[jimmalenko]

If in doubt, the manual often has good avice

[MeekloBraca]

Well it records when i put in the panasonic DVD-RAM disc. I dont know. The thing is advertised that it reads +r -r rw etc.....

[thecoalman]

Wobbly lines and such, it looks like its tracking is way off but thats not the case.

If it's a commercial tape that's Macrovision.

[RDS1955]

Well it records when i put in the panasonic DVD-RAM disc. I dont know. The thing is advertised that it reads +r -r rw etc.....

Panasonic DVD-RAM is a whole other thing, vs the Memorex DVD r+/- type of format.....Listen to what the folks are saying.. TRY A DIFFERENT BRAND...RAM vs R-/+ is a whole other ball game..I use Tao Yuden on mine and have'nt had a bit of problems, and I have used Ritek brand..

[MeekloBraca]

Ok Listen,

When I put the Memorex DVD+R into the drive it read disc error will not read, when I put a fujifilm dvd+rw intot he thing it read but it will not record, when I put the DVD-ram from Panasonic in it ran and recorded.

As for the macrovision, im trying to dub from blank VHS tapes with some random shows on it.

If that isnt possible with this machine, can anybody recommend one that will because that is my main goal. On the brightside the tv recordings onto the dvd-ram at LP speed were really good.

[oldfolk999]

Does your recorder take DVD+R to begin with. My Pan takes only DVD-R and DVD-Ram. Check your manual.
Just a thought.

[jimmalenko]

What is so scary about (and why does everyone cringe at the thought of) reading the manual ?

[MeekloBraca]

Thanks Jim I got that the first time.

Unfourtunatly I dont think the manual will explain why my VHS tapes are all distorted.

The recorder claims to take DVD-R DVD-RAM DVD-RW then two tabs that just say +R and +RW. Dont know if that means anything.

[LCSHG]

[ MeekloBraca ]

ARE YOU TRYING TO COPY CONNERCIAL VHS TAPES TO YOUR PANASONIC RECORDER

IF you are that would explain the problem with your tapes'

[thecoalman] has already said it MACROVISION copy protection
The panasonic will not copy a copy protected tape and I don't think a hack is avail.
If not you had better check your connections, the VHS unit or you have a bum Panasonic.

[MeekloBraca]

Maybe my understanding of commercial tapes is a little off. I thought that just meant tapes with studio movies on them, not blank VHS tapes with random things on it. If they mean the same thing then yes i suppose that Is macrovision in which case ive just purchased a digital video decoder from this website...

http://www.checkhere22.com/stabilizer.html

Also the dvd+r's eventually worked. Very strange.

[slacker]

Are your discs formatted?

[MeekloBraca]

Im guessing yes since they just came out of the package?

[Bob W]

Your recorder will read DVD+R but it will not record to DVD+R. It will write to DVD-R and DVD-ram.
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDname=Panasonic+ES20+&Submit=Search&hdsize...&Search=Search

[trhouse]

Your link shows it will record to dvd+r, dvd-r/rw, and dvd-ram but not dvd+rw.

[Bob W]

Your link shows it will record to dvd+r, dvd-r/rw, and dvd-ram but not dvd+rw.

Yeah but then I have not seen any Panasonic recorders that would write to DVD+R.

[trhouse]

I burn Verbatim dvd+r on my Panasonic DMR-ES10 and a borrowed ES30. I think all ES models can.

[Bob W]

I burn Verbatim dvd+r on my Panasonic DMR-ES10 and a borrowed ES30. I think all ES models can.

Cool so the new units work on +R. I have an E50 which just loves the cheap CompUSA 1X DVD-R.

Oh if the recorder can write to DVD+R and you're having problems then I join in with try another brand of media like TDK. Also if you're new to this I would suggest using a DVD-RW disc and avoid wasting good media getting past the learning curve.

[trhouse]

I use Taiyo Yuden X4, dvd-r, TDK X2, dvd-rw, Verbatim ( MCC) X8, dvd+r, and Panasonic X2-3, dvd-ram with the ES10 and ES30. The only media I have had trouble with is GQ X8, dvd-r with a "borrowed" TYG02 media code. A spindle of 50 was $2.50 after rebate.

[ofbarea]

For + media, DMR-ES10 sets book type to DVD-ROM. With this machine I have used RAM, +R, -R and -RW. It can read +RW and +DL with or without bit setting to DVD-ROM. I have not tested -DL.

Maxell (Japanese) and Verbatim media has worked just fine for me.

An older DMR-E55 is not able to read +DL media unless its book type is set to DVD-ROM.

[thecoalman]

Maybe my understanding of commercial tapes is a little off. I thought that just meant tapes with studio movies on them, not blank VHS tapes with random things on it. If they mean the same thing then yes i suppose that Is macrovision in which case ive just purchased a digital video decoder from this website...

Real Macrovision will only be on real commercial tpes. If these are tapes of broadcasts it won't be present. Having said that capture devices and DVD recorders can sometimes misinterpret genuine erros as Macrovision. If you're tapes are old try getting a new tape and make fresh recording. Try capturing that tape, if your problems go away then welcome to the "I've been fucked by Macrovision on my home movies club"