Panasonic DVD Recorder (DMR-ES25S)

[samosborne]

Hi to everyone:
Can anyone tell me if this Panasonic DVD Recorder (DMR-ES25S) can record on dual layer discs?
Regards

[guns1inger]

Google can (it told me the answer)

[FulciLives]

Here is a direct link to the DMR-ES25S info page on the Panasonic USA website:

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

According to the information on this webpage the DMR-ES25S does NOT record to any of the Dual Layer DVD formats although it is capable of playing back DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL discs.

If you really want a DVD recorder that can record to either DVD-R DL or DVD+R DL then consider a DVD recorder with a built-in HDD. Only going from HDD to DVD can a dual layer disc be used effectively. Notice I used the word effectively because if you have a stand alone DVD recorder without a built-in HDD and you try to record direct to a DVD-R DL or DVD+R DL disc then BEWARE as you must first FINALIZE the first layer before being able to record to the second layer ... thus you cannot record "straight through". However if you have a HDD model and record to the HDD first THEN record to a DVD-R DL or DVD+R DL disc then you can record "straight through" without any issues other than maybe a very slight "pause" on playback at the layer break/change point.

One popular model that comes to mind (DVD recorder with built-in HDD) is the Pioneer DVR-640H-s and here is a link to that model on the Pioneer USA website:

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

The Pioneer DVR-640H-s can record to both DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL discs. Again though you will want to record to the built-in HDD first then record to the DL disc IF you want to make effective use of a DL disc.

Good Luck !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Remember that although the Pioneer DVR-640H-s has a MSRP of $399.00 US Dollars the "real world" price is a bit lower. Use a website such as PRICEGRABBER.COM to find the lowest on-line price.

I just looked at PRICEGRABBER.COM and at this moment it looks like AMAZON.COM has the best price at $329.99 US Dollars and FREE shipping. Please note though that such pricing can change from day to day.

[trhouse]

The Pansonic USA web site info is wrong. I am using a borrowed ES35V which is the same as the ES25 with a VCR but minus the HDMI interface. I use it to record double layer ( DVD+R DL ) with Verbatim media all the time and the manual says it can record dual layer ( DVD-R DL ) as well.

What is true is that it requires that the first layer be closed which can take a few minutes before you can record to the second layer which is not so great if you want to record a show continuously across the layer break but works well for compiling clips because the layer change can be set between clips instead of occurring within a clip.

[FulciLives]

The Pansonic USA web site info is wrong. I am using a borrowed ES35V which is the same as the ES25 with a VCR but minus the HDMI interface. I use it to record double layer ( DVD+R DL ) with Verbatim media all the time and the manual says it can record dual layer ( DVD-R DL ) as well.

What is true is that it requires that the first layer be closed which can take a few minutes before you can record to the second layer which is not so great if you want to record a show continuously across the layer break but works well for compiling clips because the layer change can be set between clips instead of occurring within a clip.

Well yet another reason why Panasonic is a joke when it comes to DVD recorders.

The INFO PAGE of their very own website says no DVD-R DL nor DVD+R DL recording BUT when I downloaded the PDF manual ... sure enough it says you can record to DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL discs.

Like you said though there is still that layer break "restriction" since the model in question (the DMR-ES25S) does not have a built-in HDD.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[trhouse]

Maybe that is why the author of this thread is asking.

If you want to poke a bit more fun at Panasonic's expense, I just looked at its front panel and it just says what the web site says, that it can record to dvd-ram, dvd-r, dvd-rw, dvd+r, and dvd+rw. There is nothing about DL. This unit even has the little fold up cardboard sticker on top like you see in stores. The sticker says the same as the front of the recorder.

It is printed on the box it comes in that it does +DL and -DL and as you found in the manual.

[Capmaster]

Panasonic has always had dimwits writing their manuals. They probably farm out the writing to third-world job shops because the people work an 80-hour week for a chicken, or something

Our DMR-ES15 manual says it will record dual layer -R and +R. It won't.



Their website also says it has auto-finalizing as an option. It doesn't :P

[trhouse]

You are joking are you not? The ES35V does -DL and +DL and it has the option to autofinalize.

[Capmaster]

You are joking are you not? The ES35V does -DL and +DL and it has the option to autofinalize.

No joke. My ES15 doesn't record DL (plays them fine, though) and doesn't auto-finalize. Really

[trhouse]

I really am surprised. I never tried the ES15 but it is of the same generation as the ES35V which seems to be a ES15 with VCR, yet the ES35V can do all those things. I have an ES10 and it cannot do it.

[Capmaster]

I really am surprised. I never tried the ES15 but it is of the same generation as the ES35V which seems to be a ES15 with VCR, yet the ES35V can do all those things. I have an ES10 and it cannot do it.

Be happy that you can Apparently the model after mine is the one they added the features to :P

[FulciLives]

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD !!!



Can someone with the DMR-ES25S please either confirm or deny that this thing does DVD-R DL and/or DVD+R DL recording?!?!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[trhouse]

Capmaster,

Have you tried to record dual/double layer with the ES15? What media?

[Epicurus8a]

Have you tried to record dual/double layer with the ES15? What media?

I'll bet Verbatim DL discs will work fine.

[Capmaster]

Capmaster,

Have you tried to record dual/double layer with the ES15? What media?

Yes. It says "Disc read error" when I put in the blank +DL.

[trhouse]

What brand of +DL?

[Capmaster]

What brand of +DL?

Verbatim

[mrswla]

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD !!!



Can someone with the DMR-ES25S please either confirm or deny that this thing does DVD-R DL and/or DVD+R DL recording?!?!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

I can confirm that it writes to Verbatim DVD+R DL discs. It is true that you have to finalize the first layer before writing to the second layer. BUT, having mine hooked up to my Directv Tivo makes the finalizing issue a non issue...

[carl44000]

hei guys

[carl44000]

Hi

[trhouse]

All three Panasonics, the ES15, ES25, and ES35V can do -DL and +DL. I took a Verbatim dvd+r DL into Circuit City tonight and tried all three. Each responded exactly the same. The display shows the word UNFORMAT as UNFOR and MAT alternating on the display.

Capmaster, if you get "disk read error", then either the disk was bad or the ES15 or the ES15 is a ES10. I hope it was the disk.

[Capmaster]

All three Panasonics, the ES15, ES25, and ES35V can do -DL and +DL. I took a Verbatim dvd+r DL into Circuit City tonight and tried all three. Each responded exactly the same. The display shows the word UNFORMAT as UNFOR and MAT alternating on the display.

Capmaster, if you get "disk read error", then either the disk was bad or the ES15 or the ES15 is a ES10. I hope it was the disk.

Me too.

Thanks!

Burning DL won't be the main function of it by a longshot (finalizing layer 1 before layer 2 will record is un-friggin-acceptable), but it'd be nice to know:

1. It can, if I want to, and

2. Panasonic didn't outright lie to me in the manual