Panasonic E55 XP and SP Rec Modes

[akagi]

I've just bought a new Panasonic E55 and am immensly plaesed with it. However can somebody explain to me the TECHNICAL difference between the XP and SP modes. I am using this unit for capturing and transfer to a PC. When I put MPEG-2 files from either mode into Ulead VS 8 they BOTH read

704 x 576 vbr 9578 Upper field first
Dolby Digital Audio 48Khz 256 Kbps

How come an XP recording is taking up twice the space on my HDD. What am I missing?

[lordsmurf]

The ACTUAL used bitrate is the difference. The "max" is fake BS in the header info. You can run it through BITRATE VIEWER to see what the TRUE bitrates are.

[Captain Satellite]

Another difference is that the default setting for XP audio is PCM, although you can manually set it for Dolby Digital.

[akagi]

I'm messing about with the Bitrate Viewer - not taht I really understand it.

More significantly though was Captain Satellite's comment that in XP mode the recorder, by default, records in PCM mode. I was told this in an earlier post on these forums prior to me buying my Panasonic and yet taking the unit from the box EVERY recording that I have made in XP without changing anything has been in Dolby Digital. What am I missing - how can you change the audio mode, that is if you can.

[zorankarapancev]

Press SETUP button on your remote. Go to AUDIO, select AUDIO MODE FOR XP RECORDING.

[mracer]

Just to set the record straight. The Panansonic DMR-E55 DOES NOT record PCM audio. All E55 audio is Dolby Digital 2.0

Panasonic DMR-E55 Resolutions/audio are as follows

XP=704x480, 256kb DD audio

SP=704x480, 256kb DD audio

FR(up to 3 Hours)=704x480, 256kb DD audio

LP=352x480, 256kb DD audio

EP(6hour)=352x240, 256kb DD audio

EP(8hour)=352x240, 128kb DD audio

Edit: I have not had a chance to test FR mode between 4 hours and 8 hours to see where the resolution drops.