Pioneer DVR-530H usage questions

[BogieV]

Well I'm playing with my new recorder and can't find some of the answers in the manual so I hope more experienced users can give me some insight on few areas.

1. I wonder if I can watch any program recorded on the HDD while recording on the HDD. I know I can Chase Play same program while recording it but how about other recordings?

2. I used speed dubbing to copy from HDD to DVD but the resulting DVD didn't have any chapter points. Well I used also real time copying of an XP program to fit the DVD and it put automatically the chapter points as set in the settings (10 min interval). Speed copying says the chapter points from the HDD recorded program will be transferred to the DVD but as I don't have any chapter points on a Video mode HDD recordings I at least expected auto chapter points to be created on the DVD.
How can I do that as manually creating chapters on the HDD recorded program is very time consuming?

[FulciLives]

Well I'm playing with my new recorder and can't find some of the answers in the manual so I hope more experienced users can give me some insight on few areas.

1. I wonder if I can watch any program recorded on the HDD while recording on the HDD. I know I can Chase Play same program while recording it but how about other recordings?

Yes. You can watch any program on the HDD while recording to the HDD.

2. I used speed dubbing to copy from HDD to DVD but the resulting DVD didn't have any chapter points. Well I used also real time copying of an XP program to fit the DVD and it put automatically the chapter points as set in the settings (10 min interval). Speed copying says the chapter points from the HDD recorded program will be transferred to the DVD but as I don't have any chapter points on a Video mode HDD recordings I at least expected auto chapter points to be created on the DVD.
How can I do that as manually creating chapters on the HDD recorded program is very time consuming?

I almost always do the high speed dubbing from HDD to DISC and you are correct ... it does not do the auto-chapter thing. It seems to only do this when you re-encode (like going from XP+ mode to OPTIMAL FIT mode).

For me it is not an issue as I copy everything to a DVD-RW which I "RIP" to my computer ... I then use TMPGEnc DVD Author to create a custom menu with chapters and burn to a DVD-R disc using my computer burner.

I then erase the DVD-RW and use it again and again and again ...

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
I have the DVR-531H-s but it is basically the same model.

[BogieV]

Thanks a lot for the quick reply FulciLives!

Yes I think it is the same model and my observations confirm with what you wrote. I just was afraid to try and check other program on the disc while recording.

The Pioneer menu system is quite basic so also your DVD creation process seems the only away if you want something better looking (especially menus and chapters).

Thanks again! And expect more questions...

[Frobozz]

It's pretty easy to add time-interval chapter markers in the Edit mode. While in the chapter edit window just press the 30-second skip key multiple times to advance the amount of time you want. Add a marker and advance again. Those markers will transfer during the high-speed copy.

[BogieV]

Thanks Frobozz, I'm doing exactly what you are saying but wanted to make sure there is no more 'intelegent' way!
Pressing the CM skip button 4 or 5 times to make 5 or 10 min interval chapters is not so pleasent work. I'm getting used though...