NEC NDH 81 - Will not finalize/Too long to dub?

[Noiseworker]

I purchased this model from eBay to replace an old DVR that had gone cactus. Initially it worked beautifully. Tonight I have tried to copy to DVD-R. I understand that with these disks, the NEC automatically initializes the disk. However, I was once able to finalize the disk when I was finished. Not so this evening. I have tried putting the disks into my computer's DVD-ROM but it won't recognize them. I have not changed any settings since I first hooked it all up. Is there anything I can do to get it working again? Playback of the files from the DVD-R works fine. I want to be able to play them on a computer.

Also, when dubbing clips to DVD-R, do I HAVE TO sit there and watch the entire program again as it processes before it goes to disk? It's time-consuming and unnecessary.

[guns1inger]

Most have a fast dub mode, so long as the recording itself is compliant and able to fit onto the target disc. It you have edited the video before transfer then it may depend on the accuracy level of editing you chose. I know my Pioneer has two edit modes. One is I frame level, and allows for fast dubbing, the other is frame accurate and means that the transfer runs in real time and re-encodes at least some of the video. I suggest you consult your manual for Video Mode editing to find which is which, and also to find the setting for fast dubbing by default.

[Noiseworker]

Good news: I've worked out how to finalize the disk - I have to switch from HDD to DVD, and then Finalize will appear. But the Fast Dub option only works if i'm only transferring one clip to disk. I just tried putting 4 onto one disk and they all got the blue-screen treatment. So now i'm back to having to watch the damn things as they transfer. Sigh. Any suggestions?

[Noiseworker]

And now the disks will not work on my computer. If anyone knows how to help, PLEASE do so!

[guns1inger]

If the recorder has to re-encode then you will fall back to real-time transfer. I suspect that when you transfer single program, it already fits on the disc. When you try to transfer 4 programs they are too big, have to be re-encoded, and so you are back to real time. The only way around this is to make sure you use a setting that will give you small enough files to begin with. One of the reasons I like the Pioneer so much is that you can set your target size in 5 minute increments. This means that I can record a TV show with a target size of 95 minutes, and once I cut out the ads know that two episodes will fit on a single disc without re-encoding.

As for playing on the PC - I assume you are talking about finalised discs ?