Help me please...problem with Panasonic DMR-E30

[darc15]

I just picked this up last week and have only done to conversions from vhs to dvd one using the dvd-r that came with the unit which was Imation and the other was a generic brand. Both of them when played in my coby and cyberhome players beging sticking,dragging and freezing shortly after begiining play. Is this a bad unit right out of the box or is it another problem? hope to hear back on this soon..thanks

[zorankarapancev]

darc15,

First of all, congratulations on your purchase. You bought a good DVD recorder. This is a proven machine and you shouldn’t have any problem if it is a brand new one.

Now, from my personal experience with the model E60 (which is almost the same as yours), based on the reactions of my 300+ happy customers, if you don’t want to have any problem with the quality of the recordings and compatibility with other DVD players, do this:

1. Go to Setup and set Hybrid VBR Resolution to Fixed (default setting is Automatic).
2. Never use XP mode (1Hr) recording. Some DVD players are choking playing DVD’s from Panasonic machines recorded with this high bit rate.
3. For recording anything up to 2Hrs of length use only the SP preset. My tests show that this setting yields better recording quality than a Flexible Recording set on 2Hrs.
4. Use a Flexible Recording for the recordings over 2Hrs.
5. Use an Automatic Hybrid VBR Recording for any length over 2Hrs and 15 minutes. Some DVD players have a problem playing shorter lengths of DVD’s done on this mode.
6. Always use the best quality DVD-R’s!

[darc15]

Thanks..I will try that out, hope it works cause I was going to return this and mayby get the ctberhome unit instead

[ejai]

darc15,

First of all, congratulations on your purchase. You bought a good DVD recorder. This is a proven machine and you shouldn’t have any problem if it is a brand new one.

Now, from my personal experience with the model E60 (which is almost the same as yours), based on the reactions of my 300+ happy customers, if you don’t want to have any problem with the quality of the recordings and compatibility with other DVD players, do this:

1. Go to Setup and set Hybrid VBR Resolution to Fixed (default setting is Automatic).
2. Never use XP mode (1Hr) recording. Some DVD players are choking playing DVD’s from Panasonic machines recorded with this high bit rate.
3. For recording anything up to 2Hrs of length use only the SP preset. My tests show that this setting yields better recording quality than a Flexible Recording set on 2Hrs.
4. Use a Flexible Recording for the recordings over 2Hrs.
5. Use an Automatic Hybrid VBR Recording for any length over 2Hrs and 15 minutes. Some DVD players have a problem playing shorter lengths of DVD’s done on this mode.
6. Always use the best quality DVD-R’s!

This is new to me, try it, I hope it works for you.

I own an E30 and E50 and I must admit that I have the same problems with both machines. Some forums say it has something to do with the way Panasonic authors dvds, I don't know.

What I do now is capture the dvd using the Panasonic recorder and then copy the file to my computer. Once that is done I edit and burn the movie using my computer's burner. All the disks I create using the computer's writer works, but any created using the Pansonics have problems playing.

I might try this advice and see if it works for me. So far nothing has. That's one of the reasons I bought the JVC recorder and might I add all the disks I burnt using this unit work fine.

[pluche]

Imation DVD-R: don't use that anymore, gives very "variable" results with Panasonic recorders (I have a DMR E-20 and a DMR E50)
generic disks : same comment
before taking any other action: make a test with a reliable brand of disks like Maxwell
I have transferred all my sVHS tapes to DVD-R using the DMR E20; that happened in 2001; I used Mawxells (not from spindles)
the playback is still perfect today

[handyguy]

That's odd. An e30 isn't sold no more. You must have got some pretty old stock. e55's are the ones sold now.

I used hundreds of ACCU disks on my e30 perfectly & plays perfectly in any machine I use (about 97 disks per 100 are okay, a manf thing). They are cheap, about $60 per 100 from meritline.com Use -r
1 or 2x disks cause it only writes in real time anyway.

Also, it might surprise you but Panasonic disks also work perfectly. What else you can use is posted in the dvd writer topic on lef column. Or search this forum for e30, there are lots of posts.

[macleod]

I am a proud owner of the panny E30. From what I have read, buring vhs to a dvdr may not play in a number of players. Has to do with the authoring process.

My recommendations: go to wallyworld and pick up a 5 pack of dvd-ram for $19.00. Record your stuff onto ram, get a dvd ram drive (new egg has them in the 20-30 range. Use TMPGENC DVD Author to convert to dvd-r. You can make better menus, clips, etc. with it.

I have a small home business converting VHS to DVD and that is the process that I use and it works great. No one has ever complained about the conversions (well, they did say that the conversion added 5 pounds to their butts, but that is a different story )

[darc15]

Well last night I went ahead and tryed that setting the VBR to fixed and recorded the same vhs to the same brand dvdr I have and used the first time..now the first one went bad early in the recording the one I did last night played for a full hour perfect in my coby dvd player...I did not watch the last 40 minutes but got a feeling its ok too since the problem I was having was obvious early not later in the recording. I am going to let the movie play all the way thru today to be sure but this just might have solved the problem.

[darc15]

Well just finished watching the rest of it and I can say that the whole movie played flawless in my coby dvd player which is a very good sign...I hope to do a few more soon here and test again before deciding if I want to try the cyberhome recorder instead, I again set the VBR to fixed like suggested so maybe that is the solution..I hope

[zorankarapancev]

darc15,

If you always follow my simple suggestions while you record with your Panasonic you should never have a problem…

…And don’t exchange it for Cyberhome! They are not even in the same league! Today Panasonic is probably the best-rounded DVD recorder on the market. It has excellent recording quality, flexibility and responsitivity, and its reliability is second to none.

[handyguy]

"Record your stuff onto ram, get a dvd ram drive (new egg has them in the 20-30 range."

The new Pioneer 108, 16x dvd writing, 4x dl, can read dvdram. Should be about $99 a new egg, free ship.

[darc15]

zorankarapancev thanks for the help I am going to do another test tomorrow will update after that...as for the others comments and help thanks but one thing is if I have to buy a ram drive and use ram discs and edit on my computer than the panasonic was a wasste of money and to me is useless and doesnt do what it is suppose to do

[zorankarapancev]

I think you are a little bit confused with the other posts that are suggesting the use of DVD-Ram discs. You don’t have to do that in order to transfer your videotapes to DVD. You don’t need them even if you like to make simple editing while you are converting your tapes.

[samijubal]

I wouldn't agree with Panasonic's reliability being the best. My E20 only lasted a little over 2 1/2 years before the drive went out. Usage wasn't very heavy, I only recorded on it and used another machine to play on. I would hope that there are other machines with a longer lifespan than that.

[pluche]

my DMR E20 dates from 2001 and is still going strong; it has and still is used frequently
main precaution: free standing, nothing on top of it - avoid overheating

[samijubal]

It didn't have anything on top of it and had plenty of room behind the fan. That's just how long it lasted before the drive went. Fortunately I was smart enough to buy a 5 year warranty with it and got a replacement for free, not a Panasonic this time.

[macleod]

One of the reasons that I suggested using RAM disks is that I have had compatibility issues with conversions that I have done for people, including my own dvd players (apex). The only dvd player in my arsenal that would play those dvd-r's was my minivan one.

Plus, my clients wanted to have a cool menu system and wanted a lot of editing done ("I have 4 tapes and I want 5 minutes from each of them on one dvd"). I could've wasted 1 or more dvdrs to do the actual cap, then used the computer to edit and burn the final output or invest $40-$50 into ram and a dvd rom.

Figgered I'd give y'all the benefits of my experience.

On which recorder to buy, for an unbiased opinion, go to www.lordsmurf.com. I seem to remember that he did a test on a number of the dvd recorders out on th market and provided his results. I am a panny fan and say to keep it no matter what his results say :P

After you have done a couple, you might want to fiddle with the VBR vs CBR and some other the other settings (someone else corect me, but didnt VBR do something to compatibility???)

[samijubal]

I used the VBR on mine always and they play in everything I've tried them in. Sony, Samsung, Pioneer, Panasonic, and X-Box.

[darc15]

well this I promise will be my last update, had the time to do another vhs to dvd coversion and again it turned out fantastic. Thanks again for the help I am very pleased with this unit even tho itss the older model

[zorankarapancev]

I am glad that you like this DVD recorder. My latest test reveiled to me that I can make better quality 2 hour DVD's with my Panasonic E60 then with my Mac with iDVD 4! From now I will use iDVD only if I have to create special manus, buttons and chapters.