Pioneer DVR-640H: Auto Chapters & Title Input

[Dobermann]

I just got this unit a couple of days ago. So far I really like it, with a couple of exceptions.

First, I have it set to record in Video Mode, with auto chapters set for 10 minutes. This works fine if I create a recording directly to the DVD. However, if I create the recording to the HD, no chapters are set, forcing me to do it manually. Am I missing something or is this just how it works?

Along these lines, if I record directly to a DVD, how does it handle editing of it? Will it let you do it? Does it need up to double the space - original file and copy? I'd hate to waste a DVD to find out if someone already knows the answer.

Also, I find inputting title names a bit awkward in that I cannot easily use the keypad on the remote. I find that pressing say "9" gives me all kinds of entires before it gets to the actual number. It is not just moving from W to X to Y to Z then to 9, but rather, it moves all across the board with no rhyme nor reason to it. Is there a trick to using the remote?

Thanks,
Dobermann

[Frobozz]

I just got this unit a couple of days ago. So far I really like it, with a couple of exceptions.

First, I have it set to record in Video Mode, with auto chapters set for 10 minutes. This works fine if I create a recording directly to the DVD. However, if I create the recording to the HD, no chapters are set, forcing me to do it manually. Am I missing something or is this just how it works?

That's how it works. Automatic chapter markers only appear when burning to DVD in real time. Otherwise you set the chapters manually or at edit points. Pressing pause during a manual recording also automatically places a chapter marker.

Along these lines, if I record directly to a DVD, how does it handle editing of it? Will it let you do it? Does it need up to double the space - original file and copy? I'd hate to waste a DVD to find out if someone already knows the answer.

You can only edit on a disc if recording to a VR mode DVD-RW (and maybe a DVD+RW, but I'm not sure). There is no editing on a video-mode DVD disc of any kind. You can, however, use the pause key to interrupt recording or you can stop and start various recordings until a video mode disc is full or you choose to finalize it.

Also, I find inputting title names a bit awkward in that I cannot easily use the keypad on the remote. I find that pressing say "9" gives me all kinds of entires before it gets to the actual number. It is not just moving from W to X to Y to Z then to 9, but rather, it moves all across the board with no rhyme nor reason to it. Is there a trick to using the remote?

This process is explained in the manual. It sounds to me that it is working the way it is designed to. When I enter text I'm looking at a screen where I can also use the direction keys to select characters. Note that pressing the pause key inserts a space, pressing the chapter skip key changes upper and lower case, holding down the clear key erases the existing title and pressing the stop key saves the changes and exits the mode.

[Dobermann]

Thanks very much Frobozz for your great answers. As to my question about the remote and your response on the manual, there must be two different sections on it in the manual, as the one I read was your basic one or two liner - press the keys. It did not say anything about the space (I was trying to find that out), nor the other features you mentioned. Again, thanks for the tips on those features.

Funny, but I just tried it again about half an hour ago, and discovered that if my cursor was in the entry field, the number keys work as they should, ie, w, x, y, z, 9, etc, however, and this is what I was probably doing before without realizing it, if I was on the bottom line on the CLEAR button (and presumably the OK and SPACE buttons would be the same), then I got the strange behaviour that I wrote about.

Thanks!
Dobermann

[Frobozz]

Sounds like you sniffed out a bug, Dobermann. Glad to know you found what was causing that. My comment on the manual was based on recollection and not checking to see what actually was there.

Another thing about the Pioneer recorders is that a burned video-mode DVD will begin playback at the first title rather than go to the menu. There's no way to change that. If you insert the DVD and press menu instead of play then you'll get the menu, but who does that? Also, placing the DVD in the drawer and pressing play will automatically close the drawer and start play back.

Chapter markers that you create on the hard drive will be transferred to the DVD only if you do high-speed transfers. If you do a real-time transfer you'll get the time-increment markers.

Only VR-mode discs can be high-speed transferred back to the hard drive from disc.

[FulciLives]

I have a Pioneer DVR-531H-s which is a generation behind the DVR-640H-s and the chapters thing works the same for me ... in other words no chapters if I record to the HDD first in Video mode.

It doesn't really bother me though because I burn everything to a DVD-RW and RIP that to my computer and then re-author using TMPGEnc DVD Author so I can create a custom menu and chapters. This can be done without any re-encoding and once you get used to TMPGEnc DVD Author you can zip through the process fairly quickly.

Of course this requires you have a computer with DVD authoring software and a DVD burner and yeah it does add more time to everything but I like making custom menus.

BTW if you really intend to burn to a DVD-R for keeping a recording for future playback I strongly advise sticking with Video mode ... one should pretty much ignore the use of the VR mode.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Frobozz]

one should pretty much ignore the use of the VR mode.

Except for when you know that you want it in VR-mode. I always record to VR-mode when I'm going to be transferring the video to my Mac with Toast 8 for authoring to a video DVD. And it is handy for off-loading video from the HDD to disc when I anticipate I may be wanting to transfer it back to the HDD for some reason. Also, I like that the Pioneer keeps a directory of what's on my VR-mode discs.

[next]

When I burn -R media I use Video Mode. It gives me the compatibility I'm looking for when using other players. But my recorder allows me to high speed dub Video Mode back to the HDD while retaining chapter marks. So the benefits of some of the comments concerning VR mode do not really apply in my case.

[Frobozz]

When I burn -R media I use Video Mode. It gives me the compatibility I'm looking for when using other players. But my recorder allows me to high speed dub Video Mode back to the HDD while retaining chapter marks. So the benefits of some of the comments concerning VR mode do not really apply in my case.

I think we may be referring to different things. Finalized video-mode discs work with the disc copy function where they get copied to the HDD at high speed. But the copied video cannot be played from the HDD, only burned back to disc. The VR-mode DVD-RW (there is no VR-mode DVD-R) can high-speed copied to the HDD as a playable, editable video.

[next]

When I burn -R media I use Video Mode. It gives me the compatibility I'm looking for when using other players. But my recorder allows me to high speed dub Video Mode back to the HDD while retaining chapter marks. So the benefits of some of the comments concerning VR mode do not really apply in my case.

I think we may be referring to different things. Finalized video-mode discs work with the disc copy function where they get copied to the HDD at high speed. But the copied video cannot be played from the HDD, only burned back to disc. The VR-mode DVD-RW (there is no VR-mode DVD-R) can high-speed copied to the HDD as a playable, editable video.

OK. Got it. I was talking about being able to dub a finalized Video Mode disc to the HDD for subsequent playback, editing, etc. My recorder allows this.

[Dobermann]

Another thing about the Pioneer recorders is that a burned video-mode DVD will begin playback at the first title rather than go to the menu. There's no way to change that. If you insert the DVD and press menu instead of play then you'll get the menu, but who does that? Also, placing the DVD in the drawer and pressing play will automatically close the drawer and start play back.

Chapter markers that you create on the hard drive will be transferred to the DVD only if you do high-speed transfers. If you do a real-time transfer you'll get the time-increment markers.

Only VR-mode discs can be high-speed transferred back to the hard drive from disc.

Thanks for the extra tips, Frobozz! Already I have been using the space, clear, and chapter advance keys for vasting improving inputting of title names. When will they let us connect up a keyboard and use that instead.....

I had noticed that about the DVD automagically playing, and thought it was just my other DVD player. Seems strange that it does that, as sometimes I have multiple titles, forcing me to actually press the top menu button. But overall, just being able to copy from the satellite receiver to the Pioneer's HDD while I am sleeping is a great benefit. When I get up, I just cut out the commercials and make my CD. I don't sleep all night long, so I usually get in 2-3 different recordings during the night. I'm finally catching up on organizing my mess!

I read one other great tip - I believe it was in the product reviews. Someone wrote that when you make a HDD recording, just set the variable time increment to slightly more than you know the final product will be for best quality. I use 45 minutes per hour as a rule of thumb, and so far, it has worked out great.

Again, I love this machine! I don't mind recording shows with commercials anymore!

Thanks again for your help and tips!

Cheers,
Dobermann

PS - have you tried to connect an external HDD via USB to the unit yet?

[Frobozz]

PS - have you tried to connect an external HDD via USB to the unit yet?

The USB is for connecting a digital camera or a PictBridge-capable printer. There is no external hard drive capability.

Glad to be of help.