Recording methods (Panasonic DMR-E30)

[Erwin]

OK, I have been backing up all my Simpsons on to DVD-R. I put 6 episodes onto a DVD. With this one disc, I put 6 eps. and erased one of the programs and this disc would not play properly on 2 of my DVD players. So, I recorded the same material again and even left 5 minutes of empty space. Again, the material will not play well on my other two players. I go to the sixth track on both of the discs made (of the same material) and they refuse to even acknowledge the track. I almost thought that I tested this second disc after I burned it and it played fine. Now, a week later, the same problem. The two players I have that will refuse to play it are the ProScan and the Curtis Mathes. The Pioneer plays anything. I think if everyone had a Pioneer, we would not know if our disc were messed up or not. What is so great about the Pioneer DVD players (it even plays the discs back better than the Panasonic DMR-E30). There is no way I am going to redo all 6 of those episodes for the 3rd time though. I love the Simpsons, but I don't want to wear them out

[Erwin]

Just add some more info to this. The discs don't appear to have anything wrong with the edges. When playing this DVD-R, it will completely pixelate to where the picture is a "total mess". I play it on the Pioneer and no problems at all. I guess what I will do is try this disc on some other DVD players and that will give me an idea. Afterall, this Curtis Mathes that I have is a good XVCD player, however, it has problems with some Disney DVDs and it has froze while playing certain DVDs before. I record using the FR mode and I do it like this: I know 6 epds is about 2hrs 12min (so I make it 2hrs 16 min or 17min). Everytime I record an episode, I subtract from that total at about 22 min per episode (ex. the next would be 1hr 55min).

[Erwin]

Well, I am going to try something that I found discussed at the World Wide Web forum. Alot of users are recommending recording DVD-Rs using the Hybrid VBR set to "fixed". They say this has made their DVD-Rs compatable with the players that could play DVD-Rs using the "automatic" mode. Oh well, it's worth a try...I guess. To bad DVD-Rs don't cost 25 cents like CD-Rs though

Apparently, the automatic and fixed option are not what one would think according to the WWW Forum. Most people would think it actually controls the Bit Rate, but it simply controls the resolution. Apparently, some DVD players can't accept some DVD-Rs created using the "automatic" option rather than the "fixed" option.

[Erwin]

Upon further inspection, my Curtis Mathes is the only DVD player that will not recognize the last tracks on some of the DVD-Rs and the ProScan plays them OK. It's just that one disc that I completed 2 different times that seems to be a problem with the 2 different DVD players.

[onetrekkie]

I have found that you should also be careful of what blank dvd-r you use. I had a similar problem but it turned out to be the type of blank media I was using. Memorex is a horrible blank dvd-r. The last 15 minutes would not play on other dvd players.

[Erwin]

"Memorex is a horrible blank dvd-r. The last 15 minutes would not play on other dvd players."

Agreed. I know what you mean. Imation comes to mind with DVD-Rs. I have been using Verbatims. I am usually concerned when 2 out of 5 my DVD player will not play the DVD-Rs. It seems that the Curtis Mathes (which I have praised for being such a great XVCD player) is the main DVD player that has difficulty with some of these DVD-Rs. It's strange that this DVD player has problems. It will lock up on various tracks from these DVD-Rs (you have to unplug it to get going again).

[onetrekkie]

I'll give you my two cents on DVD-R's. Have had nothing but proublems with memorex. Sony And TDK have never generated a coster yet!

[Erwin]

"Sony And TDK have never generated a coster yet!"

That's good b/c I have heard that TDK and Verbatim DVD-Rs are made by the same people. I plan to get some TDKs as well.

[ejai]

I now use Sony and TDK ONLY!, I've tried most brands and all of them have given me coasters from time to time. I've never had a coaster using Sony or TDK.

You get what you pay for.

ej