85 replies to this topic

[yabbitboy]

I am currently own a 5 year old 250gb Panasonic DMR-EH65 dvd recorder, but I am looking forward to buying a Panasonic DMR-XW series - particularly the latest DMR-XW385.

The panasonic DMR-EH65 has a partial delete function but can only cut out commercials 1 at a time. Example: If I taped a 30 minute show and need to cut 3 commercial breaks, then I would have to use partial delete 3 times separately. [ the DMR-EH65 would slice out the commercial 3 separate times, ie the first commercial break edit bring down a 30 minute show down 27 minutes, the second commercial break edit bring down that 27 minutes down to 24 minutes and the 3rd commercial break edit bring down the down from 24 minutes to 21 minutes ]

I also own a LG dvd/hdd recorder and their partial delete is much easier to use as you can edit out all of the commercials in one go. ie: in the partial delete menu you set up all the 3 commercial breaks you want edit out and as you exit the partial delete menu, the LG recorder cut all the 3 commercial breaks in one go.

I have a question for all those users of the Panasonic DMR-XW or DMR-BW series when it comes to their editing function "partial delete", as I saw the slight difference in the method of partial delete between the old DMR-EH65 and the DMR-XW/BW series. I looked in the owners manual of the DMR-XW380 and in page 41 of the DMR-XW380, the partial delete section of the manual it mentioned something like "Select "Next", then press [ OK ] to delete other sections Up to 20 sections can be set." I was wondering if this could mean I can delete several commercials in one go with the panasonic DMR-XW / BW series? [ ie: like you set up the 3 commercial breaks you want to edit out and as you exit the partial delete function, the panasonic dvd recorder cut those 3 commercials in one go. ]

I can post screenshots example if needed further clarification.

Edited by yabbitboy, 13 May 2011 - 03:38 PM.

[prl]

Editing recordings on HD Topfield and Beyonwiz PVRs is similar to the way you describe that the Panasonic does it. Depending on exactly how the user interface manages it, it's much of a muchness in my opinion, so long as in the Panasonic style of editing it doesn't have to copy the whole recording for each edit. Then that way of doing it would be truly dreadful. HD Topfields don't actually copy recording data for any edit operations, IIRC (or even for copying a whole recording!). Beyonwizes only copy for the "Copy A->B to new file" edit operation.

[yabbitboy]

prl, on May 13 2011, 02:15 PM, said:

Editing recordings on HD Topfield and Beyonwiz PVRs is similar to the way you describe that the Panasonic does it. Depending on exactly how the user interface manages it, it's much of a muchness in my opinion, so long as in the Panasonic style of editing it doesn't have to copy the whole recording for each edit. Then that way of doing it would be truly dreadful. HD Topfields don't actually copy recording data for any edit operations, IIRC (or even for copying a whole recording!). Beyonwizes only copy for the "Copy A->B to new file" edit operation.

I myself purchased a topfield 2460 a few weeks ago and I find it very difficult to use the trf-2460 partial delete function, as it can only cut one piece at a time and cannot fast forward or rewind after editing. I tried to return it to retravision but cant as I had used it once and they cannot accepts return when it is used,

[prl]

yabbitboy, on May 13 2011, 04:55 PM, said:

I myself purchased a topfield 2460 a few weeks ago and I find it very difficult to use the trf-2460 partial delete function, as it can only cut one piece at a time and cannot fast forward or rewind after editing. I tried to return it to retravision but cant as I had used it once and they cannot accepts return when it is used,

I can understand the annoyance about losing FF and REW after editing. When I had a 7000, some time ago now, skipping forwards or backwards over edits was pretty flaky, too. I don't know whether that's been fixed in the meantime, or is different on other models.

But I really can't see how, provided they are fast, doing edits one at a time rather than selecting them all and then actually performing them in one hit is any better. And if the newer Topfields are like the 7000, edits are very fast indeed (much faster than the same edits on a Beyonwiz, and it's not too bad).

But anyway, I rarely do edits on the Beyonwiz, other than a quick "Keep A->B" to remove padding before copying to my Mac. Once there, the editing user interface is way easier to use than the clunky mess that a PVR remote control implies.

I don't know what's partial about these edits, any edit that's not partial is either deletion or a copy.

Edited by prl, 13 May 2011 - 05:09 PM.

[Baird]

prl, on May 13 2011, 05:08 PM, said:

I can understand the annoyance about losing FF and REW after editing. When I had a 7000, some time ago now, skipping forwards or backwards over edits was pretty flaky, too. I don't know whether that's been fixed in the meantime, or is different on other models.

But I really can't see how, provided they are fast, doing edits one at a time rather than selecting them all and then actually performing them in one hit is any better. And if the newer Topfields are like the 7000, edits are very fast indeed (much faster than the same edits on a Beyonwiz, and it's not too bad).

But anyway, I rarely do edits on the Beyonwiz, other than a quick "Keep A->B" to remove padding before copying to my Mac. Once there, the editing user interface is way easier to use than the clunky mess that a PVR remote control implies.

I don't know what's partial about these edits, any edit that's not partial is either deletion or a copy.

Would it be any quicker to make 'chapters' of each advert block then delete the chapters & then you could (i would have thought) still use ff/rew?

[arthur63]

Baird, on May 13 2011, 12:14 PM, said:

Yes I'd like to know how to do this as well.

What you are referring to is 'Title Compression'.
On the remote select 'Direct Navigator' to display the playlist menu of programs you've recorded.
Scroll to the program you want to compress.
Select 'Option' button, a list of operations will appear on screen, select 'Edit', then 'Title Compression'.
Here you select the recording mode and timing.

Recording mode is HG, HX, HE. HL, XP, SP etc.
To copy DR recordings to DVD you will need to choose either recording mode XP (1 hr recording on DVD), SP (2 hrs) LP (4 hrs) EP (8 hrs).  Personally I do Title Compression when the recording was made in DR mode and I want to copy it to DVD and I do don't go below SP as the quality degrades noticeably in LP & EP.

'Timing' selects whether the compression is to occur 'Now' while the unit is turned on OR 'During Standby' when the unit is turned off.  Regardless of which option you choose the unit carries out the process in real time and timer recording or playback of other titles is not possible.

Hope this helps.

Edited by arthur63, 14 May 2011 - 01:24 PM.

[Tedwood]

arthur63, on May 14 2011, 03:23 PM, said:

What you are referring to is 'Title Compression'.

Hi, Arthur63,

Many thanks for those instructions. On my 380 the path is Option > Edit > DR File Conversion and I only have four Recording Modes. SP, LP, EP, HG. As a mattter of interest, if I convert a movie I want to keep on my HDD, what Recording Mode mode would you reccommend for the best HDD space saving and the least loss of quality combined?

Edited by Tedwood, 15 May 2011 - 12:45 PM.

[arthur63]

Tedwood, on May 14 2011, 05:23 PM, said:

Hi, Arthur63,

Many thanks for those instructions. On my 380 the path is Option > Edit > DR File Conversion and I only have four Recording Modes. SP, LP, EP, HG. As a mattter of interest, if I convert a movie I want to keep on my HDD, what Recording Mode mode would you reccommend for the best HDD space saving and the least loss of quality combined?

Hi Tedwood
I don't compress progams recorded on the HDD but in my experience, sometimes recording in DR seems to use less space than if you other recoring modes. I think it depends on the bit rate used at the time of transmission.
Personally, I would not use the HDD on the Panasonic for long term storage of programs, that's why there is a DVD burner and I use XP for up to 1 hr recordings or SP for up to 2 hrs when burning to DVD.

Edited by arthur63, 15 May 2011 - 06:15 PM.

[Tedwood]

arthur63, on May 15 2011, 08:13 PM, said:

Hi Tedwood
I don't compress progams recorded on the HDD but in my experience, sometimes recording in DR seems to use less space than if you other recoring modes. I think it depends on the bit rate used at the time of transmission.

Okay, thanks for that arthur63

[diesel]

Baird, on May 12 2011, 06:21 AM, said:

Forgive my ignorance but how does one compress the DR HDD recordings?

I would look at the manual online, if it was on their site but it isn't and I'm afraid my mate who owns the 385 is not very tech savvy at all.

The manual is now available online - link

Pg39 of the manual cover DR File conversion.

From page26 it would also seem that;
recording FTA is DR mode only and,
external inputs are:XP, SP, LP, EP, FR modes (DR, HG, HX, HE, HL, HM and FR mode cannot be selected pg56)
Seems the manual is a little contradictory?

1min gap between adjacent timers still required. This is a PITA

Edited by diesel, 19 May 2011 - 10:41 PM.

[Baird]

diesel, on May 19 2011, 10:34 PM, said:

The manual is now available online - link

Pg39 of the manual cover DR File conversion.

From page26 it would also seem that;
recording FTA is DR mode only and,
external inputs are:XP, SP, LP, EP, FR modes (DR, HG, HX, HE, HL, HM and FR mode cannot be selected pg56)
Seems the manual is a little contradictory?

1min gap between adjacent timers still required. This is a PITA

Thanks for that Diesel, I've saved a copy just in case my mate has any more queries.

[arthur63]

diesel, on May 19 2011, 10:34 PM, said:

The manual is now available online - link

Pg39 of the manual cover DR File conversion.

From page26 it would also seem that;
recording FTA is DR mode only and,
external inputs are:XP, SP, LP, EP, FR modes (DR, HG, HX, HE, HL, HM and FR mode cannot be selected pg56)
Seems the manual is a little contradictory?

1min gap between adjacent timers still required. This is a PITA

I think it's a backwards step that the new 385 records FTA in DR mode only.  With the 380 I like the flexibility of being able to record FTA directly in XP or SP so copying to DVD is done in about 10 mins.  I was considering buying a second DVD recorder but I don't think it will be the 385.

[diesel]

arthur63, on May 20 2011, 06:36 PM, said:

I think it's a backwards step that the new 385 records FTA in DR mode only.  With the 380 I like the flexibility of being able to record FTA directly in XP or SP so copying to DVD is done in about 10 mins.  I was considering buying a second DVD recorder but I don't think it will be the 385.

You can archive your recordings still, so the function is available, albeit now a longer process which you may wish to do overnight.

But seriously, how often do you do this over say wanting to record two channels? Is there another DVDR on the market with twin HD tuners???

Edited by diesel, 20 May 2011 - 08:13 PM.

[Baird]

diesel, on May 20 2011, 08:12 PM, said:

You can archive your recordings still, so the function is available, albeit now a longer process which you may wish to do overnight.

But seriously, how often do you do this over say wanting to record two channels? Is there another DVDR on the market with twin HD tuners???

Hi Diesel

Given space considerations, it is very handy to sometimes record one as DR & one as say LP. I do it quite a lot of the time. The only real differnce I find is that on LP you need to have volume switched up a bit louder. Just my opinion.

[arthur63]

diesel, on May 20 2011, 08:12 PM, said:

You can archive your recordings still, so the function is available, albeit now a longer process which you may wish to do overnight.

But seriously, how often do you do this over say wanting to record two channels? Is there another DVDR on the market with twin HD tuners???

Agreed, that's why I bought the Panasonic xw380 in the first place.

Diesel, if the 385 can compress to XP, SP etc during Standby do you know if coping the compressed title to DVD can be done in high speed mode or only in real time?
Thanks.

[diesel]

arthur63, on May 22 2011, 08:45 PM, said:

Diesel, if the 385 can compress to XP, SP etc during Standby do you know if coping the compressed title to DVD can be done in high speed mode or only in real time?
Thanks.

I haven't read that part of the manual, but I'm assuming that depends on the way it's recorded in the first place. In previous models there were limitations on the settings required to enable a high speed copy. I would imagine though that as all FTA recordings are now in DR mode, copying to DVD will most likely require realtime processing - eg it takes 1 hr to copy a 1 hr show.

[arthur63]

diesel, on May 24 2011, 09:56 AM, said:

I haven't read that part of the manual, but I'm assuming that depends on the way it's recorded in the first place. In previous models there were limitations on the settings required to enable a high speed copy. I would imagine though that as all FTA recordings are now in DR mode, copying to DVD will most likely require realtime processing - eg it takes 1 hr to copy a 1 hr show.

Thanks Diesel.

[Linear]

Hi – i have just purchased a Panasonic DMR-XW385 and the setup worked well. Howver, the next day all of the ABC stations dropped off the tuning. I also have a DMR-EX85 connected to a TH-42PX600A Plasma TV and an SA-VR57 AV receiver – all using Viera link. The EX85 still tunes ABC fine and I can see all the ABC stations through the TV direct. FYI – i was able to record ABC1 last night and nothing else appears to have changed ie i haven’t disconnected or reconnected anything. However, that said, each time i have started up the XW385 there is announcement that new stations have been found – but an auto tune does not find ABC. Any ideas or suggestions ? Thanks

[diesel]

Viera link in the new DVDRs can download the channels using the TV's tuner/settings(???) so maybe it's this that is playing up. Try turning off Viera link and doing a rescan of channels on the DVDR

[Pat_Mc_Crotch]

I think I'll take a leap of faith and buy one of these.

Anyone seen or heard any more on these items sub $500?

Cheers

Edited by Pat_Mc_Crotch, 31 May 2011 - 03:00 PM.

[Linear]

Pat_Mc_Crotch, on May 31 2011, 02:23 PM, said:

I think I'll take a leap of faith and buy one of these.

Anyone seen or heard any more on these items sub $500?

Cheers

Try this at Videopro- quick delivery :

http://www.videopro....d-recorder.aspx

and if you pay by Amex you get another $50 rebate :

https://amexnetwork....rk-electricalan

Alan

[Waltzing Paul]

Baird, on May 12 2011, 06:21 AM, said:

Thanks very much for that Diesel.

Forgive my ignorance but how does one compress the DR HDD recordings?

I would look at the manual online, if it was on their site but it isn't and I'm afraid my mate who owns the 385 is not very tech savvy at all.

Baird, I have had a XW350 for a couple of years now and think it is brilliant. Recording in DR mode will use more disc space as previously mentioned. I think in the past I have copied say a 3 hour film back to DVD disc using the copy speed options. I usually copy to DVD in SP mode but you could use EP mode (or lower) to squeeze it on the disc.
I nearly always record in EP from the TV stations and find this quite good for most things. An hours program then only takes up a couple of minutes of Hard Drive space. Obviously you would use a higher setting if you wanted to keep the copy for archiving (like favourite films etc).
When recording several programs in one evening (say 4 or 5) just make the shortest program the DR one. You can record many programs in one evening as long as only 2 are recording at one time. It's a bit of a juggling act but it is so easy to do this with the XW350.

[Baird]

Brisbane Paul, on Jun 2 2011, 05:59 PM, said:

Baird, I have had a XW350 for a couple of years now and think it is brilliant. Recording in DR mode will use more disc space as previously mentioned. I think in the past I have copied say a 3 hour film back to DVD disc using the copy speed options. I usually copy to DVD in SP mode but you could use EP mode (or lower) to squeeze it on the disc.
I nearly always record in EP from the TV stations and find this quite good for most things. An hours program then only takes up a couple of minutes of Hard Drive space. Obviously you would use a higher setting if you wanted to keep the copy for archiving (like favourite films etc).
When recording several programs in one evening (say 4 or 5) just make the shortest program the DR one. You can record many programs in one evening as long as only 2 are recording at one time. It's a bit of a juggling act but it is so easy to do this with the XW350.

Thanks Brisbane Paul but I was talking about the 385 my mate owns, I've got a 380 which has a few really good enahncements from the 350 and most of my recording is DR or LP but with the 385 you cannot "record in EP from the TV stations" only DR mode and that was where the discussion began. Thanks anyway, I think the problem is now solved.

[diesel]

Baird, on Jun 2 2011, 06:39 PM, said:

Thanks anyway, I think the problem is now solved.

They took it back and got a PVR????  

[Baird]

diesel, on Jun 2 2011, 09:43 PM, said:

They took it back and got a PVR????  

I must be misinformed but isn't the 380 a PVR? Or is it just a brilliant twin tuner with a HDD plus a DVD player & recorder?

Edited by Baird, 03 June 2011 - 07:46 AM.