I recently got a Philips DVDR 3390, and I've been trying to successfully make a DVD play on multiple DVD players with the edits that I make on the 3390 before finalizing the disc.

The first time I tried doing this I used a blank DVD+R disc. I recorded the content, and then started to make the edits (inserting chapter markers, hiding chapters, etc.) During the editing process, I tried making two edits at once (making a chapter marker and then hiding a chapter) before hitting the editing button to "update" the disc. I found that this sometimes confuses the 3390 and you get a "recovering" message. Anyway, I finalized the disc, and when I went to play it on a couple of other DVD players, it did recognize most (but not all) of the chapter markers and hidden chapters that I had created. I tried the process over the next day, but I made the mistake of making two edits at once again and got a "recovering" message again, and the end result was a finalized disc that had a few chapter errors. But this time around the 2 titles I recorded were repeated, so it became like 4 or 6 titles and included the hidden chapters tacked on at the end of the disc.

Before recording the content onto a disc for a 3rd time, I decided to toggle off the auto chapter marker making feature, figuring that it would save me the time of having to erase chapter markers during the editing process, and I would only have to manually insert markers where I wanted them. I also made sure that I made only one edit at a time, so I had no "recovering" message during the entire process. I finalized the disc, and when I went to play it on other DVD players it remembered the title name and index picture, but it did not recognize the chapters that I had spent a half hour making during the tedious editing process that the 3390 forces you go through (only one edit at a time, and after each edit it takes you to the beginning of the title, and oh yeah, you can't fast forward through the title during editing mode). The disc did play correctly however on the 3390 only.

So now I'm wondering if this is a problem with auto chapter markers vs. making your own markers, or if this could be a limitation of DVD+R discs. The only reason why I bring up DVD+R into the equation is that I had researched another DVD recorder (JVC DRMV 100B - someone in a recent thread said it had good reviews on amazon), and the owner's manual states that edits made to a DVD+R disc won't be seen on other DVD players (implying that DVD-R and DVD+-RW would all play correctly). So is it this way because that's how JVC manufactured it, or is it a limitation of DVD+R? It's really confusing because the DVD+R kind of worked a couple of times after editing on the Philips 3390. Would I get the results I want by using DVD-R? Am I better off using DVD+RW or DVD-RW instead or +-R? I don't know if I should still be concerned about compatibility issues of the +-RW discs. Any suggestions for a different DVD recorder to look at? I'm mainly just looking to archive my VHS tapes onto DVD, and transfer some stuff I want to save from my DVR. Thanks.

I've read about the 3390 on other sites with various reviews and one in particular might help... a guy loaded the FW upgrade before using his and has dubbed and edited many discs with no problem.

Here's the link to the Philips FW upgrade. Might be worth a try. (http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpcontent.pl?slg=AEN&mid=Link_Software&cat=DVD_HOME_THEATER_CA&sct=DVD_HARDDISK_RECORDERS_SU&grp=HOME_ENTERTAINMENT_GR&session=20080910113446_68.159.147.39&ctn=DVDR3390/37&dct=FUS&did=ENG&file=/files/d/dvdr3390_37/dvdr3390_37_fur_eng.pdf)

It sounds as if this FW upgrade might help your situation (if you haven't already installed it?).

One other user in Melbourne FL made the same comment about not being able to FF, etc. in edit menu, and having to eject the disc to re-edit or something like that. If true, not good at all.

I've got DVDR3575's and they have good, basic editing functions with all play/pause controls, incl. Skip and Replay. Click #1 in my signature for info on the 3575/3576 and Mag 2160 (virtual clone on 3576).

Thanks for the reply. As for the firmware, I checked and it already had the latest firmware, so that isn't the problem. I also looked at 3575/3576 info you have linked. It doesn't explicitly say if the edits you make on a DVD+R or DVD-R will be seen when you go to play the disc on another DVD player. What I'm trying to figure out is if this is a limitation of DVD+R (and/or) DVD-R discs, or if it has to do with the capabilities of the DVD recorder which one uses. My 3390 has been inconsistent at best with DVD+R. The 3390user's manual does make reference to this, but it's a little vague:
"You can change the disc content and settings of a recorded DVD±R/±RW from the disc editing menu. The edited contents may not be available when you play the disc on an another DVD player."
It does at least mention that using the "Make Compatible" function for DVD±RW ensures that it will work. I guess I won't have any problem picking up a few DVD+RW discs and see what happens, but since I hadn't searched for a DVD player in years I don't know if all newer DVD players accept DVD±RW playback. Are manufacturers still making DVD players that can't accept DVD±RW?

Well I've found a workaround for anyone who runs into this problem. I got my hands on a DVD+RW disc, recorded & edited, then used the "Make Compatible" feature. It successfully played on my old DVD player as well as on the DVD drive on my computer with all edits, hidden chapters, etc. intact. I then burned a copy of the DVD+RW onto a DVD+R on my computer and the DVD+R works fine will all edits still intact on all DVD players. I'll just keep erasing the same DVD+RW, put new stuff on it, then archive a copy on a DVD+R disc. DVD+Rs are cheaper and easier to find.