If we post an incorrect tip, we should be sent a PM to be notified so we can delete it or correct it.
That way the thread won't get cluttered with questions & answers.

My tip would be to put your blank disc in & WAIT for the word LOAD to disappear before you start your copy process with a DVD+R DL. :)

My tip in terms of the, "Auto Start Recording:" The Disk Navigator and Home Menu cannot be accessed while something is being recorded via this feature. Basically, one can neither watch, via chase play, what is being recorded nor watch something previously recorded during this time.

Make sure to have the record mode where you want before selecting this feature, though, because what's set is the record mode that will be used.

Auto Start Recording is great for those of us who have satellite receivers. One can schedule programs for 'viewing' on the satellite receiver then have these programs recorded to the 640H. I use it all the time when away for home for an extended period of time or asleep (and have multiple satellite programs to record before I awake). When the satellite receiver turns on, the 640H starts to record and stops recording/turns off when the satellite receiver turns off.

Way to go Urlee...I wondered when one of you would pull the trigger and start this thread. Maybe the title should include the 540 and 543 which are also 2006 models?

My tips: (20% if you smile)

1) An oldie but a goodie: When copying program(s) from HDD to DVD, if you plan to ever copy back to the HDD (perhaps for additional editing or adding to a complilation,) be sure to use a VR mode DVD. With VR mode you can high-speed copy back to the DVD with no loss of picture quality. (Video mode will force a real-time copy which re-encodes and loses some pq.)

2) To have the 640 capture broadcast program names for timer events and carry forward pre-programmed title names for timer events, apply the new (hurray) firmware update 6.20 as described in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=727506). Here's how to find your current firmware version (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10103696&&#post10103696).

3) To ensure recordings may be high-speed copied to video mode DVDs (for best compatibility,) be sure to record using "HDD Recording Format" = "Video Mode On" because if your recording uses speeds from MN9 through MN15, VR mode recordings use a non-standard resolution which isn't compatible with video mode rules and therefore the copy will have to re-encode to convert to video mode...this results in some pq loss.

4) To minimize playback pauses at edit points on video mode DVDs, before copying be sure to edit at key frames .00 or .15 which is enforced if you use video mode editing. For VR mode DVDs, you can eliminate pauses using seamless playback but your edit points may move.

5) Remember the "HDD Recording Format" only affects recordings to the HDD. The type of copy you get (Video mode or VR mode) for a HDD->DVD copy is determined by the way the target disc is initialized. (VR mode DVDs must be initialized as VR mode, otherwise it's a video mode DVD.)

6) If you use earlier models' remote, such as the VXX2967 (http://parts.pioneerelectronics.com/part.asp?productNum=VXX2967) or VXX2932 (http://parts.pioneerelectronics.com/part.asp?productNum=VXX2932) , you get additional features with no programming necessary: Open\Close Tray, Timer Rec, TV Control buttons and CM Skip works even for finalized recordings which is not the case with the 2006 remote.

7) Use Verbatim or TY -R/RW media for reliable results. (FF and REW has extra gears with -R, but not with +R) For dual layer, use Verbatim.

8) When editing a title name, to clear the entire name press and hold down the clear button. (Many seem to miss this.)

9) When editing titles in the copy list, note that unlike editing on the HDD there is a 2nd page of editing options (that you must scroll to) including Divide, Combine, Chapter Edit, Set Thumbnail, Recording Mode & Dual Mono Audio. (Using Combine in the copy list is the only way to conveniently combine titles.)

10) Don't let your HDD get too full. Problems seem to be rare on Pioneers but the few reported usually seem to be when the HDD is full or near full.

Auto Chapter that you setup initially only applies to real-time recordings to DVD (either directly or from the hard drive). It will overide any chapters that you insert on a hard drive recording that you transfer to DVD in real time.

To insert chapters on a hard drive recording at 5 or 10 minute intervals, use the chapter skip function to advance. Press the button 6 times for a 5 min jump and 7 times for a 10 min jump.

Harmony remotes do not allow you to set up a macro to customize a key and automatically skip to the 5 or 10 min mark :(

When you copy a hard drive recording to DVD, the first screen lets you select which titles to copy and the second screen lets you make changes to them. This second screen is called the "Copy List", and the important thing to remember is that changes you make here only affect the copy made on the DVD and not the original on the hard drive. You can do things like erase sections and change the thumbnail or title of the recording, and these changes will appear on the DVD copy only.

The next time you do a copy it will remember the copy list edits from before (as long as you haven't deleted the original recordings from the hard drive) if you select the "Use Existing Copy List" option.

While in the Erase section of Editing, to get rid of the very beginning of your recording up to what you want saved, press the Reverse play button and when it stops on pause, press Enter for your Start point, then the play button, and resume on to your End point doing what you usually do to find it.

Also, "ngohit's" tip----- Or, push PAUSE then PREV to get to the beginning of the recording then push ENTER.
Likewise, to erase the very end of a recording, push PAUSE then NEXT then ENTER.
Depending on where one is in the recording, the PAUSE/PREV (or NEXT), ENTER combination is faster.

The remote control default is Recorder1, but the 640H and it's remote (or a Pioneer remote for a previous year's model) can be changed to Recorder2 or Recorder3 if other devices nearby use the same frequency. Even if unplugged, once reset to Recorder2 or Recorder3, the 640H setting will not change. Every time batteries are changed in the remote, though, the remote defaults back to Recorder1 and has to be reset to Recorder2 or Recorder3.

It's easy to forget the simple step to reset the remote, so here it is:

While holding down RETURN, push the number to which the 640H has been set, either 2 or 3. Hold both down until the indicator light comes on.

[Later today I shall edit this to include instructions to change the 640H from Recorder1 to Recorder2 or 3.]

When making a DL disc, choose a thumbnail from what will be on the first layer of the disc, or you will get the last frame of the first layer as your thumbnail.

The easiest way to do your editing is to do it ALL in "Chapter Edit." Put your chapter marks where you want your edits to begin and end, and delete them in "Chapter edit," without getting bounced back to the main menu, like using "Delete." edit: Sorry, it's "Divide" that bounces you back to main menu. I still think it's easier to do it (almost) all in "Chapter Edit," because you can.

Set a chapter mark at the frame you want to use as a thumbnail while in "Chapter Edit." Then go to "Thumbnail," hit pause, then jump through the chapter points, until you get to your thumbnail pic, and enter it.

When Using Chapter Edit on a 16x9 TV, hit "Zoom 1" to make that little picture screen bigger. You won't cut off anything you need to see.

If you prefer to pick a thumbnail frame while viewing the picture at full frame size, play your HDD recording, FF until you came to the frame you want to use, and hit the "Stop" button. Hit Disc Navigator, arrow over, select "Chapter Edit." The replay will start from just before the stop point, so set a chapter mark where you want your thumbnail. Then, go to "Thumbnail," hit pause, and skip to the chapter mark you just set. This won't work by going directly to "Thumbnail," because then replay will start from the beginning of the recording.

If you are watching for the first time, just stop play, and set the chapter mark as I have mentioned, and come back later to set the thumbnail, thus minimizing the delay in viewing the picture.

When entering titles for your DVDs the break point is at the “m” under the
”Input Title Name” (20 character break) so that if you want something on the second line add spaces to make the first character for the second line under the “e” (after “m”) in “Input Title Name”.

Example: Worlds Fastest Indian would give you an orphan “n”

Worlds Fastest India
n
So space (pause on remote) to the “e” and type the second line. (or add spaces between words )

Worlds Fastest------Indian (spaces indicated by -) (followed by “stop” button to enter)
Will give you two lines:

Worlds Fastest
Indian

Or whatever your title wants to be.

1. To enter letters, use the keypad on the remote, rather than cursoring all over the on-screen alphabet and pressing Enter. Example: press 5-5 to get a K. It feels awkward at first, but you quickly get used to it. Many punctuation symbols are also tied to keypad keys on the remote.

2. During editing,
- the Pause key inserts a space.
- FF and REW move the cursor in the title line -- handy for inserting a missed letter. They wrap around at start or end of the title, by the way.
- the Prev Chapter key switches between upper and lower case.
- Clear erases the *last* character if you're at the end of the title, but if you're in the middle of the title it erases the *current* character.
- the Stop key saves the title and goes back to Disc Navigator. (Thanks to ACPewty and ngohit and Sean for this.)

3. In keypad editing, you still want to cursor sometimes. For instance, to get "ed" you'll press the DEF key twice for "e" in the title line. Notice that you're now positioned at "e" in the on-screen alphabet, so cursor left once and hit Enter to get a "d".

4. To enter numbers, press the 0 key and then the Clear key. This gets you to the number row of the on-screen alphabet. Then you can cursor back and forth and press Enter. (You can also press e.g. the 5 key repeatedly to get past the letters and punctuation to a 5. Some people prefer that but most prefer the "0-Clear" method.)

Others? PM me and I'll add them. I'd especially like to know about other special keys for #2 above.

When using the disc backup feature to make copies of a DVD, if your source material is a +R disc, then your copy must be made on a +R blank disc. Likewise if your source is a -R disc then your copy must be made on a -R blank disc.

I make a lot of DVDs composed of several short titles, which I have had to play into the HDD in real time. When I burn them to a Video Mode disc, I can make exact copies of the whole disc, at high speed. But, If I wanted to do a different assortment of titles, I would have to play them back in real time again.

So, what I do is make a second disc of the titles, in VR mode, because that can be read to the HDD in HS, just the title(s) I want, and they can be edited further, or just assembled differently. Unfortunately, I have found no way to do this with the same copy list I used to make the Video Mode disc. When you make your copy list, it is not format-specific. But, once you have made a copy, you can only make more copies in that format, i.e. VM, or VR. So, you have to delete the copy list, and reassemble it, to make the VR copy.

I've posted this tip about title editting before, but thought there might be some that have a use for it. It repeats some of the material in bphouston's tip, but is a little more comprehensive.

Even though you can use 64 characters for the title, if you are copying to a DVD in video mode, you will be limited to 40 characters. If you finalize your DVD with one of the thumbnail menus, your title will be split in two, 20 characters per line, and you may find your title split in the middle of a word.

If you want to avoid this, you'll have to do your own manual "word wrap" when you're editing your title. Fortunately, this is easy, because when you're editing your title, the first line will take up exactly as much space as the box around "CAPS" that appears just below your title. So if you're coming up to the end of the box, and there's not enough room to fit the next word, insert some spaces until you are just after the CAPS box, and continue.

You can also use the letter grid below your title to tell where the 40 character cut-off is. You can use up to one character past the "F". Anything after that will not be used in your title in video mode. In fact, if you go beyond that point, you may actually find your title cut off at the 39 character mark. Not a huge bug, by a slightly annoying one.

For TV shows, I like to include in my title the season and episode number, the episode title, and the date. This is how I titled last week's episode of "CSI:Miami":

5.06-"CURSE OF THE COFFIN" (2006/10/23)

There's not much room, but I can usually get it to fit. This title will need an extra space between "the" and "coffin" to be split properly so it doesn't look like this when you finalize the DVD:

5.06-"CURSE OF THE C
OFFIN" (2006/10/23)

If one of the words in your title ends exactly at the 20 character mark, there's no need to put a space between it and the next word. It may look funny on your hard drive list, but the title will be split at that point on the finalized DVD menu.

I make a lot of DVDs composed of several short titles, which I have had to play into the HDD in real time. When I burn them to a Video Mode disc, I can make exact copies of the whole disc, at high speed. But, If I wanted to do a different assortment of titles, I would have to play them back in real time again.

So, what I do is make a second disc of the titles, in VR mode, because that can be read to the HDD in HS, just the title(s) I want, and they can be edited further, or just assembled differently. Unfortunately, I have found no way to do this with the same copy list I used to make the Video Mode disc. When you make your copy list, it is not format-specific. But, once you have made a copy, you can only make more copies in that format, i.e. VM, or VR. So, you have to delete the copy list, and reassemble it, to make the VR copy.

I'll just add a bit to the above tip. It seems that when you assemble a "copy list," the 640 doesn't ask whether you want to do it in VR mode, or Video Mode. It makes this decision automatically, based on what type of DVD you have loaded at the time you begin making the copy list. So, if you want to make a copy list and burn it to a VR mode DVD, you MUST insert a DVD, and initialize it as VR mode BEFORE you begin making the copy list. After you burn the VR DVD, you can transfer that back to the HDD, at HS, and make Video Mode copies from it then.

Didn't find this mentioned yet, but there is a way to make a duplicate copy of a title already on the HDD...some have said that would be useful in certain occasions.

I have a VCR set up with connections to my 640 for copying tapes, as many others have. To make a duplicate copy of a title on the HDD, you just have to make a reverse connection and set a Timer Rec program. Here are the steps:

1-Connect cable(s) from Output 1/2 on the 640 to a Line Input (L1/L2) on the VCR.

2-Set up a Timer Rec program to record L1/L2 on the 640 for the length of the title you want to duplicate.

3-Go to Disc Nav and select the title you want to duplicate (just select, no PLAY yet).

4- Select L1/L2 on the VCR (whichever you hooked up to. This will jumble the pic, but that clears up when the timer program starts...or you can use another input on your TV to see the 640 menus, then you can select the VCR input anytime.)

5-When the timer program starts, press PLAY on the 640 remote.

Once the timer program starts, you should see the title being recorded on your TV thru the normal input for the 640.

The timer program is needed 'cause you can't press PLAY on the 640 then also press REC.

(Toshiba-Proofing Notice: Toshiba users don't need this "complicated workaround.")

Or to make a duplicate copy of a title you could high-speed copy the title to a VR-mode DVD-RW and then high-speed copy it back to the HDD from the disc.

The timer program is needed 'cause you can't press PLAY on the 640 then also press REC.But you can press REC, then select the title to play and press "PLAY", can't you? You might have to edit the first bit out of the result, but you wouldn't need to go through all the hassle of setting up a timer recording...

But I agree, HealyGuy's suggestion of using a VR-mode DVD-RW disc seems to make a lot more sense. I've used it with great success in the past. (It would sure be nice to have the Toshiba's capability, tho').

But you can press REC, then select the title to play and press "PLAY", can't you? You might have to edit the first bit out of the result, but you wouldn't need to go through all the hassle of setting up a timer recording...
Yes, you can connect a 640 output to an input, select that input to record, go to Disc Nav and PLAY the title, and you'll get a dup. with some "stuff" at the front that you have to get rid of.

The HS copy is easier, for sure.

Even if you've got the printed manual, you often have to look in more than one place to get related pieces of information, and the index is woefully inadequate.

Download the manual in PDF from
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/vgn/images/portal/cit_11221/310077353DVR640HSOperatingInstructions.pdf

Then you can use Acrobat Reader to seach for key words.

To find the current firmware version on your 640 and presumably the 543 & 540:

Using the remote:

1) Press [Home Menu]
2) Highlight and select: "Initial Setup"..."Audio Out"
3) Highlight "Digital Out"..."On" and then press [9] and your version will be displayed.

v6.19 = factory installed (before title name fix.)
v6.20 = with title name update installed.

To me, the sliding door on the 640's remote is a minor annoyance, so I removed it and like it better so far.

Easy to do: slide door all the way down, gently press thumb upwards under the sliding door (at the base of the remote) to slightly bow the door upwards, then slowly work the door back and forth (left-right) as you pull down.

This gets two tapered "bosses" on the underside of the door...which normally stop the door from coming off... high enough so the door can slide off.

UPDATE: My wife picked up the door-less remote for the first time and, within 1.37 nanoseconds, declared: "I don't like it!"

I negotiated for at least 5 minutes of use before declaring the door-less remote DOA!

My final negotiating position will be for shared custody...me primetime shows M-F, her daily soaps only! That sounds reasonable to me.:)

To find the current firmware version on your 640 and presumably the 543 & 540:

Using the remote:

1) Press [Home Menu]
2) Highlight and select: "Initial Setup"..."Audio Out"
3) Highlight "Digital Out"..."On" and then press [9] and your version will be displayed.

v6.19 = factory installed (before title name fix.)
v6.20 = with title name update installed.

Does anyone know firmware version for 540

To find the current firmware version on your 640 and presumably the 543 & 540:

Using the remote:

1) Press [Home Menu]
2) Highlight and select: "Initial Setup"..."Audio Out"
3) Highlight "Digital Out"..."On" and then press [9] and your version will be displayed.

v6.19 = factory installed (before title name fix.)
v6.20 = with title name update installed.

My 640 has version 6.15. I'm way behind. I better go get that update. Hopefully a setrvice centre here will do it without me having to ship it off.

equinoxman and ZZen,

Please keep this as HINTS and TIPS only.

All questions and replies, post on Pioneer DVR 640h-S User Reports thread.

Thank you.

Woo! Long time, no tips... But now I have one!

I've posted before that when using double layer discs, you must select a thumbnail from the first layer of the disc, or you will get the last frame of the first layer, instead of a frame from the second layer. I have found that to be true on at least three occassions, but I was always recording a single title on the whole disc. I just recorded a +R DL disc with three titles. It picked up thumbnails from the second side for two of the titles with no problem! So, if you want to use a thumbnail from the part of the recording that will appear on the second layer, you should be able to divide the recording into two titles, say at a fade to black at a scene change, where the slight hesitation of playing into the next title won't be noticeable, and get your thumbnail from the second layer. You could make the first title thumbnail just the opening movie studio logo, a black frame, or something else that doesn't distract from the second thumbnail, the one you really wanted.

I finally got around to taking photo j-pegs from CDs, and transfering them to DVDs, using my Pio 640. The manual leaves out an awful lot. I spent 14 hours straight, just trying to produce a few DVDs. I thought I would pass on what I have learned so far. If anyone else has done this, please add any info and insights you may have!

As is obvious, photo j-pegs don't take much storage space, in DVD terms. My largest folder, with 60 j-pegs, was only .1GB. So, you can store an awful lot of j-pegs on one disc.

But, when you finalize a photo disc, it creates a DVD slide show that is designed to play even on players that won't display j-pegs, separate from the j-peg files. This takes up a lot more space. My largest DVD, with 102 j-pegs, looked like it used 25% - 30% of the storage space, but I couldn't find any count of that, anywhere, or any info on how many j-pegs you could put on a disc, and finalize.

If you intend to finalize, creating the DVD slide show, It is important that before you copy any j-pegs to disc, you view them, and move them to be at the proper viewing angle, so top is top on the shots you took with the camera turned 90 degrees. This orientation will show up in the HDD's thumbnails, but will not show up while viewing the j-peg files on the disc, but proper viewing angle will be retained in the DVD slide show. If you don't select them correctly before copying to disc,you won't be able to righten them while viewing them in DVD slide show!

With photos, you have folders, which hold files, that are the individual j-pegs. Each CD scanned will be a separate folder.

Importing j-pegs into the HDD is quick. Burning them to disc takes a lot longer.

You cannot divide folders. You can use "multimode" to delete things from folders, or copy things from folders to other folders. But to do both of those things, you will have to select them twice.

Once you have selected j-pegs in multimode, you can only move them to an existing folder. That means you have to click on "New Folder" before you make your selections, and create an empty folder, to have somewhere to move your selections.

Surprisingly, one thing about "multimode" is very different with photos. When you use multimode to select video titles, to record to disc, they will come up on the copy list in the order in which you selected them, and you will be given the option to move them around. Not so with photos! With photos, they will show up in their original order, regardless, and you will not have the option to change their order.

Once things are on the HDD, you can enter titles for folders, and even individual files. The file titles will show up when you have their thumbnail highlighted in the menu, or when you hit the "display" button, while viewing them. But they do not transfer to disc, even when you have finalized the disc. I can only wonder if the new firmware fixes this. If any one knows, please tell!

One more note I just remembered, about the "DVD Slide Show." You might think that when finalizing that it would make a "separate" slide show from each folder of j-pegs. Not so. It takes the first 99, makes them into one "Title," with a thumbnail consisting of the first j-peg. It does not let you select a j-peg, or enter a title name, at least not so far as I can tell, and the manual doesn't say. So, j-peg #100 will be the first in the next slide show "Title," with a total of 99 j-pegs in each separate slide show title. But, that separation is only noted in the menu. If you start the slide show playing, it plays through the divisions, and you never notice... So, say you wanted to divide up various events into separate "titles" of less than 99 j-pegs, for ease of accessibility, I don't think you can do it. If someone figures out how, PLEASE post it!

Once things are on the HDD, you can enter titles for folders, and even individual files. The file titles will show up when you have their thumbnail highlighted in the menu, or when you hit the "display" button, while viewing them. But they do not transfer to disc, even when you have finalized the disc. I can only wonder if the new firmware fixes this. If any one knows, please tell!
I have the updated FW and custom titles still don't transfer to the DVD.

So, say you wanted to divide up various events into separate "titles" of less than 99 j-pegs, for ease of accessibility, I don't think you can do it. If someone figures out how, PLEASE post it!
Apparently, the only way to maintain the folder structure from the HDD to DVD is to copy each folder separately.

I have the updated FW and custom titles still don't transfer to the DVD.

I'm not happy that is true, but thanks for letting me know!


Apparently, the only way to maintain the folder structure from the HDD to DVD is to copy each folder separately.

Well, either we aren't meaning the same thing, or that's not right. The folder structure IS transfered to the j-peg files part of the disc. But, when you finalize, with, in my case, three separate folders showing on the disc, the DVD Slide Show created at the time of finalization, produces "Titles" consisting of 99 pictures, and one title with the remainder, with no relation to the folders that still show in the j-peg section, after finalizing, except that the shots are in the same order.

Well, either we aren't meaning the same thing, or that's not right. The folder structure IS transfered to the j-peg files part of the disc. But, when you finalize, with, in my case, three separate folders showing on the disc, the DVD Slide Show created at the time of finalization, produces "Titles" consisting of 99 pictures, and one title with the remainder, with no relation to the folders that still show in the j-peg section, after finalizing, except that the shots are in the same order.
Well, I was checking my test run and MY PIO FROZE UP! First time ever for either of my Pios (531 and 640). I did see the weirdness I think you were talking about...I had 4 titles that played thru, then when I tried playing via PhotoViewer, it showed three titles, mixed up pics, just plain weird, then it started freezing/locking, then totally locked up on Home Menu...I had to pull the plug! :eek:

I think that's the end of my testing...sorry!

Geeze... guess I was lucky things went as well as they did for me! I will play with mine some more in the next week, and post anything else I learn.

I do some heavy editing on this unit (as well as on the 520), and not just zapping commercials, of which there are often quite a few. At the same time, I'm reluctant to run the Optimizing function (which exists on the 640, but not on the 520), because I have a hard time believing it is risk-free. So, I'm wondering if anyone else does what I do: if there is some possible reason to keep the program on the HDD for awhile longer, I copy the heavily edited material to -RW temporarily (in VR mode, so high speed / NO re-encode copying remains available), erase it from the HDD, and then copy it back to the HDD. The result is very smooth -- not feeling "choppy" from mechanically obvious cutting -- and seems to be contiguous. Further work can be done on it (chaptering, changing the title, etc.) if necessary. Now granted, we don't know the organizational scheme being used on these things in regard to free space; last-out / first-in is just a supposition, unless you have some additional info that I don't. But I'm thinking that if you do this sort of thing consistently, and don't leave a lot of hacked up material on the HDD, but rather delete edited content promptly, there is a pretty good probability that your fragmentation will be kept to a minimum. And I freed up a nice amount of space doing this today.

Geeze... guess I was lucky things went as well as they did for me! I will play with mine some more in the next week, and post anything else I learn.

What kind of a "HINT or TIP" is this???????:rolleyes:

What kind of a "HINT or TIP" is this???????:rolleyes:

As you would know if you had a few posts back, I was replying to wabjxo"s troubles. :p

But, since you ask, I will provide a couple of more tips.

First, if I knew this before, I had forgotten, but the 640 will burn to disc from the HDD, while it is recording a timer recording of a different program to the HDD!

Another tip - for most editing type things you do, you can zoom the screen, and still see everything you need to edit. This makes the program inset larger, and easier to see, especially when FFing through to the next commercial you want to delete. If you have a small TV, or are near sighted, it helps with title entries too.

Baltimore Stan asks that I explain how I zoom the screen. That is NOT done with the DVDR, but with the TV. On my Sammy DLP it is called "Zoom 1," and is the zoom I use to make a letter boxed 4x3 image fill the 16x9 screen.

First, if I knew this before, I had forgotten, but the 640 will burn to disc from the HDD, while it is recording a timer recording of a different program to the HDD!

Another tip - for most editing type things you do, you can zoom the screen, and still see everything you need to edit. This makes the program inset larger, and easier to see, especially when FFing through to the next commercial you want to delete. If you have a small TV, or are near sighted, it helps with title entries too.

Good info. I had no idea. My 520 can't do either of those things, but I'll be sure to try this out on the 640.

Baltimore Stan asks that I explain how I zoom the screen. That is NOT done with the DVDR, but with the TV. On my Sammy DLP it is called "Zoom 1," and is the zoom I use to make a letter boxed 4x3 image fill the 16x9 screen.

EDIT: I'm glad you did. I spent some time pouring over the 640 remote (NO Zoom button, even though I vaguely recalled doing some kind of a zoom on the Pioneer DVDRs at least once or twice) and the .PDF (no index in the manual !) and couldn't find anything pertaining to a Zoom function, except the same limited PhotoViewer function as exists on the 520.

it's been awhile but maybe there are new tips that were not mentioned before, are there any?

A lot of these just show how bad Pioneer needs a technical writer to explain things better! :(

Anyway I am not sure what a VR disc is. Someone mentioned it in here and I always thought you're supposed to use video mode. I thought VR isn't compatible with many players or something. Plus I am not 100% sure which formats VR mode are used with.

Anyway I am not sure what a VR disc is. Someone mentioned it in here and I always thought you're supposed to use video mode. I thought VR isn't compatible with many players or something. Plus I am not 100% sure which formats VR mode are used with.
VR-mode discs are std discs initialized for VR-mode.

VR-mode discs can be high-speed copied back to the HDD whether they are finalized or unfinalized. The best use for VR-mode discs is in copying things off the HDD with lossless high-speed copy, then copying them back to the HDD also with lossless high-speed copy. This places an editable copy on the HDD, unlike the Disc Backup feature which does not.

People use this method to dub off shows in a series for later compilation into a personal series on disc, i.e., to save them for later work on the HDD w/o losing any quality.

Since most other DVDRs can't play VR-mode discs, their use is otherwise limited. There are also some low-quality rec modes that can't be high-speed copied when in VR-mode (MN9-MN15/LP).

ok, thanks. But in the long run it still would have a little quality loss once they do finally put it onto a video move disc via high speed copy? They are pretty much just attempting to prevent losing quality multiple times?

I shouldn't worry about losing quality on mine to begin with they look so horrible to start with becuase of the stupid cable company here. Thus why I need to use satelite.

How to I copy from dvd to HD and retain the original speed of the recording like MN2 instead of automatically converting it to SP once on the Hard drive?

ok, thanks. But in the long run it still would have a little quality loss once they do finally put it onto a video move disc via high speed copy? They are pretty much just attempting to prevent losing quality multiple times?


When you do a high-speed copy, there is NO quality loss, the copy is bit-for-bit identical. That is why you might want to use VR mode, because you can copy back to your HDD in high-speed, and do more editing, or add various things to a single disc. You can't do that with a video mode disc, you can only make an exact, HS copy using "disc backup," which doesn't allow any editing, or adding anything to the disc.. Think of -RW VR mode discs as extra storage space, to keep your HDD from getting too full, or messy.

On a similar subject, I discovered something odd recently. I have a Sony 995csx 400 disc changer. They are supposed to read disc info, and display the title. They are very finicky about doing this, and will only read roughly 25% of commercial discs. So, I was not surprised that it didn't read info from finalized -R video mode discs made on my Pio 640. A few days ago, I loaded the Sony with a bunch of -RW VR unfinalized discs. I thought it probably wouldn't play them, but they played just fine. And they read the title info from those discs! Weird. Practically useless, but weird!

How to I copy from dvd to HD and retain the original speed of the recording like MN2 instead of automatically converting it to SP once on the Hard drive?
Unless you use VR-mode discs and high-speed copy from DVD to HDD, which I assume you can't do since you have Video-mode discs, you just need to set the rec mode for the HDD to MN2 before real-time copying the discs back to the HDD. I assume you want a copy on the HDD to do some editing, etc.

If you just want additional copies of the discs w/o editing, you could also use Disc Backup (in the Copy menu), which puts a temp. uneditable copy on the HDD but does the copying in lossless high-speed and ends up with a complete duplicate, finalized and all, as many as you want. Since it's a high-speed process, it does the copying in the same speed as the original. Also have to use the same blank-disc type as the original.

NEW TIP if not already mentioned in this thread (?):

People prob. already know that a FINALIZED DVD-R can't be copied to the HDD with the normal Copy menu, but has to be copied with One-Touch Copy (pg 81 of manual). This means the copy will be in the same rec mode as the original... no choice.

HOWEVER, A FINALIZED DVD+R CAN BE COPIED WITH THE COPY MENU, which means all the features of the normal Copy menu can be used, incl. changing the rec mode.

Of course, the discs can't be copy-protected.

Please, everyone, remember that this thread is intended to be short and easy to find things in. Please don't post discussions here, but use the "User reports" thread for that.

And if you've already posted something that isn't a tip, please consider deleting it.

Thanks!

Unless you use VR-mode discs and high-speed copy from DVD to HDD, which I assume you can't do since you have Video-mode discs, you just need to set the rec mode for the HDD to MN2 before real-time copying the discs back to the HDD. I assume you want a copy on the HDD to do some editing, etc.

If you just want additional copies of the discs w/o editing, you could also use Disc Backup (in the Copy menu), which puts a temp. uneditable copy on the HDD but does the copying in lossless high-speed and ends up with a complete duplicate, finalized and all, as many as you want. Since it's a high-speed process, it does the copying in the same speed as the original. Also have to use the same blank-disc type as the original.

NEW TIP if not already mentioned in this thread (?):

People prob. already know that a FINALIZED DVD-R can't be copied to the HDD with the normal Copy menu, but has to be copied with One-Touch Copy (pg 81 of manual). This means the copy will be in the same rec mode as the original... no choice.

HOWEVER, A FINALIZED DVD+R CAN BE COPIED WITH THE COPY MENU, which means all the features of the normal Copy menu can be used, incl. changing the rec mode.

Of course, the discs can't be copy-protected.

This is great. Thanks for the tip!

HOWEVER, A FINALIZED DVD+R CAN BE COPIED WITH THE COPY MENU, which means all the features of the normal Copy menu can be used, incl. changing the rec mode.


I never knew that about +R discs! Thanks for the info.

How do you change the audio to L-PCM? Is this the best sound quality?

Yeah, where do they hide that thing, anyway? ;)

I'm not at home to check, but I have used LPCM to make audio recordings several times. IIRC, LPCM is in the rec mode (speed) setting, click to the variable rate/MN settings, advance to the highest, and it will say LPCM.

Yes, that is the best sound quality, totally uncompressed. I have dubbed LPs (as well as CDs) in LPCM, and they sound great!

How do you change the audio to L-PCM?It's not a separate audio option, it's incorporated into one of the recording "speed" settings. You have to make sure that you've enabled the "MN" recording modes in the setup menu, then use the "Rec Mode" button to select it. It's the highest-quality mode, right above "MN32".

Dang, this means you can't record at anything lower than MN32 for L-PCM? Kinda stupid if that is the case.

Unless you use VR-mode discs and high-speed copy from DVD to HDD, which I assume you can't do since you have Video-mode discs, you just need to set the rec mode for the HDD to MN2 before real-time copying the discs back to the HDD. I assume you want a copy on the HDD to do some editing, etc.

If you just want additional copies of the discs w/o editing, you could also use Disc Backup (in the Copy menu), which puts a temp. uneditable copy on the HDD but does the copying in lossless high-speed and ends up with a complete duplicate, finalized and all, as many as you want. Since it's a high-speed process, it does the copying in the same speed as the original. Also have to use the same blank-disc type as the original.

NEW TIP if not already mentioned in this thread (?):

People prob. already know that a FINALIZED DVD-R can't be copied to the HDD with the normal Copy menu, but has to be copied with One-Touch Copy (pg 81 of manual). This means the copy will be in the same rec mode as the original... no choice.

HOWEVER, A FINALIZED DVD+R CAN BE COPIED WITH THE COPY MENU, which means all the features of the normal Copy menu can be used, incl. changing the rec mode.

Of course, the discs can't be copy-protected.

I wanted to reorganize the programs on my dvd so I needed to copy them back to the HD and then back to the DVD in a different order along with new programs. I now realize I can do it but only in real time mode. At least I get it onto the HD on the original space saving rec speed (MN2). Too bad video mode programs cannot be copied at high speed from dvd to HD.

I am not familiar with editing so I have a question. If I divide a show into 10 chapters, how can I get the chapters to appear on the menu as a separate selection? I reckon, I have to use the divide feature instead of the chapter edit so I can make a copy list of 10 separate titles even though they are 10 chapters under the same title?

If I don't do that then I basically only see one title and have no option to go directly to a specific chapter from the menu. I understand I cannot recombine titles, so once divided that's it?

Correct me if I am wrong please.

You're correct... Divide in a Playlist to get separate titles, then you can't recombine them.

You can divide only on HDD, DVD-RAM or a VR-mode DVD like -RW, which is always auto-initialized for VR mode unless you change that to Video mode in the Setup menu.

Thanks, I think I'll do that.

I have a remote control question. I heard that I can get an older model remote for my 640-H unit that has more features. The one I had in mind is the VXX2967 remote, used for the 531-533 and 633 models. That one has the open/close DVD door, TV controls, and maybe a skip CM for finalized DVD's? Can someone verify if these functions will work in a 640 or 650 model? I am especailly interested to know if it the commercial skip works for all kinds of DVD's, commercial and unfinalized.

My Skip/Rewind buttons work on my Philips 3575 with finalized home-made and commercial DVDs, but not on my Pio 640, so I don't think a diff. remote would make that function work on the 640.

I have a remote control question. I heard that I can get an older model remote for my 640-H unit that has more features. The one I had in mind is the VXX2967 remote, used for the 531-533 and 633 models. That one has the open/close DVD door, TV controls, and maybe a skip CM for finalized DVD's? Can someone verify if these functions will work in a 640 or 650 model? I am especailly interested to know if it the commercial skip works for all kinds of DVD's, commercial and unfinalized.I have 633 and 640 machines and use the 2967 remote for both. All of the functions on the remote work just fine on the 640 except for the "TV Guide" button (there is no TV Guide on the 640). The "Timer Rec" button, which brings up the TVGOS scheduling screen on the 633, brings up the native scheduling screen on the 640.

You can skip forward and reverse on finalized, unfinalized and commercial DVDs. But despite the labels on the remote key it's not really a "commercial skip" function, it simply skips a set number of minutes or seconds. The forward skip button skips 30 secs, 1 minute, 1:30, 2:00, 3:00, 5:00 or 10:00 depending on how many times you press it. The reverse skip button skips 5, 15 or 30 seconds, 1:00, 2:00 or 3:00 depending on how many times you press it.

I have 633 and 640 machines and use the 2967 remote for both. All of the functions on the remote work just fine on the 640 except for the "TV Guide" button (there is no TV Guide on the 640). The "Timer Rec" button, which brings up the TVGOS scheduling screen on the 633, brings up the native scheduling screen on the 640.

You can skip forward and reverse on finalized, unfinalized and commercial DVDs. But despite the labels on the remote key it's not really a "commercial skip" function, it simply skips a set number of minutes or seconds. The forward skip button skips 30 secs, 1 minute, 1:30, 2:00, 3:00, 5:00 or 10:00 depending on how many times you press it. The reverse skip button skips 5, 15 or 30 seconds, 1:00, 2:00 or 3:00 depending on how many times you press it.

It is good to know the skip function works on finalized and commercial DVD's. Since I own a 640, I don't need the TV Guide function so maybe the 2932 remote is more suitable. A quick glance reveals that the 2932 has in place of the TV Guide buttons a chapter mark, Navi mark, disc history and easy timer. I wonder if the chapter mark would work? It is not documented in the 640 manual, but so was the ability to skip finalized DVD's not mentioned so who knows?

Ideally, If someone has a 2932 I'd like to hear if they use it for the 640 as well. If no one replies then to be safe I would buy the 2967 or but the 2932 with return privileges.

... I wonder if the chapter mark would work [on the 2932 remote]? It is not documented in the 640 manual, but so was the ability to skip finalized DVD's not mentioned so who knows?

Ideally, If someone has a 2932 I'd like to hear if they use it for the 640 as well. If no one replies then to be safe I would buy the 2967 or but the 2932 with return privileges.

I am currently using a 2932 remote [used by the 420/520H] with the 640H.

When the 640H was first released those of us who already owned 420/520Hs complained that Pioneer had not brought back the feature where a chapter mark could be made via the remote. This feature got dropped with the 531/533/633H series. So, the CHP MARK button does not (sigh) work if you use the 2932 remote with your 640H.

Let me add that it really is 6 of one, half dozen of the other, when it comes to deciding between the 2967 and 2932 remote. If I only owned the 640H, I would probably opt for the 2932 (one that came with the 420/520H) to avoid the prominance of that useless TV Guide button. Since I own both 520Hs and 640Hs, I do normally use the 2967 remote for my 640H that is on top of a 520H since it is visually different [red TVGuide botton]. I already had a 2967 remote from a defective 533H ultimately returned to Pioneer.

I misplaced the remote I usually use with my 640Hs during a move last month. It's not lost, merely in a box I can easily get next month [I'm at my summer cottage right now where I have a 520 and 640 but only remotes for the 520--the 2932].

Either remote will run ANY Pioneer DVD recorder, you only need to opt for the older 2932 if you own or plan to own a 510 or 520, which require its dedicated chapter marking button (this is non-functional and useless on newer models).

Regarding the commercial skip, etc: this is not controlled by the remote, the recorder is designed in a particular way and the remote cannot over-ride the recorder engineering. I have not encountered any issues with commercial skip on a 640, 450 or 540 but have heard there are some limitations depending on the recording format. The remote doesn't affect this: the recorder will still respond to the commercial skip button exactly the same as if you used the remote that came with it.

Those of us who prefer the older remotes to the 640 remote like them because we're used to the old layout, we like not having a sliding door, and we like the remote eject button. But these remotes cannot add any functionality that is not built into the recorder (as Sean noted, the TV Guide and Chapter buttons will not activate those features on recorders that do not have them).

Too bad the later models don't put back some of the lost features. A chapter mark and skipping of any DVD commercial or finalized would be well appreciated.

I don't know if the 660 models incorporate these missing features, but I noticed their remote does have a door eject and TV controls but the overall layout is poor with many small buttons.

It was a long shot to expect a chapter mark using an old remote.

The main things I care about are the door eject and ability to skip finalized and commercial DVD's using the older remotes on my 640 or 650. So if the 2932 can skip finalized DVD's I will buy it.

... The main things I care about are the door eject and ability to skip finalized and commercial DVD's using the older remotes on my 640 or 650. So if the 2932 can skip finalized DVD's I will buy it.

It can in the same second and minute increments as one can for recordings on the HDD.

A lack of the door eject on the remote that came with the 640H is one of the reasons I have never used it. If I had not had Pioneer recorders for a few years before getting the 640H, I probably would not care that the remote (that came with it) lacked this feature.

I should find a friend who sells on eBay and have them sell the never-used 640H remote. I'll never use it.

Regarding the commercial skip, etc: this is not controlled by the remote, the recorder is designed in a particular way and the remote cannot over-ride the recorder engineering. I have not encountered any issues with commercial skip on a 640, 450 or 540 but have heard there are some limitations depending on the recording format. The remote doesn't affect this: the recorder will still respond to the commercial skip button exactly the same as if you used the remote that came with it.


CitiBear, I think you may be wrong. I have the 640, but not the older remote, so I can't confirm it. But, others have reported, as Sean does below, that the older remote WILL let you use the skip function on finalized DVDs and commercial DVDs, on the 640. But, the remote that comes with the 640 definitely will NOT. I agree that doesn't make a lot of sense, but I have been following the 640 threads since the beginning, and several people have reported this.


You can skip forward and reverse on finalized, unfinalized and commercial DVDs. But despite the labels on the remote key it's not really a "commercial skip" function, it simply skips a set number of minutes or seconds. The forward skip button skips 30 secs, 1 minute, 1:30, 2:00, 3:00, 5:00 or 10:00 depending on how many times you press it. The reverse skip button skips 5, 15 or 30 seconds, 1:00, 2:00 or 3:00 depending on how many times you press it.

I am not familiar with editing so I have a question. If I divide a show into 10 chapters, how can I get the chapters to appear on the menu as a separate selection? I reckon, I have to use the divide feature instead of the chapter edit so I can make a copy list of 10 separate titles even though they are 10 chapters under the same title?

If I don't do that then I basically only see one title and have no option to go directly to a specific chapter from the menu. I understand I cannot recombine titles, so once divided that's it?

Correct me if I am wrong please.

Oiler, you can select the entire original title into the "copy list," and do your editing, and dividing into titles, in the copy list. This will not affect the original copy in the HDD, so that will remain as one title. If you screw up in the copy list editing, you can just start over, by deleting that copy list, and starting a new one, using the original HDD recording.

CitiBear, I think you may be wrong. I have the 640, but not the older remote, so I can't confirm it. But, others have reported, as Sean does below, that the older remote WILL let you use the skip function on finalized DVDs and commercial DVDs, on the 640. But, the remote that comes with the 640 definitely will NOT.It's still the machine that's responsible for the difference, not the remote (well, sort of, anyway).

The issue is that the 633 remote has separate "CM Skip forward" and "CM Skip Backward" buttons, while the 640 uses the left/right part of the 4-way arrow buttons to do the same thing. The 633 remote can command a 640 machine to skip using either the dedicated "CM Skip" buttons or by using the left/right buttons. But for some reason the machine won't skip on commercial disks (and, I guess, finalized disks) if you use the left/right buttons - only if you use the dedicated "CM Skip" buttons. Why this is the case is completely beyond me (perhaps an oversight in the firmware?), but it means that only a 633 remote can skip those discs since it's the only one that has those buttons.

The 633 won't skip in response to the left/right buttons, only to 633 remote's "CM Skip" buttons. This means that you loose the CM skip feature completely if you try to use a 640 remote with a 633 machine.

Oiler, you can select the entire original title into the "copy list," and do your editing, and dividing into titles, in the copy list. This will not affect the original copy in the HDD, so that will remain as one title. If you screw up in the copy list editing, you can just start over, by deleting that copy list, and starting a new one, using the original HDD recording.

Oh that's great! I wish I knew this before I physically divided the show.

I will have to keep this in mind the next time. In any event I am not keeping the show on the HD. I may copy it to a DVD-RW in VR mode. Too bad I can't combine the titles.

It's still the machine that's responsible for the difference, not the remote (well, sort of, anyway).

The issue is that the 633 remote has separate "CM Skip forward" and "CM Skip Backward" buttons, while the 640 uses the left/right part of the 4-way arrow buttons to do the same thing. The 633 remote can command a 640 machine to skip using either the dedicated "CM Skip" buttons or by using the left/right buttons. But for some reason the machine won't skip on commercial disks (and, I guess, finalized disks) if you use the left/right buttons - only if you use the dedicated "CM Skip" buttons. Why this is the case is completely beyond me (perhaps an oversight in the firmware?), but it means that only a 633 remote can skip those discs since it's the only one that has those buttons.

The 633 won't skip in response to the left/right buttons, only to 633 remote's "CM Skip" buttons. This means that you loose the CM skip feature completely if you try to use a 640 remote with a 633 machine.

Pioneer sure makes some bizarre software decisions. I am not completely impressed with their thoroughness to detail in the changing generations.

Oh that's great! I wish I knew this before I physically divided the show.

I will have to keep this in mind the next time. In any event I am not keeping the show on the HD. I may copy it to a DVD-RW in VR mode. Too bad I can't combine the titles.

Hi,

Actually you can combine titles, but only if you copy to disk. You can even specify which order you want them to be combined. And then once you have it on disk, you can copy it back to your HD.

Hi,

Actually you can combine titles, but only if you copy to disk. You can even specify which order you want them to be combined. And then once you have it on disk, you can copy it back to your HD.

Cool, it's good to know that!

I bought some DVD+RW's and found out I can't use the skip function on unfinalized shows! I can on DVD-RW's though. Can someone verify this for me? Does the older remotes also skip DVD+RW shows?

For whatever reason, the Pioneers disable the CM Skip function on DVD+R and DVD+R/W: this is according to the manual and your experience. The CM Skip will only activate for DVD-R, DVD-R/W, and DVD-RAM discs (and of course the hard drive). I understand your frustration with the oddities of the commercial skip function, but you seem to be throwing a lot of weight on this one feature as it applies to direct to dvd recording. The Pioneers are designed to primarily record on their hard drives first, with archive copies made on their burners. So all skip/search features are usually available on hard drive recordings. The idea is to edit out the commercials before burning your final copy to DVD or DVD/rw, which eliminates most needs for commercial skip. Many recorders have some sort of bug with commercial skip on certain kinds of optical disc (not HDD) recording, I don't understand why, but I suppose you can always just use the normal search buttons when commercial skip doesn't work.

Of course, all of us obsess over one feature or another. If CM Skip on ALL disc types is absolutely crucial for you to be happy, you really should visit mfr websites and download the manuals for any recorders you're interested in, perhaps there is one that has this feature. You can always get a good resale price on your 640 and switch brands if you find a more suitable machine. But the 640 really is quite good: see if you can adapt it to your needs.

Of course, all of us obsess over one feature or another. If CM Skip on ALL disc types is absolutely crucial for you to be happy, you really should visit mfr websites and download the manuals for any recorders you're interested in, perhaps there is one that has this feature.
The Philips 3575 and 3576! :D

(Of course, once you get past the opening FBI and Studio no-advance, must-read crap!)

For whatever reason, the Pioneers disable the CM Skip function on DVD+R and DVD+R/W: this is according to the manual and your experience. The CM Skip will only activate for DVD-R, DVD-R/W, and DVD-RAM discs (and of course the hard drive). I understand your frustration with the oddities of the commercial skip function, but you seem to be throwing a lot of weight on this one feature as it applies to direct to dvd recording. The Pioneers are designed to primarily record on their hard drives first, with archive copies made on their burners. So all skip/search features are usually available on hard drive recordings. The idea is to edit out the commercials before burning your final copy to DVD or DVD/rw, which eliminates most needs for commercial skip. Many recorders have some sort of bug with commercial skip on certain kinds of optical disc (not HDD) recording, I don't understand why, but I suppose you can always just use the normal search buttons when commercial skip doesn't work.

Of course, all of us obsess over one feature or another. If CM Skip on ALL disc types is absolutely crucial for you to be happy, you really should visit mfr websites and download the manuals for any recorders you're interested in, perhaps there is one that has this feature. You can always get a good resale price on your 640 and switch brands if you find a more suitable machine. But the 640 really is quite good: see if you can adapt it to your needs.

I am ok with what works at the moment. I record a lot of programs so sometimes I have to offload to DVD-RW's which I don't finalize as I want to view them later with the skip function. On a lark I brought some Verbatim DVD+RW's and didn;t realize you can't ever skip with these. I guess I can use the DVD's to archive files on my PC instead.

From all the posts, I now know that you can buy an older remote to have the skip function on all DVD-R or RW's but not on +R's and RW's. I have no idea which format commercial DVD's are recored on though.

Only the Toshiba can skip anything, but they are hard to find now.

Only the Toshiba can skip anything, but they are hard to find now.
... and, again, the Philips 3575 and 3576, which aren't hard to find.

I bought some DVD+RW's and found out I can't use the skip function on unfinalized shows! I can on DVD-RW's though. Can someone verify this for me? Does the older remotes also skip DVD+RW shows?

I only see two reasons to use +R discs on the 640:
1. For making "disc backup" copies of existing +R discs.
2. Using +R DL discs, because -R DLs are rare and expensive.

640s are definitely designed to be more -R friendly.

I don't think any of us has addressed your question about using CM Skip on commercial, studio discs (rentals or purchases). Commercial discs are neither +R or -R, they are recognized as pressed ROM discs by the recorder. Studio discs have elaborate programming on them that locks out many playback features at different points on the disc. The recorder obeys these instructions to the letter and no remote will let you over-ride the disc programming. For example, in VHS days, many VCRs had a commercial skip function that would wind the tape past the opening advertisement and previews. There is NO similar functionality in DVD players/recorders: if a studio disc is programmed to prevent skipping the previews or the copyright notice, you are forced to watch them every time you play that disc. Its really annoying, and unavoidable. So don't knock yourself out trying to make CM Skip work on commercial discs: it depends on the particular disc. CM Skip will work on some parts of a studio DVD but not others.

if a studio disc is programmed to prevent skipping the previews or the copyright notice, you are forced to watch them every time you play that disc. Its really annoying, and unavoidable.

There actually is a sneaky way to skip forced pre-menu material. It relies on the idea that this material is only displayed when the disk is loaded and played the first time, once that's done the "menu" key will always take you right back to the disc's menu.

Here's how you do it:

1) Put the disc in the machine, hit the DVD button on the remote, and wait for the forced material to start playing.

2) Hit the HDD button on the remote - this is one of the few buttons (the "eject" and "Power" buttons are others) which can override the forced material - but unlike the others this button leaves the DVD loaded and ready to play.

3) Hit the DVD button on the remote, then the "Menu" button.

Sean, as usual, you're a genius! Great tip.

(If you ever stop posting here, the rest of us are gonna be in BIG trouble :D).

I'm bumping this up for those buying new Canadian Pios, as most, if not all, of this should pertain to their machines.

I have more than one Pio DVR and was trying to set the remote to #2 so I can control different units in the same room. I went to the initial set up menu and set the recorder mode to #2. Then I pressed return and 2 on the remote and nothing happened! Now I can't get back to recorder mode 1 default or do anything with my remote. How do I unlock this situation? The other remotes don't work either!

This is on a 640.

Oiler, you have to HOLD the remote buttons for ~5 sec, or until you see the front-panel display change.

Wajo, thanks a million! I was holding it for 2 secs. Nowhere does the manual say how long to hold the button!

Yea, seem to be lots of undocumented features for our DVDRs.

After reading many comments that editing with the Philips 3575/3576 was "difficult" and wondering why, when it seemed so simple, I discovered why: the manual's Scene Delete instructions cover ONLY a MID-CUT, like cutting a commercial.

There's NO mention at all of the SPECIAL instructions reqd for making a Front-Cut or an End-Cut, which I've found almost EVERY title needs!

A lot of these manual need a proof reader or be overhauled by a technical specialist or even a user.

The new Pio 550H differs from the 640 in that it has more features but you have to find them yourself.

I hate it when they remove features that are highly useful in previous models and make things more awkward in newer models. While they may improve some things they are sometimes not that mindful to preserve all the useful features from previous models.

Someone said they have new designers for each new model so the continuity is missing.

I'm bumping up an old one, which may prove useful to Pio users who haven't seen it. But, I have a question for Pio users. I encountered something very strange with my 640 yesterday.

I am making some compilation discs, transferring shorts on individual -R and +R DVDs to the HDD, then making a copy list, title menu with thumbnails, etc. This requires real-time copies of the DVD>HDD. I've done this many times, and never encountered the following situation.

Several DVDs I tried to copy with "One Touch Copy" wouldn't copy. I got a message "Cannot Copy This Disc." This does NOT mean that the disc is copy protected. In the past, I had only seen this message with corrupted DVDs. Every one of these uncopiable DVDs were anamorphic, and they automatically changed my display to wide screen. I had never before seen any DVD force my DLP set to change aspect ratios, not even commercial ones. I had a few anamorphic burned DVDs that did not force the change, and they copied just fine. I was able to copy those strange anamorphic DVDs by playing them on a separate player, and recording that signal to HDD. I guess that out of curiosity, I should try "Disc Backup" function, and see if that works with them.

Has anyone else with a Pio ever encountered this sort of a failure to record?

Yes, its happened to me a couple of times. The Pios have a random, but severe sensitivity to what they consider "mixed" aspect ratios turning up in the copy list, especially when the disc type involved is "video mode" or finalized DVD-R or +R. Usually this "reaction" is triggered when you try to edit within a short segment or a clip compilation: the recorder somehow convinces itself that the clip is alternating between 4:3 and 16:9, even if this is clearly not the case. It will refuse to copy the disc, often without explanation. There isn't really a workaround for this other than attaching a separate DVD player to the recorder, as you've discovered.

Due to this weirdness, I have found it useful to make a second "VR mode" backup DVD-R of any material I think I might want to cut clips out of later. The Pios do not kick up any fuss re mixed aspect ratios, real or imagined, on "VR" formatted -R, +R, -RW or +RW media (and of course VRO-mode DVD-RAM). I rarely have anything but -R media handy, so I just initialize a -R disc to "VR Mode" using the disc setup menu whenever I need this type of backup. I make the VR copy right after I do the standard finalized disc, and store them together. With the cost of -R media so low nowadays, its not expensive to do this routinely. Another advantage of keeping a VR mode backup is that VR mode allows high-speed lossless copying of select tidbits, while finalized discs can only be copied "whole" and in "lossy" real time.

I have not yet encountered the forced display change you mentioned.

Yup, I always burn VR mode DVDs of things I dub to the HDD in real-time. I have copied things with mixed aspect ratios successfully in real-time, it just inserts chapter marks where the aspect ratio changes. I remember one dub with 20 - 30 chapter marks in a short film. I thought it might be dropping frames, but the dub times exactly the same as the original.

I was trying to dub to the HDD with these obstinate discs, so I could not dub directly to a VR mode disc. Do you think that if I set the HDD to record in VR mode, I could record in real-time, to the HDD, then burn it to disc?

I was trying to dub to the HDD with these obstinate discs, so I could not dub directly to a VR mode disc. Do you think that if I set the HDD to record in VR mode, I could record in real-time, to the HDD, then burn it to disc?
Now that's definitely worth a try. I ran my Pio HDDs on VR-mode for months w/o any adverse effects while testing the VR-mode.

You know, thats a really good idea: try that!:) Its such an obvious option it never occurs to me to test it. I think the HDD actually always runs in VR mode technically, but unless you "officially" select VR mode it locks out certain edits or copies it thinks are incompatible with standard video DVDs. Switching the HDD to "VR mode" only applies to recordings you make with that mode activated, it doesn't double back and change any existing recordings, so you should be able to just set it and forget it. The Pioneers automatically convert VR on the HDD to Video DVD when burning discs, unless you instruct otherwise, so you should see no change in everyday operation. I think the only possible glitch with having the HDD set to VR is that one or two very odd long-play manual VR speeds cannot be burned to disc. These speeds are so awful no one would ever use them anyway, even by accident, so its a non-problem.

Please let us know if the HDD mode change solves your copying issue: that would be really useful info. I'd run a test myself, but don't have a "problem" disc handy that would be a good sample.

Well, I read the manual for the first time in a long time, and it says that if you select 'not Video Mode' (or something like that, it didn't say VR) for the HDD recordings in the setup menu, you cannot make HS copies to disc. This means at any speed, not just those problem slow speeds. I guess I might try it anyway. Hopefully, it won't affect what I already have on the HDD.

Well, I read the manual for the first time in a long time, and it says that if you select 'not Video Mode' (or something like that, it didn't say VR) for the HDD recordings in the setup menu, you cannot make HS copies to disc. This means at any speed, not just those problem slow speeds. I guess I might try it anyway. Hopefully, it won't affect what I already have on the HDD.
Yes, it's "Video Mode Off" and No, it doesn't stop High-Speed Copy except in a few rec modes (LP/MN9-MN15), so just be aware of those modes if planning to HS Copy. I was able to HS Copy all other modes with VR-mode HDD (w/no widescreen titles).

It's in a bullet note at bottom of page 83 in 640 manual.

Thanks, I'll check that out when I get home. So, I guess to get to a Video Mode DVD, I would switch the HDD to "Video Mode Off," record a -R DVD to it in real time, then burn a -RW DVD in Video Mode, at HS. Then, I would switch the HDD to Video Mode, and dub the -RW VR disc to the HDD at HS. Then, burn a Video Mode DVD from the HDD, at HS.

So, that's one real-time transfer, and three HS transfers, as opposed to one RT transfer, and one HS transfer, if I play it on a different DVD player for the RT transfer. Not sure it's worth the effort... :eek:

Thanks, I'll check that out when I get home. So, I guess to get to a Video Mode DVD, I would switch the HDD to "Video Mode Off," record a -R DVD to it in real time, then burn a -RW DVD in Video Mode, at HS. Then, I would switch the HDD to Video Mode, and dub the -RW VR disc to the HDD at HS. Then, burn a Video Mode DVD from the HDD, at HS.

So, that's one real-time transfer, and three HS transfers, as opposed to one RT transfer, and one HS transfer, if I play it on a different DVD player for the RT transfer. Not sure it's worth the effort... :eek:
I guess I don't see why the double-copy process.

Real-time copy to VR-mode HDD (assuming the VR-mode allows you to copy those problem discs that Video-mode HDD didn't), then HS copy to a std -R DVD, and you've got your Video-mode DVD.

As long as you don't format the -R for VR-mode, the HS Copy will be in Video mode... BUT, if you then DO want a VR-mode disc as well, just format the disc for VR?

Since you mentioned anamorphic, be aware that same note has info on some WS titles that can't be HS Copied (MN1-15, I think).

???

I most always use SP or better bit rates, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Well, I guess I didn't get it. I thought you couldn't burn a Video Mode disc, at HS, from the HDD when it is set to "Video Mode Off." I'll try it without the extra transfers, and see what happens.

Pioneers instruction manuals are about as clear as any other brands: totally useless really. All you need to know is that switching the HDD to "Video Mode off" will not affect anything you do: all operations remain the same as before, except you might gain the ability to copy the discs that were locked out before under "HDD Video Mode On". It doesn't matter what the HDD is set to, because its just a scratch area: the final DVD copies are made in whatever mode is typical for those discs, usually video mode for DVD-R, DVD+R or DVD-RW and VR mode for DVD+RW. You can over-ride these disc formats if you choose to but normally it isn't necessary: the machine knows what its doing.

The only restrictions under "HDD Video Mode Off" involve making standard finalized DVDs from LP/MN9-MN15 HDD recordings. Nothing else is affected and your existing HDD recordings remain untouched. The HDD recording process is the same whether you turn "Video Mode" on or off: turning it "on" merely invokes a stronger "nanny" response to ward against making "non-standard" DVDs.

I get your gist, and look forward to experimenting with it. But, I think you are in error about two things - with "Video Mode Off," I will be given "frame accurate" editing, and won't be able to select key frames, so that is different. Also, default for the Pio is to initialize -RW discs in VR mode.

I get your gist, and look forward to experimenting with it. But, I think you are in error about two things - with "Video Mode Off," I will be given "frame accurate" editing, and won't be able to select key frames, so that is different. Also, default for the Pio is to initialize -RW discs in VR mode.
A correction on my post: I didn't have any +R discs when testing the VR-mode but mistakenly said above you can format +R for VR, but it's -R (of the write-once types) according to the manual. (I'll correct my post for future readers.)

with "Video Mode Off," I will be given "frame accurate" editing, and won't be able to select key frames, so that is different. Also, default for the Pio is to initialize -RW discs in VR mode.

Yes, you're right, I forgot "frame accurate" becomes the default editing mode on the HDD when you turn off video mode (usually I just select "frame accurate" manually for each editing session). I don't think you'll have any problems because of this, despite warnings to the contrary I've found most Pioneer "frame accurate" edits transfer to finalized DVDs nearly intact. The machine insists "edit points may move" but I very seldom notice significant changes.

I just re-read the 640 manual and can't for the life of me find any distinct statement of the default format Pioneer uses for DVD-RW. Older Pioneers apparently defaulted to Video mode for everything but +RW, I assumed the 640 was the same but if you confirmed -RW auto-initializes to VR, I'll take your word for it:). I don't use anything but -R and -RAM, so I'm a little rusty on how the 640 handles other media types.

I just re-read the 640 manual and can't for the life of me find any distinct statement of the default format Pioneer uses for DVD-RW. Older Pioneers apparently defaulted to Video mode for everything but +RW, I assumed the 640 was the same but if you confirmed -RW auto-initializes to VR, I'll take your word for it:). I don't use anything but -R and -RAM, so I'm a little rusty on how the 640 handles other media types.
For the 640, pp 104 and 115.

Well, I switched the HDD to "Video Mode Off," and tried to "one touch copy" two of those odd DVDs, but they still would not copy. I got the same message as before, something like 'this disc cannot be used for copying.'

I did not try copying a disc that would copy, with the HDD set to "V M off," and then try to burn a Video Mode disc from it. But, I am still skeptical that that would be possible, because of what the manual says:

P.34:
"When set to Video Mode On, high-speed copying to Video Mode DVD... is possible."

"When HDD is set to Video Mode Off, high-speed copying isn't possible."

P. 115
"Video Mode Off Recordings made to the HDD are made in VR mode.
Use this setting if you don't need to transfer the
recording later to a Video Mode DVD."

'Video Mode On Recordings made to the HDD are compatible with
Video Mode recordings. This setting is convenient if
you want to transfer the recordings to a Video Mode
DVD, as high-speed copy can be used.

Very strange. I'll try and track down a couple of similar DVDs I have somewhere and see if I can replicate your issues on my own 640. By the time I manage it this old thread will probably be submerged again, but I *will* try.:)

Here's my original VR-mode test thread (http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7886768&&#post7886768), and I just played one of my DVDs made while running my HDD with Video Mode Off, HS copied to Video-Mode DVD.

It works fine here.

Ah, back before you shortened your name... Thanks for posting this. I'll read it all.

I don't know who's dumber, me for not remembering, or Pioneer, for repeatedly saying something is not possible in their manual, when in fact, it is! :eek:

or Pioneer, for repeatedly saying something is not possible in their manual, when in fact, it is! :eek:

Panasonic is no better, the manuals still insinuate things like wide screen recording can only be done to RAM discs and when they made HDD machines the manuals said if you enabled the High Speed dub option you could not record WS to the HDD, both those points are totally incorrect:confused:

wajo's archive link was from right after the 640 came out. I had just gotten mine, and hadn't yet done a disc backup. I forgot that he had demonstrated that "Video Mode Off" could produce HS copies. Everything else on that thread, I know well. I did eventually use the photo CD thing, and posted my experiences in this thread. I don't really remember those, so I should check that out again, before this thread gets buried.

Prior to going on vacation for a month I set my timer to record a bunch of shows. When I came back all shows after Oct 31st were wrong as I forgot about the Daylight Savings time shift. I did have my clock set the DST but the time did not change.

Now I am trying to set the clock to auto mode and to find a channel with a clock setting. I live in Edmonton and have Shaw cable so if anyone can tell me the clock channel, I'd appreciate it.

What is the best way to ensure the clock is in sync automatically with daylight savings change? is March 2010?

Guess there aren't enough Cannukians on the board to get you a reply. Here in the US, since the digital changeover, we no longer have channels that carry the time. Further, the dates for DST/ST changeovers have changed. So, I have to set my 640 by my watch, which is an atomic watch, so it is accurate. I have been surprised to find that the 640 keeps VERY accurate time, and I rarely have to set it.

Since the politicians jerked around the DST changeover I haven't trusted any of my equipment to set itself automatically, especially the units built before the dates were changed. So I've configured everything NOT to switch over by itself. If it were me, I'd set the machine to NOT change the time and then enter my scheduled shows using PDT hours (ie, if a show is scheduled to start at 10AM on April 3, I'd enter a schedule that started the recording at 9AM PST).

...but that would be pretty difficult to deal with for recurring shows. Perfect way to use an extra recorder, though!

I often need to transfer stuff over to DVD+RW for family members to view. It's become the bulk of my activity with this Pioneer DVDR. But at least half the time, no matter which discs I'm using (Maxell, Imation, TDK, Sony, Verbatim), I get to the end of the transfer and it's time to transfer something else to the same disc, or, I'm pulling the disc out because I think I'm done, then up comes the 'could not complete'[sic] error message. NOW it decides to tell me! After recording the stuff in real time, which is the only way to do it with RW discs! Wouldn't be so irritating if this was happening in a high speed scenario, but that option isn't available.

Sometimes it's a matter of reformatting the disc, sometimes it's the power cycle procedure (because the machine gets all locked up) and most often, time to pitch the disc. Even if it's only been used 2-3 times.

just venting.

After recording the stuff in real time, which is the only way to do it with RW discs!That's absolutely not true. I copy stuff to RW discs in high-speed mode all the time - but I'm careful to do the original recording to the HDD at the speed I'll want it to be on the DVD. For example, I record to the HDD at "MN20" speed if I'm going to want to fit three 1-hour programs without commercials onto a DVD.

Heh, I misspoke. or shall I say, misswrote. ;)

You're correct, it has nothing to do with +rw discs not being able to record in high speed mode. :o When I'm recording to +rw discs, it's typically a transfer from my TivoHD hard drive, which has to be done in real time. Since I rarely record anything directly to the dvd recorder (it's my recording device of last resort given it's ersatz dvd quality in an HD world), I mistakenly forgot that the real time recording isn't a limitation of re-recordable discs, just a necessary byproduct of my transfer process.