I am just new to this list. I noticed there was a thread for the DMR-ES45V but not the 46. My husband just installed this over the weekend with connections to my new Toshiba LCD television. (I purchased the recorder at our local BJ's Warehouse.) The picture on the TV seems grainy since the DVD Recorder was installed but not sure about this as the TV is only 2 weeks old -- might have been grainy before. My question is regarding recording DVD's. A DVD-Ram disc was included with the recorder. I believe I read somewhere that it must be formated before use -- now I can't find that info any where in the very CONFUSING manual. Can anyone tell me about this and also what discs are better to use for recording? I have seen info on an Amazon site where this model was sold and people were complaining about recording capabilities with different discs. I have some knowledge of computers but very little knowledge regarding electronic equipment such as recorders, etc.

I am just new to this list. I noticed there was a thread for the DMR-ES45V but not the 46. My husband just installed this over the weekend with connections to my new Toshiba LCD television. (I purchased the recorder at our local BJ's Warehouse.) The picture on the TV seems grainy since the DVD Recorder was installed but not sure about this as the TV is only 2 weeks old -- might have been grainy before. My question is regarding recording DVD's. A DVD-Ram disc was included with the recorder. I believe I read somewhere that it must be formated before use -- now I can't find that info any where in the very CONFUSING manual. Can anyone tell me about this and also what discs are better to use for recording? I have seen info on an Amazon site where this model was sold and people were complaining about recording capabilities with different discs. I have some knowledge of computers but very little knowledge regarding electronic equipment such as recorders, etc.

WELCOME ABOARD!......

As a general rule you do not need to format a RAM disc (or any other disc for that matter), especially if it's a Panasonic RAM disc. Formatting may be neccesary if you used the disc many times and erased titles many times. I do it only as a precaution if I use a disc extensively for 10 times. There is no general rule, but it can't hurt to do it.
The best discs to use if you plan to record over and over again are the Panasonic RAM's. They are exceptionally reliable. If you plan to archive recordings for long periods of time and you want to save money (the RAM's are more costly), I would recommend using DVD-R discs manufactured by TDK and Sony (to keep it simple). Buy the ones already in jewel cases as opposed to the bulk variety (again, to simplify things). They should be readily available. As a general rule, avoid "no-name" brands or "house brands". The jury is still out as to just how long these discs will last over time (with your perhaps precious recordings on them).
GOOD LUCK! :)

My experience with Panasonic and Fuji DVD-RAM disc's is that those brands come pre-formated from the factory. Other brands may need formating before you can use them. DVD-R's don't need formating before you can record on them but you must "finalize" them after they are recorded and before they can be played on another DVD player. You can play DVD-R's on your DVD recorder before they are finalized but you must finalize them to play them in a DVD player. DVD-RAM's don't need to be finalized to play them in your recorder but most DVD players can't play them, finalized or not, unless it is a Panasonic DVD player which in most cases can play a DVD-RAM and it doesn't care if it is finalized or not. Sounds confusing but you will soon get the hang of it. I use DVD-RAM for archiving programs that I may want to restore to my E100 hard drive because that is the only lossless way to bring an erased program back to the hard drive. But they are expensive. Usually DVD-RAM cost about $2 each compared to $.50 each for blank DVD-R's. So I don't share DVD-RAM's with others. Others get DVD-R's since that is the format that is most compatible with their DVD players and cost the least to buy.

Edit - I just noticed this model doesn't contain a hard drive which is really unfortunate. If you record to a DVD-RAM, there is no way to make a DVD-R copy which will play in a DVD player. It looks like you have to make a decision before you record a program whether you want to play it on a DVD player. If you do, you need to use a DVD-R blank. If you want to just watch it and erase it, then use the DVD-RAM. What a stupid recorder. I sure wouldn't want it. But I guess it must have been cheap. I wouldn't want a DVD recorder that didn't contain a hard drive so the Panasonic DMR-ES46V wouldn't be a model I would want in my house. It would only be useful for converting VHS tapes to DVD. I hope that is what you bought it for.

Dave

Edit - I just noticed this model doesn't contain a hard drive which is really unfortunate. If you record to a DVD-RAM, there is no way to make a DVD-R copy which will play in a DVD player. It looks like you have to make a decision before you record a program whether you want to play it on a DVD player. If you do, you need to use a DVD-R blank. If you want to just watch it and erase it, then use the DVD-RAM. What a stupid recorder. I sure wouldn't want it. But I guess it must have been cheap. I wouldn't want a DVD recorder that didn't contain a hard drive so the Panasonic DMR-ES46V wouldn't be a model I would want in my house. It would only be useful for converting VHS tapes to DVD. I hope that is what you bought it for.



thanks for your responses regarding my recorder. I didn't want to spend another $50 to $100 for the hard drive. This is my first recorder and I wanted to get familiar with DVD recording. I have some VHS tapes I want to transfer and I do a lot of picture work where the SD memory card slot will be handy. As far as recording shows, I can't see a problem with recording to DVD-R tapes or even DVD-RW (which can be erased and used again). Is anyone familiar with this recorder using DVD+R tapes?

My experience with Panasonic and Fuji DVD-RAM disc's is that those brands come pre-formated from the factory. ...
I believe that Panasonic has pre-formatted and un-formatted flavors of DVD-RAM. It normally says on the package if it is pre-formatted. If you load an un-formatted RAM, then a Panasonic DVR will normally display a message suggesting that you need to format the DVD-RAM.

I believe that Panasonic has pre-formatted and un-formatted flavors of DVD-RAM. It normally says on the package if it is pre-formatted. If you load an un-formatted RAM, then a Panasonic DVR will normally display a message suggesting that you need to format the DVD-RAM.

Panasonic RAM discs, purchased in retail packaging for home dvd recorder use, are ALWAYS pre-formatted and ready to record on.

I don't think this is necessarily true. Some are formatted for video, but the ones that are for computer use as data disks have a different format. Attempting to use one of those, upon loading into the DVD recorder, it asks you if you want to format the disk. This has been my experience. Once formatted, it works just like a pre-formatted disk. It does ask though, so there is no searching through menus or anything.

thanks for your responses regarding my recorder. I didn't want to spend another $50 to $100 for the hard drive. This is my first recorder and I wanted to get familiar with DVD recording. I have some VHS tapes I want to transfer and I do a lot of picture work where the SD memory card slot will be handy. As far as recording shows, I can't see a problem with recording to DVD-R tapes or even DVD-RW (which can be erased and used again). Is anyone familiar with this recorder using DVD+R tapes?If you are recording and playing back television programs on the same unit, DVD-RAM offers a major advantage over DVD+/-R or DVD+/-RW - simultaneous playback and recording. Unlike VCRs (and many other DVD recorders), you don't need to wait until a program has finished recording before starting playback. (You can also watch a previous recording on the same disk.)

This gives you the functionality of a (admittedly, small) "poor man's hard drive". I use this feature a lot and record exclusively to DVD-RAM. (For permanent copies, I edit on my DVD-RAM-compatible PC and burn to DVD+R.)

Tony

If you are recording and playing back television programs on the same unit, DVD-RAM offers a major advantage over DVD+/-R or DVD+/-RW - simultaneous playback and recording. Unlike VCRs (and many other DVD recorders), you don't need to wait until a program has finished recording before starting playback. (You can also watch a previous recording on the same disk.)

This gives you the functionality of a (admittedly, small) "poor man's hard drive". I use this feature a lot and record exclusively to DVD-RAM. (For permanent copies, I edit on my DVD-RAM-compatible PC and burn to DVD+R.)

Tony

Very good point! :D

I don't think this is necessarily true. Some are formatted for video, but the ones that are for computer use as data disks have a different format. Attempting to use one of those, upon loading into the DVD recorder, it asks you if you want to format the disk. This has been my experience. Once formatted, it works just like a pre-formatted disk. It does ask though, so there is no searching through menus or anything.

I edited my posting to reflect what you're saying but I personally haven't seen any Panasonic RAM other than the pre-formatted (video) variety.
Where do you purchase these data variety Panasonic discs and what do they cost?
Thanks!

The Panasonic DVD-RAM data discs for use in PCs can be purchased from the Panasonic web site. If you want to check them out, click here. (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelList?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&catGroupId=25168&orderBy=recommended&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702)

Quote:

The Panasonic DVD-RAM data discs for use in PCs can be purchased from the Panasonic web site. If you want to check them out, click here.


How can I tell if my PC can play DVD-Ram discs? I don't believe if I recorded a TV show if I would want to play it on my PC anyway.

The PC-formatted DVD-RAM discs are not intended for video. They were originally intended as data discs that could be used to store data like a HDD. They were later developed by Panasonic for use in DVD recorders to store video files.

In order to use them in a DVD recorder to store video files, they must be reformatted in the recorder.