Just picked up a new Panny DMR-ES15 at BB! - Page 8

Ok, I had to go look to see if in fact older DVD players have this as a standard feature ... several do. So I decided to look at the Sony line to see if it does what you want. It may ... and so may the Panasonic. Both have the ability to create a Playlist. This allows one to chose the titles and chapters and what order they will be played in that playlist (like an MP3 player). The only catch is that it has to be a DVD-RAM or DVD-RW(VR) disks for the Panasonic (and -RW(VR) for Sony).

I did also find A->B repeat option, not to mention that each time you press one of the Skip buttons (<< or >>) it will "skip titles, chapters, or tracks according to the number of times the button is pressed and play will begin".

FWIW,
Jay

Number of DVD players (of all varieties) I've owned: > 20
Number of times I've used "Program Play": 0

Thanks buddy thats exactly what I was wondering.

saved me a few bucks on cables.

JK5K

do you think that by having it turned on it will reduce the life of the player/recorder?

At only 7W ... no.

Thanks. What would the reason be that it only works with recordable discs? I'm just having a really hard time understanding this logic.

Becaue it has to write the playlist information to the disc. My understanding is that it add the information to the title data IIRC.

Jay

I've been looking at the dmr-15 and noticed in the user manual that 16:9 programs will get squeezed into a 4:3 format rather than come out as letterboxed on all but DVD-RAM discs. I can't really believe that would be the case. I had a Sony briefly which did lettebox any 16:9 content but I returned it because there was a marked loss in quality between the original and the recording. So, is this true? And also, does the recording qaulity equal the source?

Thanks so much for this info.

DVD recorders capture the signal they are sent. They do not letterbox widescreen images on their own. Some source units (certain HD cable boxes, for example) cannot send a squeezed widescreen image through their composite or s-video outputs... they automatically send a letterboxed 4:3 image instead. The DVD recorder has nothing to do with it.

It is helpful though if a DVD Recorder can either automatically detect that it is receiving 16:9 content and set the anamorphic widescreen flag in the resulting copy, or at least allow the user to manually set that flag for the copy that is made, so that the resulting DVD can be played back correctly on both 16:9 and 4:3 displays.

so if I record say LOTR to an es15 or es20, will the final recording stay in letterbox format if that's what I choose on the source player?

Was it recorded from a letterboxed signal, and/or did the recording device flag it as widescreen?

If it was recorded from a letterboxed signal, then you're done, nothing else matters, it will always play back letterboxed.

If it was recorded without letterboxing, then it depends on whether it was flagged as widescreen on the resulting DVD. If yes, then your player will do the right thing on 4:3 displays, which is tyically to letterbox it. If not, then on 4:3 displays it will be too tall. On 16:9 displays you will have to tell your display to use the full width of the screen, but it will play back in full 16:9.

That is what I assumed but:

1. Why does the user manual specifically show a 16:9 recording (off a 16:9 source) on a DVD-Ram disk and a squeezed 4:3 recording on all over media types?

2. I assume that when I recorded a 16:9 program from Tivo to the Sony the Tivo was sending it a leterboxed image. Yes? This recording played back properly on both widescreen and standard tv's. It showed letterboxed on the 4:3 and filled the screen on widescreen. Can I expect the same from the Panasonic?

3. What experience has owners of this recorder had with this issue?

thanks again

Just ran across this reply looking for more info on the ES-15. I did return the unit & get the price match. Ironically (or not!) I returned that one too. The lack of editing capability frustrated me. Now, after countless posts, searches, and trial runs of other units, I'm going this week to get another. I just could not match the ES-15 for PQ and ease of use (not to mention portability). After I save a few more pennies I will spring for TDA and do editing on my computer.

My original post was to advise people to buy at B&M Best Buys if possible, to avoid their computer mismatch. BB customer service has been courteous and helpful (even if their floor staff is not the best trained).

You nailed me, Jay...Whoever said "If it's not broke, fix it 'till it is broke" obviously met me somewhere. I just can never seem to leave well enough alone.

Oh, and I'm not that rich...gimme that $13!

You reminded me of the PQ. I use LP mode exclusively (4hrs per DVD). I recoded the National Geogrphic special "Race to Space". I decided on a lark to watch it on my projector (100" diagonal screen) to see what (if any) PQ issues I might could see.

WOW! It looked great. The PJ is a 5yr Infocus LP340V with a new bulb, the screen is a painted wall with a 4" felt border.

One other note I've been meaning to post. The DVD Ram that came with it ... well, it is/was more trouble to deal with than a DVD RW from my experience.

FWIW,
Jay

er, what's a "TDA?"

That makes me feel a lot better for not having even opened mine since getting the es15.

Look Here

hmm, looks a bit too complicated for a video primitive like me...

If this is about DMR-ES15/25S, then this info is wrong. My panasonic sends out unaltered cable signal through RF-out no matter if it is on or off. It is almost as if they did a Y split internally and sent one of them to RF-out.

Pretty sure he meant the RCA composite connectors.

Was hoping someone could answer a few questions for me. Bascially, I will be recording most recording on RAM and taking them to the computer and editing them with TDA Pro. I used to have Pioneer and Panny HDD models, but I think this will be cheaper and better for me.

I have some concerns:

1. I read that the Panny doesn't recognize 16:9 recordings. So if I recorded let's say a widescreen Stargate series episode from TV, it will make it a 4:3 recording. Is this true? I've read that the Pioneer recongizes the 16:9 recording flag and records in widescreen but panny lacks that feature. If panny doens't recognize the 16:9 on dvd-r, will it recognize it if I record it on RAM disc, which is the main media I will be using?

2. How about on +RW or -RW (I've read that panny will not record in VR mode for +RW or -RW), so I'm not sure if this is a VR thing or not.

3. Finally, does this ES15 record ALL formats (-DL, & +DL). Can someone confirm this.

This looks like a great buy for around $160. I don't need the hard drive (have a Tivo) and I save $$. Any input is appreciated. I'm about to bite the bullet in the next couple of days. If the Panny doesn't record widescreen TV shows, then I will have to scratch it off my list. Thanks

Yes it works. I record solely to DVD+RW for transfer to my computer. Movies less than 2 hours I set the VR to the run time to fill up the disk for maximum picture quality.

Robert

Thanks for the reply. Great, I won't buy a RAM drive for PC then. I'm looking at the online manual right now. It shows this:

http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxx.com/images/p...15s_ownman.pdf
**************

RAM = VR
DVD-R = dvd video
DVD-DL = dvd video
DVD-RW = dvd video
+R = +VR
+R DL = +VR
+ RW = +VR


1. What is +VR? Is it the same as VR?

2. Will VR mode will take more space than DVD video mode?

3. On page 4 it states that on RAM will record 16:9 aspect picture. Someone please explaing this?

It does preserve the 16:9 aspect ratio on DVD-RAM, what's to explain?

Sorry, just a little confused. Was hoping for more clarification.

If I use the DV input and record my camcorder widescreen movie on DV tape to +RW, will it keep the 16:9 aspect or do I have to use RAM? Same as TV shows, if their broadcasted in widescreen, do I have to use RAM to retain the widscreen or can I get away with it on +RW disc.

I use DVD-RAM to record 16:9 TV shows off of my STB using the s-video input. It preserves the 16:9 ratio on playback. I would expect it to do the same with 16:9 video from your camera using the DV input but have no personal experience. Maybe someone else can help you out here.

If the manual says that 16:9 only works on RAM then it won't work on RW's.

Bought this yesterday. I kind of got it for free since I used my visa credit card points to get a $200 Best Buy card.

My thoughts are all over the place as I write this, so I'm just going to write my opinion on the recorder:

I guess you're right. Evidently, the only way to preserve widescreen is to record on RAM disc. I used the DV cable from my camcorder and tried -RW and it wouldn't preserve the widescreen; I thought perhaps the widescreen was for tv shows only. So for those of you who are recording 16:9 TV shows and won't be using RAM to to take to your PC to do edits, then this recorder is not for you. Same thing for widescreen home movies from your camcorder. If you don't have a PC burner w/ ediiting software, then this recorder is also not for you. RAM is the only media that will retain the widescreen (I haven't tried a TV show yet).

I tried the DV input from my camcorder and recorded in XP mode. Is it me or for some reason the picture wasn't up to par with me. It was a little darker and the colors weren't vibrant as the camcorders screen. I sent the recorders input to "lighter" and same thing alhtough it wasn't as dark, the colors weren't vibrant as my camcorder's LCD screen which looks NICE. I then tried the composite cables thinking it may be the DV input, but same thing.

I wouldn't recommend this recorder to anyone unless they were doing editing on their PC. This will suite me since I am; all I need to to is buy a RAM reader. I will never use DL media on this recorder any other media but RAM. I guess you have to close one layer and then record on the other on DL. I can simply just transfer everything to RAM and do this via PC. In the near future, most TV shows will be widescreen, so if you're into recording TV shows this recorder is already/will be obsolete since recording on -R, -RW, +R, +RW will not retain the widscreen.

User Interface is also not that great. I regret selling my Pioneer 533 which had the DV input. I sold it because I wanted the latest Pioneer which came out last month. Unfortuantely, they omitted the DV port, so I settled for this. Pioneer interface was so easy to learn and "smooth". I actually scurried to find the same model online, but most places are sold out or are very $$. I paid $350 and sold it for $289 after 7 months. I hear that they have a similar interface, maybe even a little improved on their new models.

That's enough complaining. This machine will do what I need it to do and I got it for free. Just know what your needs are and maybe invest in a model with a hard drive. Hope this helps someone. Thank you all.

I don't think comparing it to your camcorder's LCD screen is a fair test. You will want to compare the quality of the recorded DVD, when played back to a given display, to the quality of the original, played back to that same display. That way differences in the display are not a factor.