Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 - Page 396

I don't know if this is relevant, but I've never had empty title when recording to a DVD-R. It is nice to know what that "feature" is called: Alternate Recording? I guess this procedure is needed only if your equipment makes an empty title? I have had something like that when recording to a DVD-RW or +RW. I'll need to try this new procedure and see what happens. Or I could keep using DVD-RAM and not need the procedure.

I guess you know I visit a lot of threads on the forum. This is by far the most well managed and up to date location for information. You are truly doing an outstanding job.

If you use this method can you set/edit a title prior to step 8 finalize? Or do you have to get your title right prior to wiping the empty title?

scott s.
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With two 2160As, I've NEVER *NOT* had an 'Empty Title'.


I've created discs with less than 10MB free and noted that editing the title and/or the photo gradually eats away at that. I've even gotten to the point where, after editing the 6 title(s) and photo(s) (2 TCM movies with RO intro / movie / RO summary) it wouldn't let me OVERWRITE the 'Empty Title' (no space available - not even at SLP) so that I could then delete it.

Thus, I would be sure that I was finished with ALL my editing before touching the 'Empty Title'.

Got me. I forgot it was a wedding I copied from camcorder to DVD on an old analog Toshiba. Sorry.

But I still wish for the DVD-RAM ability. Can't kill a guy for trying. On most threads. Some not so much.

I also does not like such indication. "Empty Title" or "Empty Space".
According to our engineer, because of DVD+R/RW standard, we must make it.
If your DVD recorder has only DVD-R/RW recording, you do not see it.

The recorder only has DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM ability. You are correct. But I still use the RX-50 even with only 80gb of HDD storage since it can perform HSD of 61 minute titles. Thank you for the feedback.

My recorders (Panasonic and a older Toshiba made Toshiba) record to + media but do not make a "empty title". I think it's because those machines are native to - media(but will record to +) and the Funai machines are native to + media(but will record to -).
While the empty title may bug some(myself included) others(like my father) could care less and isn't bothered in the least.
My guess is that if Funai somehow rewrote the programming to get rid if the empty title, it wouldn't be compatible with unfinalized discs made on the older machines.

JoeKustra - wouldn't it be great if the Maggies supported DVD-RAM and still had the HDD storage? Think of the flexibilty this would give the consumer.

That would be nice, but I'm not betting on it. First, ever see blank DVD-RAM for sale at the store? There are places on the internet where you can buy them. I have read that DVD-RAM is not as compatible between units. I also have a Panny EZ28 that supports DVD-RAM, but it's always a risk when I make the title on one unit and try to play it on another. I do "wish" the Maggie family would support DVD-RAM, but it's not a deal maker/breaker for me. HiDef/DD5.1 - that would make me buy one today.

Both my laptop and desktop have DVD-RAM drives.

While the empty title is not pretty and can be removed, it's not my issue with removable media on the 2160A. I want to make a 61 minute recording at HQ. I don't care if it's with +rw or -rw. I don't give it as much thought now that I have 100 hours of HQ on the HDD. The quality is outstanding and the sound is pretty good also. Not like HD, but very cost effective.

Re. DVD-RAM availability in stores... Fry's Electronics stocks Panasonic DVD-RAM in their brick and mortar stores, as well as online. I've bought a number of 4.7GB 2~3X speed 5 packs from Fry's in the past couple of months.

I can understand making 61 minute long recordings, especially when many networks overlap program endings/beginnings. Since most of my recording is from TCM (where programming of a variety of lengths is often very tightly fit into programming blocks) my practice is to include buffer timing or to record more than one movie in a recording block when it's difficult to determine where the break between movies will occur. It isn't such a problem for me as I seldom use HQ.

It's very important to very precisely set the clock. Since all my Panasonic, Philips and Magnavox recorders have some clock "drift" I usually reset the clocks at two to three week intervals. This is the time source I use:

http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Pacific/d/-8/java

That website hasn't (yet) been messed up.

Yesterday I picked up a Magnavox MDR515H.

Having previously read a post from a fellow Canadian who got his unit home only to find that the DVD tray did not function I considered testing my unit in the store but decided against it.

When I got the 515 home I decided to test the tray first thing so I plugged it in, gave it a few seconds to power up and then hit the open/close button - nothing happened. After a few choice expletives I decided to finish connecting and setting the unit up and tried again. This time the tray opened.

As best I can tell, the tray will not open when the unit is first powered up and the front panel display is displaying a series of dashes. Looks as if you either have to wait longer after powering it up or start the setup procedure before the tray can be opened. Once I had some info displaying on the front panel then everything was fine.

My concern is that anyone who tries to do a cursory check of the unit in the store may just plug it in and hit the open/close button and come to the conclusion that the unit is defective when it is not. Unless you can connect the unit to a television and run through the setup procedure don't jump to any conclusions about its functionality.

Hopefully Wajo can confirm this information and pass it along to the readers before they start abandoning perfectly good units.

Thanks. I live on the "right side" of the country now. I've been to Fry's when I lived in CA. Awesome. Even the closest BB is an hour away. Not to get off-thread, what do you use them in and how much (time) can you save at your best quality/highest bit rate?

I'd be in that group. As long as the titles for the programs are properly identified, I just ignore the "empty" title. But then, except when I'm dubbing a particularly special DVD, I don't even bother to change each title's thumbnail from the potluck default one.

Is there any way to check on how Philips managed it with the 3455?

It handles both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW and it just calls it space available. When you finalize the disk it dissappears.

Thanks.

Sorry but I do not know about other manufacturered item.
But at least, we were consulted by Philips.

Dear wajo,

It is my preasure to hear an user is satisfied with our product.
To hear such encouragement word, I make up my mind to try harder to grant everyone's wish.

234

I wish you much luck. Words from one of our best people:

You can make some of the people happy all the time.

You can make all the people happy some of the time.

You can't make all the people happy all the time.

Relax and enjoy life. You only get one. You have done a great so far. We are lucky to have you here.

I use them in a Panasonic DMR-ES10 and DMR-EA18. I've never really tested the time vs. highest bit rate recording, as I record and erase quite often with a disc.

I live in the "central" portion of the country (IL), and thus, only visit Fry's when on a business trip. The last visit was in Dallas, TX. There's a Fry's just east of DFW on I-635. I try to stop there to stock up on DVD-RAMs when I'm in the Dallas area. Nothing here but BB!

Here's another thanks to 234 for his hard work.

Imagine the happiness if we could get a firmware update for the 513 that adds that function!

Many thanks to you, 234!

Jim

P.S. Please check the AVS Funai Blu-ray forum.

I received my MDR513H/F7 earlier this week. I connected it per instructions in the manual, I thought! It doesn't work. I was ready to return it but found this website. I had hoped to use it to record programs I already have recorded on my cable DVR box; it doesn't sound as though I'll be able to do that. Even if I can't, if I'm able get it connected properly, I can use it for additional recording space. However, although I'm going to attempt to follow the instructions I've found here, they confuse me. I can set up PC's, most video, TV, and other equipment, but this bewilders me. I'm left-handed and sometimes think I view things with a bit of dyslexia. I'm just an attorney, not a tech person. I'm ready to give it another try but if anyone has any advice I would appreciate it!

I made another attempt before reading your response, which, BTW, I appreciate. The splitter I picked up, along with the DVDR, (shipped to Walmart) is not bi-directional, so I need to get a different one and I've decided to get a couple of HDMI'S hoping they will simplify things, less mess in back. I probably won't get them until Monday. I hope this works, it's getting expensive. Thanks, I'll let you know, I'm getting ready to read the cable box help file....