Hi,
You have the newer model than I do. I can only use dvd-ram or dvd-r to write to. I can read dvd-rw if they are finalized and dvd+r if I change the "BookType" of the DVD+R to "DVD-ROM" when burning it on the computer.
In the dubbing screen of the recorder when you choose the mode to record onto the dvd it will reflect the bit-rate versus the amount of time/video you can put onto the dvd.
So, if you changed the recording mode to LP the recorder will re-render the video down to that new bit-rate.
The dubbing program displays this in the dubbing screen. It will display the size of the file on the harddisk and what the size of the file will be on the dvd being rendered to your setting (HQ/SD/LP/EP). You can use "Fit To Disk" but after you import the videos written in that mode only burn them on the computer. I wouldn't edit them if they were written in the "Fit To Disc" mode.
I wouldn't render down to the LP mode bit-rate because the framesize is smaller and with the bit-rate being low you will lose quality.
But that's a reason I record everything in the HQ mode to the harddisk. I can always go down but not up in quality. The quality is still very acceptable after rendering from the HQ to SD mode.
Diskspace isn't a problem and Panasonic recommends to cleanup the disk and re-format once in a while (depends how much recording/editing you do). Mine needs to be re-formatted.
After you edited the video I don't believe you could fast-dub it to a dvd because it's broken into 2 or more mpeg2 files. Depends how many cuts you made to the video.
I would be surprised if you could fast dub to a dvd-rw after editing the video. I don't believe so. Once you edited the video it can't be fast-dubbed.
But how were you fast-dubbing a 6 gig video to a 4.3 gig disk.
Sounds like that was the problem. When programs use that method the video is usually very hard to edit or import. The same as using a program such as "Dvd Shrink" or similar. I'm surprised to hear your panasonic recorder has that capability. If that's the case then it's a one time transfer depending how much the program has to scale down the bit-rate. One-time meaning the video will play in dvd-players but editing the video is next to impossible. The only way I've done it is play the video back in real-time as a meg2 file on the computer and re-record it back in realtime to the dvd recorder via the video cards TV functions.
I bought a "MadDog" Multi-media triple format dvd burner at Circuit City for $49.00 after rebates. I usually only buy brand name burners but this one reads & writes dvd-ram. It's somewhat picky on the type of dvd-r you use but it has burned everything I've used it for. Tha'ts the burner/reader I'm using now to import from dvd-ram. MF has no problem reading the ram disks in that recorder.
One last note about "Panasonic" dvd recorders. You can get firmware updates from their website. You download the .iso file and burn it to a CD disk as a bootable CD. Then put the CD disk into the recorder, then turn the unit off. Then turn the unit on and the firmware will be updated in the recorder to fix any bugs or for better dvd compatibility. They give you detailed instructions how to do update the firmware on the recorder. Just don't have a power outage when updating the firmware or your SOL.
Since I've typed this much I'd might as well go on.
If you have a very large video on the recorder and need to get it to the computer. Learn how to make a playlist(s). Break the video into 3.8gig chunks as playlists then burn the playlists separately to a dvd-ram disks in -VR mode. Import each -VR disk into the computer to complete the whole video. This way you can edit the video because they are all the same and are in the -VR editable format.
Playlists are very useful. When you dub you can select a playlist. You can make a playlist of 15minutes from the 1st video and 30 minutes from a middle video on the disk. Select the playlist to dub and you will get 1 mpeg2 file on the computer after importing the playlist.
Note: Creating a playlist doesn't cut/split or divide the original mpeg2 file on the hardisk. It's only marking sections. The original video is always intact. You can make a playlist of a movie removing all the commercials. When you play the playlist back there are not commercials but the original video/mpeg2 file is still intact on the harddisk.
(Sorry for making this so long).
Hope this helps,
MD
From Standalone DVD recorder to MovieFactory
-
danick
Just some update stuff...
http://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=251884
If I use the playlist, then the chapters are there. But I have to create a playlist for every chapter that I want to show up on the title menu. That's not exactly what I would like to "work around" the inability for this machine to create thumbnails for the chapters in the title menu. For one thing, when you use playlists, there is a noticeable cut/delay when the video plays through one playlist to another. I'm sure you already know how to do this, but for those who are reading this thread and don't know what I'm talking about, here is a step-by-step on how to make MF4 type menus on a standalone DVD recorder.
After capturing the video to the DVD recorder's Hard drive. The whole camcorder recording is in ONE title. Leave it that way. Then, use the submenu and chose to create chapters. You will be able to fast forward and pause exactly where you want the chapters to go. The EH50 will place a white line at each chapter mark you create.
Once you have all the chapters, exit out of this menu and go to the "Functions" - "Playlist" menu. Here you will create a playlist for each menu item you want to see in the top menu.
Create the first playlist and choose the "Chapters" that you want under the first title menu. Here you could also choose a name for the playlist as well as a more meaningful thumbnail which will appear in the title menu.
Next create another playlist and choose the next chapters you want to include under the second title menu. Continue doing this until you have all the chapters from your original chapter creations.
Next escape out of this and choose dubbing and create a dubbing list of all the playlists you had created. This will place the playlist "titles" in the top menu and each playlist retains the chapter marks you had originally placed.
After you finalize the disk, you will be able to navigate to each playlist "Title" as well as use the "Next Chapter" button on the remote.
There are 2 shortcomings from doing it this way.
1) You will only be able to use the "Next Chapter" button from going from one playlist to another with the EH50. A standalone player will not be able to do that. You will have to go back to the top menu to navigate to the playlist you want.
2) When you play the video from start to finish, there will be a small but noticeable pause/jump when it goes from one playlist title to the next.
That's about it. I can't find a better way in trying to make a normal DVD disk from a camcorder recording using just the standalone DVD recorder. It would be nice if you could just choose the title video and the machine would place the chapter thumbnails you created in the top menu just like on the PC. But since that's not going to happen, I'll either continue transfering the video to a DVD-RW, finalize it, and transfer it to MF4, or get a DVD writer for my PC that recognizes DVD-Ram.
Sorry for the long post. I guess I was in a writing mood today...
Not sure if it's allowed to place links to other user forums, but this thread is very much in line with our Panasonic standalone machines. This guy is kind of the guru of Panasonic DVRs and has a lot of good info he has shared in this thread. Check it out...But that's a reason I record everything in the HQ mode to the harddisk. I can always go down but not up in quality. The quality is still very acceptable after rendering from the HQ to SD mode.
http://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=251884
My recorder can fast dub an edited video on the hard disk. It's actually very fast. It can fast dub a 2 hour edited video in less than 20 minutes.After you edited the video I don't believe you could fast-dub it to a dvd because it's broken into 2 or more mpeg2 files. Depends how many cuts you made to the video. I would be surprised if you could fast dub to a dvd-rw after editing the video. I don't believe so. Once you edited the video it can't be fast-dubbed.
I actually use playlists all the time. At least I used to use them when making the final recording on the standalone in order to get Chapter like thumbnails on the top menu. But I never used them if I'm going to just transfer a movie to my computer for MF4. And I will probably never create or try to transfer anything over 2 hours.If you have a very large video on the recorder and need to get it to the computer. Learn how to make a playlist(s).
If I use the playlist, then the chapters are there. But I have to create a playlist for every chapter that I want to show up on the title menu. That's not exactly what I would like to "work around" the inability for this machine to create thumbnails for the chapters in the title menu. For one thing, when you use playlists, there is a noticeable cut/delay when the video plays through one playlist to another. I'm sure you already know how to do this, but for those who are reading this thread and don't know what I'm talking about, here is a step-by-step on how to make MF4 type menus on a standalone DVD recorder.
After capturing the video to the DVD recorder's Hard drive. The whole camcorder recording is in ONE title. Leave it that way. Then, use the submenu and chose to create chapters. You will be able to fast forward and pause exactly where you want the chapters to go. The EH50 will place a white line at each chapter mark you create.
Once you have all the chapters, exit out of this menu and go to the "Functions" - "Playlist" menu. Here you will create a playlist for each menu item you want to see in the top menu.
Create the first playlist and choose the "Chapters" that you want under the first title menu. Here you could also choose a name for the playlist as well as a more meaningful thumbnail which will appear in the title menu.
Next create another playlist and choose the next chapters you want to include under the second title menu. Continue doing this until you have all the chapters from your original chapter creations.
Next escape out of this and choose dubbing and create a dubbing list of all the playlists you had created. This will place the playlist "titles" in the top menu and each playlist retains the chapter marks you had originally placed.
After you finalize the disk, you will be able to navigate to each playlist "Title" as well as use the "Next Chapter" button on the remote.
There are 2 shortcomings from doing it this way.
1) You will only be able to use the "Next Chapter" button from going from one playlist to another with the EH50. A standalone player will not be able to do that. You will have to go back to the top menu to navigate to the playlist you want.
2) When you play the video from start to finish, there will be a small but noticeable pause/jump when it goes from one playlist title to the next.
That's about it. I can't find a better way in trying to make a normal DVD disk from a camcorder recording using just the standalone DVD recorder. It would be nice if you could just choose the title video and the machine would place the chapter thumbnails you created in the top menu just like on the PC. But since that's not going to happen, I'll either continue transfering the video to a DVD-RW, finalize it, and transfer it to MF4, or get a DVD writer for my PC that recognizes DVD-Ram.
Sorry for the long post. I guess I was in a writing mood today...