I know it doesn't answer your question but Panasonic build better VCRs than Sony.

How many SCART connections does it have ? It would be nice to be able to plug 2 external sources, an other freeview box and satellite box for example...

You can record from one of 5 sources:

Line 1 - the scart that feeds the t.v.

Line 2 - Composite / s video on the front

Line 3 - Aux scart on the rear

Line 4 - Composite / s video on the rear

DV - I link connector on the front

Auto chaptering seems quite good - just watched a couple of programmes with adverts and it skipped to either the last advert or TV trailer.

I'm less impressed with the fast forward:

1) 1.5x with sound
2) a bit faster
3) about 10000x

It needs something between 2 & 3 and "2x with sound" would be better than 1.5x

Thanks to everyone for other replies & info - most enlightening!

BTW it does store the programme name from the EPG when you record(even if it has changed since you set the recording!)

cheers!

murkle

Thanks Paul.
After the Aux SCART, what is the best source to use (I don't want to record from the TV) in terms of videao and sound quality to plug an external source?

Just done some tests last night. Had recorded the Bob Dylan programmes and dubbed them to DVD - there was no "fast" option offered and it took the same length as the broadcast times. I'm using x8 -R discs. Then dubbed "A Touch of Frost" which was a 2 hour programme. It took 7 minutes!! Pretty fast. The only clue I can find in the manual is that if the programme is in 4:3 then it won't dub fast - don't know why. I can only assume that some sort of indicator is recorded at the start of the disc file and that some of the old clips in the Bob Dylan stuff was in 4:3 so it indiucated that it was in 4:3. Not really a problem but has anyone else come across the "quirk"

PS Still love the machine.

Mind you the Sony has Double Layer Recording and Playback which the Panasonic doesn't!

I tend to agree with the fast forward thing. If you watch the seconds counting up on 2x, it goes up by 5 seconds at a time, about every one second. It's been a while since I was at school, but I'm sure 5x1 is still 5, not 2? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Tried timing the 3x but got dizzy and threw up. Decided to go for a ride on a rolercoaster to settle my stomach.

...even if you don't use EPG to set the timer.

I recorded one programme the other night by just pressing "Record", and the programme name appears in the title list. Not sure how it handles continuous recording of two or more programmes - haven't tried that yet.

Also worth mentioning (as I don't think anyone has, yet) that you can edit or change the programme name.

I tried again last night to do some fast dubbing and again I didn't have fast as an option, but after a good read of the instruction manual I found this.

Fast Dubbing not available for the following titles.
1. Titles recorded in HQ+ mode.
2. Titles that contain both main and sub sounds (except DVD-RWs in VR mode)
3. Titles with a mixture of aspect ratios (4:3 and 16:9 etc) (except DVD-RWs in VR mode)

I've been using my 4X DVD-RWs in Video mode for compatibility with other machines.
So I formatted a 4X -RW to VR mode and high speed dub was an option on all recordings except the HQ+ ones.
It took 8 minutes to do a batch copy of 2 half hour programs and about 17 minutes to finalise.

I then tested it on my Panansonic player upstairs thinking it wouldn't work and to my supprise it read it fine.
The manual states that -RWs in VR mode do not need finalising so the next step is to see if my Panasonic will read one that's not finalised. Fingers crossed.

P.S. It was episodes of the Simpsons I was trying to fast dub which has the good old channel 4 mix of 4:3 and 16:9.

centurian,

Not sure if you would have enough time to test this ?
Given, you have a VR mode DVD (which with the Sony's archiving is the only format to retain manually inserted chapters and thumbnails and aspect ratio), have you got a desktop PC where you could import the VR mode DVD, using a DVD authoring application.

Then you could you burn as a DVD Video Mode, and see if the chapters, thumbnails, and Aspect ratio are retained.

I know Ulead's DVD MovieFactory4 allows this (free trial download) or TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 (again free trial download)

Hi PeteTh,

I'd love to help but my PC is still trapped in the dark ages and have only got access to a CD burner.
Hopefully somebody else who is a bit more up to date can help you out.
If it does work I may have to invest in a DVD burner for the PC... more expense....

The sony IT bods have finnaly cought up.

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProdu...y=DVD+Recorder

Still no joy on downloading the maunal could only find the HX710 and not the D.

except that +r, dual layer only record 4:3 !!

I don't understand why they have launched a so eagerly awaited piece of kit without any publicity. Their homepage doesn't mention the RDR-HXD710 launch. It is almost as if they didn't want to sell any!

Perhaps they know they won't have enough machines to satisy demand if the did advertise it properly. To avoid the angry customers that can't get one due to a shortfall they keep it quiet and so only the ethusiasts find out about it and get it quick, keeping them happy.

Sorry for going over an old (?) issue but I'm on the verge of buying one of these (the 910 hopefully) and just anted to clear up the issue of recording 16:9 onto DVD+r (single or dual layer) - various threads imply that it always reverts to 4:3 on this media but then I read this on a panny thread@

"
Of course you can record widescreen material on to -R.
But in common with some other DVD recorders,it won't record the 16:9 widescreen switching flag that tells your tv to open out into wide mode.You record the 16:9 programme,but to watch the disc you would have to manually change the tv to 16:9.
The main problem of not recording the flag is that if you try to watch the recording on a 4:3 set you can't see it in either centre cut out or letterbox mode
"

This of course, could just apply to the panny - can anyone with a Sony out there confirm / deny this issue please ? It would be such a shame that we can't use dual-layer discs & widescreen

You don't happen to work in the Sony Press Office do you?

The matrix on pages 8/9 of the analogue 710 user manual suggest that you cannot record widescreen to DVD+R SL/DL. This is confirmed on page 47.

I have been watching this site for months now and think its great, i decided to register and say thanks for all ur useful advice even though i dont understand most of it. I have just taken delivery of my very own SONY RDRHXD710 today and now have to fathom out how to work it. One question though, when i ordered it I ticked the option for free Multi Region. It however had a sticker on the back saying Region 2, have I been conned? Is it a chip inside (with the wrong sticker outside) or should i have a new machine altogether for it to be multi-region? I dont have a region 1 DVD to test it. Grateful for any advice

It probably is multi-region, but there is only one way to test it... If a retailer changed it to multi-region they wouldn't bother changing the sticker.

So what's the latest then ?

Is anyone making a digital twin tuner, HDD and DVDRW yet ? and how much £
Thanks.

No they aren't... not yet"

They haven't yet, but manufacturers are gradually edging towards it. Most DVD/HD recorders still only have analogue tuners, and it's taken ages for a single tuner freeview/HD/DVDRW to appear. Hopefully the next release from Sony will have twin tuners. Then they need to add a TopUpTV slot and ethernet port.

> Hopefully the next release from Sony will have twin tuners

Really ?

> Then they need to add a TopUpTV slot and ethernet port

Will they do so ? They could have done that on analogue recorders yet.