Can anyone advise on a few points?

I dub down to HDD in SP and dub editted part back up to DVD. As I have spare space is there any benefit in upping the quality to say HQ to fill the DVD?

If I change the quality will it still be compatible on other DVD players?. After finalising of course.

Finally!!!! does a DVD have to be finalised on the unit it was recorded on (Sony 510)?. I ask as a couple of days ago the 510 shut down and I thought it was a gonner. then I realised I had about 50 un-finalised DVDs.

I have finalised most of them now thanks to that warning. If I replaced it it would probably be with a 710.

Any advice greatly appreciated

PC

I'm not the most technical person on these boards, (and I don't yet own a Sony recorder) but I would guess that if you have recorded (compressed) a programme at SP resolution the only thing you would be able to do is compress it further. Surely the data required to create an HQ recording was thrown away in the compression to SP, otherwise all 30 minute recordings would be exactly the same size on the hard drive.
Just a thought, I'll wait to be corrected.

tallboy

No need to be corrected tallboy: to quote the manual, "The picture quality will not improve even if a title is converted to a recording mode of better picture quality." Sorry prawn crackers...

To answer your second question, again to quote the manual, "The recorder may not be able to finalize the disc if it was recorded on another recorder." Not a definitive answer but probably best to finalize all outstanding discs before making the switch to the 710, just in case.

I suppose I could have found the info from the manual, but to be honest I have never had a product before where I have had to relate to the manual so much. So I was getting a bit all MANUALED OUT!!!!

My DISC DIRTY problems have got worse and had "cannot play this disc" on my last disc that I had to finalize. So I am taking it into a shop that is approved for Sony warranty repairs.

Can I be cheeky and ask another question and I won't ask another for the rest of the year!!!!

When dubbing to a DVD can you mix programs with different recording qualities eg. SP for one film and another at say LP quality for space left reasons.
I have looked in the manual for a 510 page 72 (and noticed the NOTE quoted by "Bizarre"), but can't find anything saying that you are not able to do this. I ask because I previously had a Liteon 5045 (UGH!!!) and you couldn't mix recording qualities on the same DVD.

Soon to be told "read the bl***y" manual

Happy new year

PC

Ask away - it's not a problem! I have successfully mixed recording modes on the same DVD: in fact, the auto mode will do just that when filling up the remaining space, selecting the most appropriate mode for the length of the recording and the available disc space.

Thanks again,

I am pleased the Sony can mix recording formats, I don't know why that was not allowed on the Liteon.....Just got to get my DVD "Disc Dirty" problem sorted then. Sony were very helpful over the phone and have just got to take it in to their approved repair shop.

Looks like I'll be going back to the stone age with having to use a VCR for a while.

PC