I've recently bought this DVD recorder and it seems pretty good. It's a "super multi format " drive so will record and play on all formats.

However, the instruction booklet is less than clear. We are struggling to fully understand how to record stuff onto DVD and be able to split things into titles / chapters etc and put thumbnails on the disc so that it will read on our other DVD player.

We have quite a collection of programmes on VHS and our PVR that we now want to archive onto DVD but the manual does not really give a particularly clear explanation of how to do it. For example I want to be able to create a DVD of a series of programmes and have thumbnails as a menu to be able to select specific programmes.

So far we have recorded stuff onto one DVD +RW with thumbnails but we can't finalise it and while it plays on our other DVD player it doesn't show the thumbnails or split the titles properly.

Rather than build up a fine collection of DVD shaped coasters can anyone answer the following:

What are the main differences in functionality between DVD -/+R /RWs/RAM? Are some formats better than others?

What limitations do the different formats have (apart from the obvious R/RW differences?

Why don't you need to finalise DVD +RWs?

Can you edit chapter marks and thumbnails after you have finalised a disc?

Is there a better version of the Panasonic manual

Any help/guidance at all would be appreciated!

+RW discs don't need to be finalised.
Any discs that are finalised cannot be altered in any way.
If your recorder is a HDD/DVDR combo its far simpler to produce the results you want by recording to HDD first.
If its dvdr only then its a bit of a problem as -R and +R cannot be altered once recorded.
Once any disc has a recording on it,there should be a button to select thumbnails.
HDD style editing is possible on RAM ,but that won't play on your other player.
Your best option is to record on RAM(I don't think Panny support -RW(VR))and do all your editing on board the recorder then as long as you have a PC dvdr that supports RAM you can transfer it to the PC HDD and then burn it back to -R/+R.
All this faffing about is why I would never suggest buying a dvd recorder without a HDD.
Last edited by apeplanet : 02-11-2006 at 22:51

Cheers. It was our attempt with a +RW that caused the concern as we haven't been able to play it properly on our other player.

The machine is definitely -RW(V) compatible as it mentions it in the (poorly written) manual. It also bangs on about RAM a lot. Not sure my laptop can manage DVD RAM.

It doesn't have an HDD inside as I thought it might be oiverkill to have a PVR and a DVDR/HDD!

Am I right in thinking that DVD-R & DVD-RW are a bit more flexible/compatible than +R/+RW?

DVD- is no more compatible than DVD+,although you need to stick with -RW(V) for that.
Some players WILL have a preference for one format or the other,but in general they are equal.
Thinking an additional HDD is overkill is a common misconception.
However,your DVDR HDD can be edited and played with,unlike a PVR HDD which records and nothing more.
It depends on what you want to do.
From the sound of it,you should have bought one with a HDD as it would make your dvd creating a lot easier

Oh well, I've spent my money now so I will have to make the best of it!! It was another £100 or so to add the HDD and somewhat out of my budget so I can't complain. I'll give this a couple of years and think about trading up afterwards.

I'm slowly getting to grips with the Panny. I managed to create a couple of DVDs over the weekend for my daughter but would however like to be able to make a disc that reverts to the Top menu once it has played a title rather than immediatiely playing the next one. Can't find anyting in the manual that describes this.

I'm pretty sure that a dvd recorded on a set top of any brand will not revert to the main menu after each title.
I've had Philips,Pioneer and Panasonic and none of them will.
I think you would need some PC software and create it on your computer to add this type of thing ,along with better menus