Picture and folder operation. 36

Entering text.37

Useful features
This DVD Video recorder records high quality images to rapid random access capable DVD-RAM. This has resulted in many new features that out perform older tape formats. The following information summarizes a few of these features.

Instant play

There is no need to rewind or search forward. Direct Navigator guides you to the beginning of the recorded video immediately.

Instant recording

You no longer need to search for empty disc space. By pressing the recording button, the unit finds available recording space and begins recording right away. There is no need to worry about overwriting already recorded content.

Chasing playback

There is no need to wait until recording is complete. Without stopping recording, you can play the video currently being recorded from its beginning.

SD/PC card slots

This unit is equipped with interfaces that allow networking with digital equipment. The SD/PC card slots of this unit let you transfer (dub) digital camera photographs from a card to DVD-RAM for easy storage without using a computer.
Simultaneous Recording and Playback
While recording, you can play another video program that was recorded previously.
TV Guide On ScreenTM system
The TV Guide On ScreenTM system provides a handy electronic program guide (EPG) for checking whats on. Setting up to record a broadcast is easy too. Simply select the desired program from the displayed list. You can also search for desired programs alphabetically or by displaying only the programs in a certain category. This service may not be available in some areas.

Time Slip

During play and also while recording, you can jump to the scene you wish to view by specifying the skip time.

7303en.book 4

Accessories
Please check and identify the supplied accessories. Use numbers indicated in parentheses when asking for replacement parts. To order accessories, refer to Accessory Purchases on page 55.
1 Remote control (EUR7721KB0)
1 AC power supply cord (K2CB2CB00006) For use with this unit only. Do not use it with other equipment.

coaxial cable (VJA1125)

Selecting television type
You do not have to change the setting when connected to a 4:3 standard aspect television that is not compatible with progressive output ( page 48).
Press [SETUP]. Press [3, 4] to select TV Screen and press [1]. Press [3, 4] to select TV Type and press [ENTER].

TV Type

Aspect 4:3 & 480I Channel Set Up Disc Video Audio Display TV Screen Aspect 4:3 & 480P Aspect 16:9 & 480I Aspect 16:9 & 480P

Aspect 4:3/Aspect 16:9:

4:3 standard aspect 16:9 widescreen television television 480P/480I: Select 480P if the television is compatible with progressive output.
Press [3, 4] to select the item and press [ENTER].
To exit the screen Press [SETUP].
To return to the previous screen Press [RETURN].

7303en.book 13

When other Panasonic products respond to this remote control
Change the remote control code on the main unit and the remote control (the two must match) if you place other Panasonic products close together. Use 1, the factory set code, under normal circumstances.
Press [SETUP]. Press [3, 4] to select Set Up and press [1]. Press [3, 4] to select Remote Control Code and press [ENTER]. Press [3, 4] to select the code (1, 2, or 3) and press [ENTER].

Remote Control Code

Channel Set Up Disc
Press and ENTER together for more than 2 seconds on the remote.
To change the code on the remote control
While pressing [ENTER], press and hold the numbered button ([1], [2] or [3]) for more than 2 seconds. Press [ENTER].
When the following indicator appears on the units display
The units remote control code Change the code on the remote control to match the main units ( step 5). To exit the screen Press [SETUP]. To return to the previous screen Press [RETURN].

7303en.book 14

Disc and card information
Discs you can use for recording and play [12 cm (5z)/8 cm (3z)]
Disc type Logo Instructions

Re-writable discs

DVD-RAM 4.7 GB/9.4 GB, 12 cm (5z) 2.8 GB, 8 cm (3z) Indicated in these instructions with [RAM] You can record up to 16 hours [in EP (8H) mode on double-sided disc. You cannot record or play continuously on two sides.] ( page 17, Recording modes and approximate recording times). You can view the title being recorded from the beginning (Chasing playback, Time Slip) ( page 18). Scratch and dust resistant cartridge discs and large capacity double sided discs (9.4GB) are commercially available. You can record digital broadcasts that allow One time only recording when using CPRM (Content Protection for Recordable Media) compatible discs ( page 48). This unit is compatible with 1k3k recording speed discs. You can play and transfer (dub) still pictures taken on a digital camera etc. ( page 28, 38).

The message TURN RECORDER OFF FOR TIMER RECORDING. is shown on the television. If the unit is already in the timer recording standby mode (if F is already on the unit's display), the unit turns off automatically. You need not take step 5 to complete the procedure.
Using the TV Guide On ScreenTM system to make timer recordings
You can perform timer recording easily by just marking the desired program(s) in a television program list. You can enter up to 8 days in advance. The program name becomes the recorded title if the program is listed on the television program list.
Press [ DVD POWER] to turn the unit off.
F lights on the units display to indicate timer recording standby has been activated.

SCHEDULE TODAY

\Note\
Timer recording will work only if F is displayed. F flashes when the unit cannot go to timer recording standby (e.g., a recordable disc is not in the disc tray).

8:00 8:30

Operations that can be performed during timer recording standby
You can play discs. Do not press [ DVD POWER] but [1] (PLAY) or [DIRECT NAVIGATOR] instead. Timer recording works even during disc play. [RAM] You can add, change or delete programs scheduled for timer recording. [RAM] [DVD-R] To add a scheduled program 1 Press [PROG/CHECK]. 2 Press [3] to select SCHEDULE. 3 Press [2, 1] to select LISTINGS. 4 Press [4], then go to step 2 ( left). To change or delete a scheduled program ( page 22)
Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select the program.
To skip one screen Press [PAGE WX CH]. To skip 24 hours in the list Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select LISTINGS and: Press the Green button (forward). Press the Blue button (backward).
To release the unit from recording standby
Press [ DVD POWER]. The unit turns on and F goes out. Be sure to press [ DVD POWER] to return the unit to standby mode before the scheduled recording time.

Press the Green button.

R appears in the list to indicate that the program is set for timer recording. If a program which is being broadcast at the time is registered, timer recording will start immediately. Press the Green button to cancel. Press the Blue button to change recording frequency. Each time you press the button: [. Records only once. R l ; l RR Records when the broadcast time and program l name match. ; l RW Records weekly. l l ; { Temporarily cancels the program timer R recording without deleting the program setting. Repeat steps 23 to program other recordings.

Timer recording will work only if F is displayed. F flashes when the unit cannot go to timer recording standby (e.g., a recordable disc is not in the disc tray). Recorded Recorded Not recorded If you set DST (Daylight Saving Time) to ON when manually setting the clock ( page 11), timer recording may not work when summer switches to winter and vice versa.

7303en.book 22

Timer recording To change the recording frequency
To change the time and recording mode

1 Press [ENTER].

2 Change the setting as necessary and press [ENTER]. To set recording to start early or end late Press [3, 4] to select Start early by or End late by and press the numbered buttons to enter minutes (up to 99). To change the recording mode Press [3, 4] to select Quality and press the Blue button. Each time you press the button: LP # EP # FR # XP # SP ^==============}

To delete the program

PROG/CHECK Blue button Info

Press the Blue button.

TV GUIDE

To exit the screen

Green button (CHAPTER)
Press [TV GUIDE]. The message TURN RECORDER OFF FOR TIMER RECORDING. is shown on the television. If the unit is already in the timer recording standby mode (if F is already on the unit's display), the unit turns off automatically.
To put the unit on timer recording standby
Check, change or delete a program
Press [ DVD POWER] to turn the unit off. F lights on the units display to indicate timer recording standby has been activated.
When there is a duplicate or overlapping program timer recording
The program timer recording that was set last is recorded. None of the program that was set earlier is recorded even if there is only partial overlapping. Program timer recordings that are not recorded are highlighted in grey. Time Not recorded

Sat Sat Sat Sat 4/3

1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm
Once NWBG Dodzilla Once Bull house Weekly Be switched Weekly Baseball Once

R R RW RW R

Programs set earlier

Not recorded

Program set last
Press [3, 4] to select the program.
Channel or program name (a program name that was set for timer recording using TV Guide On ScreenTM system or VCR Plusi system that was listed in the program list)

Recorded

Sat 1:00pm

Selecting the TV Guide On ScreenTM system start up pattern
Press [3] several times to select LISTINGS. Press [2, 1] to select SETUP and press [4]. Press [3, 4] to select Review options and press [ENTER]. Press [3, 4] to select the option and press [ENTER]. On: Turns on auto start up. Off: Turns off auto start up.

Reading messages

You may receive messages regarding new TV Guide On ScreenTM system functions or special promotions. When there are unread messages, an envelope-shaped icon appears at the upper left of the screen. 1 Press [3] several times to select LISTINGS. 2 Press [2, 1] to select MESSAGES and press [4]. 3 Press [3, 4] to select the message and press [Info]. To delete unwanted messages press the Green button. Messages are automatically deleted after 60 days. The ID number appears at the end of the list.
Viewing TV Guide On ScreenTM system explanations and promotions
1 Press [3] several times to select LISTINGS. 2 Press [2, 1] to select PROMOTIONS and press [4]. 3 Press [3, 4] to select and press [Info].

7303en.book 24

Playing recorded video contents/Playing play-only discs

DRIVE SELECT /x1.3

[RAM] [DVD-R] Play starts from the most recently recorded title. [DVD-A] [DVD-V] [VCD] [CD] Play starts from the beginning of the disc.

TIME SLIP WX CH 45

Selecting recorded programs (titles) to play Direct Navigator
1 Press [DIRECT NAVIGATOR].

DIRECT NAVIGATOR DVD-RAM

Title View

VIDEO PICTURE

W X CH AUDIO CM SKIP 65

10 10/27 Mon --

8 10/27 Mon ---
:9 ; DIRECT NAVIGATOR TOP MENU

3421 ENTER 2; ;1

Previous

02/02 Select

2 Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select VIDEO tab and press [ENTER].

10 10/27 Mon 8 10/27 Mon

3 Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select the title and press [ENTER].
You can also select titles with the numbered buttons. e.g., 5: [0] [5] 15: [1] [5] To show other pages Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select Previous or Next and press [ENTER]. You can also press [:, 9] to show other pages. To exit the screen Press [DIRECT NAVIGATOR]. Direct Navigator screen icons Title protected. Title that was not recorded due to recording protection (Digital broadcasts, etc.)

No. 0 9

You cannot select groups that contain no compatible files.

TOP MENU

3421 ENTER RETURN
Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select a group and press [ENTER].
The file list for the group appears.
To return to the file list Press [RETURN]. Tips for making MP3 discs Discs must conform to ISO9660 level 1 or 2 (except for extended formats). Compatible compression rate: between 32 kbps and 320 kbps Compatible sampling rate: 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 24 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz Maximum number of tracks and groups recognizable: 999 tracks and 99 groups This unit is compatible with multi-session. This unit is not compatible with ID3 tags or packet writing. Depending on recording, some items may not be playable. Reading or play of the disc may take time if there are a lot of still pictures or sessions. The display order may differ from how the order is displayed on a computer. Naming folders and files MP3 files must have the extension.MP3 or.mp3. At the time of recording, give folder and file names a 3-digit numeric prefix in the order you want them to play (this may not work at times). English alphabets and Arabic numerals are displayed correctly. Other characters may not be displayed correctly. e.g., Root
[CD] (MP3 discs only) This unit plays MP3 files recorded on CD-R/RW designed for audio recording that are finalized ( page 48) on a computer. Files are treated as tracks and folders are treated as groups. Preparation Press [DVD] to select the DVD drive.

Press [TOP MENU].

Selected group

MENU G 1 T 1 TOTAL 1/111

No. GROUP 1 : My favorite TOTAL TRACK TREE 001 Both Ends Freezing Lady Starfish Life on Jupiter Metal Glue Paint It Yellow Pyjamamama Shrimps from Mars Starperson Velvet Cuppermine Ziggy Starfish 10
G: Group No. T: Track No. in the group TOTAL: Track No./Total tracks in all groups
001 (folder=group) 001track.mp3 (file=track) 002track.mp3 003track.mpgroup

003 group

001track.mp3 002track.mp3 003track.mp3 004track.mp3
001track.mp3 002track.mp3 003track.mp3

Order of play

Press [3, 4] to select the track and press [ENTER].
Play continues to the last track in the last group. 0 indicates the track currently playing. You can also select the track with the numbered buttons. e.g., 5: [0] [0] [5] 15: [0] [1] [5]
To show other pages Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select Prev. or Next and press [ENTER]. After listing all the tracks in one group, the list for the next group appears. To exit the screen Press [TOP MENU].

Status messages

Status messages appear on the television during operation to show the condition of the unit.

Press [STATUS].

The display changes each time you press the button. Displayed information are examples.

DVD-RAM REC PLAY LR

Selected drive/type of disc Recording or play status/input channel Audio type
Title number and elapsed time during recording/Recording mode Available recording time/ Recording mode Date and time
Remain 6/8 10:15 PM T2 0:05.14 XP T1 0:00.10 SP 0:50 XP
Play position within the title Title number and elapsed time during play/ Recording mode No display
MPEG-DNR (When any item other than User is selected) You can turn the recommended settings for 3D NR and Integrated DNR on and off. Progressive ( page 48) Select ON to enable progressive output. Select OFF if the picture is stretched horizontally. When progressive output is on, closed captions cannot be displayed. Transfer [When Progressive ( above) is set to ON.] Select the method of conversion for progressive output to suit the type of material being played ( page 48, Film and video). Auto1 (normal): Detects 24 frame-per-second film content and appropriately converts it. Auto2: Compatible with 30 frame-per-second film content in addition to 24 frame-per-second film content. (Picture distortion may occur depending on the content) Video: Select when using Auto1 and Auto2, and the video content is distorted.
Only when you have selected 480P in TV Type ( page 12).

7303en.book 32

Editing titles/chapters
Editing titles/chapters and playing chapters
Preparation Press [DVD] to select the DVD drive. Release protection ( page 40). [RAM]
Press [DIRECT NAVIGATOR]. Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select VIDEO tab and press [ENTER]. Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select the title.

Title View screen

10 10/27 Mon -8 10/27 Mon ---
To show other pages Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select Previous or Next and press [ENTER]. You can also press [:, 9] to show other pages. Multiple editing Select with [3, 4, 2, 1] and press [;]. (Repeat.) A check mark appears. Press [;] again to cancel.

You can change the image to be shown as the thumbnail picture in the Title View.

Start - -:- -.- -

End - -:- -.- -
DIRECT NAVIGATOR Change Thumbnail VIDEO PICTURE DVD-RAM 08 Change

Change Thumbnail

1 Press [1] (PLAY) to start play. 2 Press [ENTER] when the image you want to use as a thumbnail is shown. 3 Press [3, 4] to select Exit and press [ENTER].
You can divide a title into two.

Exit 0:01.05

Change 0:01.05
1 Press [ENTER] at the point you want to divide the title. 2 Press [3, 4] to select Exit and press [ENTER]. 3 Press [2, 1] to select Divide and press [ENTER].

Divide Title

PLAY Preview Divide Exit 0:43.21
To confirm the division point Press [3, 4] to select Preview and press [ENTER]. (The unit plays 10 seconds before and after the division point.) To change the division point Restart play and press [3, 4] to select Divide, then press [ENTER] at the point you want to change.

Divide -- : --. --

The divided titles retain the name and CPRM property ( page 48) of the original title. Video and audio just before and after the dividing point may momentarily cut out.
Multiple editing is possible.
Chapter operations Erase Chapter
1 Press [ENTER] at the point you want to divide.
Repeat this step to divide at other points.
DIRECT NAVIGATOR Divide Chapter VIDEO PICTURE DVD-RAM
008 PLAY Divide Exit 0:43.21

Divide Chapter

2 Press [3, 4] to select Exit and press [ENTER].

Combine Chapters

Press [2, 1] to select Combine and press [ENTER].
The selected chapter and next chapter are combined.
Multiple editing is possible. For quicker editing Use search, Time Slip or slow-motion ( page 25) to find the desired point. Press [:, 9] to skip to the end of a title.
Set up Protection Cancel Protection

Title V

Press [2, 1] to select Yes and press [ENTER].

7303en.book 34

Creating, editing and playing play lists
TV POWER CH VOLUME INPUT SELECT TV/VIDEO
Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select PLAY LIST and press [ENTER].

PLAY LIST DVD-RAM

Play List View

Create

Press [3, 4, 2, 1] to select Create and press [ENTER]. Press [2, 1] to select the source title and press [4].

[DVD-R] Title Disc [SD] [PC] Folder of still pictures

Characters Characters 36

Press [] (SET).
Returns to the previously displayed screen.
To end partway Press [RETURN]. Text is not saved. [DVD-R] For your reference If you enter a long name, only part of it is shown in the TOP MENU after finalization ( page 41). When entering a title name, the name that will appear in the TOP MENU can be previewed in Display in DVD-R TOP MENU window.

Enter Name Chapter 1_

Display in DVD-R TOP MENU Chapter 1
If a name is long, parts of it may not be shown in some screens.

2 A 3 D 4 G 5

2 B E H

3 C F I

5 a d g

6 b e h

7 c f i

l % &

7303en.book 38
Transferring (dubbing) still pictures
INPUT SELECT TV/VIDEO CH VOLUME
To register on a folder by folder basis
1 Press [3, 4] to select Picture/Folder and press [ENTER].

Dubbing

Cancel all Create a dubbing list. Picture Picture/Folder Space on destination: 4343MB Name No. Capacity New entry

INPUT SELECT

1 Dubbing direction

SD card > DVD

2 Mode

Picture High Speed

2 Press [3, 4] to select Folder and press [ENTER]. 3 Press [3, 4] to select New entry and press [ENTER]. 4 Press [3, 4] to select the folder and press [ENTER]. To select a multiple number of items together, press [;] to add the check mark and press [ENTER] ( below, Multiple editing). To show other pages ( below) To switch another higher folder ( below) To edit the transferring (dubbing) list ( below) Still pictures and folders cannot be registered on the same list.
Press [3, 4] to select SET and press [ENTER].
The transferring (dubbing) list is registered.

REC MODE

Press [3, 4] to select Start dubbing and press [ENTER].
For individual still pictures only When specifying another folder as the transferring (dubbing) destination, select Folder.

\JPEG\DCIM001

Transferring (dubbing) using the transferring (dubbing) list

Folder

Line-in NR Reduces video tape noise while transferring (dubbing). When noise reduction is on, 3-D Y/C Separation ( above) does not work regardless of the setting.
Automatic: Noise reduction only works on picture input from a video tape. On: Noise reduction works for any video input. Off: Noise reduction is off. Select when you want to record input as is.
Black Level Control Select normal, lighter or darker for adjusting the black level control to the desired setting for picture enhancement. Input Level Adjusts the black level of the input signal. Output Level (Composite/S Video) Adjusts the black level of the output signal from the VIDEO OUT and S-VIDEO OUT terminal. Output Level (Component) Adjusts the black level of the output signal from the COMPONENT VIDEO OUT (Y/PB/PR) terminals. Lighter Lighter Darker Darker

Lighter

Normal

Darker

Search Audio & PLAY k1.3 You may hear sound regardless of this setting with some discs. D. Range Compression [DVD-V] (Dolby Digital only) Change the dynamic range for late night viewing. Select MTS Select the audio recording type, main or secondary (SAP) audio when: Recording to a DVD-R. Recording sound in LPCM. ( page 44, Audio for XP Recording)

On: Off: On

Audio is heard during first level search forward. Audio is not heard during search. Quick View ( page 25) does not work. Off
SAP Main You cannot select this when recording from an external source onto DVD-R. Select audio on the other equipment.

Continued on next page

Still Mode Select the type of picture shown when you pause play ( page 48, Frames and fields).

7303en.book 44

Tabs Audio
Digital Audio Output Change the settings when you have connected equipment through this units DIGITAL AUDIO OUT terminal ( page 9). Press [ENTER] to show the following settings. PCM Down Conversion Select how to output audio with a sampling frequency of 96 kHz or 88.2 kHz. Signals are converted to 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz. (Choose when the connected equipment cannot process signals with sampling frequency of 96 kHz or 88.2 kHz.) Signals are output as 96 kHz or 88.2 kHz. (Choose Off: when the connected equipment can process signals with sampling frequency of 96 kHz or 88.2 kHz.) Signals are converted to 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz despite the above settings if the signals have a sampling frequency of over 96 kHz or 88.2 kHz, or the disc has copy protection. Bitstream: When connecting to equipment displaying the Dolby Digital logo. PCM: When connecting to equipment not displaying the Dolby Digital logo. Bitstream: When connecting to equipment displaying the DTS logo. When connecting to equipment not displaying the PCM: DTS logo. On:

This is a non-recordable disc. This disc is not formatted properly.

On the units display

CHK REMOTE ( stands for a number.) The remote control and main unit are using different codes. Change the code on the remote control. Press and hold [ENTER] and the indicated number button at the same time for more than 2 seconds. If there is no change after turning the unit on and off, consult the dealer where the unit was purchased. The disc is dirty or badly scratched. The unit cannot record, play, or edit. You have used a DVD-RAM/PD lens cleaner and it has finished. Press [< OPEN/CLOSE] on the main unit to eject the disc. Displayed when the unit is started. This is not a malfunction. There was a power failure or the AC plug was disconnected while the unit was on. The unit is carrying out its recovery process. Wait until the message disappears. You have inserted a disc the unit cannot play or record on. The unit is hot. The unit switches to standby for safety reasons. Wait for about 30 minutes until the message disappears. Select a position with good ventilation when installing the unit. Do not block the cooling fan on the rear of the unit. The unit fails to operate properly. Press [POWER /I] on the main unit to switch the unit to standby. Now press [POWER /I] on the main unit again to turn the unit on. 13

HARD ERR NO READ

54 14
PLEASE WAIT SELF CHECK UNSUPPORT U14

Language code list

Abkhazian: 6566 Afar: 6565 Afrikaans: 6570 Albanian: 8381 Ameharic: 6577 Arabic: 6582 Armenian: 7289 Assamese: 6583 Aymara: 6588 Azerbaijani: 6590 Bashkir: 6665 Basque: 6985 Bengali; Bangla: 6678 Bhutani: 6890 Bihari: 6672 Breton: 6682 Bulgarian: 6671 Burmese: 7789 Byelorussian: 6669 Cambodian: 7577
Enter the code with the numbered buttons. 7178 Gujarati: 7185 Hausa: 7265 Hebrew: 7387 Hindi: 7273 Hungarian: 7285 Icelandic: 7383 Indonesian: 7378 Interlingua: 7365 Irish: 7165 Italian: 7384 Japanese: 7465 Javanese: 7487 Kannada: 7578 Kashmiri: 7583 Kazakh: 7575 Kirghiz: 7589 Korean: 7579 Kurdish: 7585 Laotian: 7679 Latin: 7665 Latvian, Lettish:7686 Lingala: 7678 Lithuanian: 7684 Macedonian: 7775 Malagasy: 7771 Malay: 7783 Malayalam: 7776 Maltese: 7784 Maori: 7773 Marathi: 7782 Moldavian: 7779 Mongolian: 7778 Nauru: 7865 Nepali: 7869 Norwegian: 7879 Oriya: 7982 Pashto, Pushto:8083 Persian: 7065 Polish: 8076 Portuguese: 8084 Punjabi: 8065 Quechua: 8185 Rhaeto-Romance: 8277 Romanian: 8279 Russian: 8285 Samoan: 8377 Sanskrit: 8365 Scots Gaelic: 7168 Serbian: 8382 Serbo-Croatian:8372 Shona: 8378 Sindhi: 8368 Singhalese: 8373 Slovak: 8375 Slovenian: 8376 Somali: 8379 Spanish: 6983 Sundanese: 8385 Swahili: 8387 Swedish: 8386 Tagalog: 8476 Tajik: 8471 Tamil: Tatar: Telugu: Thai: Tibetan: Tigrinya: Tonga: Turkish: Turkmen: Twi: Ukrainian: Urdu: Uzbek: Vietnamese: Volapk: Welsh: Wolof: Xhosa: Yiddish: Yoruba: Zulu: 9085

Product information

For product information or assistance with product operation: Refer to Customer Services Directory on page 55.
Maintenance/Disc and card handling

Unit care

The precision parts in this unit are readily affected by the environment, especially temperature, humidity, and dust. Cigarette smoke also can cause malfunction or breakdown. To clean this unit, wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Never use alcohol, paint thinner or benzine to clean this unit. Before using chemically treated cloth, read the instructions that came with the cloth carefully. Observe the following points to ensure continued listening and viewing pleasure. Dust and dirt may adhere to the units lens over time, making it impossible to record or play discs. Use the DVD-RAM/PD lens cleaner (LF-K123LCA1, where available) about once every year, depending on frequency of use and the operating environment. Read the lens cleaners instructions carefully before use.
If there is dirt or condensation on the disc
[RAM] [DVD-R] Clean with an optional DVD-RAM/PD disc cleaner (LF-K200DCA1, where available). Do not use cleaners for CDs or cloths. [DVD-A] [DVD-V] [VCD] [CD] Wipe with a damp cloth and then wipe dry.

Handling precautions

Do not attach labels or stickers to discs. (This may cause disc warping and un-balanced rotation, rendering it unusable.) Do not write on the label side with a ball-point pen or other writing instrument. Do not use record cleaning sprays, benzine, thinner, static electricity prevention liquids or any other solvent. Do not use scratch-proof protectors or covers. Do not expose the terminals of the card to water, garbage or other strange things. Do not use the following discs: Discs with exposed adhesive from removed stickers or labels (rented discs, etc). Discs that are badly warped or cracked. Irregularly shaped discs, such as heart shapes. Do not place in the following areas: In direct sunlight. In very dusty or humid areas. Near a heater. Where static electricity or electromagnetic waves occur.

Disc and card handling

How to hold a disc or card
Do not touch the recorded surface or the terminal surface.

Change Thumbnail. 33 Channel adjusting, hiding. 23 audio. 30 Auto Channel Setting. 45 captions. 46 Chapter. 26, 32 Chasing playback. 18 Cleaning disc. 54 lens. 54 main unit. 54 Clock setting. 11, 45 CM Skip. 25 Connection amplifier, system component. 9 antenna. 7, 8, 9 cable TV box. 8 IR Blaster. 8 L2 input terminals. 39 television. 7 video cassette recorder. 7, 39 Copy (play list). 35 CPRM. 48 Create play lists. 34 Dialog Enhancer. 31 Direct Navigator. 24, 29, 32, 36 Divide Chapter. 33 Divide Title. 33 DPOF. 36, 48 DVD-R (Enabling DVD-R to be played on other equipmentFinalize). 41 DVD-RAM, DVD-R. 14
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. DTS and DTS 2.0 i Digital Out are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc. Apparatus Claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 4,631,603, 4,577,216, and 4,819,098, licensed for limited viewing uses only. MPEG Layer-3 audio decoding technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson multimedia.
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited. SD logo is a trademark. Portions of this product are protected under copyright law and are provided under license by ARIS/SOLANA/4C.
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, Division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America
One Panasonic Way Secaucus, New Jersey 07094 http://www.panasonic.com C 2004 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Printed in Japan
Panasonic Sales Company, Division of Matsushita Electric of Puerto Rico, Inc. (PSC)
Ave. 65 de Infantera, Km. 9.5 San Gabriel Industrial Park, Carolina, Puerto Rico 00985

F0504HT0

038 EHC 20 panasonic DMR-e65

23/8/04

2:35 PM

Page 50

>>Reviews DVD recorder

Panasonic DMR-E65

NE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THINGS about Panasonics DIGA range is the way you can see clear upgrades in functionality between the units. The DMR-E65 DVD recorder on test here costs 100 more than the next model down, the DMR-E55, and offers a wealth of connection options not available on the cheaper model. The DMR-E65 also sits 100 below the DMRE75 VCR/DVD recorder combi, which in turn is 100 cheaper than the DMR-E85 HDD/DVD recorder. Its like a technological version of a set of nesting dolls clear delineations in function and price making the consumers decision an easy one. The 400 DMR-E65 is a DVD recorder, offering
The Panasonic DMR-E65 is compatible with DV camcorders and digital still cameras. David Smith likes what he sees
What we like about this recorder Connectivity DVD-RAM features Picture and sound quality What we dont like about this recorder Poor recordings in EP mode Lacks versatility of DVD/HDD combi No playback zoom
the usual functionality we have come to expect from the DVD-RAM/DVD-R formats. Where it differs from many decks is the range of inputs available. As well as the vital RGB Scart input (for hooking up a digibox) and both S-video and composite video support, this model has a DV input for connecting a camcorder. It also boasts a pair of memory card slots that can handle SD Memory Cards, MultiMediaCards, Compact Flash, SmartMedia, MemoryStick, xDPicture cards, Microdrives and ATA Flash PC cards. The obvious thing to point out here is that if you do not have a need for these connections, you should be looking elsewhere and saving some money. On the output side this deck is well specified. There are component video outputs for PAL and NTSC progressive scan signals, and theres a second RGB-capable Scart for connecting to your monitor. There is optical digital audio support, as well as stereo outputs. The look of the deck is not spoiled by the card slots on the fascia, while the front AV inputs (including the DV socket) are hidden behind a flap. You can choose from five recording modes, whether
using DVD-RAM or DVD-R discs. XP stores one hour of high-quality programming, while SP is good for two hours, LP four and EP either six or eight, depending on how you set it up. Panasonic also offers a flexible recording mode, which is ideal for when you want to fit, say, a 45-minute recording into 30 minutes of disc space. The DMR-E65 can record at a setting between XP and SP to fit the programming into the space at the best possible picture quality. Obviously the more programming you cram onto a disc, the lower the picture quality will be. This is a trade-off that you will have to get used to if you do a lot of timeshifting, fitting several programmes onto a single disc. Recording scan be set manually, or using the VideoPlus system with PDC. There is also the usual one-touch record function. When using a DVD-RAM disc you get a couple of nifty features, called Chasing Playback and Time Slip. Chasing Playback means that you can watch the beginning of a recording even while the remainder of the programme is being recorded. Time Slip gives you an instant replay of the previous 30 seconds of a recording, while the image currently being recorded is displayed in the corner of the screen.
ESSENTIAL HI-FI & HOME CINEMA

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Key Features Plays DVD-RAM/DVD/DVD-R/ DVD-RW (Video mode only)/ DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD-A (2-channel only)/CD/VCD/ CD-RW/MP3/JPEG DVD-RAM/DVD-R recording PAL/NTSC progressive scan Digital video input SD/PC card slots 5 recording modes Time Slip and Chasing Playback Slow motion VideoPlus with PDC Connections Front DV input S-video input Composite video input Stereo audio input SD card slot PC card slot Rear 2 x Scart (RGB capable) Component video output S-video input and output Composite video input and output Optical digital audio output Stereo audio input and output RF aerial in/out Dimensions 430(w) x 79(h) x 274(d)mm

You can transfer digital images to DVD using the SD and PC card slots Analogue AV in/out Dual Scart RF aerial in/out
Optical Digital Audio out

Component video out

Recorded programmes are accessed via Panasonics elegant Direct Navigator system, which displays moving thumbnails of each title, allowing you to select the one you want to watch. Editing functions are the preserve of DVD-Ram discs. You can partially erase a disc to recover disc space, divide a title and create/combine/erase chapters. With both DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs you can enter a name for the disc, change thumbnails and erase content, although on R discs the erased space is not recovered for re-recording. The results are impressive. Recordings in XP mode are pretty well indistinguishable from the original source. Fed an RGB signal from a digibox the DMRE65 captures an astonishing amount of detail. The image is razor sharp, with no hint of artifacts or digital noise. Colours remain naturally vibrant, while skin tones look realistic. Tricky onscreen text is crystal clear and pans smoothly across the screen. Switching to SP mode, there is a drop in quality, but the image is still very good indeed. It is a quantum leap above VHS pictures, with tightly
defined colours and pin-sharp text, although there are traces of artifacts on fast-moving material. LP mode sees things deteriorate roughly to the level of VHS, with a lot more smearing, rather messy colour rendition and a loss of realistic skin tones. The EP mode is really only good for emergencies, when you have to make a lot of recordings while on holiday, for example. The nasty strobe effect

Verdict

Sales Web www.panasonic.co.uk
Fed an RGB signal from a digibox, the E65 captures an astonishing amount of detail
intrudes, with panned text jerking across the screen and small letters becoming indistinct. XP and SP modes are therefore the options for archiving, with the lower-quality settings reserved for non-critical timeshifting. Regular DVD playback and audio performance are also out of the top drawer, making this deck an unqualified success. If you want that enhanced connectivity, this is a deck to seriously consider. The beauty of Panasonics range is that if you dont need those card slots, the DMR-E55 is awaiting an audition.
EASE OF USE LOOKS FEATURES PICTURE SOUND VALUE
VERDICT A versatile recorder that will appeal to users who want exhaustive connectivity

Overall

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