Page 1 of Recording formats

Hi,i`m interested in buying a dvd recorder,i`m going to record a few films from vhs onto dvd to send to relatives in the Usa,do i buy a dvd+r or dvd-r recorder are there any region code issues or any pal/ntsc issues? I would be grateful for any help that anyone can give,cheers,Chas.

Home DVD recorders don`t add any region codes to their own recordings, so that`s not an issue. The thing to worry about is: Can my relatives` DVD player play DVD+R or DVD-R discs, and can it play PAL ?
You should ask your relatives to tell you what make and model of DVD player they have. Then look up on www.videohelp.com
You can search the list of DVD players to find out whether theirs can play +R / -R discs, or convert PAL to NTSC.
In general, the big name brand US DVD players like Sony, Toshiba etc. cannot play PAL discs. The cheap no-name Walmart Made In China ones usually play anything. In the worst case they might have to buy one for $29 just to watch your discs.
If playing DVD on a computer, there is no problem about PAL / NTSC. Only problem is older DVD-ROM drives are sometimes fussy about playing recordable DVDs.
Try to find out if your relatives have ever tried playing DVDRs and which types worked, if any. Then you should have a clear idea.

This item was edited on Thursday, 26th May 2005, 02:22

There is no easy answer to this.

Most DVD players will play DVD+R and DVD-R but some will play just one of these formats and others will play neither!

I have a dual format DVD recorder (Sony GX300), which records both formats, and have found DVD+R to be the most compatible for me when playing back on my own and friends DVD players.

I would suggest getting a dual format DVD recorder, which will record to both DVD+R and DVD-R - that way you can create both types of disc and test them out.

I agree with Hamid that it is important that you check to see if the DVD players you will be playing these disc`s on have a preference to + or -.

Also remember to finalize any +R or -R (and also -RW Video) disc`s so they can be played on normal DVD Players.

If any problem arises, it will almost certainly be the PAL/NTSC issue as US players and tv sets tend not to be as cosmopolitan as European players. Send them a test disc first.

J Mark Oates

On a purely personal preference, my choice would be the +disc system over the -disc system.

I started with a Philips DVDR70 that used +disc recordings, both types, +r and +rw discs.
The Philips menus on the discs is a bit basic in looks, but quite adequate in that it gives a choice of thumbnail picture set by you, space for you to write a title, as well as showing the recording time and date. On both +r and +rw discs editing is fine, you can place as many chapter points wherever you like, you can mark sections (i.e. ad breaks) and delete them from playback up to around 99 times, more than enough I think for most people.

When my Philips became beyond repair 11 months in, I went for a Panasonic E65, a -disc system, as the replacement. They had a good reputation for reliability and I didn't want to be looking for a new machine again in 11 months or so.

Machine wise the Panasonic puts out a better RGB signal coming from the SKY box than the Philips did. Commercial DVDs played on it look just a bit better as well.

But the disc recordings are poorer compared to the Philips, especially when used in 3hr recording mode regardless of which disc type the Panasonic was using, be it RAM or -r disc (it does not record in -rw). For me the RAM disc is pointless, just an expensive rw disc that few other DVD players can take. I have used the Time slip function just once since having it. Also -r discs can not be edited, chapter points are add automatically when you finalize the disc. On the Philips you could choose to have them added automatically as you recorded, or not. But you could add and remove them as much as you wanted before the disc was finalized. Only the +r disc needs finalizing, +rw discs are compatible with DVD players from the start.

If the Philips recorders were reliable, I would swap back to one tomorrow, but for example, since having the E65 I have had not a single duff recording. By the same time with the Philips I had two duff recordings. I worked out why the machine did it, but that has not happened with the Panasonic. If you like, it's a Volvo, reliable, dull, but starts first time in the morning.

As I said it's a personal preference only and only regarding the Philips DVDR70 and the Panasonic E65.

+R can no more edit than -R can.
New Panasonic machines can offer 500 line resolution in 4 hour mode,more than many machines can do in 3 hour mode.
PGibbs seems to be writing from experience,but his post has inaccuracies.
While I would not quibble that Philips recordings look better than Panasonic,slightly,the new Panasonic models will outdo them.
We agree that Philips have a terrible record on reliability,but even if they didn`t they would be no match for a -RW machine.Admittedly previous Panasonic was limited by not also using -RW(corrected on their current range),but even on +RW you cannot edit anything out,only "hide" sections.Useful for one viewing,but the "hiding" on +R does not work on other players which ignore the markers(+RW does though).
However all this is moot for the OP.He has already been given the best advice.Send a test disc of both formats and see if one or both will work

Hello Phellings,

I see you have a new name and are a little bit more polite than before at the moment. However as usual you have not read the post properly. i.e.

As I said it's a personal preference only and only regarding the Philips DVDR70 and the Panasonic E65.

So it did not refer to later Panasonics or machines by other manufactures. Comprehend?



Cracking toast, Gomit!

I bought a dual format recorder, an LG DR4912 and also have an old Technics player built into my hi-fi. The Technics one is an old model underneath and so doesn`t play copied CDs and I didn`t think it would play recorded DVDs. I tried all the formats recorded on the LG and was suprised to find the DVD+R, when finalised, played without a hitch in the Technics. If these discs play on that then they`ll play on anything.