Panasonic DMR-E80HS DVD Recorder w/Hard Drive - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Enron · 10-10-2003, 02:23 PM

I am thinking about investing in a DVD recorder and from my cursory research, Panasonic's DMR-E80HS seems on the surface to fit what I am looking for. I want a DVD recorder that will allow me to record a show on a hard drive, do some light editing (i.e. removing the commercials from recorded shows) and then burn that edited content on a dvd in DVD-R format complete with chapter breaks and all. Will this model allow me to do this? How complicated/easy is it to do? How reliable is this machine?

I am curious if anyone on the forum can tell me more about this model or any other model that may fit my needs. Most of the sales reps at electronic stores around me are not very well informed about DVD recorders and I could use some help. Thanks.

ttppll · 10-10-2003, 03:16 PM

I recently bought one of these. I like it a lot. You can edit out the commercials and then put it on disc. I'm not sure about chapter breaks; I haven't tried it. You may want to try Panasonic's web site and download the manual and see if it is possible. Editing out the commercials is pretty easy to do once yet get the hang of the interface. Another good feature is that you can watch something previously recorded on the hard drive or a DVD while something else is being recorded. The only thing I can find that I don't like about it is that it doesn't play DVD+R's. I can work around that though.

Enron · 10-10-2003, 07:12 PM

Thanks for the info, ttppll. I went to the panasonic site and got tons of information on the player but no manual. On the description of features one footnote caught my eye:

"*Recording from the hard disk to a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc cannot be done with images for which only single-generation recording is allowed. When recording these images to a DVD-RAM disc, the original image on the hard disk is erased."

I am confused as to what this means. Does it mean that if you record on to the hard drive, a broadcast program from ESPN or HBO or NBC or pay-per-view or wherever, that any attempt to burn it on to a disk will be unsuccessful and erase the program on the hard drive as well? Or does it mean that once it is done copying it to a disc from the hard drive it automatically erases the hard drive so you are only left with the disc?

So if I want to record an episode of the Simpsons to the hard drive and then edit out the commercials and burn it to a disc will I be left with the Simpsons on disc but no longer on the hard drive or no Simpsons at all?

What I am worried about is if I use the hard drive to record the show, will the show be "trapped" in there.

semig · 10-16-2003, 08:02 PM

I own the DMR-HS2...which appears to be almost identical to the E80HS (just did a comparison on panasonics site). I too am confused as to what the manual means. I can tell you that I've been able to record a ton of things from various media (laser, some dvd, most vhs, tv programs) onto my hard disk and then transfer to DVD-R and I still have both versions available for playback. I've never had anything 'trapped' in the hard disk, nor have I had the auto erase thing happen. Like I said, I too am confused with the what the manual is stating.

If the E80HS is anything like my HS2, you won't be disappointed. Very easy to use. About the only negative aspect is labeling the discs. Theres no keypad to type in the letters, you have to use the remote to move a cursor around the alphabet and hit enter on whatever letter/number you want. Very time consuming.

vashti1999 · 10-20-2003, 02:40 AM

Confused newbie here with a question. I just read that in order to record programming from digital cable to the hard drive of the E80H I'd need a decoder. Does that mean there's more equipment I'd have to purchase or is it just in the connections?

videoworx · 10-20-2003, 04:36 AM

The decoder they are talking about refers to the decoder your cable company should supply you with (the box that converts digital cable into analog so a regular TV can view the signal). Legally, they have to say this in case some idiot claims he can't record digital cable signals WITHOUT a decoder.

vashti1999 · 10-20-2003, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videoworx

The decoder they are talking about refers to the decoder your cable company should supply you with (the box that converts digital cable into analog so a regular TV can view the signal). Legally, they have to say this in case some idiot claims he can't record digital cable signals WITHOUT a decoder.

OK, I wasn't sure. I ordered the E80HS online in hopes of saving some tv faves to dvd and wanted to make sure the digital cable would come through with no problem. Thanks for the response.

ttppll · 10-20-2003, 04:42 PM

I haven't had any problems copying anything from the hard drive to a DVD-R.

10-10-2003, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Enron Actor Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Washington, DC	Panasonic DMR-E80HS DVD Recorder w/Hard Drive I am thinking about investing in a DVD recorder and from my cursory research, Panasonic's DMR-E80HS seems on the surface to fit what I am looking for. I want a DVD recorder that will allow me to record a show on a hard drive, do some light editing (i.e. removing the commercials from recorded shows) and then burn that edited content on a dvd in DVD-R format complete with chapter breaks and all. Will this model allow me to do this? How complicated/easy is it to do? How reliable is this machine? I am curious if anyone on the forum can tell me more about this model or any other model that may fit my needs. Most of the sales reps at electronic stores around me are not very well informed about DVD recorders and I could use some help. Thanks. __________________ You're gonna need a bigger boat.

10-10-2003, 07:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Enron Actor Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Washington, DC	Thanks for the info, ttppll. I went to the panasonic site and got tons of information on the player but no manual. On the description of features one footnote caught my eye: "*Recording from the hard disk to a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc cannot be done with images for which only single-generation recording is allowed. When recording these images to a DVD-RAM disc, the original image on the hard disk is erased." I am confused as to what this means. Does it mean that if you record on to the hard drive, a broadcast program from ESPN or HBO or NBC or pay-per-view or wherever, that any attempt to burn it on to a disk will be unsuccessful and erase the program on the hard drive as well? Or does it mean that once it is done copying it to a disc from the hard drive it automatically erases the hard drive so you are only left with the disc? So if I want to record an episode of the Simpsons to the hard drive and then edit out the commercials and burn it to a disc will I be left with the Simpsons on disc but no longer on the hard drive or no Simpsons at all? What I am worried about is if I use the hard drive to record the show, will the show be "trapped" in there. __________________ You're gonna need a bigger boat.

10-16-2003, 08:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
semig Supporting Actor Join Date: Jan 2002	Re: Panasonic DMR-E80HS DVD Recorder w/Hard Drive I own the DMR-HS2...which appears to be almost identical to the E80HS (just did a comparison on panasonics site). I too am confused as to what the manual means. I can tell you that I've been able to record a ton of things from various media (laser, some dvd, most vhs, tv programs) onto my hard disk and then transfer to DVD-R and I still have both versions available for playback. I've never had anything 'trapped' in the hard disk, nor have I had the auto erase thing happen. Like I said, I too am confused with the what the manual is stating. If the E80HS is anything like my HS2, you won't be disappointed. Very easy to use. About the only negative aspect is labeling the discs. Theres no keypad to type in the letters, you have to use the remote to move a cursor around the alphabet and hit enter on whatever letter/number you want. Very time consuming. __________________ The Reason My Wife Threatens Divorce

10-20-2003, 04:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
videoworx Would Make a Good Incubus Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere near Nebraska	The decoder they are talking about refers to the decoder your cable company should supply you with (the box that converts digital cable into analog so a regular TV can view the signal). Legally, they have to say this in case some idiot claims he can't record digital cable signals WITHOUT a decoder. __________________ And let’s not forget the fact that Tron turned the Frisbee into an instrument of righteous smiting.

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10-10-2003, 03:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
ttppll Supporting Actor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Springfield, MA	I recently bought one of these. I like it a lot. You can edit out the commercials and then put it on disc. I'm not sure about chapter breaks; I haven't tried it. You may want to try Panasonic's web site and download the manual and see if it is possible. Editing out the commercials is pretty easy to do once yet get the hang of the interface. Another good feature is that you can watch something previously recorded on the hard drive or a DVD while something else is being recorded. The only thing I can find that I don't like about it is that it doesn't play DVD+R's. I can work around that though.

10-20-2003, 02:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
vashti1999 Actor Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NYC	Confused newbie here with a question. I just read that in order to record programming from digital cable to the hard drive of the E80H I'd need a decoder. Does that mean there's more equipment I'd have to purchase or is it just in the connections?

10-20-2003, 04:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
ttppll Supporting Actor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Springfield, MA	I haven't had any problems copying anything from the hard drive to a DVD-R.