Problem dubbing with Panasonic DMR-ES40V

I have tried to dub from VHS to DVD using a T-120 VHS tape and a 2 hr,
4.7GB, DVD+R disc.
The machine says it is dubbing for tow hours and then shuts off. I am
then supposed to finalize the DVD to make it playable in other DVD
players.
The most transfer I actually get onto a DVD (I've tried 5 different
times) is about 1 hour of transfer to the DVD !!!
I have even tried playing the DVD on the machine on which it is
created prior to finalizing. Still only 1 hour's worth!!
What am I doing wrong? According to the manual I should be able to
use a DVD+R to do this dubbing in EP mode (6 hours).
Also, when finalizing, it gives me two options for " Playback will
start with"...Top Menu and First Title.
How are these created from a VHS tape on the DVD?????
I really hope you techies can help me...I have 24 VHS tapes to
transfer to DVD's !!!!!!!!!
TIA
Jim

On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:09:54 GMT, Jim <jfk666@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>I have tried to dub from VHS to DVD using a T-120 VHS tape and a 2 hr,
>4.7GB, DVD+R disc.
>The machine says it is dubbing for tow hours and then shuts off. I am
>then supposed to finalize the DVD to make it playable in other DVD
>players.
>The most transfer I actually get onto a DVD (I've tried 5 different
>times) is about 1 hour of transfer to the DVD !!!

**Going by an old Panasonic recorder that I have, did you hit the Rec
Mode button on the remote to change the recording time of the DVD side
to SP? Hit the DVD button and then Rec Mode? If you're recording in
XP, it's only going to record an hour and that's it. On my remote,
this button is on the second row from the bottom next to the Rec
button with a red dot.

>I have even tried playing the DVD on the machine on which it is
>created prior to finalizing. Still only 1 hour's worth!!
>What am I doing wrong? According to the manual I should be able to
>use a DVD+R to do this dubbing in EP mode (6 hours).
>Also, when finalizing, it gives me two options for " Playback will
>start with"...Top Menu and First Title.
>How are these created from a VHS tape on the DVD?????

**Still going by my older Panasonic, the DVD recorder will
automatically create a menu for any DVD that you make. When it asks
you about the playback option, it means that you have a choice of
this: When you put the finalized DVD into a player, it will either
show the Top Menu (which contains a thumbnail from every separate
program in a menu format) and then you choose what you want to watch
or you can choose First Title and when you put the DVD into the
player, it will automatically begin playing the first title and skip
the menu.

hope this helps a little

kaboomie

"kaboom" <kaboomicus@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:475234b1.39414578@news.snet.sbcglobal.net...
> On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:09:54 GMT, Jim <jfk666@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>>I have tried to dub from VHS to DVD using a T-120 VHS tape and a 2 hr,
>>4.7GB, DVD+R disc.
>>The machine says it is dubbing for tow hours and then shuts off. I am
>>then supposed to finalize the DVD to make it playable in other DVD
>>players.
>>The most transfer I actually get onto a DVD (I've tried 5 different
>>times) is about 1 hour of transfer to the DVD !!!
>
> **Going by an old Panasonic recorder that I have, did you hit the Rec
> Mode button on the remote to change the recording time of the DVD side
> to SP? Hit the DVD button and then Rec Mode? If you're recording in
> XP, it's only going to record an hour and that's it. On my remote,
> this button is on the second row from the bottom next to the Rec
> button with a red dot.
>
>>I have even tried playing the DVD on the machine on which it is
>>created prior to finalizing. Still only 1 hour's worth!!
>>What am I doing wrong? According to the manual I should be able to
>>use a DVD+R to do this dubbing in EP mode (6 hours).
>>Also, when finalizing, it gives me two options for " Playback will
>>start with"...Top Menu and First Title.
>>How are these created from a VHS tape on the DVD?????
>
> **Still going by my older Panasonic, the DVD recorder will
> automatically create a menu for any DVD that you make. When it asks
> you about the playback option, it means that you have a choice of
> this: When you put the finalized DVD into a player, it will either
> show the Top Menu (which contains a thumbnail from every separate
> program in a menu format) and then you choose what you want to watch
> or you can choose First Title and when you put the DVD into the
> player, it will automatically begin playing the first title and skip
> the menu.
>
> hope this helps a little
>
> kaboomie



Are you accidentally using the 'one touch record' function.

you could try reading the instruction book as you do the setting up to get
it right.

On the newer machines, mine included, there is a REC MODE button the
remote to set the recording mode and mine is set at LP which is 4
hours.

I am using the on-touch button which is supposed to be the thing to do
according to the manual. You hold it for three seconds and then the
dubbing starts.
How would that affect it? I will try a different way, if I can find
one, today!!


On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 07:55:15 GMT, "Gary"
<Garyspam@spamasmailorder.com> wrote:

>"kaboom" <kaboomicus@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:475234b1.39414578@news.snet.sbcglobal.net. ..
>> On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:09:54 GMT, Jim <jfk666@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>>>I have tried to dub from VHS to DVD using a T-120 VHS tape and a 2 hr,
>>>4.7GB, DVD+R disc.
>>>The machine says it is dubbing for tow hours and then shuts off. I am
>>>then supposed to finalize the DVD to make it playable in other DVD
>>>players.
>>>The most transfer I actually get onto a DVD (I've tried 5 different
>>>times) is about 1 hour of transfer to the DVD !!!
>>
>> **Going by an old Panasonic recorder that I have, did you hit the Rec
>> Mode button on the remote to change the recording time of the DVD side
>> to SP? Hit the DVD button and then Rec Mode? If you're recording in
>> XP, it's only going to record an hour and that's it. On my remote,
>> this button is on the second row from the bottom next to the Rec
>> button with a red dot.
>>
>>>I have even tried playing the DVD on the machine on which it is
>>>created prior to finalizing. Still only 1 hour's worth!!
>>>What am I doing wrong? According to the manual I should be able to
>>>use a DVD+R to do this dubbing in EP mode (6 hours).
>>>Also, when finalizing, it gives me two options for " Playback will
>>>start with"...Top Menu and First Title.
>>>How are these created from a VHS tape on the DVD?????
>>
>> **Still going by my older Panasonic, the DVD recorder will
>> automatically create a menu for any DVD that you make. When it asks
>> you about the playback option, it means that you have a choice of
>> this: When you put the finalized DVD into a player, it will either
>> show the Top Menu (which contains a thumbnail from every separate
>> program in a menu format) and then you choose what you want to watch
>> or you can choose First Title and when you put the DVD into the
>> player, it will automatically begin playing the first title and skip
>> the menu.
>>
>> hope this helps a little
>>
>> kaboomie
>
>
>
>Are you accidentally using the 'one touch record' function.
>
>you could try reading the instruction book as you do the setting up to get
>it right.
>
>

On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 07:17:04 -0800, Jim <jfk666@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>I am using the on-touch button which is supposed to be the thing to do
>according to the manual. You hold it for three seconds and then the
>dubbing starts.
>How would that affect it? I will try a different way, if I can find
>one, today!!

**Again, according to my older Panasonic, you press the one-touch
button for every 30 minutes of recording. Four presses gets you two
hours. It may very well be different with your model but I'm just
relaying what it says in my manual.

Your model has Flexible Recording, so why not experiment? Set the DVD
side to Flex Record for 2 hours. It will fill the whole DVD but it
will shut off after 2 hours. To be honest, when I'm grabbing stuff off
of VHS tapes, I try to use the highest bit rate because I want to
preserve the quality so I never go more than 2 hours if I can help it.


kaboomie

Well, I bought a new Sony dubber yesterday and it worked !!! I have
30 days to try to resurrect my Panasonic and I appreciate all the tips
form the responders here.
Nothing in my manual stated 30 minutes per push for one button dubbing
but I will certainly check again as well as the last suggestion to NOt
use on touch dubbing !!
Thanks to all !!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:21:15 -0800, Jim <jfk666@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>Well, I bought a new Sony dubber yesterday and it worked !!! I have
>30 days to try to resurrect my Panasonic and I appreciate all the tips
>form the responders here.
>Nothing in my manual stated 30 minutes per push for one button dubbing
>but I will certainly check again as well as the last suggestion to NOt
>use on touch dubbing !!
>Thanks to all !!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Excellent, Jim. Good luck with your transfers!

kaboomie