Pioneer 520H (HDD recording problem)

[ricfleming]

Hi - can anyone out there with a Pioneer DVD recorder (either the 420H,520H, or 720H) tell me if when recording to the HDD whether it should automatically insert chapters every 10 or 15 minutes (depending on what you've selected in the setup menus).

The chapter markers are automatically inserted when recording direct to a DVD-R or DVD-RW, but not the hard disk. I've read the manual front to back, but it doesn't specifically state whether it should auto insert chapter markers whilst recording to the hard disk.

I've logged a message on the Pioneer support site, but nothing back from them yet,

Many thanks for any advice.

[Mikey45]

Ric - my experience with my 720 is the same as yours - I was also disappointed that recording to disk does not create chapter marks as pre-supposed.

[phelings]

Chapter marks are not added on HDD recording.They are added when you copy to DVD.If you use real time copying they will be added every 5 or 10 minutes,but if you have recorded at the correct quality level to enable high speed copy to disc,you can insert chapter points on the HDD recording where you want them and they will be retained on the dvd-but only in HSC

[satbunny]

Originally Posted by phelings

Chapter marks are not added on HDD recording.They are added when you copy to DVD.If you use real time copying they will be added every 5 or 10 minutes,but if you have recorded at the correct quality level to enable high speed copy to disc,you can insert chapter points on the HDD recording where you want them and they will be retained on the dvd-but only in HSC

HSC?
Which quality levels?

Thanks for your help..

[ktng]

Originally Posted by satbunny

HSC?
Which quality levels?

Thanks for your help..

HSC = high speed copy

What quality levels - You can insert manual chapters on all quality levels, but I think high speed copy is only available on the standard quality levels (Fine/SP/LP/EP).

[eddyad]

High speed Copy works at any rate, providing you don't change the rate from HDD to DVD.
If you record at standard SP this is MN21. If you had 140 minute recording this would still fit a DVD-R in SP mode, but at MN19. The HSC will not be available and custom chapters points are ignored. Fixed chapter points will be inserted accoring to initial settings - page 107.

The table on page 118 of the manual shows all the modes/times.

[ktng]

Originally Posted by eddyad

High speed Copy works at any rate, providing you don't change the rate from HDD to DVD.
If you record at standard SP this is MN21. If you had 140 minute recording this would still fit a DVD-R in SP mode, but at MN19. The HSC will not be available and custom chapters points are ignored. Fixed chapter points will be inserted accoring to initial settings - page 107.

The table on page 118 of the manual shows all the modes/times.

Well that's what I had hoped, but I recorded a music documentary to HDD at MN18 (150 mins); by the time I had removed adverts the running time came in at 134 mins. Tried to copy that to both DVD-RW and DVD-R using the same quality and it said High Speed Copy was not available

So hence my original comment + the table on page 61 only gives details of the standard recording modes when discussing HSC.

[phelings]

You recorded it at MN18,so you would need to transfer it to DVD in MN18,even though the finished edit was shorter

[ktng]

Originally Posted by phelings

You recorded it at MN18,so you would need to transfer it to DVD in MN18,even though the finished edit was shorter

Yes I did transfer at MN18, but the only way I could use HSC was on DVD-RW in VR mode; DVD-RW in Video mode and DVD-R both said that HSC was not available

[eddyad]

Originally Posted by ktng

Yes I did transfer at MN18, but the only way I could use HSC was on DVD-RW in VR mode; DVD-RW in Video mode and DVD-R both said that HSC was not available

Some time ago I did a number of tests for HSC. Have a look at Pioneer x20 High Speed Copy rules
- it may help.

[ktng]

Originally Posted by eddyad

Some time ago I did a number of tests for HSC. Have a look at Pioneer x20 High Speed Copy rules
- it may help.

Thanks for the link eddyad. Looks like it was because it was a 16:9 recording with frame accurate on then. Looks like I would have been ok if I'd used MN19, but didn't think that the 3 hour documentary would get below the 140mins on removing the adverts. Oh well I will know for the future

[eddyad]

Originally Posted by ktng

Thanks for the link eddyad. Looks like it was because it was a 16:9 recording with frame accurate on then. Looks like I would have been ok if I'd used MN19, but didn't think that the 3 hour documentary would get below the 140mins on removing the adverts. Oh well I will know for the future

You can 'convert' your recording to SP like this (bit tedious):

1. In Initial Setup, Recording: set Manual Recording to On, Frame Accurate: On
2. HSC HDD > RVD-RW VR mode
3. Real time copy DVD > HDD specifying MN19 (this is possible because you set Manual in 1 above)
4. Edit, Insert chapter marks as you wish
5. HSC HDD > DVD-R (video mode)

Set Manual Recording Off if you want to avoid HDD recordings in other than the standard SP, LP etc modes by mistake.

[phelings]

I believe HSC is impossible completely with Frame Accurate switched on

[ktng]

Originally Posted by phelings

I believe HSC is impossible completely with Frame Accurate switched on

HSC definitely works in SP (preset rather than MN19-MN32) with Frame Accurate switched on, although the source material that I have used has either been all 4:3 or a mixture of 4:3 and 16:9.

[eddyad]

Originally Posted by ktng

HSC definitely works in SP (preset rather than MN19-MN32) with Frame Accurate switched on, although the source material that I have used has either been all 4:3 or a mixture of 4:3 and 16:9.

I had an LP HDD recording of a 30 min 16:9 TV program (Mastermind) and went through the procedure I described above. After step 3 the HDD copy showed as MN19. At step 4 I inserted three random chapter marks.
The copy to DVD-R video flagged up on the Conf List display as High Speed taking 3 mins and about 850MB of 4454 available on the blank DVD - about a fifth of MN19 - 140 mins capacity. I didn't complete the copy (waste of a DVD) but it worked as I suggested.