Sailor Tom
27-07-2004, 11:02
Had for 4 months, works per the Manual always, when using Panasonic RAM disks, and high quality (Sony, Panasonic, etc.) DVD-R media. It is inexpensive the way I use it. Mostly used as a Recorder, I've been using a cheap APEX as the Home Theater DVD player It gets 3-5X the usage of the E-50. Also use a JVC SVHS VCR in same system. It makes S-Video outputs from a VHS recording, a little plus.
Significant features of E-50 (for me) are:
1- Easy, reliable capture to very good MPEG2 (forget about PC solutions, have spent well over a $1000 and 5 years, still a hassle with a PC);
2- Time slip read while recording (go back in real time to review a Play), easily controlled by Remote,
3-VHS tape to DVD w/ built in TBC to fix those beat up tapes. ( unit recognizes Copy Protection, you have to solve it to back up those deteriorating old movies, it is a hassle, but, there are ways to make "Fair Use" back-up work for us consumers);
4-Variable record time within High Quality mode (ex. 2h15m)( Unit switches to a SVCD like resolution at extended record times, and automatically for poor quality incoming video within planned hi-quality capture. Still plays like standard DVD resolution. I noticed it when doing a still capture of a frame within Power DVD from a poor VHS source quality conversion to DVD movie);
5-Front Panel access for Camcorder, etc.. and Cuts Edit
I use mostly RAM disk recording, take it to a PC with Iomega- Multi-Format Super DVD-Writer($100 after rebate from BestBuy) to read the recorded RAM disk as a source DVD, by using ULead Movie Factory 3, with which I do cuts edit (commercials, poor recordings, junk), and burn a clean DVD-R,or+R on 80 cent discs. I erase the RAM disk and reuse as needed, supposed to be good for 100K rewrites. Started with 5 RAM disks, as MPEG2 intermediates. Works great. Satellite OTA recording of an occasional keeper quality movie / show, ends up with our Casablanca stuff. Easily recorded @hi-quality on 2 Ram Disks, a 3 hr movie w/commercials, removed the commercials, and linked the 2 edited captures, and burned a hi-quality single DVD+R disk using above method. Did RAM DVD Rescue of the tape of the final game of the Celtics-Houston NBA Championship that is now a dream DVD+R w/o commercials, to view and recall the greats of both teams. Slow step through a play is elegant now. Made “Fair Use” RAM disk copy of old VHS movie tapes , and using MovieFactory 3 recorded to single DVD+R. Also working on old tapes of Weddings, Astronomical Observatory video VHS tapes conversion to DVD. Plan to capture some of the Olympics this summer
Every time I use the E-50, I learn more that is useful.
It helps to read, and re-read the Manual. Too bad Panasonic does not propagate its capabilities with application details. The ability to Read RAM disk format, Cuts Edit and Convert to DVD+/-R standard format using Ulead Movie Factory 3, was discovered before E-50 purchase, through an on-line obscure Panasonic Press Release. Although advised of how well it works, Panasonic will not openly support the detail of how it works systematically with Ulead. Most folks do not understand how to make a RAM disk approach work, so they bypass a great product in the E-50, and its brothers. Go figure the Panasonic support ? I saw an E-60 sitting at Best Buy for 2 months at a very, very low price, because people could not see how to use RAM discs.
Also RAM disk availability seems poor, but, They are easily purchased from Panasonic with free shipping, at good prices, and deals are supported by Panasonic. Got 10 at a great buy, for less than COMPUSA DVD-/+R
Additionally, Power DVD5 (PC) Player easily plays RAM disks recorded movies, and makes single frame captures.
DVD-R burns are successful when the Pilot pays attention to what he is doing, uses good media and has properly interpreted the manual. Failures are always ****pit error. Since, I cannot chew gum and walk straight, I rather use RAM disk to record, it is very forgiving, and much cheaper.
Football season will be more enjoyable when I watch the game in time slip record mode. Play review when I wish will be fun , and I get to keep those games which are really great, like the last Super Bowl. It will be SVCD quality, at a 3-4 hour record setup, but, I'll have it, and it will cuts edit to less than a 2 hour single DVD+/-R.
Significant features of E-50 (for me) are:
1- Easy, reliable capture to very good MPEG2 (forget about PC solutions, have spent well over a $1000 and 5 years, still a hassle with a PC);
2- Time slip read while recording (go back in real time to review a Play), easily controlled by Remote,
3-VHS tape to DVD w/ built in TBC to fix those beat up tapes. ( unit recognizes Copy Protection, you have to solve it to back up those deteriorating old movies, it is a hassle, but, there are ways to make "Fair Use" back-up work for us consumers);
4-Variable record time within High Quality mode (ex. 2h15m)( Unit switches to a SVCD like resolution at extended record times, and automatically for poor quality incoming video within planned hi-quality capture. Still plays like standard DVD resolution. I noticed it when doing a still capture of a frame within Power DVD from a poor VHS source quality conversion to DVD movie);
5-Front Panel access for Camcorder, etc.. and Cuts Edit
I use mostly RAM disk recording, take it to a PC with Iomega- Multi-Format Super DVD-Writer($100 after rebate from BestBuy) to read the recorded RAM disk as a source DVD, by using ULead Movie Factory 3, with which I do cuts edit (commercials, poor recordings, junk), and burn a clean DVD-R,or+R on 80 cent discs. I erase the RAM disk and reuse as needed, supposed to be good for 100K rewrites. Started with 5 RAM disks, as MPEG2 intermediates. Works great. Satellite OTA recording of an occasional keeper quality movie / show, ends up with our Casablanca stuff. Easily recorded @hi-quality on 2 Ram Disks, a 3 hr movie w/commercials, removed the commercials, and linked the 2 edited captures, and burned a hi-quality single DVD+R disk using above method. Did RAM DVD Rescue of the tape of the final game of the Celtics-Houston NBA Championship that is now a dream DVD+R w/o commercials, to view and recall the greats of both teams. Slow step through a play is elegant now. Made “Fair Use” RAM disk copy of old VHS movie tapes , and using MovieFactory 3 recorded to single DVD+R. Also working on old tapes of Weddings, Astronomical Observatory video VHS tapes conversion to DVD. Plan to capture some of the Olympics this summer
Every time I use the E-50, I learn more that is useful.
It helps to read, and re-read the Manual. Too bad Panasonic does not propagate its capabilities with application details. The ability to Read RAM disk format, Cuts Edit and Convert to DVD+/-R standard format using Ulead Movie Factory 3, was discovered before E-50 purchase, through an on-line obscure Panasonic Press Release. Although advised of how well it works, Panasonic will not openly support the detail of how it works systematically with Ulead. Most folks do not understand how to make a RAM disk approach work, so they bypass a great product in the E-50, and its brothers. Go figure the Panasonic support ? I saw an E-60 sitting at Best Buy for 2 months at a very, very low price, because people could not see how to use RAM discs.
Also RAM disk availability seems poor, but, They are easily purchased from Panasonic with free shipping, at good prices, and deals are supported by Panasonic. Got 10 at a great buy, for less than COMPUSA DVD-/+R
Additionally, Power DVD5 (PC) Player easily plays RAM disks recorded movies, and makes single frame captures.
DVD-R burns are successful when the Pilot pays attention to what he is doing, uses good media and has properly interpreted the manual. Failures are always ****pit error. Since, I cannot chew gum and walk straight, I rather use RAM disk to record, it is very forgiving, and much cheaper.
Football season will be more enjoyable when I watch the game in time slip record mode. Play review when I wish will be fun , and I get to keep those games which are really great, like the last Super Bowl. It will be SVCD quality, at a 3-4 hour record setup, but, I'll have it, and it will cuts edit to less than a 2 hour single DVD+/-R.