Recording on my DVD player

[smurfchops]

My Panasonic DVD player has the facility to record and re-record. I have been using DVD+RW discs but find that after a few times, they don't work properly, when I have deleted programmes and am trying to re-record, the facility doesn't always work, and when I try to play something back, I get a 'grating' sound as if the machine is trying to work - but can't ! So I fiddle about with buttons, then it says the disc is dirty or scratched when I know it isn't. Eventually it lets me open the eject casing so I can retrieve the disc - and then I usually throw it away. I am wondering if buying the DVD+RW discs are the correct ones to buy ? What are the DVD - RW ? Should I be using them instead? All I want to do is record, watch, delete and re-record. It seems to be fine on shop-bought films, though.

[carlton23]

I have the same Panasonic machine as yourself and get the same problems, but with DVD-RW. I asked the same question also and was informed that DVD`s don`t last as many times as they like you to think. So I now use only SKY+ to do my recording which is so much less bother. I only use CD`s on my recorder now for music and 5in1.

[redman41]

DVD-RW are for recording once
DVD+RW are for recording more than once

[Rollo]

I use DVD-RAM discs.

[smurfchops]

Rollo please tell me the difference between RAM discs and DVD+RW ... I am not technical so laymens terms please ! I don't have Sky + just Freeview on both TV and DVD.

[redman41]

http://www.dvdrecorde...n/dvd-ram-format.html

Have a look here about DVD-RAM

[redman41]

Something else I should have added was.....if you have a quality DVD Recorder like Panasonic then buy quality Discs (Panasonic) and not cheap stuff from the pound shop,

[smurfchops]

Must admit I bought Tesco last time (never Pound Shop !) but yesterday I bought Sony DVD +RW. If I find that RAM are better, I will exchange them.

[smurfchops]

Thanks for info on RAM but I am afraid it went a bit over my head. Can you just tell me, should I use +RW or does RAM do the same thing -- record, delete re-record ?? Thanks again - sorry I am a bit doh ...

[redman41]

Yes use DVD-RAM as recommended in your Panasonic Handbook. The Sony ones you bought are good quality RW's but next time you purchase Discs buy Panasonic DVD-RAM's as they give more options.

[carlton23]

redman41, sorry to correct you old son but DVD-RW means they are rewritable and can be used many times as I do over and over until a message pops up stating `Unsupported` which is when I bin them.

[redman41]

Yes carlton my Answer was not entirely correct. What I should have said was DVD-RW are single layer Discs whereas DVD+RW are multilayer and thus hold much more data.
As Rollo says DVD-RAM are a better alternative

[Wak]

The DVD manual will tell you which DVD discs can be used with the recorder. My Samsung will only use DVD-RW (as stated in the Samsung manual) and are re-written many times. I would suggest that the discs seem to work better when given a FULL erase in the computer rather than a QUICK erase and over the last 3 or 4 years I have only had one disc which refused to work after being erased. The recorder found "an error"!!!
Maybe I have just been lucky????

[Mobius1]

Redman; '+' and '-' within DVD technology has nothing to do with whether the disc is multilayered or not. Both -RW and +RW discs can be multilayered. The symbols denote which technology family the DVD is manufactured for. The '+' format is a newer one, and offers some under the hood technology improvements over the '-' format. You might want to get your facts straight before answering questions in future.

[Mobius1]

And there's me getting it wrong, since you can't seem to get DL media in -RW format. Still, the plus and minus have nothing to do with dual-layer technology, since DL versions of DVD minus R are available.

[smurfchops]

Phew! Thanks! I will take these +RW back and get RAM. Thanks again guys.