Pioneer DVR-3100 Recording Chapter, About DVD recording, Recording time and picture quality

Recording

Chapter 6

Recording

About DVD recording

This recorder can record on both DVD-R and DVD-RW media. The main difference between the two is that DVD- R discs can only be recorded once, while DVD-RW can be recorded, erased and re-recorded many times.

A further difference between the two disc types is that only DVD-RW can be initialized for VR mode recording, which offers much more comprehensive editing functions compared to Video mode recording.

The big advantage, however, of Video mode is its compatibility with standard DVD players, most of which will not play VR mode DVD-RW discs (see also the notes below).

While DVD-R discs can only be recorded using the Video mode, you can initialize a DVD-RW disc for Video or VR mode recordings. Once initialized (any previous content is erased in this operation), all recordings on that disc will be in the chosen recording mode.

Important

•You cannot play, edit or record on unfinalized DVD-R/ RW discs recorded in Video mode on other DVD recorders. (Likewise, unfinalized Video mode discs recorded on this recorder are not playable on other players/recorders.)

•This recorder cannot record onto CD-R or CD-RW discs.

•Pioneer takes no responsibility for recording failure due to power cuts, defective discs, or damage to the recorder.

•Fingerprints and small scratches on a disc can affect playback and/or recording performance. Please take proper care of your discs.

•Although this recorder can record PAL, SECAM, NTSC and PAL-60, you can’t mix multiple TV line systems on one disc. A disc can contain PAL and SECAM recordings, or NTSC and PAL-60. See also Input Line System on page 76.

Note

•Some DVD players, such as some Pioneer models, are compatible with VR mode DVD-RW discs. Check the operating instructions for your player for VR mode compatibility information.

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•The maximum number of titles that can be recorded on a DVD-R/RW disc is 99.

Recording time and picture quality

There are four preset recording quality modes:

•FINE – Highest quality setting, gives about 1 hour of recording time.

•SP (Standard Play) – Default quality, sufficient for most applications, gives about 2 hours of recording time.

•LP (Long Play) – Slightly lower video quality, but doubles the recording time to around 4 hours.

•EP (Extended Play) – Use when maximum recording time is most important; EP gives you around 6 hours of recording time.

In addition to these settings, you can access 32 different recording quality/time settings when manual recording mode is on (see Manual Recording on page 85), giving you very fine control over the recording.

Note that all recording times (both here and those shown by the recorder) are only approximate. This is because of the way that the video is recorded; you may get slightly more or slightly less, depending on what you’re recording.

In all except the FINE/MN32 modes, sound is recorded in two channel Dolby Digital format. When set to FINE/ MN32, sound is recorded in high quality, uncompressed Linear PCM format.

If the broadcast audio is bilingual and you are recording in Video mode, or in VR mode on the FINE/MN32 setting, use the Bilingual Recording setting (page 82) to select the A/L or B/R audio channel to record before recording starts.

Restrictions on video recording

•You cannot record copy-protected video using this recorder. Copy-protected video includes DVD-Video discs and some satellite broadcasts. If copy- protected material is encountered during a recording, recording will pause automatically and an error message will be displayed on-screen.

•Video that is ‘copy-once only’ can only be recorded on a DVD-RW disc in VR mode (see below).

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