I'm following directions to the letter and the discs are not recording. I'm trying to transfer from VHS to DVD, and all the discs I try with are coming out blank. So I have a question?

 

It gives me the option of recording on IN1, IN2 or DV. Which should I be using?

 

Is there something else I need to do besides setting the channel and hitting record to get it started?

 

I can't believe this is all so complex.

 

Thanks.

To add to the confusion, the latest disc I tried showed blank when I tried to play it on the computer, but shows full on the recorder. But when I try to play it on the recorder, all I get is a black screen. I'm also not sure I set it up properly, because I'm not sure which options I'm supposed to be selecting for many of the fields. This is a mess.

Did you go to Direct Navigator?

1. When you have finished the initial recording stop the disc and press the ~FUNCTIONS~ button.

 

2. Using the ~UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT arrows~ on the keypad select "To Others" and press ~ENTER~.

 

3. Using the ~UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT arrows~ on the keypad Scroll down to "DISC MANAGEMENT" and press ~ENTER~.

 

4. When the disc management screen opens you need to use the ~UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT arrows~ on the keypad to scroll down to "FINALIZE" and press ~ENTER~.

 

5. Using the ~UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT arrows~ on the keypad select "YES" and press ~ENTER~.

 

6. Using the ~UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT arrows~ on the keypad select "START" to begin finalizing the disc, please note by pressing start here you will no longer be able to record or edit the disc being finalized.

 

hopefully this help

Will -- I guess I didn't go to Direct Navigator, because I don't know what that means.

 

Billy -- THANK YOU! I think that's what I was needing. I will try that next and see what happens.

Direct Navigator should also be under functions.

 

IN1, IN2, etc. are just the different feeds via the AV cables. If you are playing a tape and can view the tape, then you're probably on the right setting for recording, since the DVD recorder is your primary feed into the TV (as in the VCR runs through your recorder).

Loss, on your remote, there should be a button that says direct navigator. That is where you type in the title of the disc and put the image thumbnail on. Then you exit direct navigator and go to where Billy said.

Ok, I found the button my remote. Thanks.

I followed all the steps listed in this thread and still nothing. The DVD is nothing but two hours of solid black. There's a front menu, but that's the only change from what I was doing before. Leave it to me to go to all the trouble of getting a DVD recorder and being excited about it, but not knowing how to use it, because 4 days later I still can't figure out how the damn thing works.

Let's go over everything:

 

Are you running the coaxial cables from the outlet, "in" to the cable box, "out" from the cable box and "in" to the dvd recorder, "out" from the dvd recorder and into the TV, right?

 

Next, do you have the AV cables (generally red, white, yellow) running from the VCR and to the DVD recorder? Also, do you have AV connected from the DVD recorder and to the TV (this will give you the picture)?

 

If everything at this point is correct, then one port you will have the TV hooked through (by AV) and the other you will have the VCR hooked through. One of those will be IN1 and the other will be IN2. Set your TV to TV/Video. Turn on your DVD Recorder, and you should get a blue screen. Set it to whichever port you have the TV hooked into, and you should be able to view whatever channel you cable is set to. This is how you record TV. Do the same for VCR, and when you play, you should see the tape.

Okay. I did everything exactly as you said.

 

The outlet from the wall is going into the satellite box.

 

(The problem here is that I have a DirecTV Tivo box. So the wall doesn't go into the "out" outlet, but the "out" outlet is still open.)

 

The cable box is going out into the DVD recorder.

 

The DVD recorder is going out into the TV.

 

AV cables are running from the VCR to the DVD recorder.

 

AV cables are running from the DVD recorder to the TV.

 

And it's still not working.

 

This time, it's a different set of problems. When I turn on the DVD recorder, I get snow. When it's off, TV comes in perfectly. Nothing happens when I hit TV/Video. (But to clarify, you *do* mean TV/Video on the DVD recorder remote, right? Or do you mean TV/VCR on one of the other remotes?)

 

The VCR isn't working at all now. When I hit play, the VCR screen doesn't even come up.

 

Part of the problem may also be that I have DirecTV. AND ... my TV only has one outlet, so I use a splitter, or whatever that little black box is called. So all the wires intended to go into the TV are going into the splitter and I have a separate coaxial cable going from the TV to the splitter.

 

That's where I am now.

 

I'm looking through the manual right now, hoping Panasonic has a 1-800 number or something.

I meant TV/Video on the TV remote, and you should have your DVD recorder set to whichever incoming signal (IN1 or IN2) you are trying to receive.

 

I'm on AIM right now if you want to troubleshoot.

I've done several Google searches and I think I've found answers to my specific questions. I've had the week from Hell, and tomorrow night I'm going out to celebrate my birthday, but I'm hoping to give this another shot Sunday.

 

But just when this problem gets solved, all the DVDs I'm burning on the computer are now rejecting for some reason.

 

Anyone who's waiting on anything from me, please bear with me. I'm doing my best.

When it rains, it pours.

DVD recorder is officially working. I don't know what I did differently, but I unplugged everything and re-did it all this morning and now it works like a charm.

What about your burner?

 

I am itching for my Mid South.

The burner is still rejecting all the discs for reasons only computers understand. I'm going to uninstall/reinstall it tomorrow and see if that fixes the problem.

The entire disc drive has gone crazy. It's going to have to be replaced. Luckily, I have a warranty, but I have to take this in to the Apple store so they can send off for the new drive. It may be a while on those trades, unfortunately. I'll keep you informed. I'm planning on dropping off the old drive tomorrow afternoon, but I don't know how long it will take for the new one to arrive.

Loss, just a thought but if you want to send the discs along with blanks my way, I can copy them (mine and Morts) and send them back along with your package. Your call.

I would be willing to do that if it would get everyone their discs quicker. It may not be necessary though. I'll find out tomorrow how long the hard drive is going to take.

ok, if it will take longer than 2 weeks, I know I can have them done before that.

I think I'm going to take you up on your offer. It's going to take up to two weeks for the disc drive to be replaced on my computer. I'll do my best to get the DVDs to you (what I've already burned *plus* what I haven't already burned) by tomorrow, but if I don't tomorrow, I'll do it Thursday for sure. I'll also send you a PayPal transfer for whatever you consider a fair fee to cover shipping, discs and time. I'm thinking $25-ish, but let me know.

Do not pay me for shipping, discs or time. It's more important for me to receive the footage.

 

If you have blanks, just send them along. I'll use your blanks. For shipping, I'll just return them with your discs. If you can get them in tomorrow, I should have them before the weekend starts and returned by Monday.

Package will be sent tomorrow. Obviously, the discs I've already done for you and Mortimer will be labeled at the top of the disc and I'll include the blank discs as well. I'm preparing everything as I type.

Ah fuck, I forgot about Mortimer!!! LOL

 

Ok, now I know where the shipping deal came from.

 

Ok, check it out. When you pay for the shpping of the tapes I am going to send, just tack on $8 for shipping to Mort. In the meantime, I'll get those out to him this week sometime as well.