I have recently bought a Panasonic DMR-EH50 (DVD recorder with 80Gig HDD). When I playback DVDs that I have burnt that contain footage based on DivX/Xvid converted back to DVD using 'DivXtoDVD', the playback is not 100%. During action sequences, areas containing the most amount of movement have pixelated green patches (bright green). The same discs playback perfectly (without the green flashes) on other DVD players, including a PS2. For background purposes, I use TY or RiData discs, I have burnt using both Nero and SonicMyDVD, and all files were converted from Divx/Xvid to DVD format using 'VSO DivxToDVD'. I have a Pioneer DVR-110 built into my computer, and I select 4x burning speed. Has anyone else encountered this problem? Are there any ways to combat it?
I have the same problem with my marantz 4400 dvd player. The quality of converted videos is otherwise superb, but sometimes I can see green patches appearing. The same dvds play perfectly on a hyundai divx/dvd player and on my computer. I also use divxtodvd converter and burn TDK DVDs at 4x or 6x speed. If I burn non-converted dvds there is no problem, only with converted ones. Does anyone know if this is a software issue with dixvtodvd 2.0 or is it something with my player and how may I solve it? Thank you
I have made some enquiries with others whom I have lent my discs to and have had no problems playing them in their Pioneer, XMS, Sony or Philips devices. I am guessing that the Panasonic and Marantz players share the same chip, or software. I imagine there is no fix. Further comments from others with any ideas, most welcome.
Panasonic Issues: (1) Macroblocks in images, especially at anything longer than 2-2½ hours. (2) On early units, IRE was incorrect, meaning the image was far too bright and colors desaturated. This is usually not seen on the recorder (used as the player), but is VERY apparent when played on ANY other DVD player. (3) On recent units, luma is overpowering, causing image to shift slightly green and a shade too dark. This is very obviously an attempt to correct the IRE issues, but was overly agressive. (4) AC3 Dolby Digital audio files are imperfect, often corrupt, sometimes causing computer editing to be near-impossible (audio sync errors). (5) HDD units are known to fail, or have U99 errors. (6) Authoring errors can cause discs to not play or copy. How common is it? (1) Very common. It infects every Panasonic machine. (2) The E10, E20 and E30 are the only units with this error. (3) All units AFTER the E30 have IRE "fixed" but this error has taken it's place. (4) Common enough to be wary of. It may be a certain combination of recording mode and media type that causes this. (5) Very common on the E80 and E85 units. (6) Very common, infecting a large majority of units, maybe all of them. Can it be fixed? (1) No. This is the craptacular in-house Panasonic hardware encoder chipset, and they seem to like it that way. (2) No. (3) No. This is some potential that it can be fixed in theory, but only Panasonic techs would know if it were possible. This has not happened, and probably never will. (4) Unknown. The error is not persistent enough to be identified as of yet. The work-around is to edit the video in Womble MPEG Video Wizard and let the software re-encode all the audio to MP2 format. You can convert it back to AC3 later if needed. (5) Yes, sort of. There is a work-around. The "split title" function can help avoid the problem, sometimes. Panasonic can also replace entirely dead drives at the service centers. (6) Yes, sort of. There is a work-around. re-author the disc on the PC. DVD Shrink and TDA are two methods that work fast and effective. Will it break again? Does not apply to (1), (2), (3), (4) and (6). For (5), yes. Panasonic will replace it with more of the same faulty parts. There are many complaints of repeated failures. Related myths: (1) Panasonic has "deeper colors". That is simply not true. It is a visual distortion caused from being slightly too dark, which gives false illusion of "deeper" colors. (2) The TBC improves quality. DVD recorder TBCs are so weak they may as well not exist. taken from the 'Fatal Flaws with DVD Recorders' list at videohelp.com
Problem Solved. I have discovered that by converting my MP4 titles to DVD using Nero for the entire process (rather than DivXtoDVD and then Nero to burn) has defeated whatever issue the Panasonic had. The process is considerably longer (3hrs for conversion instead of 20 minutes or so in DivXtoDVD) however the resulting playback quality is worth the wait. To all those suffering from this problem, if you have Nero, try using it for the entire conversion and burning process.
