Panasonic DMR-E30 K DVD-R Recorder Player  
I am thinking about buying this model "used". I want to be able to
record off of a VCR. I have quite a lot of tapes I want to put on dvd.
Will this model do what i want. Any comments

Hi,

Short Answer:
Yes it will do what you want.

Longer Answer:
The details of the DMR-E30K can be found here:
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11251&catalogId=11005&itemId=63194&catGroupId=11058&modelNo=DMR-E30K&surfModel=DMR-E30K

Basically, it will take any supported video source and record it to
DVD-RAM or DVD-R. It will take input from your VCR with Composite
(RCA) or S-Video leads. It offers various recording modes.

The NTSC model above does not seem to support PAL inputs as well, but
that shouldn't be a problem, as PAL videos are not very common in the
USA.

For best quality you will want to use S-Video connections, from a VCR
with stereo audio and 4-head (or better) playback. The E30K will be
able to create a compile DVD or your tapes.

However one problem you may find is that some DVD Players will not
support the DVD-R disks. And very few will support the DVD-RAM disks.

For more information, the operating manual for the recorder can be
found from here:
http://www.pasc.panasonic.com/OperMan/FindManual.asp?Pass=1

See also this FAQ: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/wwwconsumer/customersupport/FAQlisting.jsp?storeId=11251&itemId=63194&modelNo=DMR-E30K
It seems to refer to the E20 but is the one the Panasonic site offers
for the E30.

I hope that helps. With any luck I will have one of these to play with
myself soon.

Regards,
Sycophant-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by craigeperkins-ga on 13 May 2003 00:10 PDT

"However one problem you may find is that some DVD Players will not
support the DVD-R disks. And very few will support the DVD-RAM disks."

I have a dell latitude cpx lap top that I want to play the DVD's on
that have been copied by the DMR-E30k will it work?
Also can I hook up my Del Latitude to the DMR-E30k and watch DVD's on
it?

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Request for Answer Clarification by craigeperkins-ga on 13 May 2003 00:26 PDT

The vhs tapes I am copying to DVD are not copyrighted feature films
they are semi professional tapes made inhouse will this make them
easier to record.

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Clarification of Answer by sycophant-ga on 13 May 2003 03:48 PDT

Most computer DVD-ROM drives will read DVD-R media. I am not too
familar with your specific computer, but if it is fairly recent it
should not have any difficultly.

As for the tapes. Generally it shouldn't make too much difference.
However some commercial home video tapes do attempt to make copying
difficult by altering the non-visible parts of the video signal. This
stops some tape-to-tape transfers, but in my experience, DVD-Recorders
are rarely troubled by those techniques. As you are dealing with
inhouse cassettes you are unlikely to have any problems in that
respect.

Regards,
Sycophant-ga

excellent