The Panasonic DMRHS2 DVD Recorder Lets You Pause Live TV

Panasonic's commitment to the DVD recorder market constantly pushes the company to new technological heights. Panasonic's decision to give the Panasonic DMRHS2 these TiVO like features was a clever move. The machine has a forty GB hard drive that will allow fifty-two hours of recorded programming.

The Panasonic DMRHS2 DVD recorder has a built in burner that copies DVD-R and DVD-RAM discs. Each of these discs hold up to six hours per side. The DVD-R discs will play back in most DVD players but the DVD-RAM, a special two sided (9.4GB) disc, is generally incompatible with other DVD players. They are rewritable however and will play back on the Panasonic DMR HS2 as well as Panasonic's line DVD players (seven current models). It should be noted that the DVD-RAM can be rewritten up to 100,000 times.

The Panasonic DMRHS2 DVD recorder has a progressive scan output signal and is equipped with a FireWire port. This port allows you to send your digital camera video to the DVD recorder so you can copy DVDs of your home movies. The machine also has a PC card slot that when coupled with a PC card adaptors will allow you to take your memory card from your digital camera and copy DVDs with your images.

The Panasonic DMRHS2 DVD recorder uses a hybrid VBR (variable rate bit) recording. This enables the DVD recorder to monitor the incoming signal and automatically dedicate more resources to scenes that need it. A very nice feature.

All Panasonic DVD recorders feature Direct Navigator, a system that tracks recording dates, times, channels, and user assigned titles. Non-linear editing let's you to skip over certain captured video clips while playing back thus creating customized play lists.

The Panasonic DMRHS2 has an Auto Record feature that indexes each chapter whenever you pause or stop the machine. Its hard drive allows you edit programs before you copy DVDs. For example, you can copy your favorite shows to the hard drive, edit out the commercials, and then copy DVDs less the commercials.

Although the process is not perfect you can do basic editing to your home videos. Additionally, the time based correction and 3D digital comb filter improve image quality when transferring video from analog sources like VCRs or home movies. Three different types of digital noise reduction improve the source image clarity during playback.

Major Quirks: The DVD-RAM disc that this machine uses will probably not become a common DVD format. The Panasonic DMRHS2 records in 2-channel Dolby, not true DD Surround Sound 5.1. Its lack of a program guide will disappoint TiVO and Replay TV fans. The DMR HS2 is impressive but because it lacks the program guide it's not a full-blown "DVR" with a DVD burner. The machine does not read or write DVD+RW.

Conclusion: The Panasonic DMRHS2 DVD recorder is taking a crack at replacing the three titans of the video market: the VCR, the DVD player and the DVR (TiVO, Replay TV). The "time slip" feature allows simultaneous recording and playback of the same program at the same time essentially letting you watch the beginning of a show (time shifted of course) before the end has finished recording. No more waiting for the recording to finish before you can start to view it. If you have the extra money this DVD recorder is an interesting choice.