Any opinions on the Sharp DV-HR300?

Got the 300 & burned my first DVD within 40 minutes of setting it up. Transferred a VHS of a 1985 Family Christmas. Recorded fine; took it out of the 300 and played it back on my Sony DVD in my HT system no problem. The next day I again played it back in the Sony for my wife. At one point in hte playback, it froze, and replayed the previous 20-30 seconds and kept doind the same thing at the exact place in the DVD. I took the DVD out and put it in the 300 - same thing, only once I was finally able to get past the "freeze" point, it started freezing at other points. I'm using Sony DVD-R 1x-4x. I recorded the video "on the fly" - recording as it was playing back from a source S-VHS deck. Any ideas? I'd planned on using this unit to burn DVD's as part of my business (full-time video production) but I can't have a client taking a DVD home & having the problems I experienced. Thanks for any input. VMG

 

I am really fed up with this sharp DV-HR300F now. I feel like throwing it out of the window !

I have the French version of the recorder, and it also have the timer recording problem, among other weird deadlocks etc.

When I first bought it, the timer bug happens really rarely. But now, it's almost all the time. And strangely I have to disk error or anything, no error message in the information section of the interface.

I was looking for a total RESET function but couldn't find it. I don't think there is any. There is that reset button in the front, but it doesn't really seem to re-initialize the machine, it just erase your timers that's all.

On several occasions, the sharp deadlocked, either while finalizing the DVD or whatever, and even the reset button couldn't unlock it. I had to unplug the machine, and even after unplugging it, it didn't work. I had to do it several times ...

Anyone has any clue how to re-initialize the sharp ? Maybe I should reformat the disk or something ?

I've been told by sharp to return the machine for "repair". But I'm really reluctant to send it back for a firmware upgrade, because I read in a yahoo group that a user in Spain sent it back for a firmware upgrade, which did solve the timer bug, but then he's got another even worse problem: the time on the machine keeps changing every week, it is 30 minutes late every week or something ....

It really suxxx, I'll never buy sharp again ...

It would be nice if everyone that has w work around, or tricks or any news about problem resolution to post their comments in this forum

Thankx for reading

 

Hi VMG
I would also like to transfer old VHS tapes to DVD. I have only tried a "sample " on the Sharp 300 and didn't experience your problem. Just a suggestion, when you "initialized" the DVD-R disc to record on, you must select DVD VIDEO MODE from the Initialise Menu NOT the DVD VR MODE. After transfer of the VHS to disc you then need to FINALIZE the disc before it will play in other DVD players.( I'm sure you know all this already)
From what I've read about certain Sony DVD players they seem to favour DVD+R ? However if you have followed the procedure above I would suggest you try and play the DVD-R disc you've already made in a friends DVD player(not Sony) and see if it will play. I cannot understand why the Sharp 300 won't play back a DVD-R it's recorded.Also if you have a PC with a DVD playback facility you can "explore" the disc and see if the vob files have been recorded. I have a Pioneer 535 and don't have any problems playing back all the discs I've made on the Sharp so far and of course they playback on the Sharp.I also have a £29 YAKUMO dvd player ( Amazon)that plays everything you "throw" at it!It seems the cheap DVD players now on the market play everything including all region movies! Again just a comment I assume there wasn't a fingerprint or a scratch on the media you used. I have recorded to several brands of cheap DVD-R & DVD-RW blanks and to date not a prob.However be careful which one's you buy, according to the vendor's website I use several makes of blank media were not Sony compatible! I wonder why? Hope you get your prob sorted out Cheers Silver64.

 

Hi. I've been reading this thread and I'm really considering buying the DV-HR300U. I was previously looking at a Zenith DVR413 but I'm thinking a harddrive would be a wonderful feature! I have just a couple of questions...

Which models were having the timer/software glitches? Those that end with an "H", "X" or a "U", or some of each?
Also, it was mentioned earlier that the hard drive does not like JPG's. What about the player? How about Kodak picture disks?

Thanks alot guys!

 

Hi Pattykmn,
The only recorder that I'm aware of having any timer issues is the DV-HR300U. Yes mine most likely has the problem as well, but since I don't use the recorder to shift channels I use my cable box and simply leave the station that I want to record on before I go to bed. If you're planning on doing a lot of broadcast timer recordings then you might not be happy with this machine. But if you're more into tape dubbing and digital recordings this gem really does the trick. The hard-drive feature is fantastic, letting you literally store several hours in High quality digital video before committing to DVD. Of course the final DVD results are clones of the original footage when burned in the High Quality or Fine setting. And as far as the jpeg format. This machine does not like them at all. What I have done however is to create CD's with jpeg files on my PC, played them back with a second DVD player that accepts the jpeg format, then run it thru the DVD Recorder via the SVHS input. I then connected a portable CD player to the rca audio inputs to provide a musical background for the svhs jpeg transfer and recorded these to the Sharps Hard-drive for later burning to DVD. So the recorder will see the jpegs this way but it's reading it as video since its coming in thru the SVHS analog signal input. All in all, I bought my recorder specifically to archive my aging analog video tapes, to create DVDS of my new mini Dv-tapes and to catch an occasional movie or program from cable. Anything else I can manage to do with it is "iceing on the cake" Make sure you read all of the reviews that I and others have posted before making your decision.....
Quite frankly though I didn't think there were any more for sale anywhere. I would have surely purchased a second one. For the price this baby was selling for compared to the high prices I've seen other models sold for, I think I'll keep one or two of these around.
Kind Regards, Manny

 

Thanks for your input. If I put JPG's on a DVD the way you describe, will other people be able to see/play them on their DVD players? (since the DVD thinks it's a video, right?) That's my main concern with JPG's, to be able to share digital photos with family members.

As for purchasing, I also go to a site called videohelp.com. They have furums/reviews like this too but only one person had this recorder. When you search this model and then click to find out where to buy it, there are 10 internet stores in the list (at quite nice prices too!). I haven't actually purchased one yet, but I did go into the checkout (to see what S&H would be) and it didn't tell me they were unavailable.

Oh, I have another question... When disks are finalized with this machine, are they considered "DVD Video"? I'm not totally sure what that means, but it has to do with compatability in other players doesn't it?

Thanks

 

Yes, to break it down any disc including your Kodak discs, if youre able to play them on a second DVD player..then you've got the battle won. This recorder has 3 inputs, 1. rca inputs commonly used on most vcrs and dvds and cd players 2. SVHS found on Digital video cameras, SVHS decks and most DVD players 3. Firewire or IEEE digital input, found on digital video cameras as well. This connection is an exact clone when used of the "original" footage. The best in quality. However it is not found on the standard DVD player, so you would be using the SVHS output on your second DVD player to make the copy on your recorders Hard-drive for later burning to DVDs to share with friends and family. So yes to your question, you will be able to make copies of your Kodak discs. As long as you see a picture after making the connection from your DVD player to your Sharp recorder you will be able to dub it either to the recorders hard-drive or directly to disc.
After burning and disc, there is the final step of finalization. This is what makes your burned discs compatible with most of the standard DVD players out there. As with PC burners you can keep adding stuff to that disc until you finalize it. After that no more stuff can be added to the disc. And to your final question, yes once finalized the disc is now considered a "region 1" DVD video, no different from any movie you buy at the store, except that Hollywood discs are dual layer and this recorder burns to only one layer. In the not to distant future that method of recording along with discs being able to hold more information will be mainstream. These discs if properly cared for have been said to last over 50 years, hollywood discs are meant to last over 100.
Regards, Manny

 

Hi!

I just bought one of these monsters (the 300S variety) yesterday, and I have a question. As this seems to be where everyone who owns one of these hangs around (and since this thread was what definitely made me go for this model), I thought this would be the place to post it...

So, I plugged this thing in, and connected it to my cable tv decoder, and recorded a movie off a channel. The movie was widescreen (16:9), and the decoder does signal that to my tv if I watch the programme live. The problem I have is that the recording I made was not flagged as widescreen, so it gets horizontally compressed (4:3) when viewing it. Of course, I can adjust that on my 16:9 set, but since I was planning on copying the movie down to a dvd-r, I would like to make sure other dvd players see it as widescreen, so that they can compress it vertically for 4:3 screens.

I was unable to find anywhere where I could change the aspect ratio of a recorded title? Is there such a place? And why didn't it pick up that the broadcast was 16:9 in the first place? It does output these signals to the tv, it switches automatically to 16:9 when I play back a widescreen dvd.

 

Manny, how goes it? Got a question. Recording at high-speed vs real time. I had a feeling that recording at high-speed is a clone more or less being digitally recorded. Recording at real time, would that get the same results (quality)? just at a slower rate? What got this topic going was me recording the Vote for Change Concert. I did a bunch of edits leaving only the music portion and ended up with 240 minutes at SP mode to a single program. Next I wanted to start a high-speed recording knowing that it will not fit on the first dvd but benefit from the high-speed recording process thinking that high-speed is better. Thanks pal, have a good one. Don

 

Hey Don, no I'm afraid that the slower speeds are best for quality. Anytime you sacrifice one thing for another you lose something in the process. You noticed that digital video cameras still give you the LP vs SP option for video-taping, granted LP will allow you more recording time which is great for a day at a theme park or a vacation get-away, but the fact is you're running the same digital tape at a much slower pace thereby giving the chance of anomalies to appear on your recording, dropouts and pixelation. The same can happen to these digital transfers when the speed is increased. Think about it, there are more chances of information being missed or corrupted. Remember they do give you the choice to either high speed it or regular speed. Its always a trade-off, if not they wouldn't give you the choice. Again such as in video cameras. Why not make them just LP...Because some still want quality over quantity. Personally though I do set it to LP anyway knowing I will possibly lose something when out and about, but for cherished home stuff??? SP SP SP in the burner scenerio??? FINE FINE FINE...lol.

To Nafmo, it appears that the recording may not have been an actual widescreen as we would like them. But anamorphic widescreen which behaves different from regular non anamorphic video. In any case run some tests first but the recorder does have different viewing settings that you can adjust. By the way anamorphic is the ideal format when buying DVD's since the overall quality and its presentation are generally much better.
Here's a link to a great source for this topic, enjoy:
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/anamorphic185demo.html

 

Hi again Mannycam and friends, Good to be a part of this forum and I hope most folk reading appreciate your knowledge,comments,help and assistance. I am still very happy with my 300H and(touch wood) haven't had a prob. Went away on holiday for a week and set it up to record 4 TV programs in my absense. Came back and all were there perfect,on my hard drive. The Sharp is a mega-leap over VHS and the playback quality from either the HD or on a disk I've recorded is excellent. I have a 32' widescreen Sony TV and don't notice any appereciable difference in quality between Fine and SP. I got my Sharp in the UK 6 weeks ago at a bargain price. For the info of UK forum members,the 350H is now available through Amazon UK . Would you believe it Amazon are selling the 300H with 80Gb hard drive at £547 and the newer 350H which has 120 hard drive for £499! Doesn't make sense!!! Cheers Silver64

 

Hi Silver, great to hear from you again. I'm so happy this lil gem is still working out for you. Yes its a matter of knowing the machine inside and out to really get the most of it.
On the pricing, it really doesn't surprize me, they know what they have with this machine. The fact that it had software problems doesn't take away from it's many other assests. They really had a great item with this model. Size, looks, and capability. Anyway check back every now and then to say hello...cheers mate! regards, Manny

 

Hello,

I have had the following issues using the sharp. Please, could you tell me if you have the same or it's just me not knowing how to use it ?

1- My timer-recorded programs are not marked as high-speed dubbable (they don't have that high-speed icon), whilst the programs recorded manually can be high-speed dubbed (they do have that high-speed icon). First I thought it might be related to the recording quality, but no, it's the same in FINE, SP, or LP.

2 - I cannot dub a very long program on several DVDs. They say in the manual that in order to do that, you must create a playlist then dub the playlist as a unit. Then when the first DVD is full, just take it out and insert a new DVD. So I though it mean the sharp would say ok it's full, insert a new DVD and then it would go on dubbing the rest. But it didn't work like that at all. It just stopped after the disk is full then that's it.

3- I have found no editing limitation on the high-dubbable programs I recorded manually. I could erase a scene at the beginning and at the end of the program etc.

I would be grateful for any comment, idea ...
thankx for reading

 

Meant to post this to this thread but created a new one instead, so I'll try both places. I've read the directions and done a couple of test runs, but am unable to get high-speed dubbing from the 300. I am going to the 300 HDD (I think) from an S-VHS source deck. I then try to make a high-speed DVD from the program saved ot the 300 HDD, but have not been successful. I guess I need for one of the highly-experienced forum members to post a 1-2-3 step-by-step instruction response so I can follow a tried and true formualtion. BTW, the program length is 20 minutes and nothing else is on the HDD -this is my first foray at high speed since getting the unit. Going real time from tape>DVD or cable>DVD has been no problem, just can't get the high speed from HDD. I need to have 20 copies done by 11/06/04, so a quick response would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks, Don at VMG

 

Erikk, to record a long program to more than one disc, you need to create 2 playists, each one will have the amount that will fit on the disc, depending of course on the recording speed selected. As far as the deck doing this on 2 discs with one playlist...I don't think so. Not that smart a machine. Below you will see more about "High Speed Dubbing" I don't do much I'm afraid in the high speed format, so I can't explain it in detail, but I have read the pages in the manual and find it straight-foward.

VMG, hi there, Page 47 in particular addresses in detail the how's and why's in "High Speed Dubbing" pretty straight-foward actually. The most important aspect in high speed dubbing to disc, is the DISC itself. Make sure you use a disc that is 2x at least. A 2x will give you a high speed dub. The disc needs to be able to spin much faster for this to happen. Study pages 47 - 50, it pretty much explains high speed dubbing in detail. Wish I could offer more on this subject, maybe one of our other members can, but I do most of my editing in the normal speed mode. Manny

 

VMG, by default, the recorded programs cannot be high-speed dubbed. You have to go into Menu/Settings1 etc. to enable high-speed dubbing option ( The manual does explain that, but not very well, it wasn't easy to understand what they meant). Now, only programs recorded after this option is set can be high-speed dubbed. Programs that can be high-speed dubbed are marked so with an icon.

Again, with my machine, only programs I record manually can be high-speed dubbed. All those that are timer-recorded cannot be high-speed dubbed, and the manual doesn't say anything about that.

 

My system is still having spuratic trouble with DISK ERRORS on the hard drive, Errors writing DVD's, and it dumped my entire program list when it changed DST this last week. Sharp says for support, my only option is to send the unit to Illinois for repair. Gonna change over to the PVR thread, figure I can do better by turning my PC into a PVR. So, off I go to find a good PVR software. Thanks for you help.

 

VMG,
Oh, I see what you're saying now. The timer works in real-time, you can't high-speed a televised program. Is that what you're trying to do?

wiersbr, I am really sorry to hear of your problems with the 300. It must be a defective unit, I haven't heard of any others having so many disc errors. What would cause it to happen is a program that's copy-protected, or a copy once program. I did run across this once on my machine. No matter how many times I tried burning that televised program I would get a disc error. But when I would burn another program, no problem. I would say try simply burning a disc from a Vhs or digital source, just to see if it happens again.

Manny

 

Manny, thanks but no.... I am recording from BJU satellite , the programs are intended for recording (block feeds for educational use).. sometimes works, sometimes don't... I suspect that the disk drive is bad...Even errors like this on broadcast TV...same program will work a few times then error the next..Can't go the weeks without while they are fixing it (will lose over 100 hours of educational programs)...so I gotta build a backup...

 

I see... most definitely a back-up is needed then. What a pain. Let me know how it goes with the repairs. Cordially, Manny