Is normal dub better than high speed dub on HDD DVD recorders?

Question

I wondered whether the general principle of slower than maximum speed burns being best when using a PC also applies to HDD DVD recorders. I have a Panasonic DMR-EH50. Most of the time it is set to high speed dubbing capability, but if time was not of the essence for a transfer to DVD I wonder if dubbing at normal speed might optimize the quality of the burn. If this is a dumb question - my apologies, I have more anxiety than knowledge in such matters.

Answer 1

not really a fan of dub music at all i'm afraid. regardless of the hardware used to play it.

Answer 2

From experience, I can only say that I have used my Sony RDR-HX525 HDD-DVD recorder in fast dub, and in various of the other modes.  I honestly don't see any difference in the picture or sound quality.

I do have to the ability to to re-size a recording, and thus to "squeeze" a long film/programme on to a smaller amount of DVD disc space.  Now, that definitely does make a difference, and so wouldn't recommend using that mode unless your really pushed, or the programme is not very important.

Conversely, I can also expand a programme to take up any "slack" space on a DVD disc.  This doesn't make for any greater detail in picture or sound quality, but does make for a more reliable recording in the event that the disc gets scratched or scuffed.

I can't speak for your Panasonic recorder, but if it's anything like the Sony,  when you select "fast" dubbing, it will almost certainly use the best recording speed according to your DVD disc's quality or condition.

With my recorder, a used re-writeable disc is always slower than than a new, identical disc,  and likewise, a disc with surface marks is also slower.  A disc qouted as 8X speed will automatically write at 8X, and a disc marked 4X will automatically write at 4X.  Dual-layer discs are always slow, since they typically never exceed 2X speed!

In terms of pure difference in quality of the finished recording,  it does not seem to make any difference, which ever speed you choose, unless you "squeeze" into a lower Q setting e.g.  EP, or LP, instead of SP.

Answer 3

I have a Sony 970 and find no difference at all in High Speed or real time.