Panasonic DMR-ES45VS Progressive DVD/VCR Combo Recorder w/ HDMI HD Conv, SD Slot, DV Input

HDMI Simple Connection - Connect with only one cable
Both video and audio signals are transmitted over a single cable, so connection is easier and there's less clutter.

HDAVI Control - A New Operation Concept
With a single cable, HDMI enables transmission of not only A/V signals but also control signals. All you have to do to enjoy a new level of operation convenience is hook up to a VIERA TV or home theater system with HDAVI Control compatibility. When you want home theater entertainment, for example, just press a button on the remote. Power to all the components switches on, TV input and other settings are automatically adjusted, and the shows ready to begin. It's that easy.

Automatic Input Switching for DIGA Playback
When the ES45VS' playback starts, the VIERA TV input automatically switches to DIGA. There is no need to switch "INPUT SELECT" before displaying DIGA's playback. If the VIERA TV is switched off at that time, the power is also automatically switched on.

Automatic Input Switching for DIGA Operation Menu
When pressing one of ES45' remote controller such as "FUNCTIONS" during watching TV programs, VIERA TV displays automatically DIGA's operation menu. If the VIERA TV is switched off at that time, the power is also automatically switched on.

Super Multi-format flexibility in Recording and Playback
The ES45VS DIGA DVD recorder offers the ease and convenience of Super Multi-Format Recording and Playback, which lets users play DVDs, regardless of the recording format. DIGA models can record and play back DVD-RAM, DVD-R (write-once), DVD-R DL (dual layer), DVD-RW (re-writable), DVD+R (write-once), DVD+R DL (dual-layer), DVD+RW (re-writable) discs. So you don't have to worry about whether your DIGA can play back your video library.

Difficult Operations made Simple with Navigation - with Graphic User Interface (GUI)
Now you can complete all the operations you want without getting confused. Operation procedures and menu items have been carefully designed to enable easy operation of the wide range of functions available. What's more, functions such as Playback, Recording and Delete are designed to further assure simple, error-free operation.

Other smart operating functions:

Easy SD playback: Load an SD Memory Card, press a button and playback begins.
Auto Drive Select: Simply load the medium and the drive is automatically confirmed before playback starts.
Auto DVD Disc Finalizing: When ejecting a DVD disc you've recorded on, a window is displayed to remind you not to forget to finalize the disc.

Don't miss recording the decisive moment - 1 Sec. Quick Start for recording on DVD-RAM
Thanks to high-speed quick start, the DVD-RAM disc is ready to record just one second after switching on the power. Being able to record almost immediately means you'll never miss the scenes you want to catch

Easy at-a-glance Confirmation of Recorder content - Direct Navigator for Easy & Quick search
Find desired programs fast. Just press the Direct Navigator button to display thumbnails of all the programs on a DVD-RAM disc, then, select the one you want and press Enter. It's that easy. And with "List Display" you can sort programs by date or title. You can even check the selected program in the thumbnail list with moving pictures and sound.

Convert Any Content up to HD Resolution - High-Definition (1080i/720p) Up-Conversion with HDMI
Connect an HDMI cable to your TV and you can enjoy a beautiful, high quality picture on a par with High Definition images when playing DVDs and DVD software. You can also convert other non-HD signals to the near HD level for playback with improved picture quality. Better still, as well as with DVDs, the converter provides more detailed images when viewing VHS tape recordings.

SP Mode Horizontal resolution in the LP mode - 2x LP resolution (500 lines)
Virtual Multi Encode System - The Virtual Multi Encode System enables LP mode recording with the same 500 lines of horizontal resolution as that in the SP and XP modes. Which is double the horizontal resolution compared to the 250 lines of conventional LP mode recording. Thanks to this, you can enjoy viewing extended recordings (4 hours on a single-sided DVD-RAM/R or 8 hours on a double-sided DVD-RAM) with exceptionally detailed images and twice the picture quality. The Virtual Multi Encode System achieves this by virtually encoding multiple aspects of a scene, such as detail and movement, while selecting the encoding system that assures optimum picture quality.

Store VHS Images as Beautiful Digital Recordings - VCR Refresh Copying to DVD
Time Base Corrector (TBC) + 3D Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) - When connecting a VCR and DIGA to record VHS videotape images onto a DVD disc, the Time Base Corrector helps reduce jitter and performs signal conversion to create a stable signal. At the same time, 3D DNR detects and virtually eliminates randomly generated noise and color irregularities to help minimize flicker. Thanks to these two technologies, the tape input signal is automatically detected and optimum processing is performed to provide an easy way to even more beautiful digital recordings.

Recording with smooth, Beautifully Detailed Images - 4x Natural Gradation
12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter - Using the 12-bit Analog-to-Digital converter provides an extremely dense 4,096 steps of gradation. Compared to the 1,024 steps possible with a regular 10-bit Analog-to-Digital converter, this enables recording with four times as many smooth steps. The result is faithful reproduction of the details in both the bright and dark parts of scenes, so that for the first time you can see everything there is to see.

High Picture Quality for more efficient memory use - Long time Recording with High Picture Quality 
The DIGA ENGINE assures long time recording with even better picture quality. You can record up to 8 hours of material on a single-sided disc (or up to 16 hours on a double-sided 9.4GB DVD-RAM disc).

Progressive Scan - True DVD High-Resolution Reproduction
Panasonic DVD Recorders are equipped with a high-precision progressive video processor that handles 30-frame progressive scan images. This lets you enjoy high-resolution progressive playback of original DVD images.

Silence Technology to deliver Optimum Sound Quality
Thanks to the 192 kHz 24-bit DAC used in pure audio components and optical digital output featuring a high-speed 50 Mbps device boasting exceptional wave form response, DIGA faithfully reproduces sound sources. Audio recording quality in XP/SP mode is further improved by extending the conventional bit rate by 1.5 times to 384 Kbps and using a phase locked loop circuit for the audio signal. A thorough approach to assuring the best sound possible has also taken into consideration the playback environment. A unique Panasonic silence technology that optimizes fan speed control has dramatically reduced fan noise, which also lowers the operating noise. This special gives DIGA a quiet operating performance.

Real-Time Variable Bit Rate Control
Panasonic DVD Recorders feature original quality rate control to achieve the bit rate that most effectively improves picture quality. By varying the compression rate to match image data volume and scene complexity, this helps assure both high picture quality and efficient recording.

Visibility Modulation Technology
This discerns the range of attention of the human eye with respect to changes in picture brightness, saturation, color, and contours and other points in 16 x 16 pixel blocks. By lowering the compression rate for areas of the picture that command a high degree of attention, this reduces distortion. What's more, this advanced technology analyzes the characteristics of detailed images, and searches for areas in the images that can improve picture quality to a high degree. It then reduces compression for these areas to further reduce distortion. The result is clear, sharp reproduction of the parts in images that contrast strongly with the background.

New 108-Mhz/12-bit DAC
This 108-Mhz/12-bit DAC (digital-analogue converter) gives DIGA models even better playback quality.

Photo Storage & Quick Viewer with SD Slot
Use the memory card slots to transfer images from an SD Memory Card to a DVD-RAM disc. View the images in a slide show on your TV, or use DPOF settings for automatic printing to your printer. Loading an SD Memory Card into the DIGA's SD slot lets you easily view shots taken with a digital camera. With some Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras, you can take high-resolution photos sized to fit a Wide Screen TV with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Easy storage of Digital Video Camera Images - DV Auto Recording
Simply connect a digital video camera to the DV input terminal (requires IEEE cable), and you're ready to record images from the video camera onto the hard disk drive or a DVD-RAM, DVD-R**, DVD-RW**, DVD+R, or DVD+RW disc. Using DVD-RAM discs you can store both digital snapshots and digital video footage as well as PC data files on the same disc.

* This function cannot be used with DVD-R DL (dual layer) and +R DL (dual layer) discs.
** Recording is possible only in DVD-Video format.

Storage with a Playlist for Easier Editing - Automatic Playlist Creation
DV Auto Recording also makes it easy to find the beginning of a specific scene, for viewing or editing, by automatically creating a playlist of the scenes that were recorded with the digital video camera and recorded onto the DVD-RAM disc. You can even edit videos without a PC.

Other Convenient functions:

Chasing Playback - You set the DVD Recorder to start recording at 6:00 PM, when your favorite show begins. The problem is that you get home at 7:00 PM, while the program is still in progress. With the handy Chasing Playback function, you don't have to wait till recording is finished to watch the show. You can play it from the beginning while it continues to record to the end.

Simultaneous Recording & Playback - While you're recording this week's episode of your favorite show, you may want to watch last week's episode. The Simultaneous Record & Play function makes it possible. It lets you record one program while you watch another one that has already been recorded onto the same disc.

Time Slip Button - The Time Slip function lets you playback desired scenes. With one touch of the Time Slip Button on remote control, you can select the time in a dialog box and return to the desired scene.

Quick View - You can play back at 1.3 times the normal speed, complete with sound, so you can quickly check the contents of a recorded program when you don't have time to watch it at normal speed. This feature can even be used during Chasing Playback.

One-touch Recording & Palyback - The One-touch Record feature seeks out empty space onto a DVD-RAM disc before it begins recording, eliminating the possibility of accidentally recording over a previously recorded program. With the One-touch Play feature, blank portions of the disc are automatically skipped, saving you the need to manually search for the desired program.

Playlist Playback - You can select from among the scenes recorded on a disc and arrange them in any order you want, to create your own original scenario, then save it as a playlist. You can also enjoy seamless transitions between edited scenes.

High-Quality  Linear  PCM Audio - In addition to Dolby Digital audio recording, Panasonic DVD Recorder can record sound using linear PCM (pulse code modulation) without compressing the audio signal. The resulting sound quality is superb. * XP mode only.

Bilingual Recording - Both the main and sub audio channels of sound multiplex broadcasting programs can be recorded. DVD-RAM only

CPRM  Recording Capability - The Panasonic DVD Recorder is ready for future "CPRM* required programs" that permit the recording of only first generation copies.

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