Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic DMR-ES20DEBS DVD RAM Disc Recorder

The title says it all. This product is awesome.

Imagine, your DVD player, video recorder and Freeview box, all rolled into one sleak package.

This machine has VideoPlus built-in, but you just don't need it. Hit the "Guide" button to see what's on TV tonight across all of the Freeview channels, select the programme you're interested in, and hit the ENTER button.

A little "T" (for Timer recording) appears next to the programme name, and you've just set this machine to record that programme. The machine will even tell you if there's enough room on your disc to record your programme.

When you have a DVD-Ram disc in the machine, it displays the programmes are on it using six large thumbnail images. When the cursor is over one of them, the video for that recording starts being played in the thumbnail area.

Even better, where possible, the machine automatically displays the NAME of the programme you recorded just under it. So you know that a particular recording is "Little Britain" from December 30th.

When watching a recording, you can "add a chapter" by pressing a button on the remote. I use this when an commercial break starts and ends, as I can then remove this chapter - the adverts are removed from the recording entirely.

As you can tell, I'm a huge fan of this machine, and am surprised at how much I love it. I previously paid £10.50 a month for a "family" cable TV package in Bristol, and am about to cancel it in favour of FreeView. It's simply so much faster and easier to use than the cable TV package. Hitting the red interactive button used to take 30 seconds to display a page, with this box, it's just a couple of seconds.

Very very impressive.
If you're about to shell out for a basic DVD recorder or a basic Freeview box, do have a look at this machine first.

Three devices, one remote control, and fantastic quality.

(Quick disclaimer: No, I don't work for Panasonic, and didn't receive a bribe to say all of this !)

Bad points: Errm, as with all Panasonic recorders, you can't just type in a special code to make it multi-region. You either have to buy one that's already hacked, or find a shop on the internet which'll sell you a remote control to convert it (for about £20)

Mike

I can't recommend this enough.
Setting it up to record is so easy with only 4 button presses:
Press 1: Pull up the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide - style of screen familiar to anyone with Freeview or Sky already)
Press 2: Select the program you want and hit 'enter'
Press 3: 'enter' to confirm
Press 4: hit 'timer' button to put unit into standby.

DVD RAM discs are brilliant - start watching the beginning of a program whilst the end is still recording, or watch something different off the same disk whilst its recording.
Once recorded you can create chapters, delete advert breaks etc.
As soon as you pop in a disc it pulls up a screen with shots of each program you have recorded, the date and title - no more searching for what you recorded!

4hr long play quality is great for every day viewing.

The jump in quality from my VHS to recording a digitial TV signal onto DVD is huge.

I know that you can now get DVD recorders for <£100 but they just don't offer any of the useful features associated with Freeview and DVD RAM.
This product actually changed the way we watch TV... no more sitting though advert breaks, e.g. girlfriend records Desperate Housewives from 10pm, starts watching at 10:20, can then skip though advert breaks and finish watching a 1hr show in 40mins!

One word of warning - this needs a strong digital TV signal if you plan to record whilst watching different digital channel (using seperate box / digital TV). I noticed poor quality recordings from the non BBC/ITV channels e.g. E4. This is easily solved using a cheap signal booster. If you're connecting to your TV via a Scart lead (and why wouldn't you?!) turning off the RF output (see manual) also helps in this department.

BUY THIS PRODUCT!!

What a great buy. When my VCR broke, I was confused by the range of DVD recorders on offer - do I want one with hard drive, without, DVD + or DVD -. Then I found this one. We all know that analogue TV will be switched off and so in order to watch one programme and record another at the same time, you will need two digi boxes. This box is now filling the role of two devices for me.
The programme guide is great and setting a recorder is very easy. I've a disabled brother and was worried about how he would manage in the digital world long term. If technology like this continues to improve in this direction, no worries.
The DVD-RAM option means you can record a programme and watch it in catch up mode (skip the adverts while it is being recorded).

A great purchase and I'm really pleased with it.

I have had a few DVD recorders now (LiteOn & Toshiba) but they have been either average or unreliable. I have wanted a Panasonic DVD recorder for some time, but they have been expensive, but now they are very reasonable.
I was debating whether to get the ES-10 (without Freeview) or the ES-20. In terms of price there is approx £50 difference. One of my colleague has an ES-20 and he thoroughly recommended this.
I am glad I took his advise as the ES-20 is superb. My primary use from this DVD recorder is to back-up all the camcorder tapes, VHS tapes and finally get rid of VHS technology. All these are possible now. Recording is a breeze especially if you are recording onto RAM discs. I have become a convert to RAM since experiencing RAM functionality. You can make post recording editting like deleting, stitching, moving scenes, chapter creation and text edit. What’s more amazing is you can preview or watch what you have recorded whilst it is still recording - unbelievable when you consider what the other DVD formats are capable of. Which brings me onto the next bit nicely. This unit can record onto DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW but not DVD+RW. When recording onto these formats you can do very minimal editing, like deleting a recording on the disc before finalising. The best bit about the Panasonic is that it automatically creates chapters on these discs at 5min intervals. Chapter creations on RAM discs are a little more complex. You need to scan through the recording and select the moment you want to create the chapter, this is a good thing and a bad thing as it takes that bit longer but the results are much better.
RAM discs also do not require formatting or finalising, therefore it is an ideal alternative to replacing the good old VHS tapes. Once you insert a RAM disc it is ready within a second - ideal for TV recording.
Recording from external source is very easy due to the connections available. Connect you Sky, VHS, DVD, Camcorder, TV or what ever you have with a scart or composites.
Recording from Freeview is stunning and this is why you would want to buy the ES-20 over ES-10. Watching back F1 or footie or Corrie never looked to tasty. Picture quality in 4hr recording is very clear but 8hrs EP recording will not justify having a DVD. Picture is very grainy.
So is this a perfect DVD recorder? it's hard to say, as the only downside is the remote control - it is not the easiest and on screen step by step guide would have been useful. It also takes 30secs at least to warm up when turning on from stand-by -but that is something i have experienced with all other makes.
If you are in the market to buy a DVD recorder without a hard drive then I believe this should be on your short list. Picture, function and build is worth your buck. The last thing, if you decide to buy RAM discs Amazon is the cheapest for 10pk.

I was having increasing trouble with my VCR, DVD player and old digital set-top box combination and searched Amazon to try and find something that would mean I could replace them, preferably with just one box. After reading the reviews for this Panasonic DVD recorder with built-in Freeview tuner I bought it and can honestly say it is amazingly good value for money. Set-up was very easy and I was playing and recording within minutes. There are so many functions to this machine that I'm still learning and still amazed by what it can do. I'm currently transferring all my old videos to DVD after which I plan to ditch my VCR. I can't recommend this machine highly enough - if you are still hesitating, then don't!