TMPGEnc v4.0 Xpress Half D1 to Full D1 filter for DVD-VR scans

The manual isn't too helpful either - "Recording error other than below," it says. There are a couple of possibilities. The Philips/Magnavox/Funai recorders automatically record in VR mode when you use +R discs (there are two possible recording modes - V Mode and VR Mode). Is it possible that you have switched disc types lately? If you are currently using -R discs, switch to +R and vice versa. The manual states that +/-RW discs take a while to initialize.

I couldn't find a full factory reset on that one, so you may have to unplug the unit for about 20 minutes to restore all the defaults.

Another possibility: Finalization requires some extra space on the disc. If you accidentally pressed the button that changes the recording format between SP, EP, LP, etc., you may not be able to fit the same amount of video on the disc that you were able to fit before. You can change the format by pressing the Disc Mode button on the remote - LP Mode will fit 3 hours worth of recordings onto a 2-hr disc and is considered a "medium quality" recording. Try changing the Disc Mode to LP and see if it will finalize the next disc that you record. The downside of this possibility is that the discs that you have already made that are giving you errors are not "fixable" - you will will have to re-record the shows to a new disc in LP mode.

Good luck!

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

VR mode or Video Recording mode is a feature on stand-alone consumer and computer DVD recorders that allows video recording and editing on a DVD rewriteable disc.
In VR mode, users can create and rename titles for the scenes. Also, if a scene is deleted, the space allocated by it will be utilized later without the need of reformatting a disc.
If the user would like to record on the same disc again in later time, on VR mode, users may eject the disc and it will not be finalized by the recorder until it is manually initiated. For the sake of comparison, any DVD disc recorded in VR's competitor V mode (or Video mode) will be automatically finalized before it is ejected by the recorder. Disc finalization is still required if the disc formatted for VR mode will be played in another DVD player.
Currently, users can only record in VR mode with the use of DVD-RW, DVD-RAM and DVD+RW discs, (updated in 2000 to accommodate DVD-R (General)) [DVD players marked “RW compatible” and “DVD Multi” can play DVD-VR recorded discs] and on some recorders, also on hard-disk drives.
Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD also support VR mode-like features.

Accordingly when DVD recorders became a viable option the features offered by <Video Mode> were minimal - the linear structure did not allow post recording editting or non-linear playback. Thus the DVD Forum devised Video Recording (VR) mode.

Unlike DVD-Video this uses a much simplier file structure that allows non-linear modification to the recorded data. This means features such as partial erase, editting, playlists, simulataneous record/playback, mixing of different media types (JPEG, MPEG1/2/4, MP3, WMA, WMV etc) and, in future models, dual record are all possible."

That basically summerises the differences: video is a linear recording that should end up DVD-Video compatible, VR is a digital recording mode that allows HDD-like functionality on disc.

Do you need to always be able play your recorded DVD-RW discs on other DVD Players? If yes you have to use Video Mode, although some players will play VR mode discs, and you can test this easily by giving it a go.

The main differences are:

DVD Video mode on DVD-RW

Plus points: Provides good compatibility (70% plus). That’s the only plus, plain and simple.

Negative Points: Only simple linear editing possible, really just hiding a title. You can reuse space only when you delete the last title or completely reformat but lose everything in the process. No defect management. Requires finalisation to play in other DVD Players. No possibility of time-slip, i.e. recording and playing back at the same time.

DVD VR mode (Video Recording)

Plus points: Better use of recording rates by having intermediate resolutions. Defect management so reliable. Time-slip on 2 speed media if supported by the recorder, allowing record and playback at the same time. Non-linear editing. Any space freed is reused automatically (think hard-drive or Mini-Disc) and added to the remaining time.

Negative Points: Not very compatible with existing DVD Players, plain and simple.

Of course if you have a hard-drive based recorder then all the negatives are wiped out, as you use VR mode on the hard-drive which gives you all the pluses of VR mode, then record to DVD-RW in Video Mode to give you the compatibility to play the disc elsewhere.
- A recording on DVD-RAM will always use VR mode
- A recording on DVD-R will always use Video mode
- A recording on DVD-RW can be either Video or VR depending which is set before the recording is made.
- A recording to DVD+RW or DVD+R will always use Video mode
- Many HDD/DVDR combi recorders will record to the HDD in VR mode and allow you to dub (digitally) to DVD-R in Video mode.

Here is your manual:
http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/d/dvdr3545v_37/dvdr3545v_37_dfu_aen.pdf

Dont use xp mode. Here are the definitions:
SP is short for Standard Play. Standard play allows you to record information onto the tape the way it was intended, with no quality loss. By default, VCRs and camcorders will record your footage as standard play. On a standard VHS tape, recording footage in SP mode will yield 2 hours of video.
LP is short for Long Play. Long play allows you to record much more information at the expense of quality. It accomplishes this by reducing the speed the tape is run through the VCR. As the tape speed decreases, the quality will also decrease. You’ll notice this effect when comparing a tape recorded at LP versus one recorded at SP, especially after years of storage. The LP tape will appear more blurred, have more tracking and color issues than tapes recorded at SP. A VHS tape recorded at LP can hold roughly 4 hours of video.
EP/SLP is short for extended play. Extended play is similar to LP, but actually provides you even more recording time. EP was primarily used to document long, continuous events without the need to change video tapes every 2 hours. Due to the fact that the video is not of optimal quality, many times this setting was not used in order to preserve the quality of your footage. Tapes recorded at EP usually are the most problematic after years of storage, displaying a wide variety of tape damage symptoms including color loss, audio loss, frame skipping, and tracking issues.

Have you tried to see if you can record in sp directly. That is, without any timed delay?

See the manual, page 8:

What are “Recording modes”? for DVD-RW
There are two recording modes available using this
recorder: VR mode and Video mode. When recording to
a DVD-R disc, recordings are always in Video mode.
DVD-RW discs can be formatted for VR mode recording
or Video mode recording.
VR mode recording
• 4 different picture quality/recording time settings available
(SP, LP, EP, XP)
• Not playable on regular DVD players
• Recordings can be extensively edited
• Total number of titles on the disc should be less than
99.
Video mode recording
• 4 different picture quality/recording time settings available
(SP, LP, EP, XP)
• Playable on regular DVD players (after finalizing)
• Limited editing features
• Total number of titles on the disc should be less than
99.
Note :
DVD-Video Format (Video mode) is a new format for
recording on DVD-R/RW discs that was approved by
the DVD Forum in 2000. You may therefore experience
problems playing recordable DVD discs in some players.
Symptoms include video artifacts, audio and/or
video dropouts and playback suddenly stopping.
Our company cannot take responsibility for problems
playing discs recorded on this VCR/DVD Recorder in
other players.