LG LRA-536 DVD Recorder - VideoHelp.com

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LG LRA-536

Write
~~CDR~~
~~CDRW~~
DVD-R
DVD-RW
~~DVD-R DL~~
DVD+R
DVD+RW
~~DVD+RDL~~
~~DVD-RAM~~

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CDR
CDRW
DVD-R
DVD-RW
~~DVD-R DL~~
DVD+R
DVD+RW
~~DVD+R DL~~
~~DVD-RAM~~

*based on user reports.

Desktop, Firewire

$250

7.5/10
15 votes
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DVD Player features:
Video formats:
DivX JPG DVD-JPG
Audio formats:
MP3 DVD-MP3 WMA DVD-WMA
Other features:
Progressive Scanning

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Region code free hack

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Comments

20 comments, Showing 1 to 20 comments

Rob from Canada reported February 17, 2006:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW ~~DVD-R DL~~	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 CVD?	240 days	6 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Confused ? Can someone clear up my confusion around this LG LRA-536 built-in TV tuner........THe specs for this model on the LG website shows it DOES NOT have an MTS Stereo TV Tuner. I just assumed it did as when I change channels using the built-in tuner on this recorder, I get a "Stereo" indicater on screen showing whether the broadcast is in stereo or mono ? When I called LG ..they initially told me it is not a stereo tuner on this model but when I asked why then it indicates when a show is being broadcast in stereo, they indicated it does record in stereo but it's not MTS Stereo ? I am so confused....I thought TV recording would either be mono or stereo ? Can anyone out there please clarify whether when recording off the built-in tuner, whether you are actually recording in stereo or in mono ? LG seems confused about my question and I am still confused about the answer ? If it's not a built-in stereo TV tuner, then why would it display a stereo or mono indicator on screen when flipping through channels ? Anyone help me out with this one ? Thanks

Gerald from Canada reported January 16, 2006:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	14 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
I need to provide an epliloge to my timer saga. After an e-mail to LG Canada they confirmed by return e-mail that you need to turn the power OFF in order for the timer function to work. No mention of this is made in the manual. The timer function works fine for me if I do this. After some reflection, I remember that is the way my ancient VCR recorder works too, so I should have figured that out. HOWEVER THE LG MANUAL SHOULD MENTION CRITICAL DETAILS LIKE THAT.

kevin from Canada reported January 09, 2006:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	120 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Seems to work great in most situations. have no problems with the timer setup etc. I have had problems though with the unit 'locking up' on me where the display freezes, the icons freeze on the front of the unit and nothing works. i.e. stop, eject, power - nothing. I have to physically remove the power cord to reboot it. This had created a couple of coasters for me since menus werent written on the dvd-r media yet. anyone else experience this?

Yves from Canada reported January 04, 2006:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	14 days	5 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
I have the LG LRA-536 since 2 weeks( Futur Shop).I have the same probleme that Gerald: The Timer Recording function does not seem to work. The darn thing just does not start recording when scheduled. I changed for a Pioneer DVR-233-S.

Gerald from Canada reported January 02, 2006:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW	DVD-R? DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	1 days	5 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Just got the LG LRA-536 today and am generally pleased but have had two problems with it. 1. I have not had 100% success in getting my computer DVD player/writer to read the disks (DVD-RW) it makes. It works 90% of the time. If I keep this thing, I will need to test every disk to confirm it wrote properly. The disks the computer won't read, work fine in my other DVD player. 2. The Timer Recording function does not seem to work. The darn thing just does not start recording when scheduled. (Believe me I have triple checked that I am following the manual.) I like the other features, so would be sorry to have to return it. The jury is still out on this one.

Pierre from Canada reported December 08, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL	VCD XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 196kbit/s WMA 196kbit/s CVD?	2 days	9 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
I bought my unit at Future Shop in Laval,Qc, Canada. It works great and read the DIVX format as expected. Good image quality, fonctions are very intuitives and good looking! To make it region free is very easy.Tuner is o'k. DVD editing is just perfect (A+). I am very happy with the DivX/Xvid playback. Easy to use, good quality, very compatible... BAD : No random play for Audio CD's or MP3's. But this unit can play DVD+R DL but not for recording. Otherwise, this Recorder is perfect. Good image quality, fonctions are very intuitives and good looking! Great !!! I'm very satisfy for the cost !!!

Karl from Canada reported November 29, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 WMA CVD?	90 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
I agree with all the other users. 6 hour mode sucks - maybe ok for watching a cartoon or something. I use the 4 hour mode to record things to watch and 2 hour mode for archiving/movies. It will play DL discs, but not record them. The good thing about the recorder is the Divx and WMA support (which I needed). It's Divx Certified, so the new divx6 container with multiple subtitles and audio works perfectly. Another handy feature is that it converts ALL inputs to one output. The only svideo input (on the front), the composite inputs, and even the cable input will all output over the component outputs (even in progressive scan!!!). Note that it will output progressive only out the component connection, otherwise you could have all inputs routed out the svideo, composite or even the cable connector. The PIP function is also handy, and in combination with a TV with PIP, you could have PIPIP :-) I also confirm that the multi-region hack works, and PAL discs work fine. Beware that it may not be able to play all MP3/WMA from a dvd (it would only play the first few folders on mine, but that could be my error). Overall, I'm very pleased with the machine, but I can't say how it compares to the competition.

George from Canada reported November 27, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	2 days	9 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Great dvd recorder. Had a hard time getting the settings right from cable box to dvd recorder and to tv so that I can record in digital or watch tv in dts and also play back in dts. Instructions should include this. Also it would be nice to have more hook up choices in the back.Regional hack to change so that it plays all regions works excellent. The only thing I wish for is a hack to copy encrypted movies so that I can back up my movies. Guess I have to continue using the computer. This is a much better dvd recorder than the liteon ($152 us). The LG costs a bit more but it was worth it. The liteon skips on some recordings. Their only advantage is that there is a macro hack that works

Frederic from Canada reported September 28, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	1 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
I bought that dvd recorder yesterday and did some tests with it. READING DVD: I compare it with my cheap electrohome and philips I had before. my philips was a DVP642 divx compatible. The results for playing divx are fine, like the DVP642. I am satisfied. The file list displays more that the only 11 characters permitted on the philips, so this LG is better on that point (44 characters max I think). I tried some divx files on verbatim dvd-r without any troubles. It correctly reads the standard DVD with good quality. My old Electrohome and Philips were able to read iso-mpeg (mpeg files directly wrote on dvd like divx), this one can't. I inserted a dvd-r with some mpeg files on it, it ejects the disk saying "invalid format". RECORDING DVD: First of all, you have to know that, to have a good mpeg quality, you must have a perfect input signal, because the mpeg compression compare the actual image with the last one, store the differences, and if you signal is very bad, the algorighm of mpeg compression views that the whole image had been changed instead of just parts of the screen, so your mpeg quality will be bad. So, when recording from the analog signal (cable with tuner), the results are not as good as when I record from line-in through my digital cable box. With the digital cable box, the results are REALLY fine, even in LQ quality (4.5 hours on 1 disc). the EQ quality(6.5 hours / disc) is really not good, just enough to record something you want to delete after and if the image quality is not important. but LQ quality is fine. There is 2 more quality settings, that are better than LQ and produced a really clean image, if your input signal is good. It's sure that if you select the best quality, but record a bad video signal, the result will be bad. The menus are fine and clean, easy to follow and understand. The remote control is well made, buttons are placed at good locations, but saying that my old remote was the philips DVP642 one, any remote on the planet should be better than this one ! One thing that I like is that any video signal that goes in the dvd record (RCA input 1 or 2, or cable signal) is output through the S-VIDEO output, even if there is no s-video input. So I don't have to try to make a lot of connections to my tv, I only plug the s-video cable and it's fine, the yellow rca cable can remain disconnected! The cable tuner is very sensible. The channels are clearer when I use the dvd as tv tuner than when I plug the cable directly in my RCA television ! I am satisfied and I strongly suggests that dvd recorder. But take note (and all vendors in the world should say it to their customers), that a dvd recorder is OK of you have a very strong and perfect cable signal, or a digital cable or satellite box connected in the line in. If you have noise, lines or snow in your image, I think that any brand of mpeg recorder will produce bad results ! In that case, keep our old VCR !

usul256 from Canada reported August 24, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW ~~DVD+R DL~~	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	30 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
This is my first DVD recorder and i am a little disappointed with the recording quality. The sound is always good but sometimes you can see defects on the recorded video, even in 2hr mode. I don't know if this is always the case with DVD recorders, but it's a little annoying. I am very happy with the DivX/Xvid playback. Easy to use, good quality, very compatible... This unit is NOT Dual Layer, despite what is says on the box! Overall, i am happy with my purchase.

Bob from Canada reported July 29, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	30 days	No rating
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
I feel after some useage of this DVD recorder that there are serious production faults associated with it's release to the mass markets....quality standards were not met in my opinion. First, the product was shipped out with tagging on the product inside the box saying that it was Dual Layer capable upto 11 hrs max recording on a DL DVD+R disc......this is incorrect and it was later corrected on the LG website...I wasted $25 on purchase of a 3 pack of DL discs and since they were opened, couldn't be returned !! The second main concern I have regarding this recorder: the LCD display shows several incons that do not light. The website even shows the unit with icons lite that I cannot get to work on mine....I returned my first LG LRA536 thinking I had gotten a defective one for this reason, and the second unit is exactly the same. I called LG and was basically told that the LCD boards on their recorders are generic and made for several models and not all icons apply to all recorders......I think this is a load of crap, as the icons that do not display are basic dolby symbol, whether disc is MP3 or DVD or VCD or DIVX etc, a disc active (turning) icon along with a few other standard ones............and no one at LG could verify with me exactly which symbols and icons were supposed to light up on this model !! You would think they could at least be able to tell you that much !! Sorry LG, I think you released a crappy recorder .... DIVX seemed to be the big selling feature of this recorder, but I think the quality standards were forgotten for every other part of this recorder.....even the picture recording quality isn't as good as the LG 435 which I also own.......... I am taking the LG LRA536 back to were it was purchased for a refund.

Corey from Canada reported July 20, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	1 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Just got it, so far very good but only 1 dig at it is I can't seem to figure out how to change from Mono to Stereo Sound. Other then that quality is good so far. Will update later when I can do a bit more with it

Eddy from Canada reported July 20, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	1 days	No rating
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Hi, I wish to back up old PAL VHS onto DVD. Can I record PAL video -- played by a multisystem VCR -- with this recorder? What will be the final video system? On the other hand, can I choose the output video system? There is a region hack, which implies PAL video can be played. Is the output video in NTSC, so it can be viewed on an NTSC TV? Thanks you very much.

Philippe from Canada reported July 07, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW ~~DVD+R DL~~	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 CVD?	21 days	9 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
I bought my unit at Future Shop in Montreal. It works great and read the DIVX format as expected. Only a complain : Do you think it's normal that the clock stay at the same hour when I'm watching the tv (the dvd is "on" and my Bell express vu decoder is plugged via rca). But when I'm switching to an other function (display or "open/close"...) the clock return to the good hour! Stange, no? I hope that I was clear enought to explein my problem!!! Otherwise, this Recorder is perfect. Good image quality, fonctions are very intuitives and good looking!

Pock from Canada reported July 05, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	2 days	10 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Great!!!

boomer from Canada reported June 28, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 320kbit/s CVD?	1 days	No rating
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
No random play for Audio CD's or MP3's.

Bob from Canada reported June 23, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW ~~DVD+R DL~~	VCD XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 WMA CVD?	7 days	3 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Thanks Pol for posting how to make this recorder region free. I bought the LG - LGR435 recorder a few months ago and was really impressed overall, especially with the recording quality of the recorder even at 6 hour compression setting (EQ) The built-in TV tuner seems to be very sensitive in the LGR435 as well. I purchased the LG-LRA536 at Future Shop a week ago and so far, I do not feel the quality is the same: 1/ I don't think that the built-in TV tuner is near as good as the LGR435. The recording quality at EQ has noticable pixilation during playback (the LGR435 didn't) I suspect that for cheaper production cost, the new LRA536 does NOT have the single domino encoding/decoding chip...where the LGR435 does and it is very noticeable !! 2/ The LRA536 is listed on the website as being capable of recording dual layer using DVD+R DL media. The recorder even has a "pop-up" display card stuck to the top of the recorder out of the box (for retail store display purposes) also advertising the dual layer recording capability. Sadly, I wasted $25.00 buying a 3-pack of DL DVD+R media to anxiously try out this recorders dual layer capability.......l can confirm that this recorder does not record to DL media. LG has made an error listing the DL capability feature on both on the product website as well as the product packaging. (see later) 3/ The first LRA536 recorder that I purchased I thought was defective as a portion of the LCD display left portion that is suppose to have icons for various things did not light-up. I returned it stating it was defective on the display area. The second unit which I purchased was exactly the same and the supposed feature that were too light up did not. Even the LG website picture of this product and the display show graphics in the left portion of the display area that actually light up. I held a flashlight up to the lcd board and could clearly see all kinds of icons that should light, but for some reason don't ??? The only things I could get to display in the big "dark area" was a small red "REC" when recording material and a mini clock face once a program had been entered for timer recording. It appears there is a dolby icon, DVD icon, VCD icon, and a few others that I could not quite make out. I did contact LG Canada product support and must say I was impressed that I actually spoke with a live person who was informative, however, my suspicions were confirmed after speaking with them on a few of the technical issues. It looks as though they rolled out the LRA536 incorrectly saying that it does burn dual layer DVD+R DL discs......when talking on the phone, they admitted this recorder DOES NOT have that capability and apologized for this error. They also indicated that the LCD display board portion that does not light may be because the LCD board may be a general "template" for other recorders as well and not all incons printed on the board may not display for different recorders.......all I know is that it's a big "dark area" that is a noticeable waste of space when you are using the recorder. They also could not confirm whether the LRA536 uses the single domino encoding/decoding chip, nor could they confirm if the TV tuner board is the same as the boards in the LGR435 recorders. The only "feature" that this recorder has over the LGR435 is the fact that it can play Divx/xvid formats......other than this, the LGR435 is twice the machine in terms of recording quality !! I think I will be returning this recorder and waiting for LG to get it right.

pol from Canada reported June 21, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	4 days	No rating
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
To make region free: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=LG%20LRA-536

Bob from Canada reported June 20, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW ~~DVD-R DL~~	DVD+R DVD+RW ~~DVD+R DL~~	VCD XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 VBR WMA VBR CVD?	4 days	No rating
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
LG website indicates this recorder is Dual Layer capable on DVD+R DL discs....the packaging on the inside of the recorder shows it has Dual Layer +R recording capability.....however, when I purchased and tried some Dynex Dual Layer DVD+R DL discs....they were not recognized and the recorder actually ejected the disc.....perhaps LG will be coming out with a firmware upgrade to make the recorder dual layer capable ? Funny all the packaging and website says it has dual layer capability ??? Previous comment by pol indicates this player/recorder is easy to make region free...but does not include how to do this ??? Could you please share with everyone the steps needed to make this recorder/player region free.

pol from Canada reported June 20, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 CVD?	3 days	9 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
I spent 250 CA$ at Futureshop (Canada) So far so good To make it region free is very easy. DivX - very good (better than Phillips 642) 60 minutes, 120 m. DVD recording are good, 3 hours - not bad, 6 hours - not as good as 2 h. mode (everything on 4.7G disk). Tuner is o'k. DVD editing is just perfect (A+). Formatting disk takes no more than 3 minutes. Finalizing - the same. Compatibility with other DVD players - good (depends on the mode you format the disk (there are 2 modes)). But if you have DVD-RW with something on it written on a computer you must erase the disk on the computer and after you can format it on LG. So.... my rating is 9 of 10 so far.

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