I tried all of the Panasonic VCR codes (I think 0162 and one other worked but with same results), and, before that, I had reprogramed the AUX device key to work as a VCR key per the instructions that came with the remote. The 9450 is a current Panasonic VCR model so likely has not been out very long, but is almost identical to last year's 8450.
I should add I subsquently tried a newer Cinema 7 (learning version - 7800), and on it the menu key does not work at all for this VCR - at least it did not start the VCR recording and it could be reprogramed for the menu function. However, it had other problms with the up and right select buttons for this VCR and my RCA DVD player and I took it back to Best Buy (it may have had 2 defective buttons as these buttons work fine on the 7200 on all my devices, but they worked ok on the 7800 with my old backup VCR) and got my money back. It appears there are more differences between these models than just the cost and the learning keys.