Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: woodsie
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 12:50 PM

Got a DVD+ burner with my new computer! Look out for a piece of software called ALCHOHOL 120% This allows you to copy commercialy protected DVDs, Playstation games etc, etc ...

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 07:53 AM

I should have mentioned that erasing an RW takes only about a minute, and you can reuse the DVD with no loss of space or quality.

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 07:50 AM

I just bought a Cyberhome CH-DVR 1500 (Walmart ~ $248 US) and am only partially satisfied with the results. As long as I play back the DVD on the unit itself, it works great. But try to play it on another machine, and results are spotty at best, ranging from passable to locking up the machine or computer.

Though computer monitors are poor substitutes for a good TV, I was able to play some DVDs on a high end computer with some success, though it did not recognize chapters I had put in it. I was not able to edit on the computer either. CD Creator 6 would load the files, but said because of the type of sound file, editing would result in loss of sound. That sounds pretty close to useless to me unless you are editing a tape you intend to put your own background music to.

As far as quality goes, if you burn at the 2 hour speed, it is almost indistinguishable from the original, definitely superior to VHS. Search is a bit clunky, but still better and faster than VHS once you get the hang of it, I think.

Most of my trial recordings have been from TV and input from DV camera. I have recorded on both DVD+R and DVD+RW. Mostly I have used the RWs for TV shows and find that quite easy to record and playback. As I said, I like the two hour speed and the four hour speed is "good enough", but I don't like the slower versions at all. It does have a one hour speed, but I have used this very little. I have read that for most purposes, they are pretty much alike.

You can set it to make automatic chapters every five minutes, or you can add your own, post production. So far I have not used the five minute variety. The ones I added myself work fine, and are not "too hard" to do, but as I noted, they vanished when played back on a computer.

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: GUEST,Mappa Mundi
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 04:02 AM

For the best information try the *Which magazine* online site.
There is a months free trial on offer right now; it gives you the lowdown on all marques of recorder - And cuts through the technobabble!

Gives the best prices available too.

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 09:13 PM

I'd sure like to know more about this. Anyone else have experiences with them, especially the set top type you can use for recording TV and input your digital camera as well?

What about hard drive based units that "do it all" ~~ inquiring minds want to know!

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: GUEST,jim clark london england.
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 02:30 PM

I think both - and + formats are around for a while yet...

There is already dvd/rw but your better off with a dvd ram apparently they have a longer rewrite life.Apparently the next generation of dvd recorders will use a blue laser as opposed to the red one in use at present..The blue one will reputedly facilitate higher quality recordings whilst using the longer recording times on discs.

My only gripe with the current dvd recorders is they are a bit clumsy to search on, you cant fast forward like vhs you can skip in segments,but its a rather more tedious method of finding a section of a recording than on tape formats, currently they dont allow for partial deletion or insertion like minidisc or video recorders with flying erase heads allow for. The other thing they dont allow for is synchro copying from a dvd player to also copy chapters and seperations.I can understand that copyrighted recordings should not be copiable in this way,but if like me you would like to make exact copies of your own home produced recordings synchro copying would make life a lot easier. Its possible on cd stand alone cd and minidisc recorders so hopefully in the very near future this will be a facility of dvd recorders too.

My old windows 98 computer isnt realy upto the task of making dvd's.From what i've heard its a time consuming process which not only ties up your computer for hours,but has a high failiure rate (Computers can be such temperamental beasts) that any task requiring several hours may suffer from blips in the power not to mention blips in the PC's mechanism resulting on your hoped for dvd copies not materialising...A stand alone dvd recorder doesnt suffer from this problem..

Jim

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: Justa Picker
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 02:20 PM

I picked up one of these before Christmas.
Excellent. I'm very pleased with it.

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: dwditty
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 02:18 PM

Clinton, they are here.

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 01:59 PM

Whatever you folks do, don't get rid of your other things. My brother kept his Beta Max and his turntable. I'm waiting until prices go down. I'd appreciate hearing other catter critters experiences with the recorders though.

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 01:41 PM

I'm waiting for DVD RWs....

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: Amos
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 01:41 PM

We have a DVD burner, which is not (probably) what you mean. It enables me to make audio or video DVDs on my Mac. I love it.


A

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: GUEST,cookieless Nickp
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 01:35 PM

Also there is some doubt as to which format will win DVD+ or DVD- here goes with Betamax and VHS again!

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: Amergin
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 01:29 PM

my suggestion would be to wait a while before going to them...one the prices will drop...two the technology will get better.

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: s&r
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 12:15 PM

We have a DVD recorder instead of a VCR - for us, it's great because it's got time shift, ie you can watch a tv programmme from the start while it,s still recording.

Stu

Subject: RE: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 11:01 AM

I have not got one, but have seen them for £199 in Richer sounds, i might get one when i can afford it.

Subject: Anybody bought a DVD recorder yet ???
From: GUEST,jim clark london england.
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 09:02 AM

I've had a Panasonic DVD recorder now for about six months and it great being able to preserve my recordings on disc.

I wonder what other Mudcatters experiences have been...

Jim listen online to sound poems & acoustic blues & folk music