DVD Recorders

[WoodysGirl]

I think I asked this question before, but I'm too lazy to look it up again.

On Best Buy, I see where there's one for $119, but the rest are $199 and up.
Best Buy Link


What's the difference?

I just want something where I can rip stuff from my DVR.

BTW, I already have a 5-disc home theater system. I've got a dvd player/vcr combo in another room.

 

[Danny White]

Link doesn't work.

I will say that I bought a cheapo $99 DVD recorder about 3 or 4 years ago and it's worked fine for me.

I have to imagine that anything made today is better technology than that, so for a small investment, it's probably a safe bet.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Link doesn't work.

I will say that I bought a cheapo $99 DVD recorder about 3 or 4 years ago and it's worked fine for me.

I have to imagine that anything made today is better technology than that, so for a small investment, it's probably a safe bet.

Best Buy took their link down briefly, but it's up now.

But yeah, I'm thinking the $119 recorder is the way to go. I don't need a DVD recorder on steroids.

 

[Danny White]

Yeah, that $119 one is WAY better than what I have. With the 1080p upconversion and all.

Also, it records both +R and -R which is nice. When I bought mine, the things only did one or the other, so you could get stuck with incompatible formats.

I might have to buy one of those myself.

 

[Danny White]

I did notice something in the specs that might be of concern depending on what you're trying to do:

# Inputs: 2 audio (1 front, 1 rear), 1 composite video (rear), 1 DV and 2 S-video (1 front, 1 rear)
# Outputs: 1 composite video, 1 S-video, 1 audio, 1 stereo audio, 1 component video, 1 HDMI and 1 coaxial digital audio

There's no component or HDMI input for the thing, but there is component and HDMI output. That's fine for playing something at high quality, but the signal you have going into the machine is composite or S-video quality at the best... unless I'm missing something, that's kind of limiting.


Edit: Looking at some of the others, they're all like that... I wonder why? You'd think you want highest possible quality for the input.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I did notice something in the specs that might be of concern depending on what you're trying to do:



There's no component or HDMI input for the thing, but there is component and HDMI output. That's fine for playing something at high quality, but the signal you have going into the machine is composite or S-video quality at the best... unless I'm missing something, that's kind of limiting.


Edit: Looking at some of the others, they're all like that... I wonder why? You'd think you want highest possible quality for the input.

Oh man, that's way over my head. I'll just go with your other post and believe that the $119 is a good deal.

 

[Danny White]

Oh man, that's way over my head. I'll just go with your other post and believe that the $119 is a good deal.

If that's over your head, then the cheap one is definitely the way to go.

Composite is the yellow video plug, and Component is the higher quality "red/green/blue" video plugs. HDMI is even higher quality jack that a lot of HD tvs and equipment has these days.

But if all you're trying to do is record video to a DVD, then that'll work for you.

 

[WoodysGirl]

If that's over your head, then the cheap one is definitely the way to go.

Composite is the yellow video plug, and Component is the higher quality "red/green/blue" video plugs. HDMI is even higher quality jack that a lot of HD tvs and equipment has these days.

But if all you're trying to do is record video to a DVD, then that'll work for you.

It's funny, I know how to connect the stuff by color-code, but that's about it. lol

Thanks for the tips, DW.

 

[burmafrd]

Unless your DVR is HD, then component will do. HDMI is really for HD.

 

[theebs]

Unless your DVR is HD, then component will do. HDMI is really for HD.

Yep, You can not pull HD files off of a dvr in the manner which you are talking about.

the files will be sent as SD files. All those HD files are encrypted and can not be burned in that manner.

If you use component cables you should be fine. It will probably take a serious amount of time to burn an HD show onto an SD disk in this manner. I am not really sure because I have never used a stand alone burner but it seems it would be the case.

When I compress The games in HD to Widescreen SD mpeg 2 for sd disks, the compression takes like 2 to 3 times the length of the actual game and the transcoding on the burn takes a while to.

you will get good quality though. And for 119 it is definitely worth it.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Yep, You can not pull HD files off of a dvr in the manner which you are talking about.

the files will be sent as SD files. All those HD files are encrypted and can not be burned in that manner.

If you use component cables you should be fine. It will probably take a serious amount of time to burn an HD show onto an SD disk in this manner. I am not really sure because I have never used a stand alone burner but it seems it would be the case.

When I compress The games in HD to Widescreen SD mpeg 2 for sd disks, the compression takes like 2 to 3 times the length of the actual game and the transcoding on the burn takes a while to.

you will get good quality though. And for 119 it is definitely worth it.

Hmmm. I have a HD DVR. And if the quality will still be high, then I think I'll be alright.

I'll read up on it some more to be sure.

 

[Danny White]

Unless your DVR is HD, then component will do. HDMI is really for HD.

That was my concern, though... the input wasn't component, it was composite.

 

[theebs]

That was my concern, though... the input wasn't component, it was composite.

I didnt really look to close, but as long as their is an S it should be fine.

The 5.1 audio will get bumped down to 2 channel pcm audio and the video to a Widescreen SD mpeg 2 I imagine.

I cant really imagine the component is that much better than the s video in this process.

 

[Danny White]

I didnt really look to close, but as long as their is an S it should be fine.

The 5.1 audio will get bumped down to 2 channel pcm audio and the video to a Widescreen SD mpeg 2 I imagine.

I cant really imagine the component is that much better than the s video in this process.

In reality, I'm way less technically savvy than I'm pretending to be in this thread, so I'll definitely take your word for it.