I need a DVD Recorder, right?

May 23 2005

I'm in the process of building a new home theatre system from scratch.  So far, I've got the HDTV, a 6.1 surround sound system, a DVD player, and a TiVo.  I'll write more about these components once the whole shebang is set up.

I keep thinking "something is missing".  Well, I'm sure lots of things are, but one thing is a DVD recorder.  Having never bought one or even paid attention, I'm not sure I know enough to be smart about this component.  They sure have dropped in price -- buy.com's mailer today featured a Sharp for $160.  

My main question -- TiVo has a "save to VCR" option.  Is there any reason that couldn't be "save to DVD recorder"?  I realize that's a suboptimal option, since it basically requires program playback.  Still, as Mike Lazar and I have discovered, it's likely to be far more performant than TiVo2Go (while that still remains an option).  So, do I add one of these to the "toys" list?

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Toys  Add/View Comments [25]

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  1. 1  Tony Cocks http://www.tonycocks.com | 5/23/2005 8:59:01 AM

    I've considered the DVD recorder route rather than say a PVR. But if you have a PVR I think you're pretty much covered. I don't think I've ever recorded something and lent it to someone else...

    Add it to the toys list but wait until you actually need one, if you ever do. :o)

  1. 2  Craig Wiseman  | 5/23/2005 9:11:23 AM

    I'd agree with Tony. This stuff changes so rapidly that I'd wait to get one until you actually see a need. On thing you may have a need for (we do) is dubbing old VCR tapes to DVD. In that case you might want to look at the combo DVD Burner/VCRs they allow direct dubbing both ways.

  1. 3  Ben Rose http://www.jaffacake.net | 5/23/2005 9:32:08 AM

    Ensure whatever you buy is High Definition ready. Some stuff may be compatible buy you may end up with low definition recording.

    DVD recorders are falling in price rapidly and some have built in hard-discs now for fast access etc.

  1. 4  Paul Robichaux http://www.e2ksecurity.com | 5/23/2005 9:36:18 AM

    Two ways to do this. The first is to buy an integrated TiVo+DVD, like the Humax DRT800; I have one and use it once a week or so to burn stuff that I want to keep. Easy, quick, good quality. The other route is to add a standalone DVD recorder; my dad added one to his rack because he didn't want to buy a new TiVo. WIth this route, you use the "save to VCR" option on the TiVo, hit "record" on the DVD burner, and away you go. The PQ is worse with this option, but it's cheaper if you already have a TiVo.

    @3: I don't think anyone is actually selling HD DVD burners right now. Several companies have announced (insanely expensive) Blu-ray or HD-DVD units but there aren't any you can actually buy.

  1. 5  Neil http://www.domino-guru.co.uk | 5/23/2005 10:34:34 AM

    Hi,

    I have added a standalone DVD Recorder, for me this gives the maximum flexability, I got a Liteon 506, its ability to read/write to DVD+R and -R and VCD etc is really usefull.

    I will be interested to hear how you go setting up yout Home Theatre System. I have just bought an LCD projector.. and am now just waiting for the screen..

    Loads of fun ahead....

  1. 6  Joe Barnhart  | 5/23/2005 12:03:38 PM

    If you are a little more adventurous, there's an open-source project called MythTv. It's a PVR on steroids. It captures and records high-def programming, stores DVDs like a hard-disk "jukebox", and even saves your MP3 and photo files for playback on your A/V system. I built one with three HD recorder cards and I can "tape" three simultaneous HD broadcasts. It can even support multiple "frontends" (players) and "backends" (recorder boxes) in a networked whole-house environment. All of its setup and program information is kept in an SQL database.

    Limitations: Recorder cards are not available for satellite or all cable systems, but over-the-air broadcasts ARE well covered. It's Linux and open-source, so it supports nearly all the hardware you can throw at it, but requires some fiddling to get it up. To that end, I recommend the KnoppMyth distribution which includes a version of Linux and all support files needed to run MythTv.

    { Link }

    { Link }

  1. 7  Niel  | 5/23/2005 12:40:28 PM

    I have connected a generic DVD recorder from Circuit City to my SD-TIVO and HD-TIVO (Direct TV) and recorded programs using the "transfer to vcr" option.

    FYI - If you don't have the HD-TIVO you are really missing out. They just dropped the price from $999 to $699 and if you are new customer you can get the price down to < $400.

  1. 8  Brian Green  | 5/23/2005 1:28:30 PM

    For anyone without a Tivo (DVR, digital video recorder), go out this weekend and get one. You will absolutely love it!

    I too have been considering a DVD recorder. I'd like to save all those Battlestar Galactica episodes before next season.

  1. 9  Simon Barratt  | 5/23/2005 2:40:24 PM

    Is there anything being broadcast on TV these days that is worth recording????

    I can't remember the last time I wanted to record anything!

    I much prefer watching DVDs that I want to watch, when I want to watch them!

  1. 10  Laurette Rynne http://www.lauretterynne.com | 5/23/2005 11:10:05 PM

    We don't have TIVO in Australia, but we do have pvr's, and a few months ago we purchased a PVR called a Topfield - not sure if it's available in the US, but it's brilliant. It allows for recording two programs, while playing a third, allows for live-tv pausing and rewind (I hardly ever see ads anymore!), and has a nicely structure file system for storing things you've recorded. With a 120gb HDD, you can have around 30 hrs of tv stored, and can also connect it up to your pc to upload open source ad-ons (it's linux based), and download recorded programs. We have a DVD recorder on our PC, so no need for another one. I have not looked at a video since, and now can't watch normal tv without it.

    { Link }

  1. 11  Paul Lilla  | 5/23/2005 11:22:20 PM

    Depends on your needs Ed, but I would say unequivocally, yes. You're seeing another step towards the eventual extinction of the VCR here. I am as big a fan of Tivo as anyone, but all Tivo machines have a finite amount of space with which to save programming. If there is ANYTHING that you want to archive, why would you want to save it to VHS? You will immediately degrade the quality of the recording you want to save.

    I'm sure the future of consumer electronics technology is heading towards a time where any type of programming can be saved as a file on a hard drive "juke box" if you will, but that technology is still many years away and will be $$$$. In the meantime, you will have the ability to save anything: Programs from your DVR/Tivo; Old VHS tapes; even home movies made with a digital camcorder to the most universal DIGITAL media format out there right now.

    As for the unit, I'm personally not a big fan of combo machines because of the fear that one element may go haywire and then you're stuck with only a half-working machine. The integrated Tivo/DVD recorders are a great idea, but I'm unsure of their ability to record "outside" sources, ie. old vhs tapes, or their ability to edit the saved content. I'm going to get a DVD recorder with a built-in hard drive. The hard drive will allow you to make edits to the content and then high-speed burn it to disc. A stand alone recorder would supplant your current DVD player, so you won't be really adding another piece of hardware to your home theater system.

  1. 12  Paul Robichaux http://www.e2ksecurity.com | 5/24/2005 6:35:01 AM

    @7: but the HDTiVo that exists now won't work with DirecTV's MPEG-4 encoding scheme, coming this summer. Even though it's an awesome box, I wouldn't sink the $$ into it at this point since you'll just have to replace it to get DirecTV HD local-into-local coverage.

    @10: cool! I'd never heard of the Topfield units. There is a project to make TiVos work in Australia; see { Link }

    @11: the Pioneer and Humax integrated TiVo+DVD burners can record video via a FireWire or analog connection for playback on the TiVo or burning to DVD. You can't edit the video once it's recorded, though.

  1. 13  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 5/24/2005 6:39:46 AM

    @4 / @12 Paul, well, I bought a "standard" TiVo series 2 box. I suppose I could have returned it, but I unpacked it and it's all set and ready to roll. So, the integrated unit is out.

    It is exactly @11 Paul's point about archiving that leads me to believe I should buy a DVD-R. Oh that and the ability to bring stuff with me on the road. Overall, I think I'm going to add it to the list, but not go particularly high-end.

  1. 14  Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 5/24/2005 10:35:56 AM

    Sony has a pretty cool DVD/R and PVR combo for $799, and it's Hi-Def.

    { Link }

    An alternative/addition may be Orb ({ Link }

    I saw this at CES this year, impressive, mostly the portable video streaming when you're on the road, the coolest feature. But the quality is not as high as with a DVR or PVR.

  1. 15  Neil Agate  | 5/24/2005 10:39:44 AM

    Ed,

    I have to say that the VCR/DVD unit that I recently purchased (actually got it with AMEX miles) is fantastice. Initially I was just buying it to replace a long ago brokeken VCR and a recently broken DVD unit. When I saw that it wasn't that much more expensive to get the DVD recorder I opted for that. While I am happy with the generic features the ability to record DVDs has been the best. I have used it mainly to transfer from VCR and cam corders (including a ton of old VHS-C tapes that need a VHS adapter). I have found this to be much easier and as good if not better quality than taking it directly into the PC.

    I have not even attempted to hook it up to my Comcast HD PVR (in a tie for my favorite toy with the VCR/DVD unit <gr>) but I am hoping to be able to do that down the road.

    Just my two (pence) cents.

    Neil

  1. 16  Paul Robichaux http://www.e2ksecurity.com | 5/24/2005 1:37:06 PM

    @14: the Sony DHG-HDD250 doesn't seem to include any DVD functionality. Still looks pretty tasty, though.

  1. 17  Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 5/24/2005 4:15:40 PM

    @16 - You're right - sorry, I got it mixed up with this one, which is the same price but not HD but has a DVD...

    { Link }

  1. 18  Wild Bill http://www.billbuchan.com | 5/24/2005 5:53:16 PM

    I thought I've seen a panasonic Tivo device with a DVD burner ?

    Or this panasonic ?

    { Link }

    Personally, I'm too cheap. A series one Tivo, cachecard, and tyTools v18. Which I then use to burn interesting shows to MPEG on the house server.

    I'd add ethernet connection to a house server to your wishlist, so that the Tivo/DVD/DVDrecorder can play ripped shows off the file server. Now when *that* comes around, I'll be first in the queue...

    :-)

    ---* Bill

  1. 19  tonyo - the new implants work very well thank you  | 5/25/2005 12:10:28 PM

    How about a media center PC instead ? - pictures, music, video, HD video ?

    :)

  1. 20  Scott http://techlifeblogged.blogspot.com | 5/25/2005 5:45:14 PM

    @19, tonyo do you have a Media Center? I've been thinking about building one but I'm a little worried the non-techies in my house will have trouble with it. They want to insert DVD and watch.

  1. 21  Scott http://techlifeblogged.blogspot.com | 5/25/2005 5:45:17 PM

    @19, tonyo do you have a Media Center? I've been thinking about building one but I'm a little worried the non-techies in my house will have trouble with it. They want to insert DVD and watch.

  1. 22  tonyo - the new implants work very well thank you  | 5/30/2005 4:55:57 PM

    I do have media center running, but it's part time on my desktop machine.

    the interface is well designed, however, I don't have a TIVO and can't compare. With the remote control for it, it's easy to use and has a few more features than a regular TIVO. -( like the guide is free!)

  1. 23  Vera  | 1/17/2006 2:04:34 PM

    We don't have TIVO in Australia, but we do have pvr's, and a few months ago we purchased a PVR called a Topfield - not sure if it's available in the US, but it's brilliant. It allows for recording two programs, while playing a third, allows for live-tv pausing and rewind (I hardly ever see ads anymore!), and has a nicely structure file system for storing things you've recorded. With a 120gb HDD, you can have around 30 hrs of tv stored, and can also connect it up to your pc to upload open source ad-ons (it's linux based), and download recorded programs. We have a DVD recorder on our PC, so no need for another one. I have not looked at a video since, and now can't watch normal tv without it.

    .......

    Am I late for this? I live in the USA and I am desperate to get Topfield.I have TIVO.. Bleh compared to Topfield! I have a friend in Russia, she records stuff from her TV , makes some video clips and send them to me. BRILLIANT.MAGNIFICIENT! The best quality you can imagine!!

    Does anybody know if we will get it here in The USA?

  1. 24  Mike  | 1/3/2007 7:23:29 AM

    I recently purchased a Daytek 951S HDD/DVD Recorder.

    How can I hook it up to my Rogers Digital Box so that I can record any channel? Right now, I can only record on the channel that I am watching.