Novice DVR/DVD recorder question

[Russ Smith]

I'm one of those communists who hasn't bought a DVR yet. it's on my list.

I really want to record the Discovery Channel Planet Earth series, but not on my VCR, I want it on CD.

Is there a reason why just buying a DVD recorder (79.99 at Circuit City) and recordable CD's(not that pricey) is a dumb move and I should just buy a DVR?

My thinking is I really only want it now to record this particular special. I'm assuming it's possible to take recordings off a DVR and put them on a CD but you'd need a DVD recorder for that anyways right?

I know that once I record this show I can loan the DVD's to my dad, sisters, mom, girlfriend's family etc, which is why the notion of just recording it on CD appeals to me over a DVR.

Comments?

 

[Linderbee]

well, technically, you need recordable dvds, not cds. I don't know of any way to get your recorded stuff from your dvr to dvd easily. For what you want to do, it would probably be better to get the dvd burner, although I'm not tech savvy enough to even tell you how to get it from your tv to the dvd burner.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Well, it depends on the DVR. If you have the HD/DVR from Cox, when you get into the recorded shows guide, you have the option to "Copy to VCR." Your DVD recorder would need to be connected to the DVR and it will copy it that way.

If at all possible, I would buy a DVD recorder that has a built in hard drive. You will have more success that way.

 

[abomb]

D-Dogg has had great success with the Cox DVR and a Pioneer DVD Recorder.

Russ, you could also try tracking down the torrent (avi) files on the Internet after the show airs. That is what I do with Heroes, 24, Lost, etc.

 

[Linderbee]

Well, it depends on the DVR. If you have the HD/DVR from Cox, when you get into the recorded shows guide, you have the option to "Copy to VCR." Your DVD recorder would need to be connected to the DVR and it will copy it that way.

If at all possible, I would buy a DVD recorder that has a built in hard drive. You will have more success that way.

I'm glad cox offers that--I have dish network, and I love it, but I can't get stuff to dvd that I know of, which sucks.

 

[Covert Rain]

Russ you keep saying DVD then CD's. Recordable DVD's are not CD's. I am assuming you mean Recorddable DVD's when you say that. If you loan out alot of your recorded content then having a DVD recorder is a must. I really don't so for me, I love my HD-DVR. I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China. OK, actually I would and put it on E-bay for an auction but that's a different story.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I'm glad cox offers that--I have dish network, and I love it, but I can't get stuff to dvd that I know of, which sucks.

What is the manufacturer of your Dish box? I am sure it is possible, I'll help out.

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ you keep saying DVD then CD's. Recordable DVD's are not CD's. I am assuming you mean Recorddable DVD's when you say that. If you loan out alot of your recorded content then having a DVD recorder is a must. I really don't so for me, I love my HD-DVR. I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China. OK, actually I would and put it on E-bay for an auction but that's a different story.

Yes sorry I mean DVD's not CD's.

And yes again my intent here is that I know my dad doesn't get Discovery(he doesn't even have cable) and when I got the DVD's for Blue Planet I wound up loaning them to family so I figured I'd like to do the same with DVD's of Planet Earth without having to wait for it to be released on DVD.

I guess I have to look up the price on recordable DVD's because I think I looked at CD's when I looked it up.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Yes sorry I mean DVD's not CD's.

And yes again my intent here is that I know my dad doesn't get Discovery(he doesn't even have cable) and when I got the DVD's for Blue Planet I wound up loaning them to family so I figured I'd like to do the same with DVD's of Planet Earth without having to wait for it to be released on DVD.

I guess I have to look up the price on recordable DVD's because I think I looked at CD's when I looked it up.

Dvds are getting pretty cheap. You can find 50 cheaper style DVDs frequently for under $20.

 

[D-Dogg]

I'm glad cox offers that--I have dish network, and I love it, but I can't get stuff to dvd that I know of, which sucks.

Get a DVD Recorder that has a built in hard drive...several of them out there.

Record the show on the DVD Recorder from your DVR, then burn it out off the DVD Recorder's hard drive.

I have a terrible time with the Record to VCR function on Cox DVR, as the quality comes out poor.

 

[Linderbee]

Get a DVD Recorder that has a built in hard drive...several of them out there.

Record the show on the DVD Recorder from your DVR, then burn it out off the DVD Recorder's hard drive.

I have a terrible time with the Record to VCR function on Cox DVR, as the quality comes out poor.

huh?????

How do I record the show on the dvd recorder from my dvr? How much does a dvd recorder w/hard drive run?

single mom, single income, remember.

 

[D-Dogg]

huh?????

How do I record the show on the dvd recorder from my dvr? How much does a dvd recorder w/hard drive run?

single mom, single income, remember.

Hmm, they aren't cheap. $250ish? Maybe sale $179?

When you have one, it is kind of like having a second DVR (my recorder actually can DVR from TV, too but it's crap functionality). So you "play" from the DVR and record it on the DVHD. Then, you can delete it from your DVR.

Edit, cut commercials, do whatever on the DVHD and then burn it out.

That's the way it works for me.

 

[Linderbee]

Hmm, they aren't cheap. $250ish? Maybe sale $179?

When you have one, it is kind of like having a second DVR (my recorder actually can DVR from TV, too but it's crap functionality). So you "play" from the DVR and record it on the DVHD. Then, you can delete it from your DVR.

Edit, cut commercials, do whatever on the DVHD and then burn it out.

That's the way it works for me.

ouch. How do you connect them together, though? Simple enough a caveman could do it? Or will I need help?

 

[D-Dogg]

ouch. How do you connect them together, though? Simple enough a caveman could do it? Or will I need help?

Caveman could do it. Cavewoman on the other hand.....



I keed, I keed. If you have issues, PM Dreamcast...he lives for component cable conversations.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Caveman could do it. Cavewoman on the other hand.....



I keed, I keed. If you have issues, PM Dreamcast...he lives for component cable conversations.

Actually, using the Cox DVR, you have to use either the Composite or S-Video connections, as I am pretty sure that it will only output in 480i. (hence the picture quality issues that D-Dogg mentioned)

I do agree with getting a Recorder with a hard drive built in, but if you do not have it in your budget, and you want to just go with one of those sub $100 Costco models, let me know.

 

[Russ Smith]

Actually, using the Cox DVR, you have to use either the Composite or S-Video connections, as I am pretty sure that it will only output in 480i. (hence the picture quality issues that D-Dogg mentioned)

I do agree with getting a Recorder with a hard drive built in, but if you do not have it in your budget, and you want to just go with one of those sub $100 Costco models, let me know.

I'm thinking of this one

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pye-...53630/catOid/-12876/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Has good reviews, only 79.99 at Circuit City. Does NOT have a hard drive but I think my use will be pretty much limited to recording on DVD's.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I'm thinking of this one

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pye-...53630/catOid/-12876/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Has good reviews, only 79.99 at Circuit City. Does NOT have a hard drive but I think my use will be pretty much limited to recording on DVD's.

Do you have a Costco membership? I always seem to find sub $100 players at Costco. These types of products always seem to have user dislike/regret all over it. Their liberal policy may do wonders for you here.

I don't think that they have any on their website, but I know they have some in stores.

 

[Russ Smith]

Well it turns out there's more to these things that meets the eye I wish I'd read the reviews before buying. I got a Sony that was 60 bucks off and since the guy at Circuit City assured me it could handle DVD+R DVD's I bought a pack of those. I had some problems programming it to record Planet Earth last night, you're supposed to be able to do it like a VCR where you watch one channel and record another, but instead it recorded Line 1 which is blank. Still toying with that the menu just gave me the option of L1 or L2 but I'm assuming there must be a way to enter the channel # that I just haven't figured out yet. Luckily Discovery reshows all 3 shows from last night on Thursday.

Then I discovered the 2nd error of my ways, one that the very first review of my new recorder explains on Circuit City's site, if I'd only read it before buying it. DVD+R and DVD+RW are essentially proprietary formats only supported by a few DVD players. My Samsung can't read it. +RW is rewriteable, +R is NOT rewriteable!!! You'd think they'd have told me that when I bought it but I guess they assume if you're buying such a thing you did your research.

So I need to buy DVD-RW DVD's which allow you to record in either the DVD-R or VIDEO format, then I can record in video which should play on most DVD players. And getting RW makes it rewriteable. I can still use the DVD's I already bought, they just won't play on most DVD players(but will play on my recorder).


So I got a good deal and I think I'll ultimately be happy with what I bought, but if anybody else decides to buy something like this, make sure you understand all the format stuff in advance, essentially you need to record in video to ensure it will play on most DVD players.

Sounds like a silly move by Sony but I guess they're trying to force people to buy Sony.

 

[CardFan67]

I have my Cable providers DVR and wanted to record the programs I wanted to keep on to a DVD, much like the original question on this thread - to do this I bought a Sony DVD Recorder, no Hard disk inside cost me 329. I had nothing but problems with it, I am fairly tech savvy so it was pretty frustrating to have to call Sony's tech line over and over. Average time for finalizing a disk was running me about an hour for a 2 hour show. The playback was digitized and all blocky. The tech guy told me that 1 hour was for finalization was about right and anything short of 4 hours to finalize should be considered acceptable. He also informed me that Sony prefers to have their equipment use only Sony blanks and if proven otherwise the warranty would be void.

I took it back and picked up the Panasonic DVR which was kind of costly but well worth it. Not only does it record quickly, easily and flawlessly it has a high speed dubbing feature which is pretty awesome.

Quality of playback is awesome, functionality makes the Sony one look pathetic, and over all just a far, far superior product. I never understand why Sony is so damn popular - other than one phone, everything I have owned with a Sony name on it has been garbage.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I have my Cable providers DVR and wanted to record the programs I wanted to keep on to a DVD, much like the original question on this thread - to do this I bought a Sony DVD Recorder, no Hard disk inside cost me 329. I had nothing but problems with it, I am fairly tech savvy so it was pretty frustrating to have to call Sony's tech line over and over. Average time for finalizing a disk was running me about an hour for a 2 hour show. The playback was digitized and all blocky. The tech guy told me that 1 hour was for finalization was about right and anything short of 4 hours to finalize should be considered acceptable. He also informed me that Sony prefers to have their equipment use only Sony blanks and if proven otherwise the warranty would be void.

I took it back and picked up the Panasonic DVR which was kind of costly but well worth it. Not only does it record quickly, easily and flawlessly it has a high speed dubbing feature which is pretty awesome.

Quality of playback is awesome, functionality makes the Sony one look pathetic, and over all just a far, far superior product. I never understand why Sony is so damn popular - other than one phone, everything I have owned with a Sony name on it has been garbage.

You bought the Panasonic with the hard drive. That is why you love it so much more. The fuctionality is incredible.

The panasonic models are considered one of the best around.

 

[D-Dogg]

That's the kind I have (not the one with the VHS though).

No, I'm an idiot. I have a pioneer.

 

[Linderbee]

Is this any good? I know it's a refurb, but the price (I would think) seems pretty good...

http://www.woot.com/

Keeping in mind that this will NOT be my main dvd player, so the fact that it won't play DVD+R really doesn't matter to me.

 

[Covert Rain]

Is this any good? I know it's a refurb, but the price (I would think) seems pretty good...

http://www.woot.com/

Keeping in mind that this will NOT be my main dvd player, so the fact that it won't play DVD+R really doesn't matter to me.

Seems to me people have been having problems with this unit. I've read about some issues. You can find a couple more threads but here is one.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-716002.html

 

[Linderbee]

Seems to me people have been having problems with this unit. I've read about some issues. You can find a couple more threads but here is one.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-716002.html

Thanks. I guess I'll just wait. Can't really afford anything extra anyway.