I need ur advice and personal experiences with these models

[vanjo]

I'm thinking about getting a standalone dvd recorder.
Still not sure what to get and also there's not much choice available in shops around me, thus my budget is limited.
I would use the recorder for backup of my vhs tapes, recording tv etc.

thinking about these following models:

1. Sony RDR-GX220
(when i asked at the shop they told me RDR-GU220??!! I suppose they made a mistake, cause I never heard of such model. I suppose they were talkin about gX220. Correct me if Im wrong. Maybe different markets- different model names, dunno)

if its really gX220, as far as I know about it, these are the pro's for me:
- it supports double layer discs (correct me if Im wrong)
- it reads Divx files (which i need) im not sure about Xvid, Wma and other formats which may be useful but its not mandatory. also I dunno how it handles various mpeg files from the internet, so pls inform me.

con's:
- no hard disk (doenst matter, its not so important for me)
- if I want to dub my old vhs tapes to dvd, i will have to connect my old vcr to it, which has only composite outputs (i suppose the quality will suffer? or?)

Now, thats why I was also thinking about an alternative, a dvd-rec/vcr combi.

Since I couldn't find any Sony Dvd/vhs combi at this moment, I was thinking about this one:

2. LG RC-7300

Pro's for me:

-two recording devices in one and I SUPPOSE they're internaly connected in a better way so I would get better results than using a separate old vcr and dvd-rec right?
or i will get nothing much better? actually my old vcr is quite allright, but i was thinking, who knows maybe at the factory those combi devices have better internal connections (between the dvd and the vcr device) than the oridnary composite cable would be. or am i wrong?

- it reads several of formats: divx, xvid, wma etc...(more formats- better)

Cons:

- Dunno what to expect about the quality from LG comparing to the previously mentioned Sony (dont get me wrong I just presume Sony is generaly of a better quality, maybe Im wrong. maybe i just judge wrongly by the price). I need ur personal experiences with this lg model.
On the Internet I always find many 'scary stories' with bad experiences and angry buyers and all so I really need to think before I would get it.

- Not sure if it supports Double layer (I think no, but pls inform me)

3. The last alternative (the cheapest available)
Shockwave S1
Has anyone heard of this one?

Quite cheap, many formats supported (incl. Divx), it has all the inputs/outputs etc. Not sure about the Double layer.

So i have a dillema now. If i would get something expensive, if its not good it would be a waste of money and more important- nerves, but in this case this one is a very cheap unit, so if it dies- it dies.

Im really not sure, your informations are welcomed.

Thank you in advance.

P.S. One more thing:
Will I be able to edit those dvd recordings from any of these recorders in my computer if needed?
I heard some 'scary' stories of recorders adding some copy protection that would not allow this. Its very important for me.
Thanks

[BJ_M]

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders is a good place to look also

[yoda313]

Will I be able to edit those dvd recordings from any of these recorders in my computer if needed?

Yes I do it when I need to. You finalize the disc and then use a ripper like dvd decrypter to get the files to your pc. Then you have normal vob files you can edit like normal.

Just one note on your hunt, make sure it has a STEREO rf tuner. I bought a liteon unit that doesn't. I have to record off of my stereo vcr to get stereo recordings on it. Its a minor inconvenience since I do have a full stereo capture card on my computer. I mainly use the settop unit for vhs dubs (which would be in stereo anyway since its off the av cables) and recording documentaries and incidental programs that don't require stereo - in my personal opinion - those are informational and not real explosive entertainment that needs the full audio experience. For the big stuff I use my pc.