Recording TV Shows on Computer to DVD - Need Advice

[jcikal]

I'm interested in recording TV Shows to my computer to then convert to DVD. What hardware do I need and what is the best hardware on the market to allow me to schedule recordings to my computer (as if it were a VCR) so I can then convert to DVDs. Please if you can, specify at least the model and manufacturer of whatever hardware you're referring to.

PS: I have a 3GHZ computer with 1mb ram, 200gb HD, Nvidia Graphics Card (128mb).

[Milardo]

Well you need a tvtuner/video capture hardware yes. You could get one that is firewire or usb powered, but I would suggest a tv tuner/video capture card (one installed in computer). I would stay away from any ATi products and I guess would consider others like just don't consider ATi. Also, if you have Windows Media Center make sure the hardware you get works with Windows Media Center. Hope that helps. Oh yeah, make sure that whatever you are getting is both a tv tuner/video capture and would be nice if you get one with a remote.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Why not buy a standalone DVD recorder?
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders
It's the simplest way to go if you don't need to edit.

[FulciLives]

I'm interested in recording TV Shows to my computer to then convert to DVD. What hardware do I need and what is the best hardware on the market to allow me to schedule recordings to my computer (as if it were a VCR) so I can then convert to DVDs. Please if you can, specify at least the model and manufacturer of whatever hardware you're referring to.

PS: I have a 3GHZ computer with 1mb ram, 200gb HD, Nvidia Graphics Card (128mb).

Would help if you told us if you were in the USA or wherever ...

Assuming you are in North America I would get the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 350 which can capture direct to MPEG-2 DVD spec files.

I would then use TMPGEnc DVD Author 2.0 to do the DVD Authoring and ImgBurn to do the DVD Video burning.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[SmokieStover]

I'll narraw the assumptions even further: If you live in the U.S.A. and you have analog cable TV (No cable or satellite box......you run the cable straight into a TV), get an ATI Wonder Elite.

My daughter and I are both using one for recording, her's came with Power Cinema 2.0 for recording and mine came with Power Cinema 3.0.

My card also came with an Electronic Program Guide that I never could get to integrate with the recording software (Power Cinema 3.0). So, I use Titan TV (It's Free....just sign up) to identify what I want to record and enter the recording schedule manually, JUST LIKE A VCR.

Neither of our cards came with software to Edit the recordings (Cut-Out commercials) or author DVD's. She's using Tsunammi DVD Author Pro (Basically the same as TMPG DVD Author 2.0) to Edit, Author and burn DVD's.

I use VideoReDo Plus to Edit, Ulead Movie Factory 3.0 (Came with a Hauppage PVR 250 Card) to Author, and Nero to burn.

The newer Wonder Elite recording software may be different, but both Power Cinema 2.0 and 3.0 break the recordings into 2gig pieces. The Tsunammi software pieces it back together, but there's always a slight pause at each seam at which point the audio may or may not be understood on playback. VideoReDo puts it back together so seamlessly that you have to be looking for it to even notice it.

YOU SHOULD NEVER BUY AN EDITING OR AUTHORING SOFTWARE WITHOUT TESTING IT FIRST. VideoRedo and TMPG products can be freely tested for a period long enough to decide if you want it.

If you want to record from a digital cable box or satellite box and would use S-Video or composite outputs from said box, disregard my recommendation. Neither Power Cinema 2.0 nor 3.0 will do scheduled recordings except thru the tuner (RV or Cable Input). I have no experience using the ATI card with an external box or with any other recording software.

My Hauppauge PVR 250 will do scheduled recordings from all of the inputs using the included recording software (WinTV 2000) but it does not have a IR Blaster for changing channels on an external box. But if an external or set-top box is what you would be using, you may want to try an Hauppauge Card. I gave up on mine because of the poor audio quality......overblown, with a slight distortion that gave too much of the dialogue an unnatural tone which was way too hard to understand when burned to DVD. But the audio results may be quite different if the card is getting clean audio from an external box thru the composite imputs.