Terapin Video CD Recorder

[ejai]

I noticed no one has ever mentioned the Terapin VCD Recorder, I own one and find that it creates some of the best looking VCDs I've ever seen. I compared it to the VCD movies I created with Tmpgenc and the Terapin wins hands down.

I was wondering if anyone has used this device and what they think about it. It's as easy as using a vcr but the image is VCD quality. I must admit that some of the videos I created look as good if not better than their vcr originals.

I know the price tag is high $400 dollars and more but it does a great job.

[aldus4]

It's not that absurd. VCD's are more common in Asia. Only since the release of DVD Players that play VCD's as well (most of them) has the topic VCD's become more common. Now that SVCD's are usually of better quality than VCD's this too has become rather (for some) obsolete. And if you think that they are already promoting DVD-R's and DVD+R's again people are thinking of recording directly to DVD standards.

Do you know of a website that features this recorder, as it might be the solution for some others?

[Iview]

http://www.avdeals.com/TERAPIN.HTM
Check this VCD/SVCD recorder
http://www.recordsvcd.com/vcdrecorder.shtml
http://www.avdeals.com/vdrr1.htm
and DVD-RAM recorder
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/dvd_recorder/video_recorders.asp
and DVD+RW
http://www.dvdplusrw.org/video/index.html

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Iview on 2001-07-04 19:43:40 ]</font>

[JX]

Here is another site (in Europe) to a real time disc recorder: http://www.amoisonic.de

Check for Mediencom VDR-2100. It records VCD (352x288 PAL) and SVCD (352x576 PAL) and also NTSC.

I have one and so far so good

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: JX on 2001-07-04 20:17:00 ]</font>

[AmeliaK]

Hi ejai,

The unit has been mentioned at least twice that I know of:

Bad Review
http://www.vcdhelp.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=44447&forum=2

Good Review
http://www.vcdhelp.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=43685&forum=2


I was also keen on purchasing this product, but after some research into it I found a large number of people having problems with the units, so it put me off buying one.

Regards
Amelia

[judicator]

well you said 400$ that doesn`t seem expensive
i used the vdr2000 that has a retail price of 1200$
and i didn`t get results that were better than any software encoder (bbmpeg , tmpeg , lsx , panasonic , etc)

tell me were the results you got impressive ?

[Lelie]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-04 19:38:32, Iview wrote:
http://www.avdeals.com/TERAPIN.HTM
Check this VCD/SVCD recorder
http://www.recordsvcd.com/vcdrecorder.shtml
http://www.avdeals.com/vdrr1.htm
and DVD-RAM recorder
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/dvd_recorder/video_recorders.asp
and DVD+RW
http://www.dvdplusrw.org/video/index.html

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Iview on 2001-07-04 19:43:40 ]</font>
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

But does anyone have a DVD ROM burner that will also record VCD/SVCD? Or do these now? The DVD links don't even mension VCD/SVCD. Some of us are willing to shell out the very few pennies necessary to buy blank CD's but blank DVD's are still way too expensive. Everyone seems to expect blank DVD's too get cheep 'soon' (I'm not holding my breath...) which will make VCD/SVCD's sort of obsolete.

Second question.... can any of these boxes do menus & chaptering like we do in software?

Larry Elie

[Tomcheung]

Terapin VCD Recorder is good ?

I am happen to work for smartmachine.com which specialized in Video Editing for Prosumers.
I tried Terapin and some MPEG1 encoders (soft and hard). Terapin is OK (rating 6/10) specially compares to
TMPGenc or Cinemacraft. If your terapin output is better, check your settings in your encoder.

[ejai]

I have heard good and bad reviews about the Terapin just like any other product. You will have to judge for yourself and don't let the web be your judge and jury. I've seen pictures taken of different footage using the Terapin and it looks terrible. I personally have used it on video especially some that was old and worn, and in some cases the Terapin video looked better.

What some reviewers do is attempt to judge all video devices by the standards of DVD which is unfair and personally destructive. I'll tell anyone to go and see a demonstration for yourself. Also Terapin is giving away free CD demos that will give you some understanding of what the quality is like.

Check it out for yourself, one more thing..people have a problem with making CD's that work in DVD recorders because the Terapin seems to have a bug. I learned the work around from the videoguys website, all you have to do is eject the disk before finalising it. This procedure works all the time and should remedy that problem.

[Lelie]

There's a fairly glowing review of the Terapin in the Aug. DV magazine (online version is DV.com). DV is usually pretty harsh with reviews, but perhaps they just lowered their expectations.

Larry Elie

Oh, yeah, and what in the world is that thing on the right at the goterapin.com web site? Is it (dare I say it...) a DVD recorder? Or just a SVCD recorder? It sure isn't the Teripin VCD that's shipping.




<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Lelie on 2001-07-06 08:10:47 ]</font>

[googlioboy]

I've had the Terapin for a few months now, and I can't keep saying good things about it. One thing to remember is: the better video you put into the Terapin, the better video you'll get on your recording. I recently recorded my LD of "Predator 2" onto two discs using the Terapin. I watched part of one of the discs before finalizing the disc. Fantastic! Dvd-quality video for sure. But when I finalized the disc, the quality suffered somewhat. So the Terapin would be great for someone new to home theater, who does not have a dvd player, but wants to record all those VHS tapes that he/she has lying around. I'm currently using my Terapin in my business, Big Byte Video Productions.
Rick Shorrock
http://www.bigbytevideoproductions.com

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: googlioboy on 2001-07-12 18:42:20 ]</font>

[kitty]

I got one of their demo VCDs they advertise on their site goterapin.com (actually I got 2 packs the same day). Strange, one had no label and looked like a double sided disc, the other had a cheap label on Digital Research Technologies 16x cdr.

Tried them in my Philips DVD-711 player (dual laser, VCD/SVCD ok). NO DICE. The player recognizes them as VCD with 3 tracks but refuses to play them. Ouch!

In the PC, they play ok. The quality looks ok on all 3 demo clips (Jackie Chan outtakes, 6th Sense Trailer, & home video).

FYI

[webeye]

I look forward to some comments re the
Malata VDR-RI VCD
www.avdeals.com

[webeye]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-04 20:05:37, JX wrote:
Here is another site (in Europe) to a real time disc
Re the Mediencom VDR-2100. Could this be the same as
the Likko VDR 2100?








recorder: http://www.amoisonic.de

Check for Mediencom VDR-2100. It records VCD (352x288 PAL) and SVCD (352x576 PAL) and also NTSC.

I have one and so far so good

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: JX on 2001-07-04 20:17:00 ]</font>
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

[ThunderGod66]

Do you guys that have the terapin, use it to watch VCDs or do you use your DVD player? I'm wondering which one has better quality? Also, how much better is the quality if you don't finalize the disc?

I just got the Terapin also and I definitely like it. I love how easy it is to create chapters...so my vcd is more like a dvd. When you create chapters, you can automatically see them as a chapter selection menu with the push of a button. Another cool thing is that you can enter the time of the position of the disc that you want to jump to.

Btw, my terapin works great with my Tivo. I can record everything I want, take out the commercials. Instead of renting movies, I can search through Tivo, find what I want and record it to VCD.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ThunderGod66 on 2001-09-21 22:33:52 ]</font>