Best Unit With A Hard Drive??

[gates69]

I have a bunch of vhs I need to transfer over to dvd-r but would also like to edit out all of the commercials.
What unit offers the best performance and ease of use when it comes to editing??
Can I expect any quality loss going from svhs to hd to dvd-r??
Any help is always appreciated.

[yoda313]

Hello,
Here's a list on this website to help you get started:

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDname=&cdrs=&cdrws=&dvdrs=&dvdrws=&dvdprs=&d...&Search=Search

Kevin
P.S. Search the forum as this has been asked before

[swallowtail]

Can I expect any quality loss going from svhs to hd to dvd-r??

One of the major advantages of a hard disk-based recorder is that it allows you to edit programs on the HDD and then high-speed dub them to DVD-R media for playback compatibility on most DVD players, and without quality loss during high-speed dub.

For the pros and cons of these HDD-based recorders, you should probably read the threads of the following link, to get more specific info:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=b884a86012f456e05ba4f4276b1f51a9&forumid=106

Unfortunately, there is currently no perfect recorder in terms of best performance and ease of use. Most, if not all, HDD-based recorders have rather complicated user interface due to the more advanced functions provided by the HDD. Your best bet is to actually get one from a store like BestBuy, and try it out for a few weeks before deciding whether it is right for you.

[gates69]

Well are all dvd recorders with a hard drive able to edit??
I thought I had read that a few models did not have editing options even thought they had a hard drive.

[swallowtail]

Well are all dvd recorders with a hard drive able to edit??
I thought I had read that a few models did not have editing options even thought they had a hard drive.

Pioneer DVR-810H is one of the few HDD-based recorders which has no editing functions mainly because it records in Tivo format, not in DVD-VR format. Also all DVD+R/RW recorders with HDD (the upcoming Philips and Lite-On) cannot perform real editing (only hides the edited parts) due to the nature of DVD+VR file format. On the other hand, any recorders using DVD-VR format on their HDD should provide basic editing functions such as playlists and cutting off commercials.

[gshelley61]

You may also want to consider using a DVD recorder that does not have a HDD, but can record to re-writeable DVD's (DVD-RW's are preferable). If you have a decent computer with a reasonably good sized hard drive, you can edit your DVD-RW recordings with no quality loss using Womble MPEG-VCR or MPEG Video Wizard, then burn a final DVD with an authoring application like TMPGEnc DVD Author. This method offers you an easier to use, frame accurate editing process and more flexibility when creating your final DVD. Plus, the cost involved in setting up your computer to do this may be less than the price difference between a HDD and non-HDD DVD recorder.

[tag]

Plus, the cost involved in setting up your computer to do this may be less than the price difference between a HDD and non-HDD DVD recorder.

I feel compelled to second that statement. To the extent the primary use of a DVD recorder will not be recording broadcast or cable TV programs (i.e. primarily transferring tapes), an HDD model simply isn't worth the current price differential, IMHO.

The difference between (comparable) HDD and non-HDD models is typically in the $200-$300 range. The cost of decent s/w and a DVD burner would be less than that while providing, I believe, much more flexibility.

Which prompts me to ask a few questions re HDD recorders:

1) Do HDD recorders permit the insertion of chapters at any single point and will those chapters remain intact after finalization?

2) Can HDD recorders do menus similar to those that can be done using typical PC s/w (e.g. Womble, TDA)?

3) Can HDD recorders be used to split and join clips and then burn the result to a DVD (i.e. similar to what can be done with something like TDA)?

4) If any (or all) of the foregoing can be done, is it relatively easy to do any of the foregoing on an HDD recorder or does one need to press a couple of thousand buttons on the remote a couple of thousand times to get the same result?

[handyguy]

You don't need a HD though. One that takes Dvdram (the panasonics) lets you edit on the disk itself as those disks are small hds. Then you put it in your computer & copy to dvd-r.