DVD Recorder to PC transfer ?

[EAO]

I'm looking for a unit that my PC will treat - sort of - as a drive.

Is there a 'stand alone' Hard Drive Recorder that will capture in a file format that is transferable to the PC through firewire, usb 2.0 ?

The closest thing I can figure out is a HD recorder/DVD recorder combo where I transfer to DVD and then put the DVD into my PC. I'd like to avoid this and transfer the data directly.

If there is a choice - cheaper is better (if quality is equal).

[Captain Satellite]

Yes. I do this with DVD-RAM which transfers a .vro file. A Panasonic recorder with hard drive will do this.

[bugster]

I'm looking for a unit that my PC will treat - sort of - as a drive.

Is there a 'stand alone' Hard Drive Recorder that will capture in a file format that is transferable to the PC through firewire, usb 2.0 ?

Not that I am aware of, no. I would like one too!

In the past I have captured to a DV cam and then transferred that to a PC via firewire. Limited to 2 hours capture though (In LP mode). Then edit,e code, author burn

Not the quickest route to a DVD!

[bugster]

Yes. I do this with DVD-RAM which transfers a .vro file. A Panasonic recorder with hard drive will do this.

But that is NOT using usb/firewire as aked for. That can be done with ANY harddrive recorder and DVDr/w or DVD Ram

[Scobo]

Even if there was a recorder which could transfer via USB/firewire it would still be quicker to transfer recordings from DVD+/-RW or DVD-RAM to a PC.
USB/firewire would probably transfer in real time as with a camcorder.

[Frobozz]

There are Pioneer DVR models that have a Firewire port that both imports and exports DV video. I've transferred video to and from my Mac that way. But I think you're wanting to transfer the encoded video without having to first burn it to a disc. The Pioneer units don't do that.

[handyguy]

It also depends on what you are recording. Sounds like you just want to use it with cable programs which aren't very high def. So putting on a dvd makes sense.

[EAO]

Interesting.

Just to clarify, I would NOT want to reencode. Just hook up the DVD recorder to the PC (Firewire, or anything) and have the files recognised by the PC as MPEG2 or DVD compliant folders so that I can quickly burn to DVD.

I do know that there are stand alone units that have both a HD and a DVD recorder, but they are more expensive than the HD recorder 'only' models.

[Frobozz]

Oops. I misunderstood. So you're looking for a hard drive recorder from which you can export the MPEGs to your computer. I know this can be done with ReplayTV boxes.

[EAO]

Hummm....

So that's why they're so popular. I would guess that it involves hacking the box. If not then that would be great.

Any linky to understanding what is involved?

Is this the type of thing that needs a subscription? Or is there a basic level - like the TIVO - that does not require paying a monthly fee or a lump sum up front. Because either is not going to happen.

[Frobozz]

There is no way to use a ReplayTV for free, so let's try something else. If you had a Macintosh I'd tell you to get an EyeTV 200 from www.elgato.com. This works like a PVR while saving the MPEG 2 to your hard drive. And there are no monthly fees. Since I don't have a PC I don't know who sells something comparable for Windows world.

[EAO]

Appreciate the advice. I already have my PC set up to capture. I was only wondering if there was a way to use a HD recorder as an external MPEG2 type capture.

It would have been for the TV in the other room. That way I could cap from 2 different sorces... but if it means having to import the a/v and encode it - then it's not worth it for me time wise.

On the other hand I guess I could always build a unit using something like the Hauppauge WinPVR and install it in the other room. I was hoping there was something already available to do this.

[Captain Satellite]

Yes. I do this with DVD-RAM which transfers a .vro file. A Panasonic recorder with hard drive will do this.

But that is NOT using usb/firewire as aked for. That can be done with ANY harddrive recorder and DVDr/w or DVD Ram

What's the difference then? Record to DVD-RAM on the recorder, take that disc and transfer the file via my internal drive on the computer.

[bugster]

Yes. I do this with DVD-RAM which transfers a .vro file. A Panasonic recorder with hard drive will do this.

But that is NOT using usb/firewire as aked for. That can be done with ANY harddrive recorder and DVDr/w or DVD Ram

What's the difference then? Record to DVD-RAM on the recorder, take that disc and transfer the file via my internal drive on the computer.

That is exactly what EAO does NOT want.

[Captain Satellite]

Yes. I do this with DVD-RAM which transfers a .vro file. A Panasonic recorder with hard drive will do this.

But that is NOT using usb/firewire as aked for. That can be done with ANY harddrive recorder and DVDr/w or DVD Ram

What's the difference then? Record to DVD-RAM on the recorder, take that disc and transfer the file via my internal drive on the computer.

That is exactly what EAO does NOT want.

This is true. Since what he wants is not possible, he should be made aware of other possibilities which will yield the same results.

[lordsmurf]

At this moment in time, as far as I know...

IMPOSSIBLE

[NightWing]

Would one of the boxes from sony or HP be close?

The sony is the VRD-VC10 and the HP is something 300. I have no clue but the Sony may be close.

Here is the sony link. Looks like video in only. No tunner. But stand alone or can act like a drive.
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProduc...DBurn_DVDirect

Skip the HP DVD Movie Writer dc5000. Typical HP. It requires a capture device on the computer. Here is their slick.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/product_detail/product_de...#defaultAnchor

[Racer2x]

Somebody, previously mentioned Replaytv. That would PROBABLY be your best bet. There is free software, here, on the internet, that you install on your pc, that makes your Replaytv think your pc is another Replaytv, thus allowing you to transfer the file(s), from it, to the pc in question. Additionally, I think you have to install an ftp client to the Replaytv, to it DOES seem to be the easiest way to get where you want to go. A Replaytv can cost around $150, I think. I already have a capture card in my pc, and have become dissentchanted with Directv, so the logical choice for me was to move to Dishnetwork. I will be getting a dual tuner reciever with DVR functionality, then send it to my PC, for capturing. In the future, I might just buy a set-top recorder, to interface with, then rip the files off THOSE discs to the pc. I'm not making anything quite etched in stone, as the technology is STILL changing quite rapidly, and something better seems to be coming out, everyday. I'm even getting word that within the next couple of years, Dishnetwork will be swtiching recievers, to allow mpeg-4 broadcast/reception.

[ZAPPER]

I think that this has been posted before, and from what little I know I don't think it can be done yet. (funny thing about cable/satellite companies is that they seem to only want TV signal coming out of there boxes)

I think that the second PC option gives you much more versitility as to what you can do, if not the greatest ease. I think that all of the big time capture cards nowadays come with some kind of scheadualer or Digital VCR that will let you set the record time if you wanted and I know that there are some other programs that will work too (somewhere over there on the left)

I kind of do it the old fashioned way. With only one PC and only one source I can only capture one source at a time though. (Every once and awhile Dish offers four rooms and four boxes for not to bad of a price to new subscribers [I may have to resort to some hanky panky if they won't cut this one box subcriber some slack]) I just use a coax splitter out of the box and send it to my "editing bay" (reads as over flowing desk in the other room) I know that people are going to say that thats not the higest quality and all that, but it is as good a signal that is going into the first TV anyways. I then have the option of useing the satellite box signal from the other room or the VCR or the DVD drive in this room. My ATIAIW also gives me tuner ability but the antenna I have ain't fit for a bird to sit on let alone waste time trying to capture from.

If you already have two sources then I would say use two PCs. Or maybe use like a Canopus box to convert and a stand alone "one touch harddrive" to capture to from one source and your PC for the other source. I think that the canopus/external harddrive set-up can work but you will have to find the link here some where.

[EAO]

Thanks for all the advice.