Which would you buy

[tvlover]

Hi
I'm at crossroad not knowing which dvd recorder to buy.
My choices are a Stand alone dvd recorder (sony ,panasonic etc...)
or a dvd/vhs recorder (emerson,sony,panasonic)
I will be transfering many vhs tapes and 8mm tapes to dvd.
Which would give me better results or which would last longer and give me less headaches.

[Epicurus8a]

In the long run you'll be much better off with separate components.
1.) Separates usually off more features (& quality) than combo units.
2.) If one unit goes bad, you can repair/replace it, while the other one is still usable.
3.) If you expect to add any devices such as a TBC, Proc Amp, etc you'll have to have separates.

Buy a name brand DVD Recorder such as Pioneer or JVC, and always use quality media. Don't buy Meomorex, Princo or Generic discs. Look for Fuji, Maxell, Sony, & TDK. Just remember this: Check the labels before buying, and make sure it says, "Made in Japan." (These companies also purchase discs for Taiwanese makers - and these discs generally aren't as good.) Better yet, order Taiyo-Yuden discs from rima.com, supermediastore.com, or meritline.com

Good Luck!

[BetaMaster]

Although I tend to have separate components too, a combo VHS/DVD recorder does have the benefit of having the least signal loss for transfers of any possible hookup. No matter whether you're using component or S-Video to hook up your machines, and no matter how good the cables, you're going to get a little generational signal loss and extra noise. The direct connection within a combo machine gives the least possible loss, although a lot depends on how well the machine is put together.