can anybody recommend me a good dvd recorder

[lebron]

lookin for a good recorder to transfer a bunch of old vhs wrestling tapes to dvd. lookin to spend about 300-400 dollars on one. also lookin for one thats easy to cut out the commericals in.

[Epicurus8a]

You don't state your location. If you are in North America, I would suggest the Pioneer 520H-s or 420H-s (if you can find it). Both have hard drives which is important if you want to edit out commercials, but this can also be done on your computer. Be sure to turn on the MANUAL record settings, that way you'll be able to "squeeze in" bit rates for maximum quality.

[BobK]

I 2nd the Pioneer recommendation. I bought a 420 about 6 weeks ago and love it. They're hard to find now, but I got a 2nd one on ebay about 2 weeks ago.

There's only 2 differences between the 420 and the 520. Price- the 520 is $150 to $200 more than the 420. The 520 has a DVD input- hardly worth the extra money.

I tried and returned several other recorders before I got the Pioneer. A couple ilo's, 2 Liteon's and a Panasonic. The ilo's and Liteon's had various problems. The Panasonic I didn't like because the picture quality wasn't that great, it captures at a resolutions of 704 instead of 720, and I really didn't like having to spend extra $ on DVD-RAM when I've already got a couple dozen + and -RWs laying around.

Based on the other recorders I tried I'd spend the extra money on a 520 if I couldn't get a 420.

[Frobozz]

The 520 has a DVD input- hardly worth the extra money.

Not worth it to you, but definitely to me. I bought my son a DVR-510H-S because he never sends me any of the video he shoots of my grandson. This way he can easily transfer the videos to DVD and I get to enjoy the results. Very much worth the expense!

Oh, and I'm sold on the Pioneer hard drive models, too.

[lebron]

thanks guys. i'm gonna go on ebay now and look for a pioneer 420. i'm in north america

[louthewiz]

www.ecost.com has several dvd recorders on sale also ,and I would prefer buying from ecost because with ebay you don't get any guarantees.

[BobK]

Not worth it to you, but definitely to me.

Yes- I should have said "not worth it to me" since I don't have a digital camera. Probably worth it to people who would use it though.

[handyguy]

If those are commercial vhs you are trying to copy with a dvd recorder, you can't because they detect macrovision. There are ways around it. There is a huge dvd recorder topic on left column.

[lebron]

nah they are old wcw monday nitro and wwf raw tapes i recorded off tv tapes. anybody kno where i can find a pioneer 420 besides on ebay?

[lordsmurf]

JVC, Pioneer, LiteOn

[bnbhoha]

Pioneer is a good recorder. I believe the 420 was exclusive only to Costco though. Panasonic E85 is also a great recorder. Pioneer does -RW media where has Panny does Ram.

What I would do is hold out until April/May for the next generation of Panasonic recorders. It will handle ALL formats except dual layered. It will have a second generation encoder chip. I sold my Panny E100 in anticipation for this.

You won't go wrong with either pioneer or panny I believe the Panny E85 is little more popular than the pioneer and that's the one I would go with if I had a choice. Good luck. Also check out pricegrabber.com for low prices online. 6th Ave. electronics is a great authorized dealer site to go to.

[LCSHG]

handyguy

Can you point me to a form/topic or recorder to use in transfering MY commercial VHS tapes to DVD. The Sima box doesn;t do it. I could use a PC but don;t want to if I don;t have to.

[Marvingj]

Pioneer, Pioneer , Pioneer!

[Frobozz]

handyguy

Can you point me to a form/topic or recorder to use in transfering MY commercial VHS tapes to DVD. The Sima box doesn;t do it. I could use a PC but don;t want to if I don;t have to.

I don't know of any standalone DVD recorder that will copy Macrovision-protected VHS tapes to DVD.

[nelson133]

I haven't tried this, I but read in another forum that the Canopus 100 box can be used to take the signal fronm the vcr and send it to the dv port on a dvdrecorder. The canopus box will definately rmove Macrovision.
Nyah Levi

[Timoleon]

...although it's a bit long in the tooth now, and I don't think it is available new anymore, I haven't had a lick of trouble with my Gateway recorder. You can probably find a used one on eBay for a song and a dance

[vhelp]

Yes, that is true.., one other way of defeating MV. I've tried this w/
my ADVC-100 and my iLO DVDR04 unit and all is MV free. But, from a few
commercial VHS tapes I ran through my iLO, it did in fact, recorde to
a +RW disk in the unit and with no MV, and w/out the advc device.

- The manufacture date (on box w/ S/N stamp) was July 2004.

In that test (using two known MV tapes) my vcr setup was:

* JVC S-VHS HR-S3910U[s-video OUT] --> iLO[s-video IN]

I will re-verify this because I was also testing my DV inputs on the
iLO unit.

-vhelp 3158

[LCSHG]

I also don't know of any stand alone recorder

I will look into the canoups 100 box (Do you mean DEFINATELY ) and try it, although I havent had much luck with most boxes.

Is the Gateway a VHS or DVD recorder? I know that some of the old GOVideo tape to tape will ignore MV. I suppose that some of the older recorders without AGC would do the job but Idon't know which. I guess I'll have to copy to tape or go the PC route.

[GangstaMo]

You can try the sonyRDX300 for that price range,it has no Harddrive,
but u can edit direct on disc directly,and it simple.
it is dual,but i only use +media..

Also for Backing up your VHS tapes,u can try the daytex with Hack
it records anything,not bad for a cheapie...

[LCSHG]

I looked into the iLO recorder and some say it does the job going through specific procedures, others say no. There is a site that that offers a firmware hack for this unit. You say that the Canoups 100 is working.

[Frobozz]

My Canopus ADVC-55 did not pass through a Macrovision-protected signal. The only device I've used that does pass through such a signal is the ADS USB Instant DVD for Mac. It uses an application called PixiDV for capturing video and hidden several folders deep in the software bundle is a NTSC-only version of that application that defeats Macrovision. But, of course you need a Mac. And this product is discontinued, although www.macsales.com is still closing some out at about $100.

[vhelp]

Yes. the advc will be MV free, but *only* the advc-100 device will.
I haven't tried (yet) the latest iLO firmware hack. BUt only because
I have no issue so far, and my model is usually, if it ain't broke,
then don't fix/futz it.

If you're thinking about the iLO brand of dvd recorders, you might want
to visit these thread topics below, as it might help you (or others) in
the decision-making of this unit:

--> ILO DVDR04/HD04 Firmware Download Page
--> 3-Hour Mode now available for ILO DVDRHD04

As I've said in various threads, I like this unit so far.

-vhelp 3161

[LCSHG]

What is Daytex. Havent been able to find any ifo on this or hack.

Well I don't have a Mac, but as my wife says I'm stubborn. I'll keep trying. I'll that MV to its knees yet.

[LCSHG]

vhelp

Thanks for the info. It looks good and will pursue it.
Thanks again

[solidsnake]

A hacked Ilo can record commerical vhs tapes. Its not the greatest recorder available though

[gshelley61]

Yes. the advc will be MV free, but *only* the advc-100 device will.
I haven't tried (yet) the latest iLO firmware hack. BUt only because
I have no issue so far, and my model is usually, if it ain't broke,
then don't fix/futz it.

If you're thinking about the iLO brand of dvd recorders, you might want
to visit these thread topics below, as it might help you (or others) in
the decision-making of this unit:

--> ILO DVDR04/HD04 Firmware Download Page
--> 3-Hour Mode now available for ILO DVDRHD04

As I've said in various threads, I like this unit so far.

-vhelp 3161

What's the deal with the ILO as far as input black level? Is there an adjustment for that built in, or is it fixed? Audio is AC3? Just curious...

[solidsnake]

You cant adjust anything with the ILO, and the audio is recorded in mpeg format.

[Pink Pryncess]

The Panasonice DMR-E85H from Crutchfield, you will not be sorry! Crutchfield is the best, they send a UPS stickers for free returns and have a 30 day money back guarantee.
The E85H has a 120 GB Hard drive that is absolutely WONDERFUL.
Take my advice, you will not be sorry!